In 2013, I wrote an article touting the “Friendly Quiet Title” as a more efficient means of adjusting your boundary line, when compared to a city/county boundary line adjustment (“BLA”). In recent years, the time and money savings of a Friendly Quiet Title have only increased when compared to the BLA.

For example, as of January 2020, King County’s base BLA fee is up to $3,615. Add a degree of complexity (such as vacant land or land with critical areas), and the base fee increases to $5,568. These fees will presumably...Read More

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE Act), which was signed into law on December 20, 2019, represents a significant overhaul of retirement rules in more than a decade. Among many important changes, the SECURE Act allows you to use retirement savings to start or grow your family!

The SECURE Act allows for penalty-free withdrawals from your retirement account, up to $5,000 per parent, within a year of your child’s birth or your adoption of a child into your family.   This change allows you to avoid the 10% penalty typically assessed on early retirement...Read More

One of the features of Washington’s new LLC Act is a clarification of the fiduciary duties owed by members and managers. The Act provides that the only fiduciary duties members of a member- managed LLC and a manager of a manager-managed LLC are the duties of loyalty and care. Members in a manager-managed LLC do not owe fiduciary duties.

The duty of loyalty is limited to:

1. 1. 1. 1. Account to the LLC and hold as trustee for the LLC any profit, or benefit derived by...Read More

Do you remember that old real estate contract your parents entered into in the 1970s to buy the family home?  Or perhaps that loan they took out against the home in the 1980s that they paid off after a few years?  It is possible that your parents decided that these long completed real estate transactions might not make for the most interesting dinner conversation.  Unfortunately, you might someday end up thrust into a strange and frustrating, but surprisingly common, situation where these old forgotten clouds on title from decades ago linger on like ghosts.

This issue...Read More

Selling a home involves an almost overwhelming number of considerations.  How should you stage your home?  What will be your listing price?  How many open houses should you have?  Does your house need any touch ups?  The list can go on and on.  Indeed, even after an offer is accepted, a seller still has to worry about financing contingencies, inspection contingencies, closing requirements, and what will happen with the earnest money deposit if there is a dispute between the parties.

In the midst of all of this, a home seller might be forgiven for glossing over...Read More

Civil or criminal lawsuits involving witness testimony frequently require subpoenas. A subpoena is a legal document commanding a person or business to provide testimony at various court proceedings (e.g. trial or deposition) or present relevant documents to a party to a lawsuit.  When subpoenaing a witness in Washington state, there are specific steps the lawyer must take to ensure compliance with state statutes and court rules.

Serving and Compelling Appearance

Washington statutes require an individual over 18 to serve the subpoena upon the witness by either reading the subpoena to the witness or delivering it to...Read More

The decision to initiate litigation can be a complicated calculation fraught with emotional and financial consequences.  It behooves individuals to proceed deliberately, and with caution, so that they can see the road ahead of them as clearly as possible.  In many instances, this involves consultation with legal counsel to understand the legal ramifications of a course of action.  The prospect of hiring an attorney may seem daunting, and this can sometimes lead individuals to sit on their rights until they finally feel ready for the undertaking.

There may be limits, however, to how long an individual...Read More

If you have a LLC or corporation registered with the Washington Secretary of State, be aware of scams and misleading letters. Scammers have been increasing their efforts, especially against new business owners. These hoaxes suggest you are required to pay for certificates, posters, or other documentation, when in fact, the state requires no such documentation or you are being overcharged to receive it. The Secretary of State posts information on many of these scams on its webpage. For example, the most recent grift purports to inform business owners they need to pay for a Certificate of...Read More