All posts by Héctor E. Quiroga

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when children are involved. At this time, more than ever, they need stability. That’s why a parenting plan is the very best thing you can do for them, and for yourselves — whether you are separating, divorcing, or merely ending a relationship.
Required by law in Washington for divorcing couples with children, parenting plans protect everyone in a family during a time often rife with conflict.
Arguments over the children’s visitation won’t need to occur, because the parents have already agreed, in writing, to a schedule specifying which days the children spend with each of them.

Spousal maintenance in Spokane County does work differently than in other counties. Some counties in Washington will allow court commissioners to make decisions regarding child support and alimony; some will only allow Superior Court judges to make such decision, even if done in a temporary basis.
All things being equal, you could walk away from your divorce scot-free. If you’re divorcing in Washington State and things aren’t equal, however, the court may order spousal maintenance.
Also known as “alimony,” spousal maintenance consists of mandated payments from the higher-earning spouse to the person who earns less.
The size of the payment depends partly on how many years the couple was married — the fewer the years, the lower the award tends to be — and partly upon the incomes of those divorcing. Other factors include work history and whether or not the person needing support is able to work, including his or her physical and emotional condition.
The wheels of spousal maintenance in Spokane start turning as soon as your attorney files your petition for divorce. The procedure differs among counties in Washington, but in Spokane County a court commissioner will first review your financial declaration and that of your spouse, your tax records and bank statements, and other documents before signing temporary orders establishing payments.

Whoever said the pedestrian always has the right of way?
In Washington, nothing could be farther from the truth. If you’re a pedestrian, you must obey laws just as drivers do. You also have rights, however, which often include the right to medical coverage if a vehicle hits you, and possibly more.
Your vehicle insurance policy may provide coverage in case of a collision, even if you’re crossing the street on foot. If you aren’t insured, the insurance someone in your household carries — a parent, a spouse, or even a roommate — may pay your medical bills. Or, if the driver caused the accident, his or her insurance may pay.
Insurance companies, however, want to make money, not spend it. Some may unscrupulously try to discredit a pedestrian’s claims of injury or pain.
That’s why calling an attorney is one of the first things you should do if a vehicle strikes you. Because you can bet the insurance companies have already called their lawyers.
And remember: you have the right to remain silent. That claims adjuster may be friendly, but his job is to gather evidence against you.

As a bankruptcy attorney in Spokane Washington, I hear it all the time. Either creditors harass consumers for payment or they hire collection companies to contact consumers and attempt to collect a legitimate claim.
Usually, the creditor has a valid claim or that the debtor owes money to the creditor. The question often is: how far can a creditor go? What can a consumer do to stop the harassment? What are our specific and local rights in Spokane, Washington?
These are good questions and truthfully, questions like this, encourage me to talk about this subject.
How far can a creditor go when attempting to collect on a legitimate claim for money owed?
Creditors have a right and a duty to collect on the money owed to them. They can initiate legal actions and garnish wages, sell assets, or even foreclose on real estate if the proper legal process is followed.