Recent News

July 29th, 2021 Attorney Anne Bennette spoke about how to distinguish separate and community property. 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

June 3rd, 2021 Dimitra S. Scott speaks about surrogacy requirements in Washington State. Read More

May 6th, 2021 Lisa H. Do and guest Victor Lopez (from Motto Mortgage in Edmonds) discuss when refinancing the mortgage on a marital home may be necessary in the context of a divorce, the reasons why, and the process to do so. Read More

Washington courts have long recognized that maintaining a relationship with grandparents is generally in the best interest of the children.  If grandparents can make a case that they have been (and will continue to be) critical to the healthy and happy development of the grandchild, they have a good chance of successfully petitioning for some… 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

There are many personal reasons why people may wish to be in a live-in romantic situation without being married. But if you think you are avoiding the legal and property complications of marriage…  think again. Even though “common law marriage” is not a thing in Washington, there may be surprise shifts in money between you… 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