With the WRIA 1 adjudication claim filing deadline approaching, you may be hearing more about permit-exempt wells, especially if you live on rural land in Whatcom County and use a private well as your water source. You may be asking yourself: what is a permit exempt well, how do I know if I have one,…

Let’s say you own a large yard, and you have a shed in the back. You have plenty of room in the shed, so like the friendly, courteous neighbor you are, you decide to allow your neighbor to store his lawnmower there. Well, a decade goes by and your neighbor uses the shed for storage…

Codified in Chapter 64.90 RCW, the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) establishes comprehensive rules for common interest communities—including condominiums, planned communities, and cooperatives—formed on or after its effective date of July 1, 2018. While full compliance for previously established community associations was originally required by January 1, 2028, the passage of Senate Bill…

We’ve talked about the fact that most attorneys no longer take responsibility for storing their clients’ original wills and other estate planning documents. This naturally raises the question of where clients should store their original estate planning documents if it’s no longer an option to keep them locked away in their attorney’s office. The easiest…

In 2023, Washington State adopted the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA), codified in Chapter 7.54 RCW, to address long-standing issues surrounding inherited property held by multiple family members. This law aims to protect property co-owned by family members from a forced sale if one, but not all, of the family members wants to…

All rental property owners in the City of Bellingham should be aware of new city ordinance that took effect as of January 1, 2025. Per Bellingham Municipal Code 6.15.050(B)(14): 14. All residential housing units subject to registration under this chapter shall include secure, locking mail receptacles for each individual housing unit: a. All newly constructed residential housing…

Water Rights Adjudication Update On May 1, 2024, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) filed a general adjudication with the Whatcom County Superior Court to address all surface and ground water rights within Water Resources Inventory Area 1 (WRIA 1). The goal of this adjudication is to resolve conflicts and competition over water resources,…

Hopefully Not Anymore, and Why That’s a Positive Thing. My clients are sometimes surprised to learn that it is no longer common practice for Washington attorneys who prepare wills and other estate planning documents to retain the originals in their possession on behalf of their clients. In fact, it has been my experience that the…

This blog post discusses changes recently passed to the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act. These changes will impact many property owners in Washington State – possibly including you! During the 2024 session, the Washington State Legislature passed ESSB 5796, significantly amending the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (“WUCIOA;” Ch. 64.90 RCW). The biggest…

If (1) you own property in Washington burdened by an easement, (2) you wish that easement was located somewhere else on your property, and (3) you have been unable to reach an agreement with the easement owner, a recently-adopted Washington law may provide a path forward. What is the Uniform Easement Relocation Act (UERA)? In…