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...
Trusted Legal Counsel In Everett And Beyond
Year: 2023
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...