Recent News

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

In 2013, I wrote an article touting the “Friendly Quiet Title” as a more efficient means of adjusting your boundary line, when compared to a city/county boundary line adjustment (“BLA”). In recent years, the time and money savings of a Friendly Quiet Title have only increased when compared to the BLA. For example, as of… Read More

One of the features of Washington’s new LLC Act is a clarification of the fiduciary duties owed by members and managers. The Act provides that the only fiduciary duties members of a member- managed LLC and a manager of a manager-managed LLC are the duties of loyalty and care. Members in a manager-managed LLC do… Read More

Do you remember that old real estate contract your parents entered into in the 1970s to buy the family home?  Or perhaps that loan they took out against the home in the 1980s that they paid off after a few years?  It is possible that your parents decided that these long completed real estate transactions… Read More

Selling a home involves an almost overwhelming number of considerations.  How should you stage your home?  What will be your listing price?  How many open houses should you have?  Does your house need any touch ups?  The list can go on and on.  Indeed, even after an offer is accepted, a seller still has to… Read More

If you have a LLC or corporation registered with the Washington Secretary of State, be aware of scams and misleading letters. Scammers have been increasing their efforts, especially against new business owners. These hoaxes suggest you are required to pay for certificates, posters, or other documentation, when in fact, the state requires no such documentation… Read More

Each district court in Washington State has a small claims division that provides an avenue for parties to resolve small monetary disputes.  This division is generally referred to as small claims court.  Small claims court utilizes a very streamlined process so that parties can resolve small disputes without having to spend extensive time and money… Read More