Recent News

Property boundary lines are often not as simple as square boxes aligned neatly next to one another. An easement is a prime example of the complexities associated with boundary lines. Easements are a right to use (not own outright) or restrict the use of someone else’s land, and issues regarding easements tend to get tricky.… Read More

As a creditor, it can be immensely frustrating when a debtor files for bankruptcy protection.  Even after filing your “proof of claim” evidencing the debt owing to you, in most cases, that debt will be forever discharged – e.g., wiped out – and you’ll receive little to no payment.   From a layman’s perspective, it may… Read More

A lis pendens is a notice of a lawsuit involving title to a piece of real estate.  It is recorded in the real estate records of the county where the real estate is located and it puts the public on notice of the lawsuit.  It can result in potential buyers of the property and potential… Read More

In July of 2017, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law legislation guaranteeing paid family leave to employees across Washington State. The groundbreaking move places Washington in a small group of states who have passed such legislation. While prior law generally mandated only unpaid leave and left many employees ineligible due to the size of their… Read More

An easement is a right to use (not own) someone else’s land.  The party who enjoys the “use” is referred to as the “benefitted party” or “grantee”, while the party who owns the land is referred to as the “burdened party” or “grantor”.  Commonly, the right and burden of “use” stays with the land for… Read More

When parties form a contract, they usually write the contract with terms conforming to their intentions and expectations. Unfortunately, sometimes one or both parties err in accurately expressing these intentions and expectations within the terms of a contract.  To make matters worse, one party often reaps the benefit of that mistake and will defend the… Read More

Most closely held business owners are not familiar with the process associated with buying or selling a business. The process is comprised of four general steps: conversation, letter of intent, definitive documentation and closing. Conversation The first step in the process is the initial conversation between the buyer and the seller.  A simple conversation can… Read More

The newly-passed Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) will take effect on July 1 of this year. The WUCIOA is comprehensive and regulates the formation, management and termination of common interest communities (CICs). Covered communities include condominiums, plat communities, and cooperatives. Application The WUCIOA will apply to all CICs created after July 1, 2018… Read More

It may be your very own neighbor.  While many of us want to co-exist peacefully with our neighbors, you cannot always choose your neighbors, and they may have other goals in mind.  Conflicts between neighbors can arise in a variety of contexts, from tree cutting disputes to boundary disputes.  However, one of the most unsettling… Read More