Family Law

• Divorce
  Dissolution of Marriage - filing a divorce or legal separation petition or responding to divorce or dissolution of marriage papers if you have been served - we can handle a contested divorce or uncontested divorce.
• Child Support
  As experienced child support lawyers, we understand and utilize the child support guidelines for determining child support. In doing so, we will take the time to explain the child support guidelines and help you determine the amount of child support the guidelines will award for your case. Some of the factors the court may consider include...
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Child Custody / Visitation - sometimes referred to as parenting time, the parties' custody and visitation with their children will be spelled out in a court order called a "parenting plan". This is generally where the proceedings get nasty and when you will need an attorney the most. We can handle child custody or visitation issues at all levels.
• Paternity
• Guardianship
  A living will allows terminally ill patients to die on their own terms and with dignity. It also protects the hospital and loved ones from liability. Living wills may be contested if drafted improperly. Lack of a living will or an improperly drafted living will can require expensive, bitter guardianship hearings. Do not let this happen to you.
• Spousal Support
  Spousal support is often referred to as alimony or spousal maintenance. As knowledgeable spousal support (alimony) lawyers, we understands the factors considered by Washington courts in determining whether spousal support should be awarded, and the amount of spousal support that could be awarded. Some of the factors the court may consider include...
• Legal Separation
  Located in Quincy, Washington, the Law Offices of Brian Chase, PLLC represents men and women in the counties of Grant, Douglas and Chelan in dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody or visitation, child support/modification and post-dissolution issues. We understand the emotional and stressful toll a change in your family status can have on you, and we work with you to minimize your stress by explaining to you the family law process, your options, and your rights.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  When you need help with a serious legal issue, and decide to work with a small law firm, you have the advantage of working directly with an attorney. When you both go to the courthouse, it won't be the first time you've met! As a family law and criminal defense lawyer in Grant, Douglas, Chelan, Kittitas, and Adams counties, Brian Chase believes in a personal approach, vigorous litigation, and client service. At our law firm, we go out of our way to treat our clients, as we would want to be treated. At our law office, we go out of our way to resolve our clients' legal problems -- and offer vigorous defense, rigorous awareness of our clients' concerns, and fastidious attention to detail.
• DUI/DWI
  Washington state has some of the nation's toughest DUI laws. Once you are arrested for a DUI, you face two completely separate tribunals, the Department of Licensing and the Criminal Court. With few exceptions, what happens in one will not affect the other. For example: If you have your case reduced from DUI to the lesser charge of Negligent Driving in the First Degree, or even if the criminal case is completely dismissed, you will still have to defend yourself at the Department of Licensing hearing in an administrative license suspension proceeding to keep your license from being suspended.
• Wrongful Death
  Please contact us right away for FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION if you or your family are the victims of a serious injury or accident and are in need of an auto accident attorney, a wrongful death lawyer, or a personal injury lawyer. We can help you find out and recover what you and your family need and deserve under the law.
• Traffic Violations
  To preserve your right to beat the traffic ticket, you must request a contested hearing within a certain number of days from the date you were issued the ticket. Requesting a contested hearing will preserve all of your rights. Attorney Brian Chase offers a very high success rate in earning dismissals for clients who received a speeding ticket, failure to stop at a stop sign ticket, and many other types of traffic tickets.
• Robbery
  Any criminal defense lawyer will tell you that theft related offenses in Washington State are called by many names. These names include theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, taking of a motor vehicle without permission, unlawful issuance of bank checks, embezzlement, extortion, fraud, etc. However, each of these offenses relates to conduct involving the "unauthorized control of another's property". Some of the offenses are charged depending upon the value of the items taken: (Theft 3 is less than $250.00); their location (e.g., residential burglary); how the theft is accomplished (e.g., extortion or forgery); the manner of theft (e.g., robbery); by relationship to the victim (e.g., embezzlement); or to the type of item stolen (e.g., vehicular theft, etc.).
• Burglary
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  Arraignment: The arraignment hearing is mandatory in the State of Washington for all criminal cases. However, an arraignment may be waived only if you are charged with a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor in district court, one of the charges is
• Embezzlement
• Drug Crimes
  We can help you understand the potential collateral consequences of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor conviction. Some individuals with professional certifications and licenses can lose their livelihood depending upon the nature of a conviction. The sentencing scheme for most misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors is typically found in the specific statute defining the crime. Many misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors provide for a minimum punishment. For example, a conviction for Possession of Marijuana Under Forty Grams or Use of Drug Paraphernalia require a minimum of one-day in jail or equivalent alternative to jail. If the crime is defined in the law as a misdemeanor, but fails to mention a specific punishment, then the maximum sentence is 90 days in jail. If the crime is defined as a gross misdemeanor, then the maximum sentence is 365 days in jail. However, often a criminal defense lawyer can convince a judge to not order any jail time, especially for some "first offense" misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors.
• Assault
• Shoplifting
  At times an arrest will be made for theft when there was never any intent to steal. It may be that someone has their hands full and simply places an item in a pocket with every intention of paying for it. But, unfortunately, they simply forget to pay for the item and are arrested for shoplifting (i.e., theft). Theft is a crime of "moral turpitude" which may have far reaching ramifications, including denial of both employment and professional licenses, and immigration/deportation issues.
• Forgery
• Extortion

Property Law

• Real Estate Transactions

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  When you or someone you care about is the victim of a serious personal injury, dealing with the aftermath and recovery can be one of the hardest times in your life. You may be so focused on finding the proper care for yourself, or that person, that all of the other things going on don't seem to matter. You may not know what to do next, or who to go to for advice. If you or your family are the victims of an accident or injury, you should get the medical help that you need right away. As soon as possible after that, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney!
• Medical Malpractice
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Estate planning is crucial to your family's future security in the event of death or disability. We can help you identify goals, explore your options, and anticipate issues you may not have considered. Both young families and elderly persons should have a will.
• Wills
  Living wills are also known as advance directives, health care directives, or directives to physicians. Living wills dictate what intervention (e.g., life support, feeding tubes, and artificial hydration) should be taken and under what circumstances (e.g., permanent unconsciousness, comatose, terminal condition, vegetative state). Normally, a living will is not acted upon unless two independent physicians certify that you are completely unable to communicate yourself and your are either (a) terminally ill and near the end of life, or (b) permanently unconscious with no reasonable chance to recover. However, a living will may provide that a physician's certificate is not necessary to act upon your living will.
• Trusts
  We will answer all of your questions and help you address the issues listed below. Our expertise in drawing up wills and trusts and our knowledge of the specific estate planning laws in Washington State enable us to be a strong advocate for your needs and wishes.
• Power of Attorney
  A power of attorney can be broad, covering all your affairs, or specific and limited in scope. You may choose to have one person cover your personal legal and financial affairs, and another to make medical decisions for you.
• Probate