Recent News

In this webinar, Attorney Anne B. Bennette discusses "Committed Intimate Relationships" Read More

In any divorce or separation case, the Court must ‘determine the nature and extent of both separate and community property’ before equitably dividing assets and debts.  This means that the Court must first characterize the property as separate or community before deciding on an equitable division.  When disputes arise as to whether property is separate… Read More

In at-fault states, a party filing for divorce must allege that their spouse committed misconduct in the marriage leading to its demise.  Washington is not one of those states.  Here, a spouse must attest that their marriage is irretrievably broken, but misconduct is irrelevant.  The statute specifically states: “the court shall, without regard to misconduct,… Read More

The role of the Court in a divorce or separation action is to equitably divide assets and debts, whether community or separate.  Evidence is paramount in proving the value of those properties so the Court understands what there is to divide and so that it may be equitably distributed.   “Tracing” is the process of… Read More

When a spouse files a Petition for Dissolution or Legal Separation, Courts often issue an ‘Automatic Temporary Order Setting Financial Restraints.’ This is intended to prohibit either party from spending funds beyond those in the ‘usual course of business’ or for the ‘basic necessities of life.’  The point of the Court entering such an order… Read More

Whether you have been married for one year or thirty years, it is extremely important to update your estate plan following a divorce.  RCW 11.12.051(1) states that “if, after making a will, the testator's marriage or domestic partnership is dissolved, invalidated, or terminated, all provisions in the will in favor of or granting any interest… Read More

The answer: ‘it depends.’ In Washington State, co-parents with dependent children that have entered a Parenting Plan (for example through a divorce, separation or parentage action), will have also entered an Order of Child Support.  Depending on the age of the children at the time of entry, often the issue of post-secondary support is ‘reserved.’ … Read More

Over the past few years, cryptocurrency has become more of a mainstream asset than ever before.  Bitcoin and Ethereum are two of the most popular crypto coins available on the market.  As of this writing, Bitcoin is worth $44,049.20 per coin and Ethereum is worth $2,429.50 per coin; however, those values will fluctuate by the… Read More

In a divorce action, the Court is required to distribute all assets and debts equitably (which does not necessarily mean equally).  The Court is also required to characterize the property awarded as either Separate Property or Community Property. Unvested stock awards are awards that are granted months or years before they fully vest.  It is… Read More