Recent News

In July 2022, the Washington Legislature passed House Bill 1901, which formally added “coercive control” to the domestic violence statute, RCW 7.105.010.   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… Read More

Real estate contracts were a common form of providing for the purchase and sale and financing of real estate. Under real estate contracts, the buyer purchased the property from the seller and agreed to pay the seller the balance of the purchase price in installments.  (Real estate contracts are to be distinguished from the now… Read More

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

Federal law imposes a tax on gifts made in excess of a specific amount in a calendar year to a specific recipient (known as a “donee”).  That tax is usually paid by the donor (the giver) of the gift.  The specific amount is known as the annual gift exclusion.  The annual gift exclusion is $17,000… Read More

The “basic exclusion amount” is the amount of a deceased person’s estate that passes free of federal estate tax.  This differs from the unlimited marital deduction that applies when one spouse dies and transfers all of his or her interest in property to the surviving spouse.  There is a basic exclusion amount for federal estate… Read More

A “partition” is a legal action that involves multiple owners as tenants in common of a parcel of real estate. It is governed by statute, RCW chapter 7.52. Generally, the purpose of a partition is to divide the property so that each owner owns a distinct portion rather than sharing ownership of the larger parcel.… Read More

Sometimes, a Will provides a bequest of specific property to a beneficiary. For example, "I give, devise, and bequeath my 1965 Ford Mustang to my uncle, John Smith." Sometimes, such a bequest cannot be fulfilled because the item of property is no longer owned by the maker of the Will at the time of their… Read More

When a probate estate has been completely administered, all property has been collected, creditors have been paid, any necessary tax returns have been filed and taxes paid, and property has been distributed according to a will or according to law when there is no will, it is time to close the probate case.  How is… Read More

Mortgages and deeds of trust often secure loans that provide for one or more advances by the lender. Depending upon the loan involved, the lender may be obligated to make the advance or the lender may have the discretion to make the advance. Typically, a mortgage or deed of trust has priority over most other… Read More