News Category: Blog Articles
Estate Planning 101: Making Bequests to Charity
Many clients opt to make charitable donations to further charitable intentions and to perhaps help reduce estate tax exposure in the process. Charities often fulfill needs and perform work that the government does not otherwise provide, and supporting a charity can stretch one’s dollars further as charities can be more efficient with the contributions than
A Timetable for Divorce in King County, Washington
Legal proceedings tend to take longer than people expect or desire. For people facing divorce, most want the matter finalized as quickly as possible. An oft-asked question is how long it will take to be officially divorced. This depends on several factors and following are some of the key factors. First, in King County, the
STRATEGIES TO WIN YOUR DIVORCE MEDIATION
In Washington State, couples going through divorce are required to attend a mediation in an attempt to settle the case before trial, unless excused for reasons such as domestic violence. As a divorce attorney, I have prepared hundreds of clients for mediation. I have also served as a mediator in many family law cases. Below
Parenting Evaluators and Quasi-Judicial Immunity
When custody arrangements are in dispute and the parties cannot agree on a parenting plan, the trial court may order that a “parenting evaluator” be assigned to the case. The evaluator acts as a neutral, third-party who provides a report to the court assessing the family and offering recommendations as to what is in the
Your AI Can Testify Against You: The AI Revolution Comes to the Court of Law
On February 2, 2023, Microsoft released a brand-new suite of features for its popular Microsoft Teams platform under the moniker “Microsoft Teams Premium.”[1] One of the standout features of this premium service is “Intelligent Recap,” a software feature powered by the headline-news-generating ChatGPT AI system. Using ChatGPT, Intelligent Recap will “automatically generate[]meeting notes, recommended tasks,
Residential Sellers and Purchasers Beware: One Year Limitation to File Suit Under a Residential Construction Contract Held Unenforceable
This past fall, in a split 5-4 decision, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that a one-year limit to file suit under a residential construction contract was unconscionable and, as a result, void and unenforceable. Tadych v. Noble Ridge Construction, 519 P.3d 199 (2022). The Court articulated that a one-year limitation period “unduly benefits the contractor
Washington Divorce: What You Need to Know About Relocating with Children and Providing Notice to the Other Parent
The Washington State legislature defines a “Parenting Plan” as “a plan for parenting the child, including allocation of parenting functions, which plan is incorporated in any final decree or decree of modification in an action for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation.”[1] Setting forth various procedures and responsibilities the
HOAs and Special Assessments: What to Know
If you have considered living in or currently live in a community with a homeowners’ association (commonly referred to as an HOA) such as a condominium or complex of townhomes, you have likely heard of special assessments. Generally, special assessments are what an HOA charges over and above regular periodic assessments that cover the routine
Commercial Tenant Evictions and What You Need to Know in Seattle
Mayor Bruce Harrell officially ended the City of Seattle Civil Emergency Proclamation on October 31, 2022, which affects the requirement for landlords to negotiate payment plans with commercial tenants that qualify as a small businesses or nonprofit organization. Despite the end of the eviction moratorium and the lifting of the COVID-19 Emergency Orders, commercial landlords
Employment Law ALERT – New Job Posting Requirements Begin January 1, 2023
Beginning on January 1, 2023, all employers, with 15 or more employees (including employees in other states), engaging in any business, industry, profession, or activity in Washington (including recruiting for Washington-based employees) must disclose (i) a wage scale or salary range and (ii) a general description of benefits and other compensation on job postings that