Vested and unvested restricted stock units and stock options have to be addressed in the divorce documents in Washington State. If not specifically listed in the documents, then they are considered unallocated property and both of you have legal rights to those items. Typically, restricted stock units and stock options vest over time according to […]
Our Divorce Paperwork Does Not Discuss My Spouse’s Pension. Now What?
If your paperwork does not address the spouse’s pension then it is considered to be undivided property in Washington State and both of you still have legal rights to that pension. The exact parameters of legal rights in undivided property are not formulaic, so they remain undefined until later addressed. This can occur either in […]
Does my premarital and inherited property automatically go to me when I get divorced in Washington?
In one word: No. Property acquired before marriage, or that is received from inheritance or gift, is characterized as “separate property,” but that character does not make that property untouchable in divorce. Similarly, while Washington is a community property state (community property is what you or your spouse acquired during marriage from labor), the court […]
Does Our Community Property Get Divided 50 50 in Washington?
Unlike most other community property states, in Washington there is no presumption that community property will be divided equally. Instead, Washington law says that on divorce or separation a court is to divide property in a just and equitable manner. A just an equitable manner may be 50-50 but it may be very different from 50-50. […]
Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
At exactly 5:31 PM yesterday, I reached a milestone in my career. Over the last decade or so, one of my activities has been to instruct lawyers, mental health professionals, and financial professionals in negotiation, dispute resolution and facilitation skills, and Collaborative Practice. I have conducted a variety of trainings, workshops, and classes. Each year […]
How the New Tax Bill Impacts Divorces
The 2017 “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” was signed into law today. Although there has been much press about the expected impact of this law, there has been much less focus on impact that is specific to divorced and divorcing families. Based on my initial review, here are some of the main ways in which […]
Your Divorce Strategy: What Is Your Goal?
When getting divorced, it’s both tempting and easy to skip over the most important step. What’s most important is not filing with the court. It is not figuring out what your rights might be. It is not meeting with a divorce lawyer. What’s most important? It’s formulating goals about what’s most important for your divorce […]
Medical Insurance for Ex-Spouses after Divorce
You’re getting divorced, and there’s much to consider. With all the changes, it’s easy to overlook how divorce will affect your medical insurance. If you’re covered through your spouse’s employment, your coverage through your ex-spouse will be canceled as of the end of the month in which your divorce is finalized. It will be up […]
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Divorce
In years past, many companies offered stock options to incentivize employees. Especially in the tech industry, stock options became a common form of compensation for professional employees. In recent years, stock options are much less commonly seen by divorce lawyers. Instead, restricted stock units (RSUs) have become part of the compensation scheme for many companies […]
Divorce or (Legal) Separation?
I often get questions about whether people are legally separated when they move apart, and about the differences between divorce and legal separation. What are the differences? A “legal separation” occurs when a court issues a Decree of Legal Separation. The same things are addressed in a legal separation as in a divorce–property and debts […]