To continue from last week’s post, here are more questions frequently asked by Washington clients involved in family law cases: Am I allowed to move? When an unmarried parent wants to move they have to consider how their move may impact their relationship with their child. With that in mind, many…
Washington State courts can issue an No Contact Order (NCO) as condition of sentence, but can they require a distance requirement that results in a hypothetical client being prohibited from living in his residence which is next door to the alleged victim? The statute authorizing a no contact order states…
Hypothetically, you have a police officer who while driving her car past a intersection observes a individual selling crack on the street corner, he directs another patrol car following directly behind him to arrest the individual. Can he do this? how is this legal? The collective knowledge doctrine, or “fellow officer…
In family law, we see a wide variety of cases; family law cases can vary as much as the families involved in the cases do. That said, there are some similar issues and questions that come up in our cases. This is a FAQ list for Washington State family law…
Many people that come into our office hoping to “legally separate” from their spouse are unsure what being legally separated actually means. In many cases, when we explain what a legal separation is, people decide that a legal separation is not what they are looking for. In many cases, they…
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION — A new federal study shows that drivers who have used pot are just as likely to get into a crash as sober drivers. The study was performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in Virginia and compared more than 3,000 drivers in…
Most divorces include the division of property. In some cases, especially those with limited assets, this can be a very simple, straightforward process. However, in cases involving complex assets, especially those of high-value, the process can be much more complicated. In these more complicated cases, it may be necessary to…
In December 2014, the Washington State Supreme Court held that the HGN field sobriety test, which can indicate physical signs of alcohol consumption, cannot by itself establish impairment. On August 28, 2011, Washington State Patrol Trooper Stone observed Ryan Quaale driving his truck 56 mph in a 25mph zone on…
So what is the right to a speedy trial? The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, provides that “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy . . . trial.” The Clause is important because it protects the defendant from delay between the time…
Protection orders may be granted in a number of circumstances. They can be agreed upon by the parties. They can also be ordered by the court after a hearing of the parties. In some cases the need for a protection order decreases, or the protection order unnecessarily impacts the restrained…