Recent News

Washington has, for years, required the benefited owner (the party who uses the easement) and the burdened owner (the party whose land the easement is over) to agree in order to relocate the easement location on the burdened property.  Washington State courts explicitly considered a common approach used by many other states that allows the… Read More

An easement is the right to use, but not own, the land of another. The “benefitted party” or “grantee” uses the easement area and owns the “dominant estate”, while the “burdened party” or “grantor” owns the property subject to the easement, known as the “servient estate.” Easements may serve a variety of purposes – ingress and egress,… Read More

If you have either purchased or thought about purchasing a home in the past five or so years, there is a good chance you have heard about sellers providing buyers with a pre-listing inspection report and home buyers waiving an inspection contingency. While some often-repeated “facts” are true regarding a seller’s pre-listing inspection report, there… Read More

I recently wrote a blog post here regarding some of the considerations involved for landlords and tenants in commercial leasing. The complex issues pertaining to commercial leasing can sometimes turn into disputes between the parties, and ultimately, litigation regarding the same. While the commercial lease itself will dictate most of the rights and remedies available to both… Read More

Small oversights in contracts can lead to big problems. A new decision from the Washington Court of Appeals, Pacific Shoreline Properties, LLC v. First Liberty Bond, LLC, highlights some important risks for sellers. This case involved a failed sale of an apartment complex. The Court offers valuable insights for property owners who plan to sell. In… Read More

If you are a contractor building homes or a homeowner settling into a new property, you have likely heard the term “easement” before. But what does it mean, and how can it be modified? A recent Washington State Court of Appeals case, Carter v. C&K Contracting, Inc. (No. 40485-4-III), offers practical lessons about easements that can save… Read More

Even if you’ve made every effort to be a good neighbor, you may find yourself caught in a dispute you didn't see coming. A disagreement over a late-night backyard party, a disputed property line, or an unapproved fence repair can quickly escalate, leading to long-term friction between neighbors. If you’ve found yourself at odds with… Read More

Commercial landlords and tenants have dramatically different considerations from residential landlords and tenants. Commercial landlords, for example, must deal with longer lease terms, complex code regulations, and significant financial consequences stemming from the success or failure of their tenants’ businesses. These do not generally come into play for residential landlords, who deal with shorter term… Read More

You would not be the first property owner that desired to have trees taken down. It might be to improve sun light, a view, or just to cautiously avoid a potential scenario where a fallen tree could damage your home. Before proceeding with any tree removal, it would be wise to understand the entire process.… Read More