What is Probate? Probate is the process through which the estate of a decedent that has passed away with or without a will is administered. Common issues that are addressed in the probate process include transferring assets to beneficiaries, paying the debts of the estate, establishing the validity of a will,1 and paying any taxes […]
Author Archives: Dickson Frohlich Philllips Burgess
While the real estate market has turned around to some extent in Washington, the number of foreclosures in Tacoma continues to outpace other cities throughout the state. Approximately one in every 685 homes was subject to a foreclosure notice in November 2015, according to data from Realtytrac.com. Since many foreclosed residential properties are occupied by […]
Many individuals purchase residential real estate as a long-term investment. Others rent property as a temporary housing solution or simply to avoid the costs associated with ownership. When this occurs both landlords and tenants enter into a contract1 known as a residential lease. Below are some answers to a few of the most frequently asked […]
Many environmental disasters—such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes—are beyond human control. Therefore, outside of insurance coverage, it can be difficult to recover for losses suffered in these disasters. However, some environmental disasters are the result of human action by corporations or other parties. If this is the case, such parties may be held liable for […]
What is Probate? Probate is the process through which the estate of a decedent that has passed away with or without a will is administered. Common issues that are addressed in the probate process include transferring assets to beneficiaries, paying the debts of the estate, establishing the validity of a will,1 and paying any taxes that […]
People who own residential property that they rent out to others have certain duties to their tenants imposed by law. In many cases, landlords can make mistakes that can result in problem tenants or legal liability for failing to meet these legal duties. Four of the more common mistakes made by residential landlords are detailed […]
With so many properties being subject to foreclosure in the past few years, it is not surprising that many tenants have become concerned that their building might be foreclosed upon, leaving them without a home. While eviction of tenants used to be common practice in rental property foreclosures, in 2009, the Obama administration enacted the […]
Many people believe that landlords have all of the power in a landlord-tenant relationship. After all, they have the title to building, have the power to approve or decline certain tenants, hand out the keys, and set out rules for the unit. However, the law does not exclusively protect landlords and provides tenants with protection […]
Since 2008, over five million property owners in the United States have lost ownership of their homes due to the foreclosure crisis. Now, seven years after the initial burst of the housing bubble, many Americans believe that the crisis is over considering foreclosure rates have significantly dropped since 2014.1 However, in 2015, many homeowners are […]
Water is one of the most valuable and important resources to many businesses and property owners throughout the state of Washington. Recently, water has become even more valuable considering Governor Jay Inslee officially declared a statewide drought emergency1 back in May 2015. Streams and rivers have reached historically low levels and the large majority of […]
