News Category: Family Law
Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson is Pleased to Welcome a New Attorney to its Seattle Office
William B. Reingold, Jr. Joins LHSE Family Law Practice Group Will joins the firm directly from North Carolina, where he was completing a Judicial Clerkship for North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge Valerie Zachary. In that role, Will researched cases and law, analyzed legal arguments and drafted written opinions. Will brings legal experience, creative problem-solving,
New Law Provides Much-Needed Relief from Abusive Litigation by Domestic Violence Perpetrators
In March 2020, the Washington State Legislature passed legislation against “abusive litigation.” Abusive litigation is regularly perpetrated by domestic violence abusers and has been referred to as “legal bullying.” . In addressing this problem, the Legislature recognized that family law cases including dissolutions, legal separations, parenting plan actions, and protection order proceedings are commonplace for
If You Rip up a Signed Prenuptial Agreement in Washington State, Does it Mean that Your Prenuptial Agreement is Legally Null and Void?
Tearing up a prenuptial agreement has made national news in music mogul Dr. Dre’s divorce in California, but how would Washington State courts treat the issue? In Los Angeles, Dr. Dre’s wife, Nicole Young, says that Dr. Dre tore up multiple copies of their prenuptial agreement and they both verbally agreed it was no longer
Can Relaxed Retirement Plan Withdrawal Rules Help Settle Your Divorce?
The new CARES Act has relaxed retirement account withdrawal rules for some retirement plans due to COVID-19 related reasons. These relaxed withdrawal rules apply to IRA, 401(k), and other “eligible retirement plans” as defined by the CARES Act. COVID-19 has disrupted life for all of us, with tens of millions of Americans losing jobs because
Pro Tips for Virtual Mediation in Divorce
In the shadow of COVID-19, change in the way that lawyers resolve cases has become a necessity. In the area of Family Law, and in divorce cases, social distancing and quarantine have altered the tools used to assist parties with their disputes. Pre-pandemic, more than 90 percent of divorce cases settled prior to trial. With
Divorcing During COVID-19? It is more important than ever to get an estate plan in place.
If you are going through a separation and/or divorce, it is important to review your estate plan as early as possible. In Washington State, you can start your estate planning when you know that you intend to file for divorce. You can also draft a new Will while a divorce is pending. Even with an
Lasher Family Law in the Time of the COVID-19 Crisis
The Family Law Practice Group of LHS&E is virtual! Thanks to remote access, electronic files, secure document sharing, and meetings via Zoom as well as conference calls we are able to near seamlessly continue to serve our clients. We are closely monitoring State, County, and Court issued Emergency Orders directly and via information exchanges on
The Disappearing Maintenance Benefit
In a divorce, there are generally three types of payments that can be made between the divorcing parties. The first is considered an equalizing property transfer payment. For example, if, after the allocation of all real property, bank accounts, retirement accounts, and investment accounts, there is a disparate value between the parties, one party usually
DIY Divorce? Why Hiring an Attorney Might End Up Saving You in the Long-Run
In today’s online world, more people are turning to the internet as a way to save money and find a do-it-yourself solution. You can watch YouTube videos explaining how to repair items around your house, do your own taxes through programs like TurboTax, and now there are online programs to walk you through the divorce
Requests to Relocate With Your Children When You Have a 50/50 Parenting Plan
On March 28, 2017, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division II, threw certain family law litigants a curve ball when it issued its ruling in In re Marriage of Ruff & Worthley, No. 48462-5-II. In Worthley, the court addressed the question of whether the Child Relocation Act (“CRA”) applies to joint parenting plans where the parents share equal residential