As part of the dissolution of marriage process in Washington, according to RCW 26.09.080 “the court shall, without regard to misconduct, make such disposition of the property and the liabilities of the parties, either community or separate, as shall appear just and equitable after considering all relevant factors…” Prior to dividing…
In a newly issued opinion, the Washington Court of Appeals discussed the issue of jury awards in personal injury claims and under what circumstances they may be overturned or altered. In Nelson v. Erickson, the plaintiff brought a negligence claim against a driver who rear-ended him. The case was initially…
When confronted with a legal issue, many people have to go through the process of choosing an attorney for the first time. Choosing the right attorney for the legal issue you face is an important decision. As attorneys, we understand the importance of choosing the right attorney for you and…
In a recently published opinion, the Washington Court of Appeals addressed the issue of whether a defendant’s prior Alford plea could elevate a subsequent driving under the influence (DUI) offense to a felony charge. In State v. Bird, 352 P.3d 215 (Wash. App. 2015), the state appealed the trial court’s…
During a Washington State Divorce a divorcing spouse will have the ability to ask questions (through interrogatories or depositions), request documents, and ask for admissions from the other party (and third parties); this process is called the discovery process. Here are five areas that divorcing people should focus their attention…
After last week’s blog post about preparing yourself for divorce (called dissolution of marriage in Washington State) we had more to say on how to prepare your relationship with your children for your divorce and subsequent two-house family. (Please note, this article is also relevant for non-married couples with children…
People often spend months or years considering whether to get divorced (called dissolution of marriage in Washington State). This time should not be wasted. There are things that should be done in case your marriage does come to an end. Here are a few things to consider doing in the…
After a divorce (called dissolution of marriage in Washington State), most people feel relieved and ready to move on with their lives. Unfortunately, in some instances the divorce decree is not the end of their dealings with their former spouse. Of course this is true for people who have children…
In addition to traditional family law issues, family law attorneys must be prepared to work with clients dealing with issues outside of the family law arena. Family law attorneys often encounter clients dealing with tax law, criminal law, and immigration law issues. It is important that a family law attorney…
Parents are sometimes surprised about how vacation provisions are drafted into Washington State parenting plans. The term “vacation” within the parenting plan can be a bit misleading. In reality, instead of drafting vacation time to be used exclusively for traveling (meaning reserved for use when one parent will actually be…