Recent News

Parents seeking to craft a parenting plan often focus on a relatively short window of time in their lives, without proper and due consideration to how the plan may change in the future.  A final parenting plan, once entered, is expected to remain in place until the last child turns 18—subject only to substantial changes… Read More

The U.S. tax code presently allows adoptive families a tax related benefit for any and all qualifying costs and fees incurred in pursuing an adoption. The IRS allows a fairly broad definition of allowed costs and fees such that in most cases, any and all fees and costs paid to an adoption agency, an attorney,… Read More

Families must make a number of decisions in the adoption process. Foremost among them, in Washington State, is the decision of whether or not to pursue an “open” or a “closed” adoption. Washington is one of a few states that allows adoptive parents, birth parents, and if appropriate, the child, to enter into a legally… Read More

When families plan to have children through an Assisted Reproduction process such as Gestational Surrogacy or Genetic Surrogacy, families are formed with the assistance of physicians and fertility clinics all over the country and indeed, throughout the world.  However, it appears in many case the medical technology developed faster than the laws in most states.… Read More

When you're in a relationship with someone who has children from a prior relationship, it is not uncommon to bond with and treat those children as if they were your own.  It is important, however, to remember your rights as a step-parent differ substantially then the parental rights of a biological or legal parent.  Should… Read More

The U.S. tax code presently allows adoptive families a tax related benefit for any and all qualifying costs and fees incurred in pursuing an adoption.   The IRS allows a fairly broad definition of allowed costs and fees such that in most cases, any and all fees and costs paid to an adoption agency, an… Read More

Families face unprecedented challenges in response to COVID-19, and these challenges may impact residential time children spend with a parent and/or the ability of a parent to pay support obligations.  The Family Law Group at Beresford Booth is available to assist and provide advice, guidance and representation to parents as to their rights and options… Read More

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act), which was signed into law on December 20, 2019, represents a significant overhaul of retirement rules in more than a decade. Among many important changes, the SECURE Act allows you to use retirement savings to start or grow your family! The SECURE Act allows… Read More

Washington was the first state to enact the new Parentage Act in 2018, based on the 2017 Uniform Parentage Act.   This update to the Parentage Act addresses issues related to same-sex couples, surrogacy, the right of a child to genetic information, de facto parentage, and parentage of children conceived through sexual assault.      Perhaps… Read More