Some situations land in two places at once — a DV arrest touches custody, a drunk driver means both a criminal case and a claim. Tell us what happened and we'll sort it.
Nicole writes these between cases. They're about how Washington law actually works in a courtroom in Clark County — not summaries of statutes you could look up yourself.
Two written motions do most of this work, and the papers matter more than the argument. Washington's exclusionary rule is nearly categorical — and a violation still only helps if it produced evidence.
Read the noteSix civil protection orders, plus no-contact orders from criminal cases and restraining orders from family cases. What the temporary one does, what the hearing decides, and why not appearing is the expensive choice.
Read the noteA Washington DUI conviction cannot be vacated, and the Department of Licensing keeps alcohol-related convictions on a driving record for life. What changes with time is who sees it.
Read the noteThe first two days after a crash are when the evidence still exists and the permanent mistakes get made. What's actually urgent in Washington, and what can wait.
Read the noteA bench warrant and a forfeiture follow fairly reliably. A new criminal charge usually does not — the statute has been much narrower since 2020 — and the warrant is the part that can be undone.
Read the noteWashington is a community-property state, so by default what you earn during a marriage is community. Gifts and inheritances can stay separate — but only if you keep them separate and traceable.
Read the noteA fair trial isn't a favor — it's a promise in the Constitution. When the paperwork doesn't match what the body-worn camera shows, that goes to the court.
Read the noteA short note on the summer: new results for clients, and new tools in the practice. We keep the focus on the people we serve.
Read the noteMedical bills don't show what an injury did to a life. This is about turning lived experience into evidence a jury can actually see.
Read the noteOn expanding accountability for employers who knowingly expose employees to harm — and why a decision about workplace risk matters to people who will never read the opinion.
Read the noteOne free conversation, no pressure, and a straight answer about where you stand.