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Washington’s Minor Guardianship Court forms

Washington State’s new Uniform Guardianship Act replaces the nonparent custody laws, and the official state forms are now available. The forms are currently available on the Washington Court’s List of All Forms page, just look for the Guardianship forms, then the minor guardianship forms, or clikc below. Click here for an article describing the minor guardianship law.

Click here for Washington Courts Minor Guardianship forms

If you go to the “List of All Forms page, look for the “Minor Guardianship” link on the page:

RCW 26.10, which governs third party custody, non-parent, and some grandparent rights laws, are being replaced by RCW 11.130, the new Uniform Guardianship Act. The new laws go into effect on January 21, 2021.

The new law is complicated. ClallamCountyBar.com recommends people interested in seeking the court’s help under this law should contact the Clallam County Facilitator, or consult with an attorney.

CLE: Overview of the new minor guardianship law

Credits: 1.5 Credits Pending
Date: DECEMBER 19, 2020
Time: 10:30am – Noon
Price: Free, suggested $35 donation to CJCPL
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_h3RS4PPeT4GfOmb2AnCYfQ

Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers is sponsoring this CLE designed to provide an overview of the new minor guardianship statute that goes into effect on January 1, 2021. This law replaces the current non-parental custody statute and is quite different in many respects. Non-attorneys who are interested in being appointed as guardians ad litem or court visitors are also encouraged to attend. The presentation will also include valuable information on how the transitions from non-parental custodies to minor guardianships will be handled in Jefferson and Clallam County Clerk’s Offices and Superior Courts.

This CLE is free of cost, though participants will be encouraged to make a $35 donation to the Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers.

Presenters include Commissioner Brandon Mack of Clallam County Superior Court, and Lorraine Rimson of Kurlin & Rimson Law Offices, PLLC, and Ruth Gordon, Jefferson County Clerk of Superior Court.

Elizabeth Schwantor has moved

Attorney Elizabeth Schwantor has taken a position with the legal department at Olympic Medical Center. She will be working in the risk management and compliance efforts section.

Ms. Schwantor previously had a private practice where she focused on family law cases.

ClallamCountyBar.com congratulates Ms. Schwantor for her new position.

Superior Court jury trials cancelled through January 13, 2021

All Clallam County Superior Court jury trials through January 13, 2021 have been cancelled, pursuant to Emergency Order 12-4-2020, Cause # 20-2-00001-05. Bench trials are not cancelled, which means any family law or other civil trials which do not require a jury will continue as scheduled.

Hearings for motions are not cancelled. The courtrooms remain open, however, the court strongly encourages people to appear for hearings by Zoom.

The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting Clallam County hard right now. Nipping the spread of the virus in bud will make it easier for our county to return to whatever normal is possible, and minimize negative economic impacts.

COVID-19-Emergency-Order-12-4-20Download

RFP: legal services for indigent adult offenders

Legal Services for Indigent Adult Offenders          

RFP No. 12391

In December 2020, the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain legal services for eligible Incarcerated Individuals at the following prison facilities:

Airway Heights Corrections Center, Airway Heights, WA
Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Clallam Bay, WA
Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla, WA
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Connell, WA
Monroe Correctional Complex, Monroe, WA
Stafford Creak Corrections Center, Aberdeen, WA
Washington Corrections Center, Shelton, WA
Washington Corrections Center for Women, Gig Harbor, WA

Services will primarily relate to post-conviction relief, conditions of confinement, and civil matters including family law.  Successful proposers (contractors) must be licensed to practice law in Washington State.  DOC anticipates that contracts resulting from the RFP will begin in February 2020, continue through June 30, 2022, and at DOCs discretion, may be renewed for additional periods through June 30, 2027.

This RFP No. 12391 will be posted on Washington’s Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) under commodity codes 961-49 and 961-50.  The Department encourages you to register on WEBS to receive notification of publication of this and other procurements. There is no charge to register.  Once registered at https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs, you will receive notification of any solicitation posted under the commodity codes that you selected.

If you are interested applying for these opportunities, if you have questions and/or would like additional information, please contact:

Michael Pumilia, JD, Procurement Coordinator
Email:  [email protected]
Subject Line: RFP12391

Please feel free to forward this opportunity to other interested parties. We look forward to hearing from you regarding these opportunities.

Superior Court trials temporarily postponed – EO 11-18-2020

By Emergency Order 11-18-2020, the Clallam County Superior Court has postponed all jury trials for two weeks. Contact your attorney or the court for details, or read the full order in the link below. Bench trials (trials which do not require a jury) and motions will continue as normal.

The courtrooms continue to be open, however the judges strongly urge people to participate in hearings by Zoom (video or telephone) appearance. Masks and other appropriate personal protective equipment are required to be worn in the courtrooms. Masks protect you and everyone else.

Juror protections remain in place. Special distancing procedures have been implemented by the judges. Jurors may automatically request a postponement. Read your jury summons notice carefully for instructions.

COVID-19-Emergency-Order-11.18.20Download

CCBA CLE Bonanza 2020

Find your way at the 2020 annual Clallam County CLE program on Friday, November 6, 2020, from 9:00am-3:00pm. This year’s program will be 100% online via the Zoom platform, Because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 presenters

  • Inside the Washington State Supreme Court, Debra Stevens, Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice, keynote speaker
  • Attorney’s with diminished capacity, Jeane Marie Clavere, WSBA General Counsel’s office
  • Legal issues with restoration of rights and firearms after criminal charges, Richard Davies, Port Townsend Criminal Defense, http://www.ptdefense.com/
  • Unemployment legal issues during COVID-19, Lilly Powers and John Tirpak, Unemployment Law Project, https://unemploymentlawproject.org/
  • Top ten traps when your case is removed to Federal Court, Gary Williams, Williams Law Office, https://areyoucovered.com/
  • COVID, a view from the bench, Simon Barnhart, Clallam County Superior Court Judge

CLE Program details

CLE Bonanza is hosted by the Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers (CJCPBL). 5.15 CLE credits have been applied for (4.15 general and 1 ethics). Suggested donation for attending is $200, and $150 for government attorneys and new lawyers or non-lawyers. All proceeds after expenses directly fund civil legal aid services for low-income and vulnerable clients in Clallam and Jefferson counties.

To register, send payment, or send sponsorship donations, contact Shauna Rogers McClain at:

Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers
P.O. Box 901
Port Angeles WA 98362
[email protected]
360-504-2422

Lawyers interested in supporting CJCPBL by sponsoring the CLE Bonanza by sponsoring the program at silver, gold and platinum levels may contact Shauna Rogers McClain.

Ted Ripley has retired

Theodore “Ted” Ripley retired in February, 2020. Ted practiced estate planning law in his later years. Ted was admitted to practice law in Washington on March 6, 1967, and practiced law for 53 years.

Former clients can reach Ted at his old phone number, 360-452-5027.

Larry Freedman has retired

Lawrence Freedman retired from the practice of law in April, 2020. Larry practiced law 57 years in Washington state and back east. Larry practiced criminal law, a variety of civil law matters, and served as a Clallam County District Court I judge pro tem. Larry now lives in Pennsylvania, where he is no doubt spending with his family and sailing the seas.

Larry was a lawyer’s lawyer. Always professional, always polite and respectful while fighting hard for his clients. To the end, Larry was good humored and a pleasure to work with.

Mark Baumann

Larry was admitted to practice law in Massachusetts in 1963, District of Columbia 1964, Virginia 1965, Maryland 1967 and Washington 2003. Most of my practice was in the D.C. area from 1963 until 2000 with a brief stay in Florida before coming to Washington in 2003.

He was partner in 3 different firms in Virginia and started in the Office of Solicitor, Department of Labor in the President Kennedy time. Larry practiced in a variety legal fields, primarily doing criminal defense. Larry gave back to his communities. In Sequim, he was the chairman of the Sequim Planning Commission for 5 years and on numerous other committees.

CCBA.com asked Larry:

What is your advice for new attorneys? Be honest and be nice, except when it’s time to not be nice. Nothing is more important than your integrity.

What did you enjoy most about practicing law? The comradery with attorneys and when I was a commissioner and judge in Vi rginia and Washington, the friendships that I have had.

What was the most important thing you learned as a lawyer? In all matters, my integrity is most important.

Why did you retire? 82 years old and my wife told me I had to.

What do you plan to do in retirement? Still trying to figure that out.

ClallamCountyBar.com wishes Larry fair winds and a port to aim for. Thanks for teaching us professionalism Larry.

CLE: Secondary trauma and self care

Secondary Trauma & Self Care, a CLE by the Clallam Resilience Project.

Wed, Nov 4th, 9:00-11:00am
Free
This training will explain Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion
Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma. Participants will be able to
recognize warning signs and personal triggers, understand the
importance of self-care, and develop a personal self-care plan.

Click here to register:
https://centene.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwofuCvrT4iGNGSAMz0yuxUuYlcF6ekeBKS

This is the last of the four resilience trainings by the Clallam Resilience Project for 2020.

The Clallam Resilience Project is a service of the United Way of Clallam County. The ACEs Study session is the first of four trainings in September, October, and November.