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…

On May 1, 2024, the Washington Department of Ecology filed a basin-wide general adjudication of surface and ground water rights within WRIA 1 (the Nooksack River system and nearby areas) with the Whatcom County Superior Court. This filing included a detailed statement of facts and Ecology’s determination finding that this adjudication is in the public…

In 2022 Americans gave $499.33 billion to charitable causes.[1] You might be surprised to learn that such giving was not attributable primarily to corporations or to wealthy private foundations, which accounted for 6% and 21% respectively, but was powered by individuals making lifetime gifts (64%) or gifts at death through their estate plan (9%). Yes,…

On May 1st, 2024, the Washington Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) filed a water rights adjudication for Water Resource Inventory Area 1 (WRIA 1) with the Whatcom County Superior Court.  This filing, which follows years of planning, preparation, and community outreach, formally begins the adjudication process. What is a Water Rights Adjudication? In short, a water…

As of the date of publishing, the Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) still plans to file the adjudication of the Nooksack River Watershed Resource Inventory Area (“WRIA 1”) by the end of April 2024. The purpose of the adjudication is to determine the extent, validity, and priority date of every single ground and surface water right…