Resources & Useful Links to help you find legal information
We encourage clients to conduct research to understand their legal issues. There are many excellent online resources available. These include:
Divorce, Child Support, Parenting and Related Issues
Laycoe & Bogdon PC’s Divorce Handbook provides an overview of divorce in Washington, including:
- division of property and debts
- child support
- parenting
- related issues
Northwest Justice Project (NJP) is a non-profit organization that offers free legal services to eligible low-income individuals. Call their Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral (CLEAR) system at 1-888-201-1014 or find them on the web at www.nwjustice.org/ . Through its “Washington LawHelp” Web site, www.washingtonlawhelp.org/WA/index.cfm, NJP offers excellent publications explaining divorce and other family law topics well as publications explaining other legal issues of interest to individuals:.
The State of Oregon Web site has published an excellent guide to developing appropriate parenting plans. Although the laws of Washington and Oregon differ, the materials provide a valuable discussion of the developmental needs of children and provide a thorough list of questions to answer when devising a residential schedule. Go to www.ojd.state.or.us/familylaw and click on “Parenting Plan Information.”
The Washington State Court Web site offers links to forms and instructions for divorce, domestic violence proceedings, anti-harassment proceedings, and other proceedings at www.courts.wa.gov/forms/ .
Mediation and Arbitration
Family law disputes may be resolved with the assistance of a mediator and by arbitration. Resources include:
- Joshua Kadish is an Oregon attorney and mediator who has taught and written extensively about mediation and who offers excellent written materials explaining the mediation process in “Valuable Resources” at www.mediate.com/kadish/pg3.cfm and “Family Articles” at http://www.mediate.com/kadish/pg204.cfm
- The Washington State Bar Association has an online pamphlet on mediation and arbitration at: www.wsba.org/media/publications/pamphlets/alternatives.htm
Estate Planning and Probate
Discussing and planning for one’s death is difficult, but should not be overlooked by anyone. Laycoe & Bogdon PC provides estate planning and probate services. The Washington State Bar Association has several online pamphlets which provide basic and useful information:
Special Education
Parents of disabled children should become familiar with the online resources of organizations committed to advocacy in the area of special education, including www.Wrightslaw.com and The Council of Parent Advocates and Attorneys at www.copaa.org. Numerous Web sites and organizations devoted to virtually every disability can be found through an online subject search.
The state and federal agencies responsible for administering the law in this area include the:
- Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction www.k12.wa.us/ and its Special Education Department at www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/default.aspx
- United States Department of Education at www.ed.gov and its Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html and Office of Civil Rights at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html.
Other Community Resources
Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact their local police authority and to seek the assistance and support of the YWCA SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program at www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/safechoice.htm
The Fort Vancouver Regional Library System maintains many legal information resources, on the web and in print. Visit your local branch or go to www.fvrl.org/findinfo/legal.htm
The Clark County Bar Association maintains an extensive list of links on a variety of topics at: www.lawhelp.org/Program/2503/index.cfm?pagename=homepage To apply for the Clark County Bar Association “Modest Means” program go to: www.ccbawashington.com/modest_means.html
Volunteer Lawyers Program, serving low-income residents of Southwest Washington: www.lawhelp.org/Program/2503/index.cfm?pagename=homepage
Washington State Lawyer Referral Services can be found at:
www.wsba.org/atj/contact/lawref.htm
Clark County government phone numbers are available at: www.clark.wa.gov/findit/telephone-directory.html
Court Services, Schedules, and Rules
The Clark County Courts Web site provides information about the court, family court services, and the current weekly docket schedule, where parties can confirm the schedule for pending hearings at www.clark.wa.gov/courts/index.html
General information about the Washington State Courts can be found at www.courts.wa.gov. For more specific information:
- Self-help Links and Resources: www.courts.wa.gov/index.cfm?fa=home.resources
- Washington State Court rules: www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/
- Washington Superior Court Web sites: www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/
- Washington Superior Court records search tool: www.courts.wa.gov/index.cfm?fa=home.superiorSearch&terms=accept&flashform=0