Please contact our office at (360) 373 - 8526 for more details and to schedule a free phone consultation or a $100 in-office consultation to review your case.
Please read below for brief descriptions of the areas of law in which we assist people. You can also see below the various things done for clients who know us, trust us, and we help them even though it isn't our main focus or profitable to us - we do it to keep good relationships with our customers. Guardianship help is listed at the bottom.
Automobile accidents: If you have a problem with another driver or your own insurance you can receive assistance in getting medical attention, property repairs, insurance payments, lost wages, and possibly many more issues resolved with our help. If people always did the right thing (especially insurance companies), then you would not need to hire an attorney. Most cases are "contingency" legal fees that mean if we don't help you get something, then you don't pay attorney's fees - you don't get something we don't get something (excluding costs).
Injury on another person's property: Person and businesses need to keep their property safe for visitors; if they don't, then they should compensate you if you are injured. Sometimes the property owner wants to have your medical bills and other costs paid, but their insurance company denies the claim. You can receive assistance from us to make sure the person or company responsible does the right thing.
Injury by another person's action or inaction: Everyone is expected to think before they act, but every day you likely see things that make you wonder if people think at all! If you are injured or your property is injured because of something someone did (action), then give us a call to discuss how you ca be compensated. If you are made whole by that person without hiring an attorney, then great; however, sometimes you don't know you've been screwed until it is too late. Also, some people have a duty to do certian things and when they don't do those things people get hurt. If someone was supposed to do something and their failure (inaction) cause damage to you or your property, then we may be able to make things as close to the way they were before.
Divorce: In Washington this is called disolution. Often the first steps taken are Protection Orders, Restraining Orders, or other temporary (sometimes permanent) orders that significantly affect your current and future life. If children are involved it get a lot more complicated. Each person has such a unique situation that you should try to read the free-help materials available by link on our website, the court websites, or non-profit assistance agencies. If you are unable to handle your divorce through these ways, then you may need an attorney.
Child Support: When children are involved in a relationship, life becomes complicated. Both parents are responsible . . . that is, should be responsible to provide for their children. Child support orders are a way to make sure they do. Washington has a formula based system to figure out the basic support amount for each child. Once this basic amount is determined there are many other possible factors that can change that amount. You can use the FREE DSHS online child support calculator (see the free-help materials on this website).
Spousal Support: In some states it is called alimony or maintenance. Sometimes one former spouse can be obligated to provide financial support for a while to allow the other spouse to gain the skills and abilities to support themselves. The factors that determine this are somewhat flexible.
Parenting Plans: This is often called "residential schedule" instead of "custody" since the main focus is on the shared parenting that splits the time the children reside with each parent. Unless there is a good reason why one parent is not safe around the children, you will need to keep an ongoing relationship with your former spouse to share time parenting your children.
Modifications: Once your final paperwork is completed, you may have a need to change, or modify, these documents. While the property division usually is not modified after the final decree and appeals, if any; many other aspects may be changed. Issues related to children are often changed as the children get older or circumstances change.
Relocations: There are special rules is you have children and wish to move them out of the local area. Failing to follow these rules can expose you to contempt of court or in rare occassions to criminal penalties. Even if you and the other parent agrees to a relocation, you will want a formal approval from the court.
Property Disputes: When ending a marriage you need to decide who gets what and who will pay which debts. This can be a complicated matter when real estate, vehicles, personal property, retirement accounts, investments, and other monetary items are involved.
Military Issues: When one spouse is in the military there are special issues that arise with division of marital property, military housing, care of the children, and relocation of the spouse or children.
Peace and Civility Contracts: Even if you and your spouse no longer get along, your attitude and behavior around the children can harm them more than you realize. If both parents want the best for the children they usually are willing to create a contract that spells out how they can both parent the children, interact with each other, and handle future decisions in a way that does not create undue stress for the children. Parents need to control themselves for the best interest of the children.
Workers' Compansation / Workplace Injuries (L&I): If you become injured while working you are most likely covered under one of the "fault-free" compensation programs so that you quickly get the medical attention and financial payments to get you through your difficult time. If you don't get the services you need, you need to appeal those decision quickly.
Social Security (SSDI orSSI): If you apply for and are denied disability benefits, you need to appeal those decisions quickly. Sometimes your denial will make no sense to you and perhaps a mistake was made. There are 5 steps you need to pass in order to get these benefits and you could be denied at any step. Most decisions are made on your medical and work evidence.
Discrimination (because of a disability or other protected class of persons): People don't always do the right thing and in fact treat people differently because of a protected reason. If you believe that an employer, the government, or any public business is unfairly discriminating against you it is possible to help them change their ways and compensate you for your difficulties. Retaliation is illegal and should not happen just because you exercise your rights to not be discriminated against or help someone else who is being discriminated against.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act violations by businesses or governments): If you have a disability that significantly limits a major life area, this law was designed to have governments, employers, and businesses change their ways so you can benefit like all others. This is not an absolute right, but when in doubt is is a good idea to seek legal advice.
FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act violations by employers): Employers are required to allow you to take time away from work for certain reasons and then to give you job back if you are able to return. There are specific requirements for coverage under this law so make sure you understand your rights by contact an attorney or research it online.
In-home care / AFH / Nursing home disputes (Medicaid payment, participation, care plans, etc): often you or your loved ones are in a vulnerable position when receiving daily assistance in one of these places. While government workers and care providers try their best, mistakes happen. Get help to get the most assistance you can and make sure the safest plan is developed.
Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) disputes (eligibility or services): Eligibility and services may be denied based on complicated laws and regulations. While government workers try to do the best job, it is often helpful to contact someone who is knowledgeable about the rules. Philip Wade is a former Supervisor and Administrative Hearings Coordinator for DDD.
Special Needs Trusts (trusts for care and life enhancement while maintaining Medicaid): It may be possible to provide for yourself or your loved ones while still being eligible for Mediciad to pay for the expensive daily care needs. These special trusts allow for a much greater quality of life.
Guardianships (establishing, challenging, annual/triannual reports, and related issues): If someone you love or care about is having difficulties handling their money/property or health and safety needs they may need a guardian to protect them - from themselves and others. These can be emotional times and an attorney can help you through this process in the begining as well as ongoing as needs arise. Philip Wade is also a Certified Professional Guardian and can become the primary guardian or standby guardian in addition to providing legal services.
Vehicle title dispute: Two persons were listed as registered owners of a vehicle and one took the vehicle and stopped paying the loan. Our client needed assistance getting the other person's interest released off the title or to have the loan refinanced in only the other person's name.
Residential real estate sale: Our client's real estate agent was performing little work to sell the home - no fliers, no open houses, no newspaper advertising, no verbal marketing to other real estate agents - and we needed to terminate the agent's contract, assist the client in a sale-by-owner transaction, and process the transfer and escrow for the sale.
Residential property easement dispute: Our client needed to exercise his right to install utilities and a driveway on an easement on his neighbor's property - an easement is the legal right to do something on another person's property. The neighbor had an uncooperative and combative relationship with the client, but the client was able to install the utilities and driveway with some suggestions on how to limit the impact on his neighbor so there would be less future problems.
Collection of a past judgment: Our client won a lawsuit 9 years earlier where the defendant fraudulently sold him a truck that was completely rusted and useless. Although the client hired two attorneys in the past, the money won (judgment) was never collected. We are working to get a lump sum payment and then monthly payments until the debt is paid.
Manufactured home dispute: Our client entered into a contract to purchase a new manufactured home that was to be placed in a 55-years and older manufactured home park. The land owner / developer was also the sales agent for the home and they were inexperienced and misleading in the terms of the purchase, the construction details, the park rules, and the timelines to move into their new home. Although the owner / developer promised to have the client moved in on a certain date, it was not until 13 months later that our client moved into their home. Our clients moved from Illinois and had to rent a home for those 13 months. We clarified all the contract terms, renegotiated the date of payment so the client paid nothing until they actually moved into their home (the owner / developer wanted full payment for the home 10 months before the client could move into the home even though the delay was solely the owner / developer's fault), and forced the owner / developer to properly install the specially paid for cement ramp sidewalk to be consistent with the ADA construction guidelines since the client had significant physical disabilities.
Residential property government infraction dispute: Our client was issued an order from the local government to alter the way in which he used his property due to aesthetic concerns (his land was not clean enough for his neighbors). The client and the government employee became antagonistic with each other and we were asked to negotiate the manner in which the land was cleaned and a termination of the government order with potential fines and penalties. We help the government employee realize she was going beyond her power, but did help reach an agreement how the client could reorganize his personal property on his land to make everyone content; no fines or penalties were paid and the order was terminated.
Philip Wade is also a Certified Professional Guardian (CPG) and can become the legal guardian or standby guardian for your loved one or person who needs professional assistance. Please visit his guardianship website for more informaiton www.SomethinGgreat.com (clicking this link will open a new window).
PBW Law Firm pllc can assist you in the legal processes of establishing a guardianship, contesting a guardianship, defending a guardianship, presenting guardianship reports to the court, and the many legal concerns that arise in the daily tasks to protect and enhanced the financial and health of your loved one or your client.
Philip Wade is a former Adminsitrative Hearings Coordinator for Washington State and can be of great help dealing with state and local services designed to help persons under guardianship.
