Recent News

Beresford Booth Welcomes Litigator Zachary M. Smith

The Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 3/18/2024
Beresford Booth is proud to welcome Zachary M. Smith to its growing litigation team. Zachary joins Beresford Booth after practicing for several years in the Seattle office of a national litigation firm. Zachary’s litigation experience includes a broad range of civil issues, from real estate to insurance coverage, bad faith, and general liability. He has… Read More

Do I Have To Use A Realtor/Real Estate Agent To Buy Or Sell?

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Andrew M. McKenzie | 3/18/2024
Real estate sales usually involve professional realtors who earn commissions when a sale closes.  But buyers and sellers have no obligation to use a realtor.  Generally speaking, parties to a real estate transaction have three options: (1) realtor representation; (2) self-representation; and (3) lawyer representation.  You should give consideration to all three options before deciding… Read More

UCC Fundamentals – A Guide to Article 2 (Sales) 

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Todd J. Cook and Licensed Legal Intern Andrew J. Tingstad | 3/13/2024
Part 1: Introduction to Article 2 The Uniform Commercial Code, or “UCC”, provides uniform laws on a variety of subjects which are broken down into nine “Articles.” This post is the first installment in a new series focusing on UCC Article 2 – the sale of goods. Every jurisdiction in the United States has adopted… Read More

Can I Get My Earnest Money Back?

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Andrew M. McKenzie | 3/11/2024
Most people have heard the phrase “earnest money,” which generally refers to money deposited (usually with an escrow holder) to show a good faith intention of a buyer to consummate a purchase of property (usually real estate).  Buyers often do not understand how earnest money operates and what determines its fate when a real estate… Read More

The Forgotten LLC Protection: Your Sale

Washington State Business & Real Estate Lawyer William O. Kessler | 3/8/2024
Clients sometimes tell me, “I would deed my property into a LLC, but I’m about to sell, so what’s the point?” The sale IS the point! If you own an investment property or vacation property, the most likely plaintiff you will face is your eventual buyer. The recent Washington Court of Appeals case Orvold vs.… Read More

Recent Washington Legislative Update concerning Estate Planning and Probate – Part 2

Washington State Estate Planning, Probate, & Guardianship Law Lawyer Emily Tyson-Shu | 3/6/2024
Since the Uniform Electronic Wills Act took effect on January 1, 2022, allowing a Will to be executed in electronic form, the Washington State Legislature is further pondering during this year’s legislative session on the possibility of having other estate planning documents to be executed in electronic form.  The Senate Bill 5787 (2023-24) (now, the… Read More

Is it Legal to Scatter Cremated Human Remains in the State of Washington?

Washington State Business and Real Estate Law Lawyer Per E. Oscarsson | 2/27/2024
The short answer is yes, but there are requirements. A person who is legally entitled to control the disposition of human remains by scattering may do so without a permit. That person could be the person whose ashes are involved if they signed a document, properly witnessed, that expressed their wishes. If that person did… Read More