Settlement Conference, King County

When parties and/or their attorneys are miles apart in settling a case, one of the most effective tools I have found is to do an informal settlement conference. The parties agree to hire a retired judge or experienced attorney. Both parties submit in advance, their settlement proposal with supporting documentation. The settlement conference master then meets with the parties at one office, but separate rooms. He then tells the parties that he understands the strengths and weaknesses of both parties positions based upon what they have submitted. He then tells one side what he thinks, and then goes and tells the other side. When he comes back, you have the freedom to tell him what you like and don't like, and authorize him to take your offer to the other side. He then does that, giving his opinion with it. He then does shuttle diplomacy with both sides, trying to work out a settlement. If we reach an agreement, we typically draft up a CR2A Agreement that is binding on the parties. Later the formal court documents are drafted and submitted to the court.

This process is highly effective because we have an independent, experienced and knowledgeable person going between the rooms. We are not just splitting the difference, we are trying to work out a settlement that is similar to what the trial judge might do. If we can know what that result would be in advance, there is usually no reason to spend the time, emotions and money to go to trial.

The Renton law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti, represents clients in a variety of family law cases. We frequently use settlement conferences to settle cases short of trial. Please visit our web page at http://mgrlaw.com/SiteMap.html for more information.

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Relocation of Children in Washington

Several years ago, the Washington legislature passed a statue that defines how and when a child may be relocated (moved). Prior case law was conflicted and unacceptable, so the legislature stepped in. Currently, once a Parenting Plan is in effect, a parent may not relocate a child without first giving 60 days advanced written notice, with a proposed new Parenting Plan. The non primary residential parent then has 30 days to object by filing an objection with the court. If they fail to object, the relocation and the proposed new Parenting Plan will be adopted by the court. If they object, the parties will be given a trial date. The court on a temporary motion can determine whether the move will be allowed pending trial. At trial, the court will ultimately decide if the the relocation will be allowed, and if so, what the new Parenting Plan will look like. There is a statutory presumption to allow the relocation, but it is a rebutable presumption that the other party can present evidence on why it should not happen. The statue spell out a list of factors that the court should consider in deciding the relocation.

The Renton law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti, represents clients in a variety of family law cases, including relocation. Please visit our web page at http://mgrlaw.com/legalarticle/Family-Law-Information.html for more information.

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King County E-Filing

Effecitive June 1, 2009, King County is mandating that all attorney's file legal documents electonically by e-filing. The Clerk has been digitizing documents for the last 8 years, making the electronic file the original file instead of the paper file. This greatley reduces the storage cost for the county and allows multiple people to look at the court file at the same time (on a computer monitor instead of a paper file). The downside has been that the Clerk's office has had to scan all documents that are filed and digitize them. The Clerk is now passing on that responsibility to the legal profession by mandating that we file all documents electronically. This will save the Clerk a significant amount of money.

The Clerk is still working out the kinks, and a new user interface will be available this spring, however, it is possible to do it now. We have been e-filing some documents for some time now, becoming framiliar and comfortable with the process. The speed and convience of this became evident this morning as I met with a client. We were in a race to file before the other side filed in another state, to establish jurisdiction. After meeting and discussing the case with my client, we decided to file immediately. We drafted the docuements, got signatures, scanned them and e-filed them over the internet, all within an hour, avoiding the time delay and expense of running it down to court to file. We were then immediately able to send the documents to the process server to transfer them to a process server in Texas to get the other side served. Technology is amazing.

The law office of Mogren, Glessner&Roti, P.S. is located in Renton Washington, and we provide services to most of King County. Our firm has been in existence since 1942. We presently have 4 attorneys serving our clients, Peter Mogren, Ronald Glessner, Ruth Roti, and Cindy Stewart.
The main emphasis of our service is in family law (divorce, custody, support, etc.), wills and estate planning (Wills, Commmunity Property Agreements, Power of Attorney, etc.), probate, and personal injury.

Please call visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ to get additional information, or call us at 425-255-4542 to schedule an appointment.

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Washington Parenting Plans

Since 1990, Washington no longer has laws regarding custody and visitation. Instead we have Parenting Plans. Parenting Plans define both parents rights and responsibilities regarding minor children. There are 3 major issued addressed in Parenting Plans. First is Decision Making; who makes decisions regarding the children (mother, father or joint), on major decisions such as health, education and religious upbringing. Second is Dispute Resolution: if there is a dispute between the parents in implementing the Parenting Plan, how do you resolve those disputes (counseling, mediation, arbitration or court action). The third issue is the residential schedule: 365 days a year the child will reside with either the mother or father, and the Parenting Plan must specify when the child is with the mother and when the child is with the father. The idea of the Parenting Plan is to address as many issues up front, to avoid conflicts down the road.

The law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti, represents clients in a variety of family law cases. Please visit our web page at http://mgrlaw.com/legalarticle/Family-Law-Information.html for more information.

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Washington Durable Power of Attorney

Power of Attorneys can be a dangerous document. In our society, you are the only one who can sign your name. If someone else does, it is forgery and they can go to jail and you are not bound by what they do. If you give someone your power of attorney, you are giving them the authority to sign your name, and make you bound by it. You should be very careful in giving your power of attorney and consult with an attorney first.There are many types of Power of Attorneys. They can be "special", limited in the powers granted. They can be "general", being very broad in the powers granted. They can be limited in time (good for 1 day, 1 year, from ____ to ____, terminating in 1 year, etc.). They can be "durable", meaning that they continue even when you become incompetent.

Many people should consider a Durable Power of Attorney as part of their estate plan. This is a very limited Power of Attorney. Usually it is for the purpose of caring for you if you become incompetent, avoiding the necessity of a guradianship. It ususally becomes effective, if and only if, you become incompetent. It then is durable so it continues after you are incompetent. If you do not have this and you become incompetenet, it will most likely be necessary for your loved ones to establish a guardianship in court, taking time and money.

Our Renton law firm offers estate planning documents like Power of Attorneys. Please visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ for more information, or call us at 4252-255-4542 to schedule an appointment. We service the greater Seattle and King County area, from Bellevue to Federal Way.

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Washington Child Support

Child Support in the State of Washington is calculated using mandatory schedules. It is based upon the comparative net incomes of the parties. The statute defines what is gross income and what is deductible for child support purposes (this can be different than for tax purposes). There is a schedule that calculates the cost of raising a child, based upon the combined net income, number of children, and the ages of the children (under 12 or over 11). This number is then divided between the parties based upon their respective comparative net incomes (percent of the combined total). Adjustments are then made for contrbution to medical insurance, day care and other special expenses.If you are paying or receiving child support, you should consider talking to an attorney to see whether the amount is accurate based upon the parties incomes.

Child support can be adjusted or modified based upon a change in circumstances, including the parties incomes and ages of the children.

The law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti; represents clients in child support cases. Please visit our web page at http://mgrlaw.com/map/map.html for more information.

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Washington Wills

Many people have made no plans for the distribution of their estate after their death. A person should have a Will. This gives their directions for how things are to be handled after their death. This primarily addresses the distribution of their assets. It also includes naming the person you want to act as the executor to oversee the process. If you have minor children, you may want to place the estate in trust by someone you trust, to properly invest the funds, and to distribute it to the children for their necessary needs (health, education and welfare) to prevent them from wasting it. You can also name the person you want to serve as guardian of the children, to act as their parents and raise them.

Our firm offers estate planning documents like Wills, Community Property Agreements and Power of Attorneys. Please visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ for more information, or call us at 4252-255-4542 to schedule an appointment.

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Washington Family Law Lawyer

Family Law Lawyer is a broadly used term to descirbe an attorney who practices in the area of domestic relations. This can be an action for legal separation, dissolution of marriage (divorce) or declaration of invalidity. Within these actions, the issues of the division of assets and liabilities, parenting plans, child support, spousal maintenance, restraining orders, name change and attorney fees may be addressed. It includes an action for parentage (paternity), which could include a petition for parenting plan and child support. It includes an action for a meritricious relationship (non-marital relatioship) for the division of assets and liabilities. It can be an action for a domestic violence restraining order or an antiharrassement restraining order. It could be a post decree matter to modify a parenting plan, child support or spousal maintenance. It could be to set post secondary education support (college education costs).

The law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti; represents clients in all of these types of cases. Please visit our web page at http://mgrlaw.com/attorneys/attorneys.html for more information.

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Mogren, Glessner & Roti

The law office of Mogren, Glessner&Roti;, P.S. is located in Renton Washington, and we provide services to most of King County. Our firm has been in existence since 1942. We presently have 4 attorneys serving our clients, Peter Mogren, Ronald Glessner, Ruth Roti, and Cindy Stewart.

The main emphasis of our service is in family law (divorce, custody, support, etc.), wills and estate planning (Wills, Commmunity Property Agreements, Power of Attorney, etc.), probate, and personal injury.

Please call visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ to get additional information, or call us at 425-255-4542 to schedule an appointment.

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Community Property Agreements

A Community Property Agreement is a very valuable tool for a husband and wife in the State of Washington. It allows you to convert separate property (property owned before marrige or received during marriage as a result of a gift or inheritance) into community property. In addition it can also transfer all community property to your surviving spouse in the event of your death. This can be a useful tool to avoid the process of probate in the event of the death of the first spouse, saving a significant amount of time and money. Because of the significant impact a Community Property Agreemnt can have, it is advisable to have it drafted by an attorney who can fully advise you.

Our firm offers estate planning documents like Community Property Agreements. Please visit our web page at http://www.mgrlaw.com/ for more information, or call us at 4252-255-4542 to schedule an appointment.

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How Long Does it take to get a King County Divorce?

In Washington, it takes 90 days from the time you file the Petition until you can enter a Decree of Dissolution. That does not mean you will be divorced in 90 days, that is just the soonest that it can happen. If the parties are in agreement of all issues, it can be finalized on the 91st day or any day thereafter. If the parties are not in agreement, then you must wait until you reach an agreement or the matter is resolved at trial. At trial, the judge will decide the issues that are in dispute, and then the final papers can be entered. In King County, Washinton, the day you file, you are given your trial date, which is approximately 11 months after filing.

The law firm of Mogren, Glessner & Roti, represents clients in a variety of family law cases. Please visit our web page at http://mgrlaw.com/attorneys/Peter-Mogren.html for more information.

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