Erin Mae Glass

Erin has been advising clients on estate related matters for over 15 years. She is drawn to this area of law because it allows her to educate and support individuals and families as they plan for and experience very significant life transitions. At its core, estate planning is about thoughtfully organizing one’s affairs so that we can care for our loved ones. One of Erin’s strengths is in connecting with people, ensuring that they feel heard, and assisting them in creating a comprehensive plan that honors present and future needs with a thoughtful legacy for the loved ones and causes we each hold dear.

 

One of Erin’s specialized areas of practice is in advising clients on end-of-life related matters. This often begins with a discussion about the type of medical interventions one wants or does not want at the end of life and then, preparation of a detailed Advanced Directive (also known as a Health Care Directive or Living Will) to ensure that those wishes are clearly communicated and honored. Erin serves on the board of End of Life Washington, a statewide nonprofit that educates and supports individuals with end-of-life planning and the use of Death with Dignity and other end-of-life options, including Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED). VSED is an end-of-life option that is frequently used by individuals who may not otherwise qualify for Death with Dignity. Erin is frequently asked to write and speak about these issues. She has been actively involved in end-of-life advocacy for more than a decade. In addition to direct client advocacy, Erin regularly serves on regional and nationwide VSED planning groups.  

 

In addition to the advocacy detailed above, Erin frequently advises families on the use and benefit of different types of Special Needs Trusts to assist families as they navigate the often complex legal and financial issues that are raised when a loved one has a cognitive or physical impairment resulting in the need for disability benefits. Many times, these issues require the appointment of a guardian, as well as trust creation and administration.

 

Prior to founding Chuckanut Law Group, Erin was a Partner with Barron Smith Daugert, PLLC. Barron Smith Daugert, PLLC recently restructured so that we can better provide for our clients’ unique needs. Chuckanut Law Group arose from that restructuring with a dedicated focus to provide high quality legal representation—focused on thoughtful planning, timely and responsive communication, and developing plans that are tailored specifically to each client’s individual needs.

 

Prior to her work with Chuckanut Law, PLLC and Barron Smith Daugert, PLLC, Erin completed a two-year judicial clerkship for the Washington State Court of Appeals under Judge Mary Kay Becker. In law school Erin served as a Goldmark fellow for the Legal Foundation of Washington and a Laurel Rubin Farm Worker fellow for Columbia Legal Services.  Prior to law school Erin was a high school teacher for an experiential based high school and a social worker for adults with developmental disabilities. She was also a whitewater river guide in Montana and a backcountry wilderness instructor for teenagers in southern Utah.

 

When not at the office, Erin can be found playing outside on rivers and in the mountains. She loves to ski, run, bike, climb, surf and explore the rivers of the West with her three children and two pups.