If you live in Clarkston, you need an estate planning attorney who understands both Washington and Idaho law.
Clarkston sits right on the Washington-Idaho border, across the Snake River from Lewiston.
The Lewiston-Clarkston Valley is one community split by a state line—which creates unique estate planning challenges.
Many Clarkston residents own property in both states, work across state lines, or have family on both sides of the border.
Washington has an estate tax. Idaho doesn’t. If you structure your estate wrong, you could cost your family hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Why Location Matters for Estate Planning in Clarkston
Clarkston’s location creates estate planning issues you won’t find in most of Washington. You might own your home in Clarkston but have rental property in Lewiston. You might work in Idaho but live in Washington. You might have inherited a family cabin in Nez Perce County.
All of this matters when you’re planning your estate.
Washington has an estate tax. Idaho doesn’t. If you’re a Washington resident, everything you own—even property in Idaho—can be subject to Washington estate tax when you die. But if you structure your estate plan correctly, you can minimize that tax or avoid it entirely.
Here’s a common mistake we see: Clarkston residents put their Idaho property into an LLC thinking it protects them. But that actually pulls the Idaho property into their Washington taxable estate. They’ve just created a massive tax bill for their family without realizing it.
This is why you need an estate planning attorney who understands both states. Most attorneys in Spokane or Seattle don’t think about Idaho. Most attorneys in Boise don’t deal with Washington estate tax. We handle both every day.
At McKarcher Law, our office is right here in the valley at 537 6th Street in Clarkston. We understand this community. We know the challenges of living on the border. And we’re the only law firm in this region that specializes exclusively in estate planning.
Estate Planning Services for Clarkston Families
We provide comprehensive estate planning services for Clarkston residents and families throughout Asotin County:
- Revocable living trusts that avoid probate in both Washington and Idaho
- Wills and estate planning documents
- Powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions
- Special needs trusts for family members with disabilities
- Business succession planning
- Estate tax planning for Washington residents
- Probate administration in Washington and Idaho
Whether you’re a young family just starting out, a business owner, or approaching retirement, we can help you protect what you’ve built.
The Washington Estate Tax Problem for Clarkston Residents
Washington’s estate tax is one of the highest in the country. As of 2025, estates over $2.193 million are taxed. The tax rate starts at 10% and goes up to 20% for estates over $9 million.
If you’re a Washington resident, you’re subject to Washington estate tax on everything you own worldwide—including property in Idaho.
Here’s what that means for Clarkston residents:
If you own your home in Clarkston and a rental property in Lewiston, both properties count toward your Washington taxable estate. If you own a cabin in Clearwater County, that counts too. If you have retirement accounts, life insurance, and business interests, all of that gets added up.
For many families, the total is higher than they think. A home worth $400,000, retirement accounts worth $800,000, and a rental property worth $600,000 puts you at $1.8 million—close to the exemption. Add life insurance, and you’re over.
The good news: there are ways to structure your estate to minimize Washington estate tax. But you need to plan ahead. After you die, it’s too late.
Why Probate in Two States Is a Nightmare
If you die with only a will—or no estate plan at all—your family has to go through probate. And if you own property in both Washington and Idaho, they have to go through probate in both states.
We see this all the time with Clarkston families. Someone dies owning their home in Asotin County and a cabin in Idaho County. The family discovers they need to open probate in Washington for the house and ancillary probate in Idaho for the cabin.
That means two separate court proceedings, two sets of legal fees, two sets of court costs, and months of delays.
A trust avoids all of this. If your assets are in a trust, your trustee can distribute them immediately after you die—no probate, no court, no delays. This works in both states.
At McKarcher Law, we structure trusts that avoid probate in Washington and Idaho. We make sure your assets are properly titled. And we coordinate everything so your family doesn’t have to deal with two probate courts.
- Lewis-Clark Valley
- Clarkston
- Asotin
- Pullman
- Asotin County
- Whitman County
- Lewiston
- Moscow
- Nez Perce County
- Latah County
- Clarkston Heights
- Clarkston Heights-Vineland
- Lewiston Orchards
- Lapwai
- Genesee
- Colfax
- Orofino
- Pomeroy
- Potlatch
- Palouse
- Uniontown
- Tekoa
- Garfield
- Dayton
- Waitsburg
- Kamiah
- Nezperce
- Grangeville
- Plummer
- Saint Maries
- Farmington
- Rosalia
- Endicott
- St. John
- Albion
- Onaway
- Troy
- Deary
- Kendrick
- Juliaetta
- Peck
- Culdesac
- Winchester
- Reubens
- Craigmont
- Cottonwood
What Makes McKarcher Law Different
We’re the only law firm in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley that specializes exclusively in estate planning. We don’t handle divorces. We don’t do criminal defense. We focus on one thing: protecting families and their assets.
We’re also licensed in both Washington and Idaho. That matters here. Most estate planning attorneys practice in one state or the other. We handle both.
We understand the Snake and Clearwater Rivers confluence, the farming families who own land on both sides of the border, the retirees who moved here for the outdoor recreation, and the business owners who serve this entire valley.
Our office is right here in Clarkston at 537 6th Street. We’re part of this community. And we’re here to help.
Common Questions from Clarkston Residents
Do I need a trust or is a will enough?
If you own real estate, have significant assets, or want to avoid probate, you need a trust. A will guarantees probate—in both states if you own property in both. A trust avoids probate entirely.
What happens if I become incapacitated?
If you don’t have powers of attorney, your family has to go to court to get a conservatorship. That’s expensive, time-consuming, and public. Powers of attorney let someone you trust step in immediately without going to court.
How does Washington estate tax affect me if I own property in Idaho?
If you’re a Washington resident, Washington taxes everything you own—including property in Idaho. But there are strategies to minimize that tax. We can help you structure your estate to protect your family.
What if I own a business in both states?
Business succession planning is critical. You need a plan for what happens to your business if you die or become incapacitated. We help business owners structure their estates to protect their companies and their families.
Asotin County Superior Court
Clarkston, WA | Probate & estate administration
- Address: 135 2nd St, Clarkston, WA 99403
- Handles probate proceedings, estate administration, and related filings for Asotin County residents.
Nez Perce County Courthouse
Lewiston, ID | Probate court services
- Address: 1230 Main St, Lewiston, ID 83501
- Oversees probate cases, estate filings, and court-supervised administration for local families.
Helpful Local Resources for Clarkston Residents
We believe in supporting our community. Here are some helpful local resources:
Lewiston-Clarkston Valley Chamber of Commerce – Supporting local businesses throughout the valley
https://www.lewclarkvalley.org/
Clarkston City Hall – City services and information
https://www.clarkstonwa.org/
Asotin County Courthouse – County government and court services
Tri-State Memorial Hospital – Local healthcare services
https://www.tristatehealth.org/
Washington State Bar Association – Legal resources and attorney information
These organizations serve the Clarkston community. While McKarcher Law specializes exclusively in estate planning, we recognize that families often need connections to other local services and resources.
Contact McKarcher Law Today
If you live in Clarkston and you’re ready to protect your family and your assets, contact McKarcher Law today.
McKarcher Law is located at 537 6th Street, Clarkston, WA 99403.
Call to schedule your consultation.
We serve families throughout Asotin County and the entire Lewiston-Clarkston Valley region, in both Washington and Idaho.
537 6th Street, Clarkston,
WA 99403
