More and more often, families define themselves as “a blended family” when one or both of the parents have children from a prior marriage. This creates unique issues in the area of estate planning, as one of the most common goals in blended family estate planning is to provide for both the current spouse of Read more >
There are big changes on the horizon for non-competition agreements in Washington State. On May 8, 2019, Governor Inslee signed House Bill (“HB”) 1450 a new statewide law restricting the use of non-competition agreements in employment contracts. Non-competition agreements are often used as a means of restricting a former employee’s ability to work for a Read more >
Upon finishing the estate planning process, clients often ask the understandable question, “how often should I update my estate planning documents?” Best practice is to review and/or update your estate planning documents either (1) every three-five years, or (2) after major life changes occur. Major life changes can include the birth of new children or Read more >
Many of us may already be aware that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has significantly cut corporate tax rates, slightly cut individual tax rates, provided a jump in the standard deduction and implemented a host of other tax law changes for both individuals and businesses. However, there has been little attention given to Read more >
To most people, home ownership means more than just shelter and security. Home ownership is a major achievement on your path to self-sufficiency, and a place where some of the best memories for you and your family reside. With the past decade’s incredible growth in Seattle’s real estate market, your home may represent your single Read more >
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship for the employer. Such accommodations could include making existing facilities more accessible, restructuring a position, offering a modified work schedule, or even reassigning the employee to a vacant position. Read more >
If you are in the holiday spirit this season, you may wish to make gifts using the 2018 annual federal gift tax exclusion amount. To qualify for the annual federal gift tax exclusion, gifts must be made no later than December 31, 2018. You may give up to $15,000 to as many recipients as you Read more >
Our civil rules encourage settlement. Settlement prevents the “winner take all” scenario and encourages the efficient use of court resources–trials are time-consuming and expensive. Although avoiding the courtroom altogether may sound appealing (pardon the pun), remember that you do not need a jury verdict to appeal your case. Here are some things to consider in Read more >
Overview On June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court decided South Dakota v. Wayfair. This pivotal sales tax case allows states to impose sales tax obligations on out-of-state businesses that have no physical presence in the state. Previously, a business had to have some sort of physical presence in the state, such as an employee working Read more >
Although Washington employers are generally not required to provide severance pay to a terminated employee (except if promised in an employee handbook or employment contract), many employers still offer severance as a gesture of good will. There are any several factors, however, that should be considered when deciding whether to sign a severance agreement. An Read more >