Let's Talk About Common Law Marriage
The California Wrongful Death statute creates a legal claim when someone dies at the hands of a negligent, reckless, or intentional tort or a dangerous or defective product. Such incidents include...more
A living trust, also known as an “inter vivos” trust, is a trust that you create while you are still living. Trusts can be understood as a type of contract between the funder of the trust (“trust grantor”), the trustee, and...more
In March 2024, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released a new revision to Form W-9. Forms W-9 previously provided or collected do not expire nor need to be refreshed due to the publication of the new revision....more
Typically in the United States, a couple gets married by obtaining a marriage license and having a marriage ceremony. In some states, however, a couple can be deemed married by cohabiting and presenting themselves to the...more
As a divorce attorney, I’ve noticed that there are a few widely held false beliefs regarding divorce laws in Washington state. Here are the most common and potentially the most dangerous for those headed for a divorce:...more
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to unite and support victims and survivors of abuse. New Jersey has one of the strongest Domestic Violence laws in the United States. It offers victims of domestic violence...more
You may have heard of common law marriage or you may know someone who refers to another as their “common law spouse,” their “common law wife,” or their “common law husband.” But what exactly is it and what does it mean?...more
The issue of gifting comes up with some frequency in family law cases. Generally, gifts from third parties that are not subsequently commingled are exempt from equitable distribution. Parties also make gifts to children and...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and IRS on Dec. 29, 2022, published proposed regulations (Proposed Regulations) under Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code). The Proposed Regulations...more
Common law marriage is one of Pennsylvania’s most confusing legal topics. Does common law marriage still exist? If you are common law married, what are the proceedings to get a divorce? Family law partner Lawrence J. "Skip"...more
Tax Alchemy? How many of you remember Section 138509 of the Ways and Means Committee’s markup last September of what would have been the Build Back Better Act? (A moment of silence, please.) Allow me to jog your memory....more
Season 9, the latest season of TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé is well underway. In addition to the regular questions as to whether the romantic relationships will survive, there’s also the test of the US immigration system and the...more
In a prior blogpost, I discussed Washington State’s Committed Intimate Relationship Doctrine (“CIR”) and outlined the five non-exclusive factors courts consider in determining whether a CIR existed:...more
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of March 6, 2022 – March 12, 2022... March 6, 2022: The IRS issued a news release reminding...more
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of February 20, 2022 – February 26, 2022... February 22, 2022: The IRS issued a correction to...more
A Washington Supreme Court found that a person can be a victim of a crime of domestic violence if their pet is subjected to acts of animal cruelty by a partner to cause the person/victim psychological harm. Such cases...more
On January 25, 2022, the Internal Revenue Services issued final regulations relating to the treatment of stock owned by domestic partnerships under certain provisions of subpart F of the Internal Revenue Code (“Subpart F”). ...more
On January 25, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and the Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) released regulations (the “Final Regulations”) finalizing provisions in prior proposed regulations which generally...more
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of December 20, 2021 – December 24, 2021... December 20, 2021: The IRS published a news release...more
In a divorce, the judge will have to divide your marital property and debts between the spouses. The division must be “just and equitable” under the circumstances of the relationship. But can an unmarried couples receive a...more
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of November 8, 2021 – November 12, 2021... November 9, 2021: The IRS released a Treasury Decision,...more
Estate planning is a process that must be customized to fit each individual’s unique situation. Each individual has their own priorities and issues to address. The priorities and issues for an unmarried individual are often...more
Marriage has always been governed by state law, and it is only in very recent history that select states began revising their definitions of marriage to acknowledge the rights of all couples to be married. While Massachusetts...more
The real estate market in Seattle is notoriously expensive and competitive and everyone seems to be looking for more space as we enter the second year of a pandemic. There is also a rise in nontraditional partners buying...more
Partner Joseph Ortiz Discusses Changes in the Southern California Newspaper Group - For California employers, 2020 brings sweeping changes to equalize the workplace. This playbook of new employment laws — aimed at...more