Sara designs and implements successful wealth transfer strategies by carefully blending legal and tax expertise with each of her client's personal philosophy and family goals.
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Biography
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Sara Kiviat Berkenwald specializes in the areas of estate planning, trust administration, probate, taxation and charitable giving. Sara diligently guides families through the emotional and often complex probate administration process after the death of a family member. Sara practices out of OMW's Bellevue office. Outside of the office, Sara spends time with her husband and three kids in true northwest fashion, hiking, biking, running and playing Ultimate Frisbee.
Prior to joining OMW, Sara was a shareholder with the law firm of Jeppesen Gray Sakai.
- Washington State Bar Association
- Washington Women in Tax
- Estate Planning Council of Seattle
- University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington
- LL.M. - 2009
- Major: Taxation
- Seattle University School of Law and Albers School of Business and Economics, Seattle, Washington
- J.D. / M.B.A - 2009
- Honors: cum laude
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- B.A. - 2003
- Honors: With Honors
- Major: History
- Cardozo Society of Washington State Advisory Board, 2009 to 2017
- The Kline Galland Home Health and Hospice Professional Advisory, 2015 to Present
- Mercer Island Library Board (appointed position), 2018
- Anti-Defamation League Board Member, 2018
- Seattle Endowment and Planned Giving Committee, The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, 2020 to Present
- Parks and Recreation Commission Member (appointed position) – City of Mercer Island, 2019-2023
- Estate Planning Council of Seattle – Executive Committee 2023- present
- Women's Philanthropic Investment Group of Seattle Board Meeting - Common Estate Planning Documents, 2015
- University of Washington School of Law - Elder Law Course - Elder Law Attorney Practice, 2015
- DSHS Region II Financial Case Workers Common Estate Planning Documents, 2014
- Recognized in the 2023 and 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
- Recognized by Super Lawyers in Estate and Probate, 2022-2024
- Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2017-2020.
