In honor of the close of Women’s History month, it seemed a good time to share a quick primer on the origins of community property law in Washington State and its connection to women in Washington. What is community property? Community property is property owned by both spouses equally. Separate property is property owned only…

It’s easy to get lost in the mountains of paperwork when purchasing real estate. One document in that mountain, called the commitment to issue title insurance, is both extremely important and guaranteed to make most folks’ eyes glaze over. A potential buyer of property will receive a commitment to issue title insurance after both buyer…

Carmichael Clark P.S. is currently seeking a paralegal to work in the area of litigation.  We are looking for a candidate that is personable and possesses excellent organizational and communication skills.  The candidate should be able to handle multiple priorities and be detail oriented.  Salary depends on experience. Benefits include health insurance and 401K.  …

Determining which employees are covered by Washington’s Minimum Wage Act (“MWA”), RCW 49.46, is an essential consideration for employers of any size. The MWA requires that most Washington-based employees receive a minimum hourly wage, overtime pay, and paid sick leave unless they are exempt from those rules based on the nature of their job and…

Whether putting together your will for the first time or reviewing your existing estate planning documents, it’s important to keep this estate planning concept in mind: minors can’t receive property outright like an adult can. Someone must hold a minor’s inheritance for them at least until they reach the age of 18. If you have…

In Washington, construction contractors must be registered with the state’s Department of Labor and Industries. As part of the registration requirements, contractors must have a general liability insurance policy in the amount of $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage, and a $250,000 combined single limit. Contractors must also obtain a bond that…

Settlement agreements are contracts. They are favored in the law and are governed by general principles of contract law. A contract requires offer, acceptance, and consideration. Acceptance is an expression by word, sign, or writing of the intent to be bound by the terms of the offer. Once an offer is accepted there is a…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in August, coupled with the ongoing spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus, has prompted a growing number of companies – including giants such as Google, United Airlines, McDonald’s, and Goldman Sachs – to mandate that some or all…

Washington recently passed a new law limiting when landlords can terminate their tenants’ tenancies without cause. Previously, in most cities and counties in Washington (but not all, including Bellingham), a month-to-month tenancy could be terminated by either party with 20 days’ notice for any reason, and a tenancy with a lease for a specific time…

Governor Inslee has declared August 10, 2021, Washington Women Lawyers Day honoring the over 10,000 women lawyers now licensed to practice in the State. 120 years ago, the first women graduated from the University Washington School of Law in Seattle – Othilia G. Carroll Beals and Bella Weretnikove Rosembaum – and in 1913 the first…