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Steven Schindler

Profile photo for Steven J. Schindler
Profile photo for Steven J. Schindler
Partner

Steven Schindler

Steven helps estate planning clients navigate an increasingly complex legal and tax environment.

Steven Schindler provides clients with comprehensive strategies to achieve successful family, business, and charitable objectives. He advises clients on estate and tax planning, planned charitable giving, estate and trust administration, nonjudicial dispute resolution, and the preparation of gift and estate tax returns.

In his estate planning work, Steven creates solutions tailored to each client's unique circumstances and goals, assisting clients in sensitive matters including wealth transfer, asset protection, and legacy preservation. With more than 17 years of experience, he is adept at managing the nuances of tax law, helping clients minimize tax liabilities while maximizing benefits. He applies his knowledge of tax codes to structure trusts, implement gifting strategies, and manage tax compliance.

Additionally, Steven assists in developing charitable giving plans that reflect clients' values and aspirations, while also optimizing tax advantages.

An active community member, Steven serves as treasurer of the King County Cultural Development Authority (4Culture) and formerly served as president of the Estate Planning Council of Seattle.

Education & Credentials

Education

  • Duke University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2007
  • Duke University, M.P.P., Public Policy, 2007
  • Southern Methodist University, B.A., History; B.S., Engineering Management Science and Mathematics, summa cum laude, 2003

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Washington
  • Arizona
  • Texas

Related Employment

  • Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, New York, NY, Summer Legal Intern, 2005
  • Duke University, Duke Foundation Research Program (now the Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society), Durham, NC, Research Assistant, 2003-2007

Professional Recognition

  • Named "Lawyer of the Year," for Trusts and Estates by Best Lawyers in America, 2020

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Trusts and Estates, 2018-2024

  • Ranked in Private Wealth Law, Washington by Chambers High Net Worth (HNW), 2016-2018, 2022-2024

  • Selected as a “Notable Practitioner” in Private Wealth Law by Chambers High Net Worth (HNW), 2016-2021

  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow, 2018

  • Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Washington Rising Stars," 2014-2020; Listed as Super Lawyer, 2021-2024

Impact

Professional Leadership

  • Estate Planning Council of Seattle, Past President 
  • Washington State Bar Association

    Real Property, Probate & Trust Section, Probate & Trust Council, Past Member
    Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Newsletter, Editorial Board, Past Member

  • King County Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, Past Chair

Community Involvement

  • King County Cultural Development Authority (4Culture), Director
  • Seattle Leadership Tomorrow, Class of 2018
  • Atlantic Street Center, Former Board Member
  • End of Life Washington, Former Board Member
  • Powerful Schools Inc., Board of Directors (Former Treasurer and Member)

Professional Experience

Personal Planning

Estate Planning Documents in Context of Family Dynamics

Assisting clients in the preparation of their wills, trusts, powers of attorneys and healthcare documents with an eye to internal family dynamics and the family members' abilities to handle fiduciary and business decisions. This process often includes consideration as to whether non-family executors and trustees may benefit the estate or trust administration.   These documents include: revocable living trusts for lifetime management of assets or out-of-state real property to avoid probate, as well as durable powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions,  Durable Powers of Attorney (DPA), healthcare directives and living wills, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorizations for release of protected healthcare information, and premarital and postnuptial property status agreements that clarify status of community and separate property.

Gift Planning

Providing advice on tax efficient gifting to children and grandchildren, including drafting and implementing "Crummey" Trusts, Generation-Skipping Trusts, Residence Trusts (QPRTs), Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) and Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs).  We also assisted clients with education savings planning, including tax effects of 529 Plans, and provided advice on tax efficient giving to charities, including Charitable Lead Trusts and Charitable Remainder Trusts (CLATs, CLUTs, CRATs and CRUTs).  In addition, we prepared estate and gift tax forecasts and plans for payment of estate taxes for business succession.

Probate and Trust Administration

Advising clients on estate and trust administration, probate, estate and trust dispute resolution matters and the preparation of gift and estate tax returns, including:

  • Representing executors or administrators (a.k.a. personal representatives) of estates and trustees of trusts in the fulfillment of fiduciary duties,
  • Representing beneficiaries regarding their interests in estates and trusts, and
  • Advising and drafting nonjudicial binding agreements to modify will or trust terms or to settle fiduciary disputes
Guardianship and Special Needs Trust

Represent trustees of special needs trusts and guardians of loved ones in the preparation of periodic court reporting obligations. We also work with individuals seeking to become guardians of loved ones who have lost the capacity to manage their affairs.

Nonprofit Organizations

Assists individuals and groups in the formation of charitable organizations and advises existing charitable organizations on a variety of legal and tax matters, including

  • Preparing applications for tax-exempt status and representing client organizations before the Internal Revenue Service
  • Advising on joint ventures and political activities
  • Advising on obligations for administration and expenditure of charitable endowment funds under gift agreements and applicable state statutes
Private Foundations & Charitable Trusts

Assisted clients in establishing private foundations or charitable trusts to hold family assets.  These include endowment agreements with various educational or charitable institutions.  Provided ongoing family foundation counseling and grant making consultation and advice.

Limited Liability Companies and Family Limited Partnerships

Established limited liability companies (LLCs) and family limited partnerships (FLPs) for the management of family real estate and other assets among multiple generations of the same family.

Tax Representation

Preparing gift tax returns to report taxable gifts and federal and Washington estate tax returns and represented taxpayers on estate and gift tax audits.

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