Ridgefield Elder Law Lawyers

Matthew Philbrook is a graduate of Clark College, Washington State University, and Gonzaga University School of Law. He has been a member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association since 2001, and Oregon State Bar Association since 2005.

Matthew entered a career in law with a passion for protecting the legal rights of those in our community, with a competitive approach. He formed Philbrook Law Office, located in Vancouver and Battle Ground, Washington, in 2005, with the goal of championing the rights of people wrongfully injured or in legal jeopardy. Matthew’s years of dedicated service to his clients has...

We help families and business owners plan for now and the future. This is done through estate planning and business planning. Our process is to educate clients about opportunities - and problems - they or their family may encounter down the road. Next, we help them identify their priorities and goals, and then develop a plan to accomplish those goals. This sometimes involves using advanced legal structures and techniques, but we keep the explanations straight forward and understandable. After all, a great plan isn’t that great if you don’t understand it. Quality planning that you understand is...

I decided to become a lawyer after many years in education in Los Angeles. I was everything from a substitute teacher with a Kindergarten class to teaching English and P.E. to students just out of juvenile hall or on probation. After my time teaching, I knew that I wanted to continue to help others, but in a different way. I attended school to become a lawyer, attending Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. I enjoyed law school incredibly, and also excelled at it. Being a lawyer continues that good feeling for me. I get to do something I am passionate about...

Priest and Ellis PLLC is a Vancouver WA law firm, whose attorneys practice Divorce and Family Law, Criminal Law, and Guardianship and Estate Planning law. We practice law with a better perspective. We emphasize building strong relationships with clients, based on good communication and using negotiation and litigation skills to achieve favorable results. Our specific areas of practice are diverse and include divorce, collaborative law, child custody, modifications, paternity, child support, criminal defense, DUI, domestic violence, felony charges, guardianships, probate, wills and trust, and much more. Call today to schedule a lawyer consultation in our convenient...

Nick Alexander is a Vancouver native, growing up in this great city before leaving for college and law school. After passing the bar, he had an opportunity to return to the area that he loves and has been practicing law in Clark County ever since. Prior to founding Vancouver Wills and Trusts Nick was an associate attorney for the law firm of Greenen & Greenen, and later an Executive Trust Officer at InTrustment NW where he was a professional Trustee, administering trusts and estates. With experience and an ever growing passion for family and community, Nick is eager to help...

AA Comparative Literature, BYU. Provo, UT BA Sociology, Loretta Heights College. Denver, CO MA Creative Writing/Poetry, Rutgers Graduate School. Newark, NJ JD Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Utah College of Law. SLC, UT Certified Mediator, Washington Mediation Association, 2009 - present. Certified Lifecycle Celebrant in Funerals/Memorials, Ceremonies for Healing. Reiki Master, 2009 - present. Ordained Minister with First Nation Church-Cherokee 2014 - present. Formed McKELL GRAFF, PLLC: March, 2003 Associate Attorney, WALSTEAD MERTSCHING, PLLC 2002-2003 JD Paralegal and Mediator, STEVEN ALLEN SMITH, PC 1999-2002 Adjunct Professor: Weber State University, Ogden, UT Salt Lake Community College, SLC, UT Rutgers Law School, Newark, NJ Rutgers College of Arts and Sciences, Newark, NJ University of Medicine and...

Born and raised in Clark County, Alexa was born into a family of lawyers (her father and grandfather) who valued relationships and giving back to the local community. She studied music and social work in college, graduating from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Social Welfare.

Alexa worked in the field of guardianships as a Guardian ad Litem and served as an instructor and co-organizer of the Clark County Guardianship Guardian ad Litem Training. She was licensed as both a Title 11 and Title 26 Guardian ad Litem.

Alexa became a paralegal, and while working at the Salmon Creek...

In practice in Washington since 2001 and Oregon since 2002, Ms. McCaulley has years of legal experience assisting with the issues that can impact lives at all stages. While she often works with the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill, her practice is not confined to any stage of life. She has diverse legal experience in estate planning (e.g., wills, trusts, and community property agreements, etc.), guardianships, probate administration, small businesses formation (e.g., Corporations and LLCs), contract review and negotiation, establishing non-profits (help with 501(c)(3) filings), employment law issues, etc. Carol obtained her J.D. from Lewis & Clark (formerly...

Michael "Mick" Frey was born in Longview, Washington. He began his legal career as an intern in his Father's firm, Donald W. Frey, P.S. which he then joined as an associate in 1996. He continues to share office space with his Father, and Wesley S. Johnson. Mick's practice focuses on dispute resolution and litigation of issues in property rights, real estate, probate, estate planning, guardianships and advising small businesses. Mick is married and has one daughter. To set up an office or phone consultation, you may Email Mick: mick@attorneyfrey.com

Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation. He was a founding member of the Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and has been a NAELA member since 1989. His practice encompasses estate planning for individuals, couples and families of all ages, probate to assist surviving heirs when a family member dies, and elder law to assist clients with specific legal challenges. Paul is a Geriatric Scholar via the University of Texas Health Science Center. Paul has written the legal column for Hearst Newspapers. His column...

Mr. Armstrong was formerly a Government Trial Lawyer with over 1000 victories and a 75% win ratio in state and appellate hearings. His perspective can give you well-rounded advice because he served as a prosecutor, defense counsel and advisor for WA state agencies. Mr. Armstrong helps you understand and use the strong arm of the law to your advantage. His advice is proven but more importantly, understandable. His simple background in Oklahoma City allows him to break down complete legal issues into understandable options to protect your empire. Mr. Armstrong has studied International and Administrative Law in London, England, France, Italy...

I am curious about your story and want you to feel heard throughout your legal process, whether it is estate planning, a probate, a guardianship application, or something else. I want to level with you so I can give you quality advice that helps you move forward. About me: I live in Lakewood, Washington with my husband, but grew up in British Columbia. I am very active in my church, and I got a puppy in 2023 so I could compete in dog agility. If you are curious about me, please don't hesitate to call. I would love to know...

JAMES F. CHRISTNACHT was admitted to practice law in the state of Washington in 1984 after having attended the University Of Puget Sound School Of Law. Mr. Christnacht has engaged in the general practice of law since his admission to the bar. He is admitted to practice before the Washington State Courts, Federal District Court and the Puyallup Tribal Court. His practice has included personal injury, probate, guardianship, wills and estate planning, will contests and estate litigation, misdemeanor criminal defense and traffic matters, real estate, and business law. Mr. Christnacht is a second generation lawyer. Having grown up with...

June is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law in 2000 and University of Washington School of Law in 2003, receiving J.D. and LL.M in Tax respectively. She was admitted to practice in Washington State in 2000. In her early career, she served business owners in matters involving tax, real estate, business transaction, business litigation, probate, and estate planning in Olympia. Her practice currently is focused on (collaborative) family law, estate planning, and probate. June is a firm believer in collaborative approach in resolving family law issues. As a trained collaborative divorce attorney, she is able to...

Mr. Brown is admitted to practice in Washington and California and has been practicing law for over 45 years. He is the managing partner at Phillips, Krause & Brown. His practice emphasizes Elder Law which includes estate planning, Medicaid planning and qualification, preparation of wills, trusts (including special needs trusts), durable powers of attorney and other documents, probate, guardianship and litigation in those areas. Professor Brown has also handled numerous adult protection and tort claims for elderly, incapacitated and injured people including several cases where the verdict or settlement amount exceeded $1,000,000. Mr. Brown is a member...

Mr. Kenney has over twenty six years helping families, individuals & business owners with estate planning, asset protection, wealth preservation, business planning & real estate transactions. Mr. Kenney has created thousands of estate & asset protection planning documents, which include wills, powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, living wills, other advance medical directives, revocable living trusts, dynasty trusts, safe harbor trusts, irrevocable trusts, gifting trusts, educational trusts, retirement plan trusts, IRA trusts, charitable trusts, charitable lead trusts, charitable remainder trusts, private foundations, 501c3 charities, qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, family limited partnerships, (FLP) domestic asset protection...

Lisa Ellis was admitted to the Washington Bar in 2000. She is the Principal of Ellis Law, LLC which serves clients in Bellevue, WA and surrounding Puget Sound communities. Lisa's practice is focused on providing specialized estate planning for older adults, estate planning, representation in adult guardianships and probate administration. Lisa received her undergraduate degree at Whitman College and law degree at The University of Oregon where she was an executive editor of The Oregon Law Review. Lisa was an Attorney Advisor at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), a position she entered through the U.S....

Angela specializes in estate planning, long-term care and disability planning, special needs trusts, and estate administration. Her clients range in age from the very young to those in their 90’s and beyond.

Prior to joining STIB, Angela was a registered nurse and a litigation attorney. She joined the firm in order to work with Barbara Isenhour and Sean Bleck, both leaders in the field with decades of experience advising seniors and disabled individuals. Now a Member of the firm, Angela works to continue the firm’s tradition of competent and compassionate representation for every client at every stage...

After being admitted to the Washington State Bar Association, Ms. Ramirez practiced law in the private sector with emphasis on family law, bankruptcy, estate planning and elder law matters. Ms. Ramirez compassionately advocates on behalf of her clients while she assists them in successfully resolving difficult disputes and navigating through litigation and complex legal issues.

Professional Memberships/Organizations
Ms. Ramirez is licensed to practice in the State of Washington and the United States District Court. She is also a member of the following professional associations:
Washington State Bar Association, Member
King County Bar Association, Member
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, Member

Education
Seattle University School of Law,...

Insight Law is a local tax law firm with 4 offices in the greater Seattle area. We handle all tax matters, including those related to Income, Employment, Property, B&O, and Estate and Gift taxes. We pride ourselves on providing the best service, value, and knowing our areas of law inside and out. Whether you have a tax problem or need estate planning or small business services, we can provide efficient, knowledgeable and compassionate representation. QUALITY: At Insight Law, we provide top-notch representation from experienced attorneys in the Seattle Area. VALUE: At Insight Law, we use a...

After graduating cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1999, I spent a year clerking for a judge in Wisconsin before moving to Whatcom County in the summer of 2000. Before coming to the Elder Law Offices of Barry M. Meyers, I was in-house counsel for the Lummi Nation with my practice focusing on human resource issues, governmental administration and criminal prosecution. My practice now focuses 100% on Elder Law. It is exceptionally rewarding to provide guidance and support for people as they face the complicated issues associated with aging. The work is made even more...

Mark Iverson facilitates adoptions for birth mothers and adoptive parents in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Mr. Iverson is a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Mr. Iverson also practices in the area of guardianship and surrogacy.

Greg Freeze is an attorney in Port Townsend, Washington (www.RhodyLaw.com), who leverages his public company officer experience with being a lawyer on the Olympic Peninsula. With the great number of retirees in Port Townsend, his law practice includes a focus on wills, trusts, and estate plannning. But, as a general practitioner in Jefferson County, Washington, his motto is, "small town law -- all issues welcome."

Katharine Tate is an estate planning and elder law attorney in Spokane County, Washington. She founded her law firm, Tate Law Offices, PLLC, on four main principles: listen to her clients; learn about their needs and goals; respect their choices; and be there to guide them through life's changes. Katharine makes it her mission to provide solid legal advice and caring support to each of her clients.

I have helped over 600 Adult Family Home providers throughout WA state - in all manner of issues. Whether it is a weekend, evening, or holiday, I am available for any emergency call. I help providers with severe troubles that threaten their license. I quickly respond to calls and emails to help providers feel at ease. I give providers their options with potential outcomes. Issues involving: investigations, employment, lease and negotiations, Medicaid conversion, discharge or transfers, preventing potential complaints, caregiver problems, dealing with difficult POAs, removing citations, appealing revocations and summary suspensions, writing quality admission agreements. Informal...

The Law Offices of Patrick M. Trivett, PLLC is a boutique criminal defense and civil litigation firm serving King, Snohomish and Skagit Counties dedicated to zealous client representation and expeditious and creative resolutions.

Ronald L. Cohen is a Seattle native and practices law in Bellevue, Washington. He has more than 30 years experience and has an engaging and friendly manner in guiding individuals and families through their legal matters.

Lisa Kremer's practice focuses primarily on estate planning, probate, and guardianship. She particularly enjoys working with families to try to resolve issues with a minimum amount of stress and turmoil. Lisa also advises businesses, particularly on trademark, copyright and privacy issues, including HIPPA compliance.

Lisa began her professional career as a journalist. She was an award-winning reporter for The News Tribune. In 2005 she decided to move from writing about people’s problems to helping solve them. She commuted from Tacoma to the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle and graduated in 2008.

Lisa is a Trustee of the Tacoma-Pierce County...

Bruce Pruitt-Hamm is an attorney who can litigate, mediate or collaborate.
Litigation- As an attorney with over 20 years experience, Bruce Pruitt-Hamm has been awarded the highest rating by the national lawyer-rating service, Avvo.com. Since graduating in 1994 from the University of Washington School of Law near the top of his class, he has litigated over one thousand cases in a wide variety of areas of the law. Bruce volunteers for the Washington State Bar Association’s “Moderate Means Program“, offering reduced rates to people of moderate means. Bruce’s standard rate is $280/hr.; but he offers discounts for those on legal insurance...

Derek W. Jensen, JD, LLM, is a tax attorney in the North Seattle law frim, Jensen Law Office, primarily assisting individuals and their families with their income tax, estate, business, elder law, and asset protection planning issues. A 1994 graduate from the University of Montana School of Law, and a recipient of a Masters of Law in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law, Derek has 14 years of experience practicing law in Washington State. He enjoys helping people achieve their planning goals. He resides in Seattle with his wife and three daughters.

Paul is the founding attorney of North City Law. Paul offers business, estate planning, probate, dispute resolution and litigation advocacy. Paul is curious in his clients, as he has built businesses himself, including North City Law. Based on his understanding of his client’s position, Paul gives strategic options to empower choices. During client intake and interviews, Paul listens for key gaps in a story to root out hidden issues. In disputes and litigation, Paul helps clients reframe the situation to conform to the applicable legal theory. When clients trust Paul with their business, Paul ensures money is spent wisely on...

I am a second-career attorney who started Adaptive Law so I could offer legal services my own way. I pursued my law degree following a nearly ten-year academic career in urban planning and community development, and now apply my problem-solving mentality to a mixed practice of estate planning, land use and elder law. I represent my home district (District 3) on the Skagit County Planning Commission, and continue to teach as an adjunct professor in the accredited Urban and Regional Planning program at Cal Poly Pomona. I am a member of the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAF), a volunteer...

I have been practicing law since 1990 when I graduated from a top-ranked Canadian law school, Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. After 3 years as a trial lawyer in Canada I moved to California where I gained admission to the California State Bar. I practiced law in West Hollywood California for 13 years until my relocation to Redmond, Washington in 2007. Since 2008 I have practiced family law in the Seattle area, and I have extensive trial experience in King County. While I love being able to fight for my clients in the courtroom I also recognize that fair settlements...

Barry M. Meyers is Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation*. The National Elder Law Foundation is the only organization approved by the American Bar Association to offer certification in the area of elder law. He is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Administration). Mr. Meyers has practiced law since 1983 and elder law since 1992. In 2006, he expanded his practice to provide families with the services of in-house Geriatric Care Managers. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Southern California, a Masters degree from the University of California, Davis,...