Legal Services & Lawyers

Jamie founded Phinney Estate Law in 2007 as a way of addressing a need she saw in the community for affordable, values-based estate planning and as a way to develop a legal practice that was consistent with her own values and legal philosophy. Before founding Phinney Estate Law Jamie worked as a litigation associate at Cozen O'Connor, as an attorney advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice, and as legal intern for Northwest Immigration Rights Project and Northwest Justice Project.

Jamie began her work in estate law in 2005 as a pro bono attorney with King County Volunteer Attorneys for Persons with HIV/AIDS (VAPWA). She found that she enjoyed the opportunity to help clients with the planning process and and the chance to think creatively with these clients to address the unique needs of their situations. She also appreciated the opportunity to work with clients to avoid conflicts. In addition to her work with VAPWA, Jamie also did pro bono work and/or worked for non-profits providing clients with assistance with immigration petitions, naturalization, applications for public benefits, and family law cases. She continues to devote 30% of her practice to pro bono work and free community education. As part of that service, Jamie serves as a volunteer attorney facilitator for the ex-party probate and guardianship calendar in King County.

Since founding Phinney Estate Law, Jamie has had the opportunity to work with individual or families in a variety of situations. She has worked with newlyweds, young families, single business owners, blending families, the terminally ill, and non-married clients. It is her experience that each family, no matter how traditional or non-traditional, is truly unique and, once you get to know them, have unique needs.

When she is not working, Jamie volunteers her time to a number of local community groups including the Seattle Milk Fund, Phinney EcoVillage, Phinney-Greenwoood Climate Change Action Now, and the Greenwood Arts Council and is the elected Democratic PCO for her neighborhood. She is a practicing Quaker with the Salmon Bay Friends Circle. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends and loves spending a much time as possible enjoying the outdoors. She is in three book clubs and is always looking for a good book. She also carves and prints block prints which can occasionally be seen in shops and coffee house in the Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood.

Jamie is a member of the Washington State Bar Association sections on Probate and Elder Law. She is also a member of the King County Bar Association sections on Probate and Elder Law. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the King County Bar Association Collaborative Law Section and Liaison to the KCBA Elder Law Section. She is also a member of the International Holistic Lawyerâs Association.

Geniel M. Ashcraft, Esq. has nearly seven years of experience as an estate, tax, and business planning attorney and has helped hundreds of clients complete their estates. Ms. Ashcraft is known for her service, attention to detail, and down to earth manner. Ms. Ashcraft mainly conducts her business through house calls. Her clients find they appreciate the convenience, her easy-to-understand approach, and personal attention.

Geniel started her law practice in July of 2002. Geniel is admitted to practice in both Washington and Utah. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western Washington District and the United States District Court of Utah. She is an active member of the Washington and Utah Bar Associations.

In addition to providing service to her own clients, she has worked alongside several investment firms and banks providing their clients with estate planning assistance. She has also spoken at many seminars on estate planning.

She received her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2001.

Derek W. Jensen, JD, LLM, is a tax attorney in the North Seattle law frim, Jensen Law Office, primarily assisting individuals and their families with their income tax, estate, business, elder law, and asset protection planning issues. A 1994 graduate from the University of Montana School of Law, and a recipient of a Masters of Law in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law, Derek has 14 years of experience practicing law in Washington State. He enjoys helping people achieve their planning goals. He resides in Seattle with his wife and three daughters.