Recent News

Gathering basic financial documents prior to filing for divorce can potentially simplify your case, reduce attorney’s fees, and put you ahead of the process so you are not starting at a disadvantage. At minimum, you should compile the following documents for yourself and if available, for your spouse as well: Two years of tax returns,… Read More

If you are contemplating filing for divorce or are in the middle of a divorce, you may have concerns about tax implications. Here are some common questions regarding taxes that arise in a divorce: What is the tax impact when dividing assets? If property is transferred to me as part of a divorce, do I… Read More

Utilizing a Special Master in family law cases (such as divorce, child custody, or support cases) is an often-overlooked option. But what exactly is a Special Master? A Special Master is a person appointed by the court to oversee or accomplish specific assigned responsibilities. There are different types of Special Masters based on the purpose… Read More

A parenting plan is a court order in a divorce or other family law case involving children. The plan provides for the children’s physical care and sets forth the authority and responsibilities of each parent with respect to the children. It details when the children will see and live with each parent, including holidays and… Read More

Many survivors of abuse experience continuing and extensive court litigation by their former intimate partner as a form of control, intimidation, or harassment that, at its worse, can span years, even decades. The WA State legislature enacted statutes (Chapter 26.51 RCW), effective January 1, 2021, aimed to prevent abusive litigation between intimate partners and protect… Read More

We finally have an answer as to whether vested and delivered Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) should be included as income when calculating child support, and the answer is YES, according to the WA State Court of Appeals, Division 1. First, what are RSUs? “Restricted stock units (RSUs) are a form of equity-based compensation consisting of… Read More

If you have a current child support order or are looking to request, modify, or adjust child support, you should be aware that there have been a number of noteworthy changes to the child support laws in 2020. The following is a brief summary of some of the changes: What is “full-time” employment for purposes… Read More

It is not uncommon for a party trying to resolve a dispute regarding a family law matter to come to mediation unprepared, unfortunately even when represented by counsel. This jeopardizes the likelihood that mediation will be successful. [Mediation, also known as a settlement conference or alternative dispute resolution, is the process where parties attempt to… Read More

It is generally known that assets such as real property and financial accounts are subject to division in a divorce. But what about accumulated vacation and sick leave? Employees depending on their benefits can accumulate hundreds, even thousands of hours of leave, and this vacation and sick time can be overlooked in a divorce. Unused… Read More