Whether you live in Skagit, Whatcom, or San Juan County, here in the Pacific Northwest chances are there are trees in your yard, your neighbor’s yard, or a family member’s yard, and there may be no fence separating one property from the next. There is also a good possibility there has not been a recent…

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…

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.  …

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…

When parties are involved in a legal dispute, oftentimes they will be better served resolving their dispute in ways other than in a trial. Litigating cases in court, with a jury or a judge deciding who wins and loses, has many downsides: Litigation is time-consuming. It can often take a year or more to get…

A key step in perfecting a lawsuit is serving the defendants. Failing to serve timely or serving the wrong documents or the wrong person could lead to dismissal of a case. One of the most basic, and often confusing, aspects of service is understanding the difference between form of process and service of process. Form…

Have you ever wanted to be a friend of the court? Well, you can. All it takes is filing an amicus curiae (Latin for “friend of the court”) brief in an appellate court case. Appeals can often be high stakes. When a party appeals a trial court’s decision, it is often because the party thinks…

Arbitration is an alternative way to resolve disputes outside of court. As explained by the American Bar Association, arbitration is a private process where disputing parties agree that a neutral third party can make a decision about the dispute after hearing evidence and arguments. Arbitration is different than mediation. In arbitration the arbitrator can decide…

Catch Carmichael Clark’s Attorney, Lisa Keeler and Michael Heatherly, from Law Advocates, on Bellingham Tonight to find out what is happening with the law and courts during COVID-19.  They discuss how to legally navigate through this time and the effect the pandemic has had on our legal system. https://www.youtube.com/watch? list=PLI_OFdCv7R112kCSGbZLNp4VsSPnlriry&time _continue=985&v=jXQK0NrbWYo&feature =emb_logo. Make sure to…