Contact Me

See Bill’s entire interview for the Masters of Estate Planning series on ReelLawyers.com

Bill is a graduate of Brigham Young University, receiving his J.D., cum laude, in 1985 and his B.A. in American Studies in 1982. He clerked for the Honorable Ricardo Hinojosa, United States District Judge, Southern District of Texas.

A native of Washington, Bill returned to the Seattle area in 1987, and worked as an associate attorney at the law firms of Karr Tuttle Campbell (1987 – 1991) and Short Cressman and Burgess (1991 – 1992). He opened his own law office in 1993, where he practiced for twelve years. In 2005, he joined forces with Jacob Menashe to form Hickman Menashe, P.S.

Bill is a past Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association and a past president of Washington State’s chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He speaks regularly to lawyers and community groups helping to educate people about estate planning, special needs trusts and other legal issues.

When not working Bill enjoys skiing, traveling and spending time with his wife, Mary Ellen, two sons and two grandchildren.

Education

  • Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Provo, Utah
    • J.D. (Cum Laude) – 1985; Bar Admission Washington, 1987; U.S. Federal Court, 1987
  • Brigham Young University
    • B.A. – 1982

Recent Lectures, Presentations, and Publications

  • Funding Special Needs Trust with Retirement Accounts, WSBA Elder Law Section Fall CLE, September 2019
  • Basic Trusts and Trust Administration Issues, Snohomish County Bar Association Estate Planning CLE, October 2018
  • Review of 2018 Medicaid Regulations Governing Trusts, Lifetime Advocacy Plus CLE, October 2018
  • Medicaid Planning, Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation HOPE Conference, October 2017
  • Closing the Estate, Snohomish County Bar Association Advanced Probate Practice CLE, September 2017
  • Estate Recovery, King County Bar Association Medicaid Bootcamp, 2010
  • Eligibility Issues for Long term Care Benefits Under the Medicare and VA Programs and Medicaid Estate Recovery, National Business Institute, 2008
  • Eligibility Issues, Long term Care Benefits Under the Medicaid, Medicare and VA Programs, Washington State Bar Association Long Term Care: Strategies and Solutions Seminar, 2005
  • Medicaid Overview: Fundamentals of New Medicaid Changes, Washington State Bar Association The New Essentials for Practicing Elder Law Seminar, 2004
  • Medicaid Planning for Couples in Second Marriages, Washington State Bar Association 2002 Annual Elder Law Meeting and CLE, 2002

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Washington State Bar Association, Elder Law Section, Past Chair
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Past President of State Chapter
  • King County Bar Association
  • Snohomish County Bar Association

Past Employment Positions

  • Ricardo Hinojosa, United States District Judge, Southern District of Texas, Clerk, 1985 – 1987
  • Karr Tuttle Campbell, Associate Attorney, 1987 – 1991
  • Short Cressman and Burgess, Associate Attorney, 1991 – 1992
  • William S. Hickman, P.S., 1993 – 2005