Community Property Agreements

A community property agreement is a tool that’s unique to community property states like Washington. For most married couples, it’s the simplest way to make sure that when one spouse dies, all of the couple’s property passes to the survivor without going through probate at all.

What we’ll cover in detail

• What a community property agreement is and what it does at the first death
• Why it’s often a more efficient probate-avoidance tool than a trust
• What it doesn’t do (you still need a will or trust for the second death)
• When a CPA might be a bad fit (blended families, separate property concerns, creditor exposure)
• How it works alongside wills, beneficiary designations, and durable powers of attorney

For many Washington couples, a community property agreement is the highest-leverage piece of the estate plan. We are happy to explain the benefits further. Give us a call.