Tag Archives: Family Law

Hiring: Olympia & Centralia Family Law Attorney

October 1, 2019ArticlesAttorneys, Centralia, Family Law, Olympiaadmin

Do you want to be part of a great team?

Hiring A Family Law Attorney For Olympia and Centralia!

Althauser Rayan Abbarno is hiring a family law attorney! Our Vibrant and Community Focused Law Firm has offices in Olympia and Centralia and a very busy practice in both Lewis and Thurston counties.

Althauser Rayan Abbarno was nominated best place to work in Lewis County and Best Customer Service in Lewis County by the Daily Chronicle four (4) years in a row. In 2018, our office won Best Place to Work in Lewis County.

Ideal candidate has 1-3 years of family law experience with knowledge of civil practice and court rules, and good writing and organization skills.

We work with our Family Law Clients on many issues, including

Divorce/Dissolution;
Community and separate property;
Child custody and parenting plans;
Visitation;
Domestic violence protection orders;
Anti-harassment orders;
Child support;
Spousal support and maintenance;
Post-secondary support;
Relocation; and
Modification.

Contact Us!

If you are interested in joining our Legal Team and work in Olympia and Centralia on Family Law cases, please submit cover letter and resume to Todd Rayan at todd@centralialaw.com.

Learn more about Althauser Rayan Abbarno at www.CentraliaLaw.com

Do you want to join our Team?

Best Customer Service and Best Place to Work!

Althauser Rayan Abbarno was nominated best place to work in Lewis County and Best Customer Service in Lewis County by the Daily Chronicle four (4) years in a row. In 2018, our office won Best Place to Work in Lewis County. We are glad our community noticed- Our clients also notice through better results!!

If you are interested in joining our Legal Team and work in Olympia and Centralia on Family Law cases, please submit cover letter and resume to Todd Rayan at todd@centralialaw.com.

Can Your Spouse Keep A Secret?

September 16, 2019ArticlesAbogado, Attorney, Centralia, Criminal, Family Law, Lawyers, Marital, Olympia, Spousaladmin

Can Your Spouse Keep A Secret? Spousal Privilege!

The State of Washington’s Spousal Privilege is found in RCWA 5.60.060(1). How long will the privilege last?

The Washington provision states, with some exceptions, that a spouse shall not testify against the other spouse without the consent of the spouse. This long-standing rule protects the confidential communications within a marriage and from one spouse receiving information and later sharing a private disclosure to the public in court.

A spouse or domestic partner shall not be examined for or against his or her spouse or domestic partner, without the consent of the spouse or domestic partner; nor can either during marriage or during the domestic partnership or afterward, be without the consent of the other, examined as to any communication made by one to the other during the marriage or the domestic partnership.

However, the New Mexico Supreme Court recently abolished the spousal communication privilege in a murder case based on testimony by the defendant’s ex-wife and estranged current spouse.

The court said the privilege “has outlived its useful life,” reported by the Legal Profession Blog and the Associated Press. Justifications that have been cited for the privilege “seem little more than soaring rhetoric and legally irrelevant sentimentality,” the court said in its Aug. 30 opinion.

How long with the Spousal Privilege last in Washington and other states? Only more cases examining the privilege will tell, but it is likely receive more scrutiny.

Contact Althauser Rayan Abbarno in Olympia and Centralia!

Althauser Rayan Abbarno attorneys have been representing individuals and businesses in Washington since 1946. For a Consultation in Olympia or Centralia call (360) 736-1301 or visit www.CentraliaLaw.com

Emily Laz: Family Law and Public Service at Althauser Rayan Abbarno!

August 16, 2017UncategorizedAbbarno, Althauser, Child Support, Custody, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Family Law, RayanPeter Abbarno

Emily Laz: Althauser Rayan Abbarno Associate and Family Law Attorney

“I didn’t want to be a lawyer to make a bunch of money. I wanted to be a lawyer so I could help people,” Emily Laz, an attorney at Althauser Rayan Abbarno, says. “I can do that by representing clients when they are most vulnerable and guiding them through the process.”

Emily, an Oregon native and University of Oregon Alumnus, graduated from Vermont Law School with a Juris Doctor and Masters in Environmental Law.

She joined Althauser Rayan Abbarno in 2014 as an associate attorney representing clients in divorce proceedings, child custody and child support disputes, domestic violence protection order hearings, and adoptions. “In my area of practice, there is no shortage of emotions,” noted Emily. “My clients want solutions and they want an attorney that can help provide them. That is why they come to me.”

Emily loves small town life since moving to Centralia three years ago. “I get really upset about traffic when I have to sit through one light cycle,” she laughs. She loves how friendly everyone is and that people like to help each other out. After all, that’s what she wants to do too. “I just want to give back.”

The team at Althauser Rayan Abbarno from left: Emily Laz, Jakob McGhie, Todd Rayan, Peter Abbarno and Allyson Felt. Everyone at Althauser Rayan Abbarno is as dedicated to giving back as Emily is – it’s part of their company culture.

Emily wasted no time in joining the Lewis County Bar Legal Aid. Her first year she was on the board and now she is president of the board. Emily is consistently among the top attorneys in Lewis County for donating free legal services to low-income residents. She was also on the Centralia Downtown Association in the past, which allowed her to meet people and business owners in the city.

Legal Aid provides free legal advice to those who need it for matters such as family law, landlord/tenant problems and other issues. You make an appointment, and the lawyer will go over your case and tell you if it’s something you can do on your own. If not, they find a lawyer who will take the case pro bono, meaning for free.

“Lewis County Bar Legal Aid saw a 34 percent decrease in pro bono hours over the past year, which means people in our community are not being served,” Emily says. “And our state funding is based on how much need there is and if we’re only reporting a limited number of hours, then it looks like there is not a need. But what I think it really is, is that lawyers are doing the cases pro bono, but not reporting them to Legal Aid.”

The Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP law office is conveniently located the historic downtown Centralia. Photo courtesy: Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP
To make up the lack of funds, Emily is working on a series of fundraising efforts for this year to help fill the gap in funding to make sure there is always someone around to answer questions. These fundraisers are just another way for the attorneys throughout Lewis County to give back.

“Choosing the right attorney is very important. Althauser Rayan Abbarno is a firm that builds relationships. In addition to my practice, our attorneys handle personal injury and worker’s compensation cases, estate planning and probate, contract and property disputes, criminal defense, and business and corporate law. We truly will guide you through virtually every issue and scenario.”

Another Reason to Choose Althauser Rayan Abbarno!

August 4, 2017UncategorizedAbbarno, Althauser, Attorney, Centralia, Criminal Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Lawyer, Olympia, RayanPeter Abbarno

The Associate Attorneys are another reason to choose Althauser Rayan Abbarno by Kristina Lotz at Thurston Talk!

The associate attorneys with Althauser Rayan Abbarno are passionate about serving the Lewis and Thurston County communities – a place they work, play and call home.

Allyson Felt

Associate Attorney Allyson Felt focuses on civil litigation, including contract disputes, estate planning, probate and real property. “I appreciate being able to truly help our clients and make a difference for them during a struggle they are having,” she says. “For me, that is what is most rewarding about it.”

She calls Thurston County home and loves to hike with her dog, a five-year-old Golden Retriever, Henry. She also loves participating in the local sport groups that meet to socialize and get healthy, as well as the “watch parties” for a variety of teams like the Seahawks, Mariners, and Sounders, though truth be told, she is a Packers fan at heart. She is also a member of the Thurston County Bar Association.

Emily Laz

Associate Attorney Emily Laz focuses on family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, domestic violence protection orders and anti-harassment orders. “When families are in need of a family lawyer, they are incredibly stressed out and at a very traumatic point in their lives,” she says. “I like to help them through it. My job is equal parts counselor and attorney and I very much enjoy that.”

Emily loves hiking through Capitol Forest and the waterfront with her dog, a one-year-old Border Collie named Tucker. Allyson and Emily go on doggy playdates with their four-legged friends.

Jakob McGhie

Associate Attorney Jakob McGhie’s practice focuses on criminal defense, including felony and misdemeanor criminal defense, firearm rights restoration, traffic infractions and the expungement and sealing of criminal records. “The reason I became a lawyer is because I love the fact that we live in a nation that is ruled by a set of laws and core principles,” he says. “And I see being a criminal defense attorney – defending people who could be wrongly accused – and making sure they receive a strong, thorough and complete defense, as necessary for a functioning democracy.”

He represents the greater Olympia region on the Washington State Bar Association Young Lawyer Committee and is a member of the Thurston County Bar Association. Jake also loves to hike in Capitol Forest and can often be found at Olympic Card and Comics.

Althauser Rayan Abbarno prides itself on being a firm that takes care of all your legal needs. Whether you were injured in an automobile collision or at work, or have any other legal need, the Althauser Rayan Abbarno team makes sure clients and their families are represented from top to bottom.

Family Law 101: Know your rights!

December 22, 2015Family PracticeCustody Disputes, Dissolutions, Family Lawadmin

On a scale of 1 to 10 for scariest kinds (types) of attorneys, some would argue a family law attorney is around a 9. At least that is what they say about the attorney on the other (opposing) side. That’s because in most cases your marriage is ending or you are fighting for custody of your children. Both highly charged with emotion: love and hate.

Continue reading Family Law 101: Know your rights! →