Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  Andrew L. Benjamin is a certified professional mediator. He has mediated as a King County Superior Court Volunteer Settlement Conference Special Master and has served as an Arbitrator of child support and post-secondary educational support under the Snohomish County Mandatory Arbitration Program. Through years of experience, he has gained insight into the resolution of family law disputes through mediation and arbitration.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  We are skilled in getting children’s residency restored to their homes when the other parent or someone else removes them to another state or country.  Doing so requires familiarity with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) for U. S. disputes and the Hague Convention Treaty for international cases.  We have restored rights of access and return of a child for parents as far away as the United Kingdom and Sweden.
• Premarital Agreement
  As we enter the traditional “wedding season,” it is a good time to consider how individual property rights can be changed by major life events. Many clients come to our firm for Prenuptial Agreements and Community Property Agreements. The first way that legal rights can be altered is through a Prenuptial Agreement, better known as […]
• Guardianship
  After a guardianship was established for Ruth Bennett, her daughters realized that their brother had converted virtually all of their mother's money while he was professing to care for her in the months prior to the guardianship. Mr. Bennett was cited to appear and show cause why a judgment should not be rendered against him. He responded by saying that the funds advanced by his mother were designed to meet some of his bills or were gifts. On the eve of trial in the King County Superior Court, Mr. Bennett declared bankruptcy. The guardianship then filed an adversary action to obtain a judgment in the bankruptcy court that would then be transferable to the State of Washington. The matter was tried without a jury in the bankruptcy court, and a judgment in favor of the guardianship was obtained for $132,886, attorney fees for $10,837.75 and costs of $929.15. The judgment was transferred to the State of Washington, and collection efforts were prosecuted on behalf of the guardianship. Ultimately, the guardian and her counsel, Mr. Benjamin, joined with the King County Prosecutor in prosecuting criminal charges against Mr. Bennett. The guardianship obtained full satisfaction of the civil judgment.
• Spousal Support
  Benjamin Law Group represented a father in a divorce to obtain a fair share of the parenting responsibilities, as well as an equitable portion of the community property. The mother sought to limit the father's time with their children to one week per year under supervision, but the court provided the father with 40% of the overnights without any supervision or statutory restriction. Similarly, the mother's request for spousal maintenance (alimony) was denied in its entirety.

Criminal Law

• Sex Crimes
  The parent's residential time will be limited if the court finds the parent has engaged in willful abandonment continuing for an extended period of time; has substantially refused to perform parenting functions; has a history of physical, sexual, or a pattern of emotional abuse; has a history of acts of domestic violence, or an assault or sexual assault causing bodily harm or the fear of such harm; or the parent has been convicted of a sex offense.
• Assault

Property Law

• Property Damage
  When an accident is someone else's fault, usually that person's insurance company will compensate you directly. Otherwise, your own insurance company may reimburse you for your vehicle, e.g. property damage, if you have the appropriate insurance coverage. A property damage claim is resolved in one of two ways: either your car can be repaired or it will be considered a total loss -- because it will cost more to repair than it's worth. Instead you will receive the actual value of the vehicle. While your property damage settlement is pending, you may be entitled to a rental car.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  We constantly deal with our personal injury clients not having the right auto insurance coverage to enjoy full protection after being injured in a collision. We felt it worthwhile to go over some important information about auto insurance in a blog, so that people can read this and make the necessary changes to their policies. […]
• Auto Accidents
• Dog Bites

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  We are excited to share with you a three-part video series that explains why people need a lawyer in each of our three main practice areas. This first video related to our Estate Planning practice area, which includes Wills, Trusts, and Probates. We answer a question that many people wonder about: “Do I Really Need […]
• Wills
  If you die without a will, your state's laws will determine who receives your property. By executing a Last Will and Testament, you can distribute your property in any manner you choose. A Last Will and Testament can also: designate a guardian for your minor child; provide for individuals in whom you have an interest (stepchild, godchild, elderly parent, or others); and support religious, educational, or other charitable causes.
• Trusts
• Power of Attorney
  Yes.  A power of attorney may be limited to a particular activity, such as closing the sale of your home.  It may also be general in its application, empowering one or more individuals to act on your behalf in a variety of situations.  A power of attorney may be effective immediately, or only upon a future event, such as when it's determined you are unable to act for yourself  (a "springing power").  It may give temporary or continuous, permanent authority to act on your behalf.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy