Sara Lingafelter's Answers

Fired wants soda money

Employment questions like this are difficult to answer, but based on what you've said, it sounds like you were an "at-will" employee. "At will" means that you were not employed on a contract, or, not guaranteed employment for some set period of time. If you are an at-will employee, you may quit for any time, with or without notice, with any or no good reason. On the flip side, you may be fired for any time, with or without notice, with any or no good reason as long as the employer's reason...

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Post divorce child custody and support

I think it's time for you to pull out your paperwork from when your divorce was finalized. Although it sounds like a lot of the facts have changed since your paperwork was entered, the divorce decree, parenting plan and child support order (presuming your case was finalized in Washington) will answer some of these questions, since if no modification has been done, the paperwork that you have from before is what still governs. That said, it sounds to me like a modification would be an...

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Property rights in washington state.

I'm sorry to hear that your start in life has been such a challenge, and has involved so much loss. Hopefully, you can put yourself in a position to start your adulthood off in as positive as possible of a fashion. You indicate that your father had a will. A will is only part of the estate plan; beneficiary designations on accounts, and the survivor beneficiary designation for social security are generally not affected by the will. If the entire estate including the survivor benefits...

Car loan

I just wrote a lengthy response and then avvo ate it - so I'll summarize! Buyer beware! Purchasing an auto can be a complicated and frustrating experience -- during law school I had an experience similar to yours that involved nearly a day of being held hostage at an auto dealership, a number of misrepresentations by the dealer, and a mountain of frustration. Try to prevent problems like this in the future by selecting dealers with a reputation for not giving customers the runaround -- ask...

If I owe money when I dye, Is my wife responcable

There is no simple answer to this question, and the analysis depends on (1) whether there are, or are not, estate planning documents in place, and (2) when and how the debts were acquired. In addition, since you are in Washington, issues relating to separate and community property will be at play. I would encourage the poster to post a slightly more detailed question, while preserving his or her own privacy, in order to allow answering attorneys to provide more meaningful information in response.

Partner Benefits

Following up on the last, quality, post -- opposite-sex domestic partnership registration may be available in certain municipalities in Washington, but at the present time the state law domestic partnership registry only permits those over the age of 62 to enter into an opposite-sex domestic partnership. So, if you're under the age of 62, the DP registry may not at present be an option. This is an area of law where we expect to see changes in the next few legislative sessions, so keep an eye...

Shoplifting

Since you have already been before the judge, you probably already have a pretty good idea of the outcome, but in case this question is searched by other users, I'll provide a brief answer. First, a disclaimer -- I am only licensed to practice in Washington, so do not rely on this information without checking with an attorney in your own jurisdiction. Many jurisdictions allow for a "civil compromise" of misdemeanor crimes. If the victim's damages are paid, and you comply with the victim'...

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