Alison Warden

Alison Warden is an experienced trust and estate litigation attorney. With a legal career spanning over 20 years and a background in tax, Alison brings a unique perspective to her practice, enabling her to navigate the complexities that arise in matters where personal and financial issues are deeply intertwined.

Alison is known for her strategic, compassionate advocacy, and she has successfully represented clients in a wide range of trust and estate disputes, including will contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, financial exploitation, and other matters brought under the Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA) and the Vulnerable Adult Protection Act (VAPA). Her dedicated approach to her clients’ needs is matched by her skilled representation in court, ensuring their interests are fully protected. Alison also appreciates the value of avoiding litigation where appropriate. A key component of her practice is to advise and represent clients who seek alternatives to litigation, such as mediation, and she strives to find creative solutions to help her clients achieve their goals while minimizing the emotional and financial toll of the legal process.

- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Fellow

- Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Probate and Trust and Taxation Sections

- QLaw Association of Washington, Board of Directors, Past President

- King County Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

“Law and Practice,” Chambers USA, Private Wealth Disputes Guide 2026: USA—Washington, contributor (Feb. 2026)

“Financial Elder Abuse,” Washington State Bar Association, Probate and Trust Fall 2025 CLE (Dec. 2025)

“Safeguarding Seniors: Strategies Against Financial Exploitation,” Estate Planning Council of Seattle, September Dinner Meeting (Sept. 2025)

“How to Prepare a Case with Trust Issues,” The Seminar Group, Complex Family Law Issues CLE (Sept. 2025)

“Behind the Curtain: Unpacking the Impact of Undue Influence on Older Adults,” Aging Wisdom Breakfast (Mar. 2025)

“Community Property, Separate Property & Division of Assets,” King County Bar Association, Guardianship & Related Issues CLE (Nov. 2024)

“A Career in Estate and Business Planning,” University of Washington Federal Tax Clinic (Mar. 2024)

“When the Marriage Ends but the Trust Doesn’t: Irrevocable Trust Issues Arising During Divorce,” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Probate and Trust Mid-Year Conference CLE (June 2024)

“Fighting Financial Exploitation: Criminal and Civil Tools and Strategies,” Washington State Bar Association 20th Annual Trust & Estate Litigation CLE (Apr. 2023)

“The Intersection of Decedent’s Estates and Consumer Law,” National Consumer Law Center Annual Conference (Nov. 2022)

“The Latest Death Care Option is Also The Greenest,” Puget Sound Business Journal (Mar. 2021)

“Tortious Interference with an Expected Inheritance: Should Washington Resort to the Tort?” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Newsletter (Summer 2020)

“Estate Planning in the Time of COVID-19,” StokesLaw Briefs (Mar. 2020)

“To Lie Down in Greener Pastures: Washington State’s Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Burial,” StokesLaw Briefs (May 2019)

“What Washington Snowbirds Should Know About Taxes,” StokesLaw Briefs (Mar. 2019)

“Drafting Wills for Families,” Personal Estate Planning for the 99%, King County Bar Association CLE (Apr. 2018)

“Tax Impacts of Divorce,” Eastside Legal Assistance Project CE Series (Aug. 2015)

“Self-Directed IRAs and Other Interesting Retirement Plan Developments,” University of Washington Federal Tax Clinic Annual CLE (Sept. 2014)

“Tax Issues Faced by Same-Sex Couples After Windsor Decision,” University of Washington Federal Tax Clinic Annual CLE (Aug. 2013)

“Estate Planning Disasters of the Rich and Famous,” Business Law Class, Charter College (July 2013)

In her free time, Alison enjoys listening to news commentaries, managing her cats, and doting on her seven nephews.

Trust & Estate Litigation

- Successfully tried consolidated trust and dissolution action involving two $70M+ SLATs, securing removal of spouse as trustee for conflict-driven misconduct and supporting substantial equalization payment due to unequal trust terms.

- Obtained $1.85M+ settlement in high stakes will contest involving slayer statute and breach of fiduciary duty claims, restoring substantial recovery to decedent’s children who had been wrongfully disinherited.

- Recovered $800,000+ for public university after prevailing at trial and on appeal in litigation involving destruction of a will, breach of fiduciary duty, and misuse of estate assets.

- Negotiated favorable resolution of contested trust dispute involving trustee self-dealing, securing cash settlement and removal of conflicted trustee in favor of professional fiduciary.

- Obtained favorable Court of Appeals ruling in estate administration dispute, successfully invoking claim and issue preclusion to defeat untimely TEDRA action and securing award of attorneys’ fees.

- Prevailed at trial under the Vulnerable Adult Protection Act, protecting elderly client from financial exploitation and securing court-ordered financial safeguards.

- Member of trial team that successfully invalidated $40M estate plan procured through financial exploitation and secured favorable settlement for charitable beneficiary.