News Category: Blog Articles
Estate Planning for Young Adult Children
The job of parenting can be consuming with the drive to protect children in all circumstances, including the unthinkable. However, the topic of estate planning for children still looms large on the mind of most parents. Estate planning clients of young-adult children often express concerns about ensuring their children are cared for in the event
FINCEN Filings Terminated
Per the U.S. Treasury Department announcement below, FinCEN is now dead except for some limited foreign entity reporting. Despite the many turbulent things happening in the U.S. government right now, this still came out of left field and is a bit surprising. We all know, however, that the political pendulum swings and suspect that, eventually,
Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty that established a uniform set of laws for countries with respect to child abduction. Countries that are signors to the Convention agree to follow an established legal process to recover and return children located in their country who may have
Pre-Litigation Mediation, Is it For You?
In today’s complex litigation landscape, many individuals and businesses are turning to alternative methods to resolve disputes as a way to avoid the time, expense, and unpredictability of traditional lawsuit. Pre-litigation mediation has emerged as one method to resolve disputes before initiating a lawsuit. Engaging in pre-litigation mediation involves working with a neutral third-party mediator
Discovery: Civil Litigation’s Fact Finding Mission Part 2 – Requests for Production
In part 2 of our discussion of the fact finding process in civil litigation we are going to look at “requests for production”—a form of “discovery” that you should be prepared for as part of a civil lawsuit. If you missed Part 1 on Interrogatories, a common form of discovery that often accompanies requests for
Discovery: Civil Litigation’s Fact-Finding Mission – Part 1: Interrogatories
If you find yourself involved in civil litigation of any kind, the case will take up a significant part of your life. While your attorney will take on the heavy lifting, he or she will require your help to gather the facts and evidence to support or defend your case. This article discusses “interrogatories”—a method
ALERT: New Washington Supreme Court Ruling on Noncompete Agreements
Recently, the Washington Supreme Court held that noncompete agreements for employees earning less than twice the minimum wage must be reasonable and narrowly construed. The court found that prohibiting employees from providing any kind of assistance to competitors exceeds the statutory duty of loyalty that an employee owes to their employer. RCW 49.62.070 limits a
Establishing a Residential Schedule in a Washington Parenting Plan
If you and your spouse are undergoing a divorce with children, there’s a good chance you are thinking about what kind of custody arrangement you will end up with. In Washington, we refer to these as “Residential Provisions” or more colloquially a “residential schedule.” They are a mandatory part of every parenting plan. Certainly, this
Contractors Must Provide Pre-Notice Disclosure Before Recording a Lien
Liens provide a means of recourse for contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers who have not been paid. In Washington, there are specific disclosure requirements that must be met before a licensed and registered contractor is able to record a valid mechanic’s lien for work performed on residential real property. It is imperative that both contractors and
How to Reach an Agreement in Divorce: Practical Steps for a Less Contentious Process
Divorce is often an emotionally charged and challenging experience. Beyond the personal heartbreak that may be involved, the legal and financial aspects can feel overwhelming. One of the most difficult tasks in the divorce process is reaching an agreement on key issues such as asset division, a parenting plan (if you have minor children) and