Recent News

Amicable Divorce? You Still Need to Update Your Estate Plan!

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 2/20/2018
Getting a divorce is never easy --- but it certainly is less stressful when it is done amicably. In fact, many couples decide that they don’t need the advice of counsel because they are able to agree on the division of assets and liabilities --- and thus they proceed with filing pro se. Further, many… Read More

When There Is Something Strange In Your Neighborhood…

Washington State Litigation and Business Law Lawyer Babak Shamsi | 2/1/2018
It may be your very own neighbor.  While many of us want to co-exist peacefully with our neighbors, you cannot always choose your neighbors, and they may have other goals in mind.  Conflicts between neighbors can arise in a variety of contexts, from tree cutting disputes to boundary disputes.  However, one of the most unsettling… Read More

Paid Sick Leave In 2018: Are You At Risk Of Not Meeting This New Requirement For Washington Employers?

Washington State Business Law Lawyer Babak Shamsi | 1/22/2018
In the fall of 2016, Washington State voters approved Initiative 1433, which made four major changes to state law:  (1) it increases the minimum wage; (2) ensures tips and service charges are given to appropriate staff; (3) protects certain employees from retaliation for exercising their legal rights; and (4) requires employers to provide paid sick… Read More

Appointing A Special Master In Lawsuits In Washington State

Washington State Litigation, Business and Real Estate Law Lawyer William O. Kessler | 1/9/2018
The lawyers can see it coming. By their nature, certain lawsuits are primed from the outset to cost the parties excessive money and time, regardless of the amount in controversy. A certain a piece of litigation might involve a technical or complex area of the law. It might require ongoing and frequent oversight of the… Read More

Tax Bill Impact On Divorce And Separation Settlements: Paying Spousal Maintenance Lost Its Tax Advantage

Washington State Family Law Lawyer Dimitra S. Scott | 12/28/2017
For the past 75 years, a party who pays Spousal Maintenance/Alimony received the benefit of a tax deductible expense, and the party receiving spousal maintenance/alimony had the burden of paying income tax on the maintenance received. The tax consequences will change dramatically effective January 1, 2019. Under the new Tax Plan, for all divorce decrees… Read More

Washington State’s New Power Of Attorney Act

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 12/4/2017
A power of attorney gives powers to another party (commonly known as an agent or attorney in fact) to act on his or her behalf. A power of attorney essentially allows the agent to step into the shoes of the principal, and perform all acts a principal could perform in his or her own right.… Read More

When Should A Creditor File A Bankruptcy Adversary Action?

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 11/30/2017
Typically, creditors have little to no recourse when a debtor files for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Unless the debtor has sufficient non-exempt assets to pay all of his creditors, or the debts are secured by homes, cars, or other tangible items, the debts will likely be discharged – i.e., wiped out – leaving… Read More

An Update To The Relocation Statute

Washington State Family Law Lawyer Anne B. Bennette | 11/20/2017
A Washington Court of Appeals recently differentiated 50/50 shared parenting plans from plans in which there is a named primary residential parent with respect to the intent to move with the child. “A proposed relocation that would modify a joint parenting plan’s equal residential time to something less than equal residential time is in effect… Read More