What is Community Property?
Merriam-Webster defines “defunct” as “no longer living, existing, or functioning.” In Washington, a “defunct marriage” is a term for spouses who have given up any hope of salvaging the relationship, and yet for whatever...more
One of the most common assets that divorcing couples own is real property. In many cases, the real property is limited to the marital residence. However, some cases also involve either residential or commercial investment...more
Around the world there are millions of people who rely on insurance for homes and vehicles to celebrity body parts. Nowadays, there is even insurance to cover the postponement or cancellation of one’s wedding. Ironically,...more
Student loans have become a familiar discussion among families and, more recently, a subject for debate between the federal government and the Courts....more
The demographics of family life have changed a lot in recent decades. Young people are marrying less and later in life when they do. The number of young people interested in having kids is in decline. And older folks are...more
The cryptocurrency market was down approximately 64% for the year 2022, with most of the decline occurring before the FTX collapse. For many, this news may bring a feeling of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). For practitioners...more
What you don’t know about your mortgage could hurt you. In Washington State, we are not a “title state.” Accordingly, placing your spouse’s name on the title of a separate real estate does not automatically make it community...more
The lyrics “We only said goodbye with words” were famously written and sung in Back to Black by Amy Winehouse. The song was about the ending of a relationship, and the theme of goodbye. Under Washington law, “words of...more
As a divorce lawyer in Washington State, it is common for new clients to come in to our first meeting with the understanding that Washington is a community property state and believing that this means all property and debts...more
Divorcing spouses often have a number of business issues to resolve, but one key aspect that is often overlooked takes place when divorce settlements involve the division of an ownership interest in a private company. ...more
The saying that “the beaten road is the safest” is typically associated with advice not to take unnecessary risks and to play things safe. In the law, the notion rings true for courts and their adherence to established...more
Many divorcing spouses worry about the possibility of their spouse selling assets during a divorce and leaving little or nothing to be divided. It can be particularly problematic if a spouse was financially controlling or...more
In recent years, cryptocurrency has sparked concern in some divorcing clients. We hear questions such as “I believe my spouse has cryptocurrency or other digital assets and we are going through a divorce. What can I expect?”...more
In most cases, a marriage represents the joining of two families, rather than simply the two individuals who take vows. It is perhaps unsurprising therefore that the emotional fallout of a divorce can similarly involve the...more
Jack Bux and his high school sweetheart, Diane, have been married a few years, but the pandemic has taken its toll on their relationship, and they could soon be parting ways....more
This will be short, for once. Divorce often involves one spouse buying out another from the marital residence. Best advice was, and still is, home values are such that paying for an appraisal can be useful. But of course,...more
In every Massachusetts divorce matter, parties are required to file financial statements with the Court within 45 days of service of the summons and to update and file new financial statements for each court appearance at...more
Perhaps growing up in Los Angeles took some of the fun out of celebrity gossip, but I never understood the fascination with stories about what is in the shopping cart of the (often shorter than advertised) celebrity standing...more
One of the biggest concerns parties have when going through a divorce is that their spouse will dissipate, hide, or move assets without their knowledge and consent. The fear is that once assets are gone, they can no longer be...more
Many Californians get married without understanding the contract they are entering into. Here are the basics of California Family Law...more
When a divorce is filed, the couple often begins the process while living together in the same home. The question then for many is whether or not this is sustainable....more
In many divorces, the marital home is one of the most valuable assets of the parties. There are three general possibilities in what to do with the marital home in a divorce...more
Spreadsheeting marital assets and debt is an important part of any divorce matter. In a collaborative divorce, the parties have to divide marital property and debt in a just manner when considering all relevant factors. This...more
In many divorce cases, the parties have own their home. When parties divorce and they own a home, there are typically only three options. The first option is that the husband keeps the house, but refinances the mortgage to...more
We frequently represent clients who have engaged in some type of transaction with his or her spouse during the marriage that inadvertently causes them to lose certain rights to property unknowingly. This often happens in the...more