Maybe.

Imagine… You are just finishing up a divorce. Every property item is split, all the documents are signed, and you are just waiting for the court to bless your disunion. Your soon-to-be ex was entirely uncooperative has stopped all communication. Good riddance, you think.

You find your next new home and purchase it by yourself; ready to start a new life. You pay tens of thousands of dollars in earnest money and watch the days tick by until final closing. The new chapter of your life is about to begin….

Suddenly, you get an email...Read More

Pediatric healthcare and “joint” healthcare provisions in court orders and parenting plans.

You are a pediatric healthcare provider. That means you have been - or will be -  dragged into disputes between parents when they cannot agree on the best medical strategy for their children. It is important to keep a clear delineation between your legal and ethical duties as a medical provider to the child, and whatever duties the parents owe to each other by order of the court.

The standard is “standard of care.”

When you have minor patients (under the age of...Read More

Asset valuation is an important part of divorce litigation whether amid a pandemic or not.  However, especially now, it is important to understand that the economy is changing and that it will affect the value of assets and debts in your divorce in determining a fair and equitable award.

In addition to determining what assets and debts are considered community or separate property, parties need to understand the economic positions they will be in following a divorce or separation in order to determine a fair and equitable division of that property.  What may have been a...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 vacation and sick leave that is payable to an employee in cash are also divisible assets and should be valued and included in property division in a divorce, just like other assets.

The requirements for vacation and sick leave to be...Read More

– what happens when your long-term partner dies, but you were never officially married.

You built a life together. Lived in and improved the same home, shared your money, worked together to pay bills and invest, and maybe raised some kids. Then, tragically, your partner dies… without a will (called dying “intestate”). In Washington, only spouses or domestic partners get special intestate benefits  like homestead exemptions and claims to 50% of the decedent’s separate property.

What happens to the house and the assets and the estate and legacy you built together?

Even though you were never...Read More

Question: I’m in the military married to (or have recently adopted) a person who is not a U.S. citizen. What do I do if I’m being sent overseas and my spouse/child has not yet met the residency requirement to be naturalized?

You have recently created (or add to) your U.S. military family. From the multiple veterans, military spouses and “brats” at Beresford Booth, welcome to the club! If you have married or have adopted a person who has not yet been naturalized and you have been notified of an upcoming overseas assignment, you are probably feeling pretty...Read More

In many divorce cases, the community’s highest valued asset is real estate.  Whether it be the family home, an investment property, a commercial building, or a second home, it is quite common that the equity in these properties is used to achieve a fair division and either the proceeds or the home itself awarded equitably between spouses.

Can you rely on an appraisal that was done a few months ago?  Should you put your home on the market right now?  Should you obtain another appraisal?  Do you have...Read More

• Lisa H. Do presents on The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Parenting Plans.
• William (Bill) O. Kessler covers Construction Gradually Reopening in Washington State.

A “stay home, stay safe” mandate to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is unfortunately not very safe for many domestic violence victims. Domestic violence in Washington State is legally defined as physical harm, bodily injury, assault, including sexual assault, stalking, or inflicting fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault between family or household members.

Abusers can take advantage of social distancing, isolation, and increased time at home during a quarantine to further control and abuse victims, including children. Increased stress on families during a pandemic can...Read More

• David C. Tingstad & Per E. Oscarsson will discuss the latest information on the SBA PPP Loan Program.
• Anne B. Bennette will cover issues with pending dissolutions during COVID-19 (i.e. the value of property, effect on retirement, the economic positions of each spouse, etc.)