Recent News

On March 18, 2020, the federal government enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which also includes the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) among its provisions.  The EPSLA and EFMLEA apply to employers who have fewer than 500 employees, and cover new federal… Read More

In addition to the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) – discussed in the following article:  https://beresfordlaw.com/what-you-should-know-about-the-payroll-protection-program/ – small businesses should also consider taking advantage of other forms of assistance offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) pursuant to the  Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability Act (CARES Act).  One of these additional programs is the expansion of… Read More

A fundamental principle of partnerships is known as delectus personae, or the right to pick your partner.  The principle forms the backbone of partnerships and limited liability companies (LLCs) today.  This blog post kicks off a series of three posts focusing on the “pick-your-partner” principle as it relates to LLCs in Washington State.  Specifically, we… Read More

Recognizing the government response to the coronavirus should not cause more injury and damage than the coronavirus itself, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering loans and grants to small business employers to help them retain their employees.  The loans are authorized under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability Act (CARES Act),… Read More

The government recently took action to relieve businesses affected by the coronavirus. Business owners affected by the crisis should learn about this legislation to determine whether the relief is available, accessible, and appropriate for their businesses. Government Assistance Washington state requested and was granted a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration.  This action… Read More

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into the law the CARES Act. The CARES Act was passed to address the economic impacts of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. The Act authorizes the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to provide Emergency EIDL Grants. An eligible entity will receive a grant of up to $10,000 by simply applying… Read More

On March 23, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation No. 20-25 including a “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” Order designed to combat the person-to-person spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington State.  Until the order expires or is amended, all people in Washington are ordered to “cease leaving their home or place of residence” except… 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

For decades, Washington State left the its overtime rules essentially unchanged. But recent changes going into effect in July 2020 will dramatically increase the threshold for exemptions to overtime eligibility. When combined with the recent increase in Washington State’s minimum wage of $13.50/hour effective January 1, 2020, these changes will are expected to affect approximately… Read More