Recent News

An independent contractor truck driver named Larry Currier heard another driver “yell ... at a Latino driver ... ‘[h]ey, f**ing Mexican, you know why you have to go to Portland and I don’t? Because f**ing Mexicans are good at crossing borders.’” Currier also reports previously having heard other racially motivated slurs and comments directed at a… Read More

The Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I, issued its decision in the Matter of the Estate of Karl O. Molck, agreeing with the arguments made by Beresford Booth.  The Court decided the issues in favor of the estate and awarded the estate and its personal representative their costs and attorneys’ fees from the appellant.… Read More

Washington State has legalized the use of marijuana.  Clients are now frequently asking whether or not their use of marijuana will impact their divorce or a custody determination.  Much like alcohol use (or abuse), it depends on whether the use of marijuana has an impact on a parent’s ability to parent.  Under RCW 26.09.191(3)(c), “A… Read More

In Washington State, when someone passes away, their estate will need to be administered.  In general the process of estate administration accomplishes three basic purposes: 1) gathers together all of the Decedent’s assets; 2) pays all of the Decedent’s debts; and 3) distributes the net remaining estate to the Decedent’s heirs and beneficiaries.  Though these… Read More

What happens to my estate in Washington State if I die without having executed a Last Will and Testament? When someone dies without having executed a valid Last Will and Testament, they are said to have died intestate (without a Will).  I am frequently asked whether dying without a Will means your Estate will be… Read More

In a recent Washington State Court of Appeals case, the appellate court indicated a termination trial (i.e., the termination of a parent-child relationship) in an adoption matter should be open to the public. Because of a procedural error, the appellate Court did not make such a ruling but ruled the appellant father, whose parental rights… Read More

Edmonds Full-Service Law Firm, Beresford Booth, announces their support of local students through their Premier Sponsorship of Edmonds School District Scholar-Athlete scholarships. The Scholar-Athlete program honors graduating senior athletes who excel in sports and in the classroom. Four students from each Edmonds high school, two girls and two boys, are selected to be honored at… Read More

Washington is joining several other states in allowing the use of a Transfer on Death Deed to transfer real property to a designated beneficiary at the time of death. This nonprobate transfer tool will become effective on June 12, 2014. A Transfer on Death Deed is a new method in Washington for leaving your real… Read More

When a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage is entered, the Court may order a spouse’s name to be changed at his or her request. Often, a spouse will want to assume their maiden name, particularly if the marriage was for a brief period of time. A name change is not limited to divorce proceedings. Anyone… Read More