First-of-its-kind authorization positions Legata to address a significant gap in access to estate planning legal services for Washington families
SEATTLE, Wash., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Legata, Inc. announced today that it is the first company authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to deliver estate planning legal services in Washington State through a technology-enabled model under the state's Pilot Project for Entity Regulation. The authorization marks a significant milestone in the evolution of legal services delivery and positions Legata at the forefront of a national movement.
Despite the importance of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives to the financial and health security of individuals and families, millions of Americans lack these foundational documents. The traditional estate planning model — anchored in lengthy planning conversations, hourly attorney fees and in-person consultations — has placed these services out of reach for a broad segment of the population. Legata was founded on the premise that this gap is not inevitable, but rather a structural problem that technology and regulatory innovation can solve.
The Pilot Project was established in 2024 by the Washington Supreme Court to test and evaluate innovative legal service models and alternative business structures for delivering legal services. Under its supervised regulatory framework, for the first time in state history, tech companies like Legata, non-profit organizations, and other people and businesses that are not licensed to practice law can be authorized to provide legal services.
The Legata™ platform is built to guide clients through the full spectrum of estate planning needs, using plain-language explanations and interactive guidance at every step. It combines automated, lawyer-designed document generation, customizable templates, structured intake workflows, and trained professional support, using AI to enhance efficiency while maintaining accuracy and consistency. For clients with more complex situations, or those who prefer direct attorney involvement, Legata offers a referral pathway to licensed estate planning attorneys.
"This is an important step forward in expanding access to estate planning for everyone," said Alesia Pinney, founder and CEO of Legata. "Far too many families go without basic estate planning documents simply because the traditional estate planning model is too expensive, too time-consuming, or simply not available in a reasonable timeframe. With this authorization, we're able to deliver estate planning services in a more efficient, technology-enabled way while maintaining the safeguards, oversight, and accountability that clients deserve, and that partners and regulators rightly expect."
As a condition of its authorization, Legata operates under strict consumer protection requirements, including quarterly compliance reviews, a transparent client complaint process, a Washington State Bar Association-vetted compliance officer who supervises all legal services, and regular reporting to the WSBA. Unlike generic document automation services that can only offer general information and templates, Legata now practices law in Washington State, backed by the professional responsibility applicable to legal service providers, and providing a level of accountability that unregulated platforms cannot offer.
Legata has also achieved third-party attestations of its compliance with SOC2 Type II standards for data security, availability, and confidentiality, compliance with HIPAA regulations for protected health information, and compliance with the requirements of the California Consumer Privacy Act, the gold standard for U.S. state data privacy laws. Together, these attestations reflect Legata's commitment to protecting the personal, financial, and healthcare-related information inherent in estate planning.
About Legata, Inc.
Legata is a modern estate planning platform that combines AI-powered efficiency with the judgment and expertise of a highly experienced legal team, delivering accurate, thoughtful, and affordable estate planning services at scale. It is now licensed to practice law in Washington, so it has the professional obligations of a law firm and its clients have the corresponding protections. No other self-guided estate planning platforms can offer this level of accountability.
Required Disclosure:
Legata's authorization to provide legal services under the Pilot Program is valid for an initial term of seven years and applies to estate planning services for Washington State residents using the Legata platform. The following disclosure is required:
The legal services Legata offers are provided under the authorization of the Washington Supreme Court as a participant in the Washington Pilot Project for Entity Regulation, and may include legal services that are either (1) not provided by a lawyer, (2) not able to be provided by a lawyer without participation in the Pilot Project, or (3) provided by a business that is owned in whole or in part by persons not licensed to practice law. For additional information about the Pilot Project for Entity Regulation or to file a complaint, please visit www.wsba.org/entityreg.
Media Contact
Jesse Hamlin, Legata, Inc., 1 (888) 807-8783, [email protected], legata.com
SOURCE Legata, Inc.
Share this article