Washington State Laws

Washington Law

Washington is the most northwestern state that derived from the Oregon Territory. After dividing from Oregon and becoming a state in 1889, Washington took its name from the nation’s first president and became the only state to be named after a president.

This state is very green and gives way to different kinds of produce. Washington stands at the top for producing red raspberries, wrinkled seed peas, apples, hops, sweet cherries, spearmint oil, pears, Concord grapes, peppermint oil, carrots, and Niagara grapes. Washington is also known for producing fall potatoes, lentils, apricots, dry peas, grapes, asparagus, prunes, cherries, plums, strawberries, wheat, barley, onion, cranberries, trout, and sweet corn. These kinds of production provide jobs for Washington residents.

More than six million people call Washington home. These people are governed by state laws that have been shaped over several decades. Some of these laws include labor laws, divorce laws, expungement laws, gun laws, bankruptcy laws, and misdemeanor conviction laws.

Divorce

Each state has specific rules for how divorces are conducted within its borders. Washington requires that individuals be state residents before filing for divorce. Residing within the state on military duty qualifies as state residency. All divorce petitions are to be filed in each individual’s county of residency or that of his or her spouse.

If a non-Washington resident desires to file for a Washington divorce, he or she may do so if his or her spouse is currently a Washington resident. Only one individual is required to file for divorce but if a petition is filed to the incorrect county, the divorce petition will be dismissed. Washington also requires that at least ninety days must pass before a petition is filed on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.

Firearms

Those who are not residents of the state are not legally permitted to possess firearms in Washington borders. Pointing a firearm — loaded or not loaded — at another is considered a gross misdemeanor. The state of Washington accepts the firearm permits of other states, including Mississippi, Michigan, Louisiana, Ohio, Florida, Oklahoma, Utah, and North Carolina.

In order to lawfully possess a firearm openly an individual must first obtain a concealed weapons permit. These kinds of licenses can be acquired through local sheriffs departments. Different kinds of licenses allow for different kinds of places where firearms can be possessed. For instance one license may allow an individual to carry a firearm onto school property where another allows an individual to carry a firearm in his or her motor vehicle.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy allows individuals the ability to relinquish their debts without creditor abuse. Bankruptcy is not designed to help all those with debts and new laws limit those who qualify. There are currently two kinds of bankruptcy for personal usage: Chapter Seven bankruptcy and Chapter Thirteen bankruptcy.

Chapter Seven bankruptcy allows individuals to eliminate their debts through property liquidation in three months or less. Chapter Thirteen bankruptcy allows individuals to eliminate their debts through personal payment plans that cannot exceed five years. Only certain individuals qualify for these bankruptcy chapters and qualifying processes will determine who is eligible and for which bankruptcy.

Washington Law Articles