Insight, Analysis, and Perspective for Businesses and Individuals

Minimum Wage Beginning on January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Washington will go up to $16.66 per hour, up 2.35% from 2024.  In addition to the statewide minimum, various cities and counties have a dizzying array of higher minimum wages based on differing standards. City or County 2025 Minimum Wage Notes Seattle $20.76 SeaTac […]

As of June 2024, the legal parameters of Washington noncompetition agreements were refined by the passing of Substitute Senate Bill 5935. The bill, which passed by the Legislature in February and was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee in March, took effect on June 6, 2024. Amending five provisions of RCW 49.62, the new […]

“Nesting” is a custody arrangement where, rather than having children move between homes, the children stay in the family home and the parents move back and forth and alternate living there. While it may sound appealing, nesting can be challenging in practice. Here are some considerations for divorcing parents thinking about before agreeing or committing […]

In 2014, long before the pandemic spurred the proliferation of short-term residential home rentals like those offered through Airbnb and other services, the Washington Supreme Court in Wilkinson v. Chiwawa Community Associations addressed whether a homeowners’ association (“HOA”) exceeded its power to amend covenants when a simple majority of the homeowners voted to prohibit short-term […]

Judgment creditors often encounter challenges when trying to collect a debt when a debtor’s assets are held in a limited liability company (LLC), as opposed to assets held directly in the debtor’s name. However, creditors have legal remedies available to address this situation. One useful remedy is a charging order, a legal tool codified under […]

In the world of divorce proceedings, the term “narcissist” has become a common label. However, it’s important to understand that merely labeling a spouse as a narcissist does not necessarily influence the court’s decisions or result in punitive measures. While the term may be used frequently by divorce litigants to describe challenging behavior, it does […]

Merriam-Webster defines “defunct” as “no longer living, existing, or functioning.” In Washington, a “defunct marriage” is a term for spouses who have given up any hope of salvaging the relationship, and yet for whatever reason have not filed for divorce.[1] This blog explains why defunct marriages are relevant for purposes of a divorce. It is […]

When considering whether to enter into a contract to buy or sell property, you may come across various types of deeds by which title may be transferred. In Washington State, there are three common types of deeds that may be used: a statutory warranty deed, a bargain and sale deed, and a quit claim deed. […]

Beneficiary designations are an essential component of every estate plan; however, these designations are often overlooked. As a bit of background, there is a distinction between probate assets and non-probate assets.  Probate assets are distributed according to your will during a probate administration whereas non-probate assets are distributed outside of the probate process and are, […]

Dating apps are the most popular place to find people to date.[1] As a divorce attorney, I hear many anecdotes from clients or former clients who met their new partner on a dating app. However, there are a few considerations people getting divorced should keep in mind when deciding whether to get on the apps: […]

In an effort to provide Americans with various forms of tax relief, in 2017 Congress enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”).  This act provided tax reductions in many different categories, but one of the most significant was that it nearly doubled the Estate Tax and Lifetime Gifts Exemption (“Exemption”).  However, these tax […]

We all make important decisions and engage in regular financial transactions without giving a second thought about our capacity to do so.  But what if you suddenly lost the ability?  What would happen? While most of us don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it, unexpected things can and do occur.  For instance, you […]