Mary Anne Vance

Attorney

Areas of Practice

Mary Anne Vance focuses her practice on estate planning, trusts, and probate law. She has represented a wide variety of clients, helping them organize their estates and care for their family members. Ms. Vance is the co-author of the Probate and Estate Planning chapters of Butterworth's Washington Civil Practice Deskbook. She has chaired and spoken at many legal seminars sponsored by the Washington State and King County Bar Associations. She was voted "Super Lawyer" by the readers of Washington Law and Politics Magazine, voted one of Seattle's "Top Attorneys" by Seattle Magazine and voted a Top Lawyer by Seattle Met Magazine. Ms. Vance graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois.

Honors and Awards

Martindale Hubbell™ 2024
AV© Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 rating
"Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards'

Top Rated Lawyer by AVVO — 2024

The Best Lawyers in America© for Trusts and Estates — 2012 to 2024

Washington Super Lawyer — 1999 to 2024

Seattle Met Magazine Top Attorneys In Washington — 2024

Publications and Presentations

Ms. Vance writes and speaks at Continuing Legal Education Seminars for attorney and for client groups on estate planning, trust, and probate matters.


Personal Estate Planning for the 99% – "Ethics and Estate Planning" (Speaker, King County Bar Association, April 27, 2022)

17th Annual Probate Seminar for Attorneys (Speaker, King County Bar Association, Nov 19, 2021)

Personal Estate Planning for the 99% — Ethics and Estate Planning (Speaker, King County Bar Association, May, 2021)

16th Annual Probate Seminar for Attorneys (Speaker, King County Bar Association, October, 2020)

Annual Fall Probate Seminar for Attorneys (Speaker, Washington State Bar Association, Dec 11, 2019)

15th Annual Probate Seminar for Attorneys (Speaker, King County Bar Association, Nov 1, 2019)

Painless Estate Planning: It's Not Just for Rich People (Speaker, First Choice Health, May 17, 2019)

Personal Estate Planning for the 99% — Ethics and Estate Planning (Speaker, King County Bar Association, April 19, 2019)

Wills and Trusts (Speaker, with Anton Cauthorn, King County Bar Assoiation, March 28, 2019)

14th Annual Probate Administration Seminar (Speaker, King County Bar Association, November 1, 2018)

Personal Estate Planning for the 99% — Ethics and Estate Planning (Speaker, King County Bar Association, April 19, 2018)

"Ethics in Estate Planning along with Jeanne Marie Clavere, Professional Responsibility Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Washington State Bar Association

13th Annual Probate Administration Seminar (Speaker, King County Bar Association, October 23, 2017)

Probate Boot Camp (Speaker, National Business Institute, June 13, 2017)

Using Retirement and Insurance Assets for Planned Gifts (Speaker, Washington Planned Giving Council, May 2, 2017)

Ultimate Guide to Probate (Speaker, National Business Institute, December 2016)

Wills and Trusts (Speaker, King County Bar Association, December 2016)

Estate Planning and the Joy of Giving (Speaker, American Civil Liberties Union, August 2013)

When Death and Divorce Collide (Speaker, Washington State Bar Association, June 2013)

Preparing a Basic Estate Plan (Speaker, Washington State Bar Association, 2012)

End of Life Issues (Speaker, Senior Services of Seattle/King County, 2010)

Strengthening Your Estate Planning Practice (Seminar Chair, King County Bar Association, 2010)

Guardianship Procedures (Seminar Co-Chair, HEALTH Education Network, LLC, 2010)

What Everyone Should Know About the Array of Legal Documents and Procedures Available to Assist the Elderly (Speaker & Author, Washington Elder Law, 2009)

Closing Probate (Speaker, Washington State Bar Association Probate Boot Camp, 2009, 2010)

Protecting Your Money While Building Your Estate at Judson Park Senior Living. (Speaker, 2009)

Buying Together and Not Married? at Salmon Bay Community Lending - Family Finances Series. (Speaker, 2009)

What Everyone Should Know About the Array of Legal Documents and Procedures Available to Assist the Elderly (Speaker & Author, Washington Elder Law, 2008)

When Death and Divorce Collide: Cross-over Issues in Estate Planning and Family Law (Seminar Chair, Washington State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 2005)

Ethical Issues in Estate Planning Practice (Speaker & Author, Washington Ethics Advisory, Washington Law Institute Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 2000, 2001, 2004)

Real World Estate Planning: Estate Planning for the Mid-Sized Estate (Seminar Chair, Washington Law Institute Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 2002)

Estate Planning Involving The Nontraditional Family (Speaker, Washington State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 1997)

Things I Should Know But Am Afraid To Ask: Selected Issues In Real Estate Transactions (Speaker, Real Property Probate & Trust Mid Year Meeting, Washington State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 1994)

Financing and Lender Responsibility in Real Estate Transactions: A Borrower's Perspective (Speaker & Author, Washington State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 1993)

Estate Planning Approaches for Middle Income Individuals and Families (Speaker & Author, Seattle King County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 1992, 1993)

Memberships

Washington State Bar Association,
  Real Property Probate & Trust Section

King County Bar Association

Estate Planning Council of Seattle

Northwest Family Business Advisers

Washington Women In Tax

Past Board Appointments

King County Bar Association   Board of Trustees, 2012-2015

YMCA/West Seattle-Fauntleroy
  Board of Advisors

University Child Development School
  Board of Trustees

On the Boards
  Board of Trustees

Limited Practice Board, State of Washington
  Appointed Board Member