Washington landlords can breathe a sigh of relief as the sweeping changes to the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (“RLTA”) included in HB 2114 have died in the Washington Senate. HB 2114 passed a vote in the House of Representatives and…
Read MoreOn March 19, 2024, Governor Inslee signed Substitute Senate Bill 5787 into law, which adopts the Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act (the “Act”). As a result, common estate planning documents such as trust agreements, powers of attorney, healthcare directives,…
Read MoreWith property taxes on the rise in Washington state, many property owners are looking for creative ways to plan and utilize their land to reduce their tax burden. Washington’s Open Space Taxation Act, Chapter 84.34 RCW (the “Act”), enacted in…
Read MoreWashington’s Eviction “Just Cause” Requirement The “just cause” requirement in Washington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (the “RLTA”) has created unpredictable results that should lead landlords and property owners (collectively, “Landlords”) to tread carefully in considering their basis to pursue an unlawful…
Read MoreCourt Holds Washington Capital Gains Tax is a Constitutional Excise Tax On March 24, 2023, the Washington Supreme Court (in a 7-2 opinion) held that the controversial capital gains tax enacted by the Washington State Legislature in 2021 (SB 5096;…
Read MoreIn August 2022, the Washington State Supreme Court issued an important opinion impacting coverage afforded to contractors under commercial general liability (CGL) policies. The Court held as a matter of first impression in Preferred Contractors Insurance Company v. Baker and…
Read MoreWashington Supreme Court Voids a Contractual One Year Limitations Period In a recent 5-4 decision, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that a 1-year contractual limitation period on a residential construction defect claim is unenforceable as “substantively unconscionable.” In the case,…
Read MoreCo-author: Ryan Montgomery, Partner - Montgomery Purdue PLLC On February 8, 2023, House Bill 1795 was introduced to the 69th session of the Washington State legislature, which proposes substantial changes to the Washington State estate tax rate structure. If…
Read MoreThe Washington State estate tax exemption is currently $2.193 million. The exemption amount is meant to be adjusted for inflation, but it has not changed since 2018. That is because the inflation adjustment is tied to a Washington law that…
Read MoreBeginning on January 1, 2023, Washington employers with 15 or more employees are required to comply with Washington’s new pay transparency law by including salary and benefit information in all job postings. Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries recently published…
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