Recent News

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… 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… Read More

Beresford Booth is excited to welcome Lisa H. Do to the growing Beresford Booth team of lawyers.  Lisa joins the family law group and brings extensive courtroom and trial experience from her years of practice in King and Snohomish County. Lisa’s experience includes all areas of family law including contested/uncontested divorces, spousal support, child support,… 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… Read More

Each district court in Washington State has a small claims division that provides an avenue for parties to resolve small monetary disputes.  This division is generally referred to as small claims court.  Small claims court utilizes a very streamlined process so that parties can resolve small disputes without having to spend extensive time and money… Read More

On January 1, 2020, Washington state’s new graduated real estate excise tax takes effect.  The excise tax (aka transfer tax) is paid upon closing the sale of real property.  The amount of tax changes depending on the value of the sold property.  The existing excise tax is a flat 1.28%. The new excise tax is… Read More

Today the Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announced a settlement with Leadpoint Business Services (Leadpoint) as the largest in the agency’s history. Leadpoint is an Arizona based staffing company that provided workers for two waste recycling facilities in Seattle. The OLS settlement requires Leadpoint to pay $686,202.00 in backpay, interest, and liquidated damages to… Read More

The Washington Supreme Court’s recent decision in Banowsky v. Backstrom, No. 96200-6, 2019 WL 3333172, -- P.3d – (Wn. July 25, 2019), clarifies the interplay between two seemingly conflicting Civil Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (“CRLJ”)—CRLJ 14A(b) and CRLJ 12(h)(3)—in a matter improperly (but in good faith) filed in Washington State District Court.  Reversing… Read More

Businesses have life cycles: birth (formation), life (operation), and death (liquidation and winding up). Many business owners form a limited liability company (“LLC”) by filing a Certificate of Formation, but fail to complete the necessary structuring of the LLC to maximize the benefits of LLC. When utilized properly, the flexibility the LLC offers coupled with… Read More