Recent News

High School graduation is on the horizon. Your child may have plans to attend college or vocational school in the fall. How (or who) is going to pay the expense? Courts in Washington state have the authority and discretion to determine whether the parents must pay. If you have an Order of Child Support, the… Read More

In a recent Washington State Court of Appeals case, the appellate court indicated a termination trial (i.e., the termination of a parent-child relationship) in an adoption matter should be open to the public. Because of a procedural error, the appellate Court did not make such a ruling but ruled the appellant father, whose parental rights… Read More

When a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage is entered, the Court may order a spouse’s name to be changed at his or her request. Often, a spouse will want to assume their maiden name, particularly if the marriage was for a brief period of time. A name change is not limited to divorce proceedings. Anyone… Read More

The Washington State Court of Appeals upheld the trial Court’s decision to deny quasi-judicial immunity to a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) because the GAL acted outside his statutory GAL functions, as alleged in the complaint. Slip Opinion BERESFORD BOOTH has made this content available to the general public for informational purposes only. The information on… Read More

When an engaged couple breaks off the engagement, does the recipient of the ring have to give the ring back? The answer is—depends on the circumstances of the broken engagement. If the recipient (unjustifiably) breaks off the engagement, the ring must be returned to the donor. If the donor unjustifiably breaks off the engagement, the… Read More

Dick and Jane have been living with each other for six months. Dick works at a production plant across town and Jane is a student at a community college located close to the couple’s residence. Dick and Jane are not married. Dick drives Jane’s car to work. Dick and Jane got into a fight on… Read More

It’s a Friday night, husband and wife get into a physical altercation and the police are called. Husband is arrested and taken to the police station where he is charged. After reviewing the charge, the prosecutor determines Husband has committed the crime of Assault in the Fourth Degree, a gross misdemeanor. RCW 9A.36.041. A condition… Read More

What’s on your Facebook profile? Or even your child’s Facebook profile? The answer may end up playing a role in your divorce or child custody matter. Using Facebook as a source of evidence is a growing trend and Washington State is no different. A third of all divorce filings in 2011 contained the word “Facebook.”… Read More

Often times in divorce proceedings, the division of the marital estate and spousal maintenance intertwine. The length of the marriage is an important factor when considering a disproportionate property division in favor of one spouse or the other. So too is the length of the marriage a factor when considering the amount and extent (i.e.,… Read More