Washington 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…
Read MoreThe federal estate tax exemption is currently $12.06 million per taxpayer. However, in 2026, the exemption amount is set to decrease to $5 million, indexed for inflation (estimated to be between $6-$7 million). The current high threshold means many estates…
Read MoreWashington voters approved the Washington Death with Dignity Act in November 2008, which went into effect on March 5, 2009, and allows Washington residents who are terminally ill to request medication to end their life. The most recently available Death…
Read MoreWhile assistance animals come in all shapes, sizes, and breeds, one may ask themselves—can a black mamba be an assistance animal covered by the Fair Housing Act (FHA)? The answer is: it depends. Assistance Animals Under the FHA: Domesticated Versus…
Read MoreFollowing the death of the first spouse, a joint and survivor grantor trust remains an eligible S corporation shareholder for which no electing small business trust or qualified subchapter S trust election is required until after the death of the surviving spouse.
Read MoreMost contractors are aware the State of Washington requires a contractor to be licensed/registered. Additionally, some are aware RCW 18.27.080 prohibits an unlicensed contractor from bringing a lawsuit against an owner to recover a contract balance. Recently, in Dobson v.…
Read MoreAfter over fifty years without comprehensive revision, Washington has a new Nonprofit Corporation Act. Last year, the Washington Legislature adopted, and Governor Jay Inslee signed into law, a new Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act (“New Act”) replacing the old chapter of…
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