STEPHEN L. PRUSS
spruss@ahrenslaw.com
Partner - Seattle/Boise Offices

Current
Partner with Ahrens & DeAngeli, p.l.l.c., serving clients nationwide.

Experience
Prior to joining Ahrens & DeAngeli, p.l.l.c. in August 2000, Steve was a partner in the law firm of White Peterson Pruss Morrow & Gigray for over 11 years.

He has drafted numerous estate plans, numerous corporate, partnership and limited liability company documents, real estate documents, business sale and purchase agreements, and many technical trusts (including charitable remainder trusts, private foundations, public charities, grantor retained annuity trusts, charitable lead trusts, generation skipping trusts, dynasty trusts, grantor deemed-owner trusts, QPRTs, gift trusts and life insurance trusts) for clients nationwide. He advises on the personal aspects of estate and succession planning as well as on the tax aspects of succession planning and charitable giving planning. He advises and represents clients in Guardianship and Conservatorship matters and on planning alternatives to those types of court proceedings. He has also represented clients in civil tax matters before the Internal Revenue Service, in Tax Court and District Court and on appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Memberships

  • Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

  • American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

  • Southwest Idaho Planned Giving Council, Past President and current Board Member and officer

  • Trust Tax and Probate Section of the Idaho State Bar Association, Past Chairman and legislative committee member

  • Washington Planned Giving Council

  • Southwest Idaho Estate Planning Council, Past President

  • Real Property, Probate & Trust Section of the Washington State Bar

  • NNU Crusader Athletic Association, Past Board Member

  • Phi Delta Lambda Honor Society, Past President

  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White) - Selected in field of "Trusts and Estates"

  • Puget Sound Business Journal and Seattle Metropolitan Magazine - Recognized as a top "Trusts and Estates" Attorney in the area

Civic

  • Steve has served on the boards of directors and on committees for various non-profit organizations, been actively involved as a board member and choir and worship team member and served on various committees for churches he has attended, and coached youth basketball.

Bar Admissions

  • Idaho State Bar

  • Washington State Bar

  • Federal District Court in Idaho

  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

  • United States Tax Court

Other Professional Designations

  • Certified Public Accountant, Idaho

Education

  • Juris Doctorate, University of Idaho, (1985) – graduated first in class

  • BA in Accounting and Business Administration, summa cum laude, Northwest Nazarene University (1979)

Speaking Engagements

  • National Business Institute

  • Idaho Law Foundation

  • Sterling Education Services

  • Southwest Idaho Planned Giving Council

  • Southwest Idaho Estate Planning Council

  • Northwest Tax Institute

  • Numerous locally sponsored speeches and presentations on charitable giving and estate planning to insurance professionals and other individuals

  • Taught 10 week course in Estate Planning for the American College to other professionals

  • Taught Idaho Bar Review course for Bar/Bri Idaho on the Idaho Probate Code