Recent News

In response to growing issues related to privacy and an employee's online presence, Governor Jay Inslee recently signed s new law making it unlawful for employers to require an employee or applicant to disclose social networking website usernames or passwords, or to force an employee or applicant to add any person to the employee’s list… Read More

Most people know they should have a contract with their business partners.  But too often, they try to perform the legal drafting themselves, or they use a form inapplicable to their specific partnership.  Usually, such contracts do more harm than good.  Most small businesses form as LLCs in Washington, and rightfully so.  By far the… Read More

MILITARY DIVORCE: PENSION ISSUES Service members who retire following 20 or more years of creditable service are compensated with a retirement for the rest of their lives. A military pension is community property.   In a divorce setting, both the service member and their spouse need to understand how and when the military retirement is subject… Read More

The job interview process can be a legal minefield for both employers and prospective employees when it comes to what can and cannot be asked in an interview.  There are both state and federal laws setting the parameters of job interviews.  Beresford Booth has counseled both employers and employees through the interview question minefield, but… Read More

You borrow money to buy or refinance your home.  Your lender takes a deed of trust on your home as collateral.  Some time goes by and you pay off the loan or refinance it with a new lender who also takes a deed of trust on your home as collateral.  More time goes by and… Read More

The Servicemember's Civil Relief Act (SCRA), an expansion of the former Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act, protects active duty military service members.  The act is intended to postpone or suspend certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote full attention to duty and to relieve stress on the family members of those service… Read More

One method of avoiding estate tax is through a Family Limited Partnership.  In fact, “Family Limited Partnership” is often a misnomer, because the entity formed is usually a Family LLC instead. Regardless, the purpose and function are the same.  The Family LLC allows Mom and Dad to (a) form an LLC owned only by the… Read More

The Washington State Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the Superior Court granting a civil anti-harassment order against the appellant, which prohibited the appellant from the use and enjoyment, her real property.  The property, a beachfront home, was owned by several members of the same family, including the appellant.  Following a series of alleged… Read More

Companies can request ‘content’ from employees’ social media sites as part of corporate investigations, but the employee is under no obligation to provide such content to the employer. As social media continues to evolve in our society, so too evolves its boundaries when applied to the workplace.  Washingtonians experiences with the new law will undoubtedly… Read More