Corporate Trustee & Estate Settlement Services - Serving Washington and Beyond
Why Choose Pacific Portfolio Trust Company
At Pacific Portfolio Trust Company, we specialize in Corporate Trustee Services and Estate Settlement Services for clients seeking a reliable, objective, and experienced fiduciary partner. Our goal is to give you back what matters most: time.
Managing a trust or estate involves countless details, complex coordination, and ever-changing regulatory demands. Our integrated, comprehensive approach is designed to relieve you of these burdens—freeing you to focus on what’s most important to you, whether that’s family, philanthropy, or your next endeavor.
With over 30 years of experience rooted in Seattle, we bring together deep knowledge of Washington’s legal landscape, tax codes, and community networks with the rigorous governance, security, and compliance standards of a top national institution. We work with clients throughout Washington and across the country, providing a highly personalized and professional experience for those who entrust us with at least $2 million in discretionary assets. Our fully integrated suite of trust services is designed to simplify complexity: we coordinate closely with your attorneys, accountants, and other advisors, and connect you with specialized experts when needed.
Solutions
Agent for Trustee (Nationwide Service)
Simplify Trust Investment Management with Our Experienced Fiduciary Team
Delegate the complexities of investment management to our experienced professionals. This approach frees up your time and gives you confidence that your trust assets are being expertly managed in accordance with sound investment principles.
Corporate Trustee
Gain Peace of Mind with Expert Trust Administration
Discover how our professional corporate trustee services provide stability, impartiality, and expertise — relieving you and your family of administrative burdens and potential conflicts.
Special Needs Trust
Gain Peace of Mind Knowing Your Loved One with Special Needs Has Long-Term Financial Security
Create a lasting safety net for your beneficiary's future with a Special Needs Trust, professionally managed to provide consistent support and care throughout their lifetime.
Estate Administration
Ensure Smooth and Accurate Estate Settlement with Our Professional Administration Services
Rely on our expertise to navigate the complexities of probate and estate settlement, ensuring all legal requirements are met accurately and efficiently, minimizing delays and potential complications.
Estate Planning
Craft Your Enduring Wealth Strategy with Expert Trust Solutions
Develop a comprehensive plan for preserving, growing, and transferring your wealth through our strategic trust services, tailored to your unique financial goals and family needs.
Charitable Giving
Maximize Your Charitable Impact and Tax Benefits with Strategic Trust Planning
Discover how our expert trust services can help you structure your charitable giving to support the causes you care about most, while potentially offering significant income, estate, and gift tax advantages.
List of Trust Companies in the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions
Articles and Insights on Trust Services
Share this page
Get Started Today
Our professionals welcome the opportunity to develop a customized wealth management solution. Meet the team
our family?
Should we set up a trust? What types of trusts are there and which one is right for our family?
Trusts are valuable tools which allow you to exercise control over your family legacy which would not otherwise be possible. Instead of leaving all of your assets outright to one individual, for example, placing those assets in a trust will allow you to provide benefits to multiple beneficiaries. There are a myriad of uses of trusts. Your relationship officer at the Pacific Portfolio Trust Company can explore their many uses to prepare you for a planning session with your other advisors such as CPAs and attorneys.
Because a trust allows you to control how your assets are managed both during and after your lifetime, people with special circumstances, such as those who are caring for a child or family member with special needs, or managing succession planning for a closely held business, find it to be a very appealing option. A trust even allows you to specify certain conditions that must be met in order for a transfer of assets to be completed.
We specialize in the below types of trusts which are in common use today:
- Living Trust
- Credit Shelter, or By Pass Trust
- IRA Rollover
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT)
- Charitable Trusts
- Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT)
- Qualifying Terminal Interest Property (QTIP)
- Special Needs Trusts
- Spendthrift Trusts
Should I name a family member as a trustee? Wouldn’t it be more cost effective than hiring a corporate trustee?
While each family’s situation is unique, the short answer is often "No" to both questions. Naming someone already known to your beneficiaries, and whom you trust, doesn’t mean they are the appropriate party to name as your fiduciary. Do they have the expertise and time to manage your trust? Can they remain impartial if they too are named beneficiaries?
At Pacific Portfolio we have specialists in all of the fields necessary to properly manage trusts, and the desire to serve your interests over multiple generations. We are locally owned and managed, so we can develop close relationships with you and your beneficiaries. Our fees are inclusive, meaning they cover the costs of investment advice, custody, accounting, and fiduciary services, which is more efficient and cost-effective than contracting for each separately.
Aside from costs, we believe that our investment expertise would be hard for any private Trustee to match. The “opportunity cost” of an inefficient trust investment portfolio could have a huge impact on whether or not your trust lives up to your expectations. We can structure a portfolio that balances risk and return and matches the objectives set out for your trust. Properly managed, your portfolio should cover all of your expenses, while maximizing long-term results.
Corporate Trustee & Estate Settlement Services FAQ
Navigating estate planning and settlement in Washington requires specialized expertise. Our Corporate Trustee and Estate Settlement Services are designed to provide professional guidance and efficient administration. Find answers to frequently asked questions about how these services can benefit you and your family in Washington.
What is a Corporate Trustee in Washington?
A Corporate Trustee in Washington is a professional entity, often a trust company or bank trust department, appointed to manage and administer a trust. Unlike an individual trustee, a corporate trustee provides perpetual existence, professional investment management, impartial administration, and expertise in complex Washington trust law and tax regulations.
How does a Corporate Trustee assist with Washington Estate Planning?
A Corporate Trustee works with your estate planning attorney to structure trusts that meet your specific goals, such as minimizing Washington estate tax, protecting assets, or providing for beneficiaries.
What is Estate Settlement in Washington, and why is professional help needed?
Estate Settlement in Washington is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. Professional services help navigate the complex legal, tax, and procedural requirements, minimizing risks and disputes.
How does a Corporate Trustee handle the Washington Probate process?
They manage filing the will, notifying heirs, inventorying assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing assets, ensuring compliance with Washington law throughout the probate process.
What is the Washington State Estate Tax exclusion amount?
For deaths occurring in 2025, the exclusion amount is $2.193 million. Estates exceeding this are subject to Washington's estate tax rates.
How can trusts help minimize the Washington Estate Tax?
Trusts like bypass trusts can help shelter assets from taxation, reducing or eliminating Washington Estate Tax when used strategically in estate planning.
Do you handle Special Needs Trusts in Washington?
Yes. We manage Special Needs Trusts to ensure they supplement, rather than replace, important benefits like Medicaid and SSI for beneficiaries with disabilities.
How does Washington's Community Property law affect estate settlement?
Washington's Community Property law dictates that only the deceased's share of community property and separate property are included in their estate.
Why choose a Seattle-based Corporate Trustee and Estate Settlement Service?
Local trustees have familiarity with Washington laws, courts, and processes, ensuring smoother, compliant administration of estates and trusts.
How can I learn more or get started with your services in Washington?
Contact us to discuss your specific needs. We can provide personalized information and help you navigate estate planning and administration in Washington State.
Top Trust Companies in Washington State
List of Trust Companies and Departments Regulated by DFI
Trust companies and departments provide fiduciary and wealth management services. CEOs and Presidents receive legal service on behalf of Washington state trust companies and departments.
Fill out the form below to speak with us about our Trust Services
