Cindy J. Stakset

Ms. Stakset’s practice focuses on estate planning, tax planning for individuals and businesses, probate, and preparation of estate tax returns.

Ms. Stakset earned her Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Washington. She received her Juris Doctor degree, with Honors, from the University of Washington and was named to the Order of the Coif as one of the top graduates in her law school class. While in law school, Ms. Stakset served as Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Law Review. Ms. Stakset earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Washington Foster School of Business

Raised in the Seattle area, Ms. Stakset joined Betts Austin in 2000. Ms. Stakset’s estate planning practice involves reviewing clients’ estates and devising gifting and estate planning strategies that provide for wealth preservation and efficient asset distribution, much of which is tax driven. Ms. Stakset develops strategies to help clients best protect assets, minimize taxes, accomplish desired transfers, and minimize disputes after death. In addition to advising clients as to lifetime and testamentary gifting strategies, Ms. Stakset also assists clients with the preparation and filing of federal gift tax returns.

Ms. Stakset’s tax planning practice includes advising individuals on business and tax matters, reviewing and preparing contracts, and preparing and filing formation documents for S-corporations and limited liability companies. Her practice also includes advising business entities on a wide variety of matters.

Ms. Stakset’s probate practice is focused on advising and assisting administrators during the probate process. She assists administrators with making required filings, paying estate creditors, and distributing assets in accordance with the decedent’s will or intestate law. She also advises clients on a wide variety of issues that arise in the probate process. In addition to advising clients during the probate process, Ms. Stakset also assists clients with estate administration matters and the preparation and filing of federal and state estate tax returns.

Admitted To Practice

• Washington State

Education

• University of Washington School of Law, LL.M., 2001
• University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 2000
• Order of the Coif
• Associate Editor-In-Chief, Washington Law Review
• University of Washington Foster School of Business,B.A., magna cum laude, 1997

Professional Memberships

• Washington State Bar Association