Insight, Analysis, and Perspective for Businesses and Individuals

As the Millennial generation begins to enter middle age, there have been several recent articles that discuss the great wealth transfer that will be occurring in the next few years when the baby boomer generation passes their wealth on to the next generation.  While it may feel like you are too young to start discussing […]

It is the most natural estate plan anyone can think of.  You sit down with your spouse and agree: “If I go first, you get everything. When you go, the kids split what is left.”  It’s simple, it’s fair, and it reflects your marriage bond.  In estate planning, this is known as an “I Love […]

To avoid ERISA’s strict limitations in the types of relief available and other procedural hurdles, many dissatisfied employees and other plan participants attempt to obtain employee benefits by filing state law claims.  For example, instead of making a claim for benefits under ERISA, dissatisfied employees often assert claims for intentional or negligent misrepresentation, negligence in […]

Between navigating the legal process, managing heated emotions, and trying to create a stable environment for your children, it’s easy to feel lost or uncertain when you’re going through a divorce. Books can be a comforting resource during such challenging times, offering wisdom, practical advice, and emotional support. If you’re facing a divorce with children, […]

Estate planning is about family. Often, individuals opt to establish a trust to preserve and plan for the benefit of their spouse, children, and generations to come. Trusts are intended to create a plan for the inheritance of assets and avoid conflict among the beneficiaries. In keeping things within the family, individuals often choose to […]

In Washington, retirement accounts are considered assets subject to division at divorce.  The purpose of a retirement asset is to provide someone with income after his or her active working years, and to have accumulated such sums in a tax-advantageous way.  There are many varieties of retirement income vehicles.  Here is an overview of just […]

In recent years, divorce has been quietly changing. While divorce rates among younger couples have declined, divorce later in life—often called “gray divorce”—has risen steadily, reshaping how families, finances, and futures are untangled. That shift is now firmly in the public spotlight, in part due to the widespread reaction to Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, […]

As Tax Day rapidly approaches, the IRS recently released it’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-tax-scams-for-2026-irs-reminds-taxpayers-to-watch-out-for-dangerous-threats).  Whether you have a complicated income tax return or a straightforward tax filing, these warnings are applicable to all taxpayers.  Below is a highlight of a few of the key scams to beware of, along with some […]

Divorce is more than a legal process. When children are involved, it can mark a profound transition in family structure, roles, and responsibilities. A parenting plan is one of the most important outcomes of that transition. It defines how children will spend time with each parent, how major decisions will be made, and how future […]

In March, the Washington Legislature passed HB 1155, a bill banning noncompetition agreements in Washington effective June 30, 2027.  Washington will join California, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and a few other states that prohibit or significantly restrict noncompetition covenants. The bill bans noncompetition agreements for all employees and narrows the scope of nonsolicitation agreements. […]

Divorce and other related family law matters can be complex, time-consuming, and stressful. In 2026, generative AI (“Artificial Intelligence”) models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot are rapidly becoming part of everyday life, both in personal and professional settings. As this technology grows and becomes more accessible, individuals going through divorce or other family […]

A client called me to ask how she could resolve a dispute with her business partner.  After 10 years of working together circumstances had changed.  They were no longer seeing eye-to-eye on business strategy and as 50-50 owners, their Company was in deadlock. They needed a separation. While a traditional lawsuit seeking dissolution of the […]