About Stephen M. Waltar
Attorney
Steve was born on March 15, 1962, in Boston, Massachusetts. His true roots, however, are firmly planted in the Pacific Northwest. Steve grew up in Richland, Washington and moved to Seattle in 1980 to attend college (Seattle Pacific University, B.A., cum laude, 1984). He lived in Princeton, New Jersey for three years during graduate school (Princeton Theological Seminary, M.Div., 1988). Steve returned to Puget Sound to attend law school in Tacoma (University of Puget Sound/Seattle University, J.D., 1993). He was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1994. Steve is also admitted to practice in United States District Court, Western District of Washington.
Experience
Prior to establishing his own law firm in 2000, Mr. Waltar spent four years at an exclusive estate planning law firm in Seattle. Mr. Waltar limits his law practice to areas associated with estate planning, including trusts, estate tax law, wills, probate, asset protection, business incorporation & succession planning, charitable giving, and disability planning. Before he limited his practice to estate and business planning, Mr. Waltar was with Rosenow, Johnson, Graffe, Keay & Moniz, focusing his practice on general litigation, insurance defense, and family law. Before joining Rosenow Johnson, he supervised the family law department at Mulligan & Associates, P.L.L.C.
Steve is a popular and entertaining speaker at estate planning seminars, and has taught both professionals and lay people estate planning and charitable giving. Steve has given over 100 seminars and talks and has taught courses at the University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Northwest University, and Bellevue Community College. He has spoken to private and public employees as well as to numerous communities, civic and religious groups. Steve has been a co-host and guest on two syndicated radio programs. He is a co-author of the book Legacy Wealth Planning: Looking Beyond the Financial to Provide Your Family with True Generational Wealth.
Memberships
Washington State Bar Association; American Bar Association; Washington State Bar Real Property, Probate & Trust Section; East King County Estate Planning Counsel; American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys; Seattle Philanthropic Advisors Network; Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club (Rotary International); Washington State Association of Life Underwriters; Bellevue Club; and First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue.
“Mr. Waltar is currently a Fellow of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.”
Community Service
Numerous service projects through the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club; Member of the “Three Gallon” Club of the Puget Sound Blood Bank, led numerous blood drives. Past service involves Elder and Adult Day Services Board Member; Evergreen Healthcare Foundation Board Member; Volunteer Mediator with the Center for Conflict Management; Past President of the Christian Legal Society-Law School Division; Alumnus of Centurions; Alumnus of Phi Alpha Delta.
Personal
Mr. Waltar has been married nearly 30 years. He and his wife and two college-aged daughters live in Kirkland, Washington. He enjoys coaching girls’ basketball, attending sporting events and participating in sporting activities, personal fitness, skiing (especially snow skiing at Condo in Sun Valley, Idaho), fishing, hiking, leading Men’s retreats, and travel. In the summer of 2012, Steve hiked and summited Mt. Rainier. Quite an accomplishment!