EAST KING COUNTY ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

Please join us In Person at Bakes Place in Bellevue for a presentation by

Michael J. Longyear

Elder Law

Michael Longyear has over 30 years of experience helping clients make important decisions regarding their personal and estate planning, guardianship proceedings, probate and trust administration, as well as elder law issues. He also devotes part of his legal practice to related real estate and business organization management matters.

Michael Longyear values the opportunity to educate his clients about proactive planning and personal decision making. He enjoys helping clients to solve complex problems and to meet the goals of individuals, couples and families. Taking a big picture approach with his clients for their planning needs, he works with clients about their best options and opportunities in order to select a tailored course of action.

Michael Longyear has been recognized as a 2025 Super Lawyer as well as in 2001-2010 and 2014-2024. He was also named Seattle Best Lawyer in 2001 and 2003 by Seattle magazine. Michael received the Highest Possible Peer Review Rating in Trusts & Estates from Martindale-Hubbell for being rated AV Preeminent by his peers. He is a Children’s Legacy Advisor at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation, a member of the Estate Planning Council of Seattle, as well as a member of the Washington Planned Giving Council, and Northwest Family Business Advisors.

Michael Longyear is a past chair and served on the Executive Committee for the Real Property, Probate & Trust section of the King County Bar Association (KCBA).  He is also currently a member of the Executive Committee for the Washington State Bar Association’s (WSBA) Elder Law section. He is Past-Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association and served on the Executive Committee in various capacities from 1999 to 2008 and from 2015-Present. He previously served on the executive committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of the Washington State Bar Association.

Michael Longyear has been recognized for his experience in the area of guardianship and served on the Washington Supreme Court Certified Professional Guardian Board from 2001 to 2008. He is a Certified Professional Guardian and serves as guardian of the estate, trustee, and estate administrator in routine and contested matters. He is currently serving as a member of the board of directors for the Washington Association of Professional Guardians.

He is a Past-Chair of the King County Bar Association Guardianship and Elder Law Section, and is a Past Co-Chair of the Title 11.88 Mandatory Guardian ad Litem Training Program. He is a past Co-Chair of the King County Settlement Guardian ad Litem (SPR 98.16W) Training Program.

As part of Michael’s commitment to racial equity and justice, he is lending his expertise and advice as a member of the Justice Society Committee of the Endowment for Equal Justice. The Endowment exists to provide unrestricted, long-term funding to help people experiencing poverty secure the legal help they need to solve problems. Michael’s work on the Justice Society Committee is focused on helping the Endowment create and implement a planned giving strategy to encourage lawyers and others to leave a legacy of justice to the Endowment in their estate plan.

Published Works

• Washington State Guardian Manual, Editor, 2004
• King County Probate Policy Manual, Contributing Author, 2003
• Washington State Guardianship Manual, Contributing Author, 2003
• Capacity and Undue Influence – Guardianship and Durable Power of Attorney, Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Seminar, 2001
• Capacity – A Transactional Issue, King County Bar Association, Advanced Guardianship Issues, 2001