Recent News

This is a question family law practitioners receive quite often, and the answer will assuredly be: ‘it depends.’  The basis for the Court to require a spouse to pay the other party’s  attorney fees are either ‘need and ability’ or ‘intransigence.’ Washington is a ‘no fault’ state.  This means that if a person files for… Read More

On December 8, 2022, the House passed the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects same-sex and interracial marriages at the federal level.  Following the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year to overturn Roe v. Wade, many interracial couples were concerned that Loving v. Virginia could similarly be overturned.   Same-sex couples were concerned that the rights… Read More

A Child Support Order entered in another state is referred to as a “Foreign Support Order.”  In Washington, enforcement of such foreign orders must be done in accordance with the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (codified in RCW 26.21).  Enforcement is a remedy asking the Court to compel a party to abide by the terms… Read More

The Washington Legislature recently passed House Bill 1901, which formally adds ‘coercive control’ to the domestic violence statute.  Coercive control is defined as a pattern of behavior that is used to cause another to suffer physical, emotional, or psychological harm, and in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with a person’s free will and liberty.  Examples… Read More

Many employers award stocks to their employees subject to a vesting schedule.  In some cases, these awards will not fully vest for 5 or 10 years.  Microsoft is a prime example of such an employer in our region.  Your unvested Microsoft stock may very well be community property, and the community may be entitled to… Read More

Asset valuation is an important part of divorce litigation whether amid a pandemic or not.  However, especially now, it is important to understand that the economy is changing and that it will affect the value of assets and debts in your divorce in determining a fair and equitable award. In addition to determining what assets… Read More

In many divorce cases, the community’s highest valued asset is real estate.  Whether it be the family home, an investment property, a commercial building, or a second home, it is quite common that the equity in these properties is used to achieve a fair division and either the proceeds or the home itself awarded equitably… Read More

The Government will soon be issuing COVID-19 stimulus checks to individuals and married couples who qualify based on income.  Individuals making less than $75,000 per year will receive $1,200 and married couples with combined income of less than $150,000 per year will receive $2,400.  If the taxpayer has children, the government will issue an additional… Read More

In a marriage dissolution, individuals frequently ask what assets and debts are subject to the Court’s orders in a divorce.  All separate and community property is subject to division and distribution in a divorce.  As such, it is important to understand what is a spouse’s separate property versus what is the marital community property.  Courts… Read More