Navigate Law Group

Thanks for the question! We have attorneys licensed in both states. Whether we have an Oregon licensed attorney will depend on your legal issue.

The transfer payment is calculated using each party’s income, actual or imputed, the number of children the parties have in common, any children either party has that is not a child in common, and the amount the state thinks it costs to raise the child(ren). Those extra costs mentioned are typically paid based on each party’s proportional share.

Child support can be handled either through the state administrative agency (in Washington the agency is DSHS Department of Child Support) or the court system.

Child support ultimately boils down to a monthly transfer payment and potential other payments for uninsured medical expenses and other shared expenses (agreed extracurricular activities, cell phones, work-related daycare, education costs, driving costs, etc.).

A power of attorney expires upon the principal’s death.

When determining who should be your personal representative, you will want to choose someone whom you trust. This is the biggest factor to ensure that your last wishes are fulfilled. Usually, the person who is deemed to be personal representative is a spouse or a relative, but that is not a requirement.

Once the owner of an estate plan passes, then the estate administration process begins. During this process, a person’s probate assets are collected, their creditors are paid, and then the remaining assets are distributed to their beneficiaries in accordance with their will. Probate assets are all assets that the decedent owned, in their name alone, when they died. If a person left a will, the will determines the distribution of those assets.

A revocable trust is a trust whereby provisions can be altered or canceled dependent on the grantor or the originator of the trust. During the life of the trust, income earned is distributed to the grantor, and only after death does property transfer to the beneficiaries of the trust. A revocable trust is a part of estate planning that manages and protects the assets of the grantor as the owner ages. The trust can be amended or revoked as the grantor desires and is included in estate taxes.

A will does allow for: -Guardianship -Assets -Real Property -Assign an executor to tie the final loose ends A will does not allow for: -Joint tenancy property -Property in a living trust -Life insurance proceeds that have a beneficiary -Retirement Plan proceeds -Stocks and bonds held in beneficiary -Proceeds from a payable-on-death bank account -Arranging care for a child or dependent with special needs

Estate planning is a broad term that includes establishing a will amongst other legally binding documents. Simply having a will does not include everything involved in an entire estate plan.

Although no one wants to think about dying, it is important to plan for that time no matter how old you are or the condition of your health. Be able to financially provide for your family in your absence. -Name a guardian for your child(ren). -Distribute property to whom you’d like it to go to. -Make your own predetermined decisions if you become incapacitated. -Name someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf. -Save your friends and family from the heartache of making decisions for you. -If you are a business owner, plan the future of your business. -Arranging care for a child or dependent with special needs

Generally, there is a three-year statute of limitations on IRS audits. However, there are some exceptions to this depending on your circumstances. If you are concerned about being audited it is important to speak with a tax attorney.

It depends. Currently under the new tax law spousal maintenance court ordered after December 31, 2018 is generally not deductible by the party paying the spousal maintenance. However, there are exceptions if you are modifying a previous order entered prior to January 1, 2019.

There are several issues that could lead to a ticket being dismissed. First off, you may not have committed the infraction! If that’s the case we’ll work to prove that. If you might have committed the infraction, that’s okay. The State doesn’t just get to march you through to a fee and a blemish on your driving record. They still have to prove every element of the infraction under the statute and comply with several court and evidence rules. If the State made a mistake (which they often do), we’ll find it, and use it to your advantage.

It depends on several factors. The main factors are what you were convicted of, how much time has passed, how old you were, and if you have any other convictions on your record. You should speak with an attorney to determine whether the conviction qualifies to be removed.

Washington is what is referred to as a “two party consent” state. This means that all parties to a conversation must agree to be recorded. Oregon, however, is a “one party consent” state – which only requires one party to the conversation to agree to record it.

Don't talk to anyone in law enforcement. Even if you are completely innocent, it will NEVER help you to explain anything to a police officer or prosecutor. Police officers don’t necessarily investigate cases, they build cases. If they are alleging you committed a crime, they are not trying to determine whether you did or not, they are building a case against you. If you try to explain your innocence, they will assume you are lying & twist your words against you. The police are also allowed to outright lie to you. They will tell you they have evidence against you that they do not have. They will tell you that if you talk now, they can help you out – which they often cannot. They are very good manipulators & you will start to feel like you want to explain yourself to them. Do not fall into this trap. If you get arrested, you should only say four words to the police – I want a lawyer. That will preserve your constitutional rights & prevent law enforcement from asking you further questions

Most major hospitals are non-profits, and as non-profits they have to provide a community benefit. That often means forgiven medical debt for people who can’t pay. We are very experienced at handling these issues, and helping clients convince hospitals that their debt should be forgiven given the circumstances.

You can and should challenge every questionable line-item on your credit report. All of the major credit reporting bureaus have ways you can do this on their websites. You can also send them a letter telling them that the information on your report is not correct. You have to tell them the exact line-items that are wrong. This will require the credit reporting bureau to investigate the issue and see if a mistake has been made. If 30 days has gone by and the information has been removed and put back on your report, or was never taken off in the first place, you may have a very good case against the reporting bureau. In that type of a scenario, the reporting bureau may have to pay for your attorney to force them to remove the line-items as well.

Tell them to stop. If you tell a debt collector to stop calling you, make sure it is documented. Either take notes of when you told them to stop calling you on the phone or send them a letter (or both). If you tell them to stop calling, and they continue to call, make sure to document every call because they may be breaking the law. Keep in mind that if you tell a debt collector to stop calling, they will be required to stop, but it may make them more likely to sue you for the debt.

Probate is the court-supervised process of administering a decedent’s estate. If the decedent died with a will, probate proves the will to be the last will and testament of the decedent. If the decedent died without a will, the state’s default rules govern the distribution of the estate assets. There are several steps to administering an estate that a personal representative must complete before the assets of the estate can be distributed. These steps include giving notice to the correct persons, identifying and notifying creditors, locating and securing assets of the estate, paying any debts of the estate, and filing all required tax returns.

Even for people with modest-sized estates, having some type of estate planning in place is advisable. In addition to stating who is to receive your assets, your will appoints the person you wish to administer your estate when you pass away. If you die without a will, the state’s default rules govern who is to receive your probate assets, which may not reflect your wishes. It is especially important for people with minor children to have a will because a will states who is to handle inherited assets for a minor child and who you would want as your child’s guardian. Additionally, having a will can save on some expenses of administration and can reduce the possibility of disagreements among beneficiaries of the estate.

Recreational marijuana, whether produced commercially or for home use, is illegal under federal law. Nonetheless, both Oregon and Washington have a licensing process for commercially produced recreational marijuana, and both states provide for growing certain types of marijuana for home use, subject to significant restrictions. For example, medical marijuana for home use may be available in Washington, but recreational marijuana is not. To qualify for growing medical marijuana in Washington, a grower must meet the requirements specified in Washington’s medical marijuana laws. Conversely, in Oregon, you may grow up to four household recreational marijuana plants, but they may not be sold commercially. In both cases, additional fact-specific restrictions apply, so it is recommended to speak with an attorney before you begin planting.

Yes. The 2018 Farm Bill created new requirements for hemp farmers to comply with the US Department of Agriculture and the various state departments of agriculture. Fortunately, both Washington and Oregon have clear guidelines and processes for who must apply and how to do so. Speaking with an attorney about which licenses and registrations are needed is highly recommended.

If this happens make sure to speak to an attorney. You may be able to recover damages for your contractor’s errors. Some contractors will ask for large sums of money before starting work, and then leave without completing the work. Again, take photos throughout the work being completed, and document any defective work. Keep a timeline of the project. In some cases, you may be able to recover from the contractor’s insurance company or recover from the contractor’s bond.

Contractors have different ways of charging for their services. Different jurisdictions also have several legal requirements for providing quotes, getting change orders approved, and how payments are handled. Make sure to have a written agreement for the work that you wish to complete. If you request any changes to the work, or the contractor says that more work needs to be done, make sure to document the changes in writing. Keep a timeline of the work being performed. If you believe that your contractor is trying to take advantage of you, speak to an attorney, they may be able to help.

Depending on the legal structure of your business, you may be sued personally for the debts and other obligations of your business. For example, sole proprietors (common for those who do not have a separate legal entity like an LLC or corporation) will be personally liable for the debts of the business. Furthermore, even though having a separate legal entity such as an LLC or corporation can limit your liability, it cannot eradicate it. One of the best ways to avoid being sued for the obligations of the business is to make sure you treat the business as a “person” separate from yourself. That means making sure you maintain proper corporate records, keep a separate bank account, make sure the business is adequately funded, and never co-mingle assets between yourself and the business. Finally, keep in mind that if a business owner commits a negligent tort, even as an agent of the business, the business owner may be personally liable.

Forming a business requires advanced planning. First, consider the type of business and geographic location where you want to operate. If you plan to operate in multiple states, it may be necessary to register with multiple secretaries of state. If you have a special trade, such as construction or food preparation, additional licenses and registrations may be necessary. Also, be sure to know who all of the owners of the business are, and make sure to discuss whether and how much of their initial contribution to the company is a loan or an investment. Be sure to discuss in detail the roles, if any, that each owner may have in the decisions of the business. Additionally, consider whether you want to form a limited liability company (LLC), a corporation, or another type of legal entity. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages regarding taxation and liability. Talk to an attorney if you would like to know more.

The difference between an LLC or an S-Corp is not actually a question of which type of business entity to use, but rather a tax question. Both LLCs and corporations may elect to be taxed under Subchapter S, which may have certain advantages and disadvantages, depending on your specific finances and corporate structure. However, both corporations and LLCs can help shield business owners from personal liability for the debts of the business, regardless of the tax election. In both cases, as long as you are able to maintain the legal structure of the business properly, you may be able to limit your individual liability exposure. Talk to an attorney if you have further questions about liability shields and what it means to elect to be taxed under Subchapter S.

The most important thing you can do is control your narrative and speak to an attorney before you are terminated. An attorney will want to see evidence of wrongdoing. This means you need to document what is going on that you believe is wrongful or illegal. Report your concerns in writing to HR or a supervisor and document your concerns in writing. If you meet with someone, take contemporaneous notes and try to bring a witness to a meeting that is neutral or can substantiate the substance of the conversation. If someone has an oral conversation with you, follow up with an email to that person in writing stating “Just to reiterate what you said…” The more you document, the clearer your case will be. You will also want to keep hard copies of crucial information. Talk to one of our attorneys today!

You can be fired for any reason in Washington as long as that reason was not wrongful. In order to be wrongful, you must either be a member of a protected class (such as race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) or engaged in protected activity (such as reporting illegal activity, reporting safety concerns, taking medical leave) and you received adverse treatment, such as being fired, for being a member of that protected class or engaging in that protected activity. If you are fired for one of these reasons, make sure to speak to an attorney.

The length of time it takes to complete a divorce depends on many factors. If the parties are in agreement on all the issues like separation of assets and debts, spousal and child support, and the parenting plan, then the parties can enter agreed orders. There is a mandatory waiting period of 90 days between the date the Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) is filed and served on the other party or date it is filed if the other party has agreed and signed the Petition and the entry of final orders for the divorce. If the parties don’t agree on all issues, the matter must go to mediation or a settlement conference and / or trial, which takes time and is dependent on the trial judge’s schedule and when the parties set the notice for trial. In most cases, the divorce should be resolved within 1-2 years if it goes to trial, based on the cooperation of both parties, but if heavily litigated can take longer.

Washington state is a community property state, which means all property and debts incurred during the marriage are jointly owned or owed. When the court divides up the assets they will consider all property and debts of the parties and determine if they are community (jointly owned) or separate (solely belonging to one party only). Separate property usually consists of things owned or owed before the marriage or acquired separately such as an inheritance, even if during the marriage. There are specific rules on how the courts divide up these assets and debts based on how they are categorized, so it is important to consult with an attorney if you have specific questions about your assets or debts.

You may request child support in a marital dissolution petition, a parenting plan petition, and a paternity petition. You will need to provide your income information for the last couple of years as well as proof of current income.

There are four main pleadings you need when you file for a divorce: 1) Summons, 2) Confidential Information Form, 3) Certificate of Dissolution, Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage, and 4) Petition for Divorce. If children are involved, then additional pleadings will be necessary. These pleadings are necessary to start a divorce, but there are a number of other pleadings that may be needed throughout the course of the divorce.

Navigate Law Group has attorneys that practice a broad range of legal areas. We have knowledgeable and skilled attorneys who practice in the areas of family law, estate planning, civil litigation, tax, employment, criminal, business, consumer, real estate, hospitality law, and more.

Yes, there are metered parking spots right out front that are usually available for easy parking.

Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm excluding holidays We can sometimes accommodate other times upon request.

Depends on your matter, however generally you will want to do the following: (1) make an outline of all the questions you have for the attorney, (2) bullet point notes on the most significant issues/facts that you want to make sure to tell the attorney about, and (3) bring in any documentation that is related to your matter (i.e. completed questionnaire, timeline of events, list of witnesses, any written correspondence, etc.).

Varies depending on your issue and the attorney that you are meeting with.