When thinking about estate planning, it is easy to overlook the importance of creating a digital estate plan, yet this aspect is increasingly crucial in our digital age. With our lives increasingly reliant on technology,...
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3 common types of white-collar crimes in Washington
Washington experiences its fair share of white-collar crime activities that threaten the integrity of businesses, financial institutions and individuals' trust in the system. White-collar criminals target financial assets,...
What if you own a business with the person you are divorcing?
Relationships do not always work out. It’s one of the reasons people often advise to never mix business and pleasure. Differences at work could harm your personal relationship, and differences at home could harm your...
Examples of identity theft
Many serious crimes involve the use of violence and physical contact. Nonetheless, violence and physicality are not required for all serious crimes. With advancing technology, there has been a rise in criminal activities...
A parent’s mental health and child custody in Washington
Family courts in the beautiful state of Washington make custody decisions with one key principle in mind: the best interests of the child. When parents decide to divorce, the court steps in to ensure that the child’s...
How do people hide assets?
Are you concerned that your spouse is going to try to hide assets during the divorce? Maybe the two of you have had a lot of conflicts over money, and perhaps the way that you use money even caused the divorce. Now you’re...
Why do some people postpone estate planning?
The primary goal of planning one’s estate is often to better ensure that assets are distributed according to one’s wishes and that loved ones are provided for in the event of incapacitation or death. But despite the...
Can the police search my property without a warrant?
The police are trained to maintain law and order. Part of this involves executing arrests and securing evidence of a crime. However, if the police enter your home illegally, they cannot use any evidence they obtain...
3 tips for effectively divorcing a narcissist
You’ve come to see your spouse with new eyes – and you’re now conscious of just how deeply narcissistic they are. You simply can’t spend the rest of your life catering to their endless needs, so you want out. Unfortunately,...
Choosing the right executor of your will matters
You may have a thoughtful plan in place for your assets after you are gone, but have you considered who will be in charge of carrying out your final wishes? Choosing the executor of your will is a critical decision that...
Reasons not to talk to the police
The role of police officers is to prevent and investigate crime. They have a duty to protect innocent people. For the most part, this is exactly what they do. So, is it safe to talk to them? There is a difference between...
How can money can lead to a divorce?
Money plays a huge role in marriage regarding stability and happiness. That's why it's among the top things couples argue about, and it can potentially lead to a divorce. Here is how money can lead to the dissolution of a...
What role do trusts have in estate planning?
Protecting the assets you want to pass down to your loved ones is a primary consideration when developing your estate plan. While many opt to achieve this aim using a will, there’s another option – trusts. Trusts are...
Is a retirement savings account separate property during divorce?
People typically want to preserve as much of their assets as they can during a Washington divorce. Generally, anything that is part of the marital estate is subject to property division laws. The state treats resources...
3 components of the standardized field sobriety test
When a police officer initiates a traffic stop for the suspicion of drunk driving, they have to figure out what’s going on. They have several tools that they can use to determine whether a driver is impaired or not. They...
Why keep your business within the family?
Many people say that you should avoid mixing business with friends or family. Nonetheless, there are countless successful family businesses out there – and they remain family businesses through good succession planning. As...
Strategies for maintaining privacy and discretion during divorce
Divorce is a sensitive process, and maintaining privacy and discretion during this challenging time is crucial. Exploring various strategies can help you safeguard your personal information and maintain privacy during a...
Different financial perspectives may lead to divorce
When couples get divorced for financial reasons, it may be that they have significant financial stress. You sometimes see this if one partner has an addiction or problematic spending habits. When couples can’t make ends...
Does anyone have a legal right to inherit from an estate?
People often develop a sense of entitlement toward the assets owned by others, especially those in their immediate families. For example, children generally assume that they will receive whatever property their parents own...
Can one parent seek sole custody to keep the other from the kids?
Most people going through or divorce or non-marital split benefit from making a clean break. The fewer times they have to interact with their former partner, the less likely they are to experience emotional upheaval and...
Penalties for a first DUI in Washington State
Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense in all 50 U.S. states, including Washington. Those caught and convicted of a DUI for the first time may face various penalties. Knowing the...
Using a power of attorney in your estate plan
Estate planning should go beyond leaving assets to family members and beneficiaries. It’s not just a financial process, although that is important. Estate planning can also be used for medical and legal decisions. One way...
Some pros and cons of single-parent adoption
Adoption can be a good option if you want to become a parent but wish to remain single and independent. More people, from celebrities to ordinary Americans, are adopting without a spouse or domestic partner. In Washington,...
Do you have a digital estate plan in place yet?
Chances are that, at least a few times a day, you open up various apps and visit various websites on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or another device. As more adults live numerous aspects of their life increasingly online,...
Why do people get divorced more often as they grow older?
Recently, the divorce rate is going up for adults aged 50 and older in the U.S. For everyone who is younger than them, the divorce rate is going down. What is it about aging that seems to be increasingly leading to divorce?...
How co-parenting technology can benefit you
Even when a child’s parents are on excellent terms with one another, if they are no longer married or romantically involved, they may find co-parenting to be challenging at times. On the other end of the co-parenting...
Organized retail theft is not shoplifting
Some people here in Washington and throughout the country have taken shoplifting to a whole new level. Thanks in part to the organizing power of social media, large numbers of people have descended on everything from home...
The benefits of having a living will
Suppose you are incapacitated by a sudden illness or a serious injury and cannot communicate effectively. Who would make medical decisions for you, and how would they know what you truly want? These are some of the...
7 marital issues that lead to divorce
You’ve likely heard that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce -- but nobody starts off a marriage expecting divorce to happen to them (although maybe they should). Why does divorce happen so often? Here’s what you...
Who gets the house in a Washington State divorce?
In Washington State, property division during a divorce follows the principle of community property. However, determining who gets the house specifically involves various factors and considerations. While not all of them...
Why a Washington DUI is a concern for military servicemembers
Military servicemembers, like everyone else in Washington, can end up arrested for seemingly victimless crimes. Driving under the influence (DUI) arrests often occur during traffic stops, which means that they may take...
5 questions (and answers) about wills
A will is one of the many documents included in an estate plan. It’s often the first document people make. You may not fully understand how a will works and why you need one. Here’s what you should know: 1. Why is a will...
When should you modify a child custody order?
Child custody can make a divorce more complicated. With both parties fighting for their parental rights, the court will consider several factors to give orders in the child's best interest. However, things may change later,...
How do you talk to your partner about a prenuptial agreement?
Discussing prenuptial agreements (prenups) with a partner is associated with negative feelings. Some people have attested that it feels like they are planning for a divorce before even the marriage starts. Nonetheless, a...
How to talk to your children about your estate plans
You might not want to talk to your children about your estate plan, and they might not want to hear you talk about your inevitable death. Yet, discussing your estate plan is a wise idea. As a freak accident could take you...
Can you be too young for an estate plan?
One of the top reasons that people give, if you ask them why they don’t yet have an estate plan, is just that they think they’re too young to make one. They know that they are legally allowed to make one, of course. Anyone...
Co-parenting: Virtual visitation considerations
When couples in Washington who share minor children divorce, the state requires that parenting plans be put into place as those once-romantic relationships evolve into co-parenting relationships. Parenting plans are legally...
How a QDRO helps divide retirement assets in divorce
Property division is among the major issues during divorce. For separating spouses, each may need guidance as to how to divide retirement plans such as 401(k)s or pensions. Granted, this is a complex task. However, the...
Modifying your estate plan during and after divorce
If you’re considering or about to begin the process of divorce, you’re likely not thinking about estate planning. Nonetheless, divorce is one of those life events that warrants some changes to any existing plans you may...
You’re facing an Article 32 hearing: What should you expect?
As military personnel, if you’re accused of committing a crime your case will need to be heard by the General Court Martial. Before a case reaches this point, however, an investigation will need to have taken place. This is...
Why people fight reckless driving charges in Washington
People too often treat traffic offenses like they don't really matter. The average adult in Washington will admit to violating traffic laws on a regular basis. Many people habitually exceed the posted speed limit, drive...
How do you choose a guardian for your young child?
Estate planning involves making significant decisions in terms of who will benefit from your savings and assets should you become incapacitated. Perhaps, more importantly than this, your estate plan can also outline...
Why you need a power of attorney in your estate plans
Life can be pretty unpredictable. You can be healthy in one minute and incapacitated in the other. It could be due to a sudden illness or an accident that leaves you with limited bodily functions and unable to make...
How to stay connected with your kids after a divorce
If you have kids when going through a divorce, it can be more challenging. Divorce affects kids in different ways. However, staying together for the kids is also not beneficial. It is unhealthy for them to grow up in a home...
3 important questions for your estate plan
If you’ve never made an estate plan until now, then you likely don’t know what’s all included in one. For many people, an estate plan is an itemization of assets, who’ll inherit those assets and final wishes, typically...
3 smart estate planning moves as you prepare for retirement
Getting ready for retirement often means taking a hard look at your finances and your life. It is a natural and logical time to create an estate plan if you have not already done so or make important revisions to your...
Will the courts let you move away with the kids?
When you share custody in Washington, both you and the other parent of your children have a say in their daily lives. You typically have to agree with one another about their education and their healthcare needs. You will...
2 tips to help you maintain your sanity during divorce
Divorce is never easy, even if both of you agree that it is the right thing to do. Divorce comes with uncertainty, questions regarding what went wrong and reflections on what life will be like going forward. Divorce...
Is your prenuptial agreement valid?
Where we will go for our honeymoon? Where will we live? How soon should we have kids? These are just some of the subjects soon-to-wed couples talk about while planning their marriage and future. However, one of the topics...
2 costly DUI mistakes to avoid when pulled over by police
Let’s get this out of the way: driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is both wrong and reckless. Even if you are not found and charged, drunk driving endangers your life, your car occupant’s lives as well as the...
You need to know that you can change your custody order
Your custody order is enforceable in the Washington family courts. If you or your ex refuse to abide by the existing order, either of you could go to court to ask for enforcement assistance. A judge could order make-up...
3 tips to help you get the divorce outcome you need
One of the biggest problems with a divorce is that it requires you to make major decisions at a time when you are probably not at your best. Those in the military train so that they can perform under high stress. Most...
3 ways you can minimize the effect of your debt on your beneficiaries
If you’re thinking about creating your estate plan, there are a variety of issues that you have to take into consideration. Sometimes, you may not be sure what to do if there’s debt and how it may affect your estate plan....
Why do people put estate planning off?
Estate planning is one of the most important legal processes that a person can partake in. It’s really something that every adult should look into. However, the reality is that many people don’t bother with estate...
What are my defense options when charged with evading arrest?
Being pursued by law enforcement can be a frightening experience. It is not uncommon for most to people panic when they notice that the police are coming after them. This explains why many opt to take off to avoid an...
Understanding Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
Not every misconduct by a member of the military warrants a court martial hearing. Sometimes, commanders can issue Article 15, also known as non-judicial punishment, to soldiers who violate UCMJ regulations that do not...
Getting more when you don’t want the house in divorce
Sometimes, divorcing isn’t about getting the family home. You might not want the bad memories from living there or be uncomfortable with the idea of staying there after your marriage ends. In this kind of situation, you are...
Strategies to help you overcome conflict when co-parenting
If you have divorced your children’s other parent and have agreed to co-parent, it’s only natural for conflict to occur from time to time. However, to ensure the health and well-being of your children, it’s a good idea to...
Factors to consider as you draft your will
You’ve taken the important step of addressing your estate plan, but there’s still some way to go. You’ve decided to focus on your will first and build on this. Essentially, your will should include the desires that are...
How an estate plan helps eliminate concerns of probate and privacy
When it comes to planning for your future, part of this plan should include an estate plan. This includes official documents like a will, powers of attorney and more. However, as you create your estate plan, you should...
3 big benefits of joint custody
You and your spouse may have recently agreed to divorce, and you’d like to avoid a custody battle. Well, the good news is that’s entirely possible. These days, joint custody is generally considered best (in most situations)...
3 signs it’s time to create or revise your estate plan
Estate planning is a process many people put off until very close to retirement. It is certainly smart for those about to end their professional pursuits and to start living on a fixed income to review their plans and make...
Why co-parents shouldn’t neglect Mother’s and Father’s Day
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can be among the most unexpectedly difficult holidays to deal with after separation or divorce. Many divorcing parents don’t include them in their custody agreement and parenting plan or simply...
Is divorce ever good for kids?
If you are a parent considering divorce, you may be scared off by the horror stories you read or hear. People might tell you that your child will have lifelong mental health problems. Or end up hanging out with the wrong...
How does shared parenting benefit you and your child?
Many couples end up in a bitter fight over custody because they both believe it is best if they get the lion’s share. They dredge up past episodes where their spouse sent the child to school with only a bag of chips for...
How can you dial down your divorce?
If you are about to divorce, you might be dreading how it will go. You may have friends or family who went through a nasty divorce, and whenever you see divorces in the press or in TV series or films, they tend to be high...
3 things to consider when preparing for a divorce
You’ve decided to divorce after a long and difficult conversation with your spouse. Now what? If you can still talk to each other, things will be much simpler. So try to avoid anything that could escalate the situation to a...
What happens if you die without an estate plan in Washington?
Many Washington residents do not have an estate plan or will. If they die unexpectedly, their family members will have only prior personal conversations to rely on regarding the division of assets. Unfortunately, people...