JEFF HOLMES
ATTORNEY AT LAW
JEFF HOLMES - ATTORNEY AT LAW
WASHINGTON STATE LEGAL RESOURCES
Revised Code of Washington
Most Criminal Statutes can be found in RCW Titles 9 and RCW 9A. Reviewing the statutes can provide some general guidance on the elements the State would need to prove during prosecution. Oftentimes, however, the statutes can be confusing and certain elements may have been added by later case law. As such, it may be a good idea to contact an attorney to fully understand the many complexities of how the government will work to prove their case.
Most Family Law Statutes can be found in RCW Title 26. Again, a review of the applicable statutes may provide some general guidance. Many of the laws found in Title 26 can be confusing and difficult to interpret without proper legal experience. As such, it may be best to contact an attorney to assist you in understanding the court system with regard to family law.
Washington State Courts Website
FAMILY COURT FORMS AND GENERAL FORMS
This link will take you to the forms website at Washington Courts. You can follow the links on this page to find the Washington State authorized forms to be used in most family law proceedings. Some of the forms can be complicated, and it may be wise to have an attorney assist you with filling out and filing the forms, or to review the forms once they have been completed.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INFORMATION & FORMS
This link provides many useful resources for survivors of Domestic Violence, including, but not limited to, information on filing a petition for an Order for Protection. For more information and assistance with this process, contact an attorney to help today.
This link will take you to the Washington Courts Website. The links on the page will allow you to review recent legal opinions published by the Washington State Court of Appeals and the Washington State Supreme Court. Clark County falls within Division II of the Court of Appeals. If interested in receiving all future opinions from these courts for purposes of legal research, there is an option for email notification for future opinions. Published opinions that have not been overruled are considered binding on the lower courts, whereas unpublished opinions are not.
INFORMATION REGARDING VACATING PRIOR CONVICTIONS
A prior conviction for any level of crime can cause a number of hardships in applying for jobs and housing. Washington State allows individuals with prior convictions for certain offenses to petition the court for an Order Vacating the prior conviction. The link above provides more information on the process, as well as the forms generally required to have the matter heard by the Court. If you have any questions or would like legal assistance through the vacation process, please visit my contact form to set up a case assessment or consultation today.
Washington State uses general pattern jury instructions for most criminal cases that proceed to trial. These jury instructions provide a very succinct and detailed explanation of what elements the State must prove at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. Follow the above link and then click on Washington Criminal Jury Instructions to reach a page with a number of different categories of criminal jury instructions. The jury instructions can sometimes be somewhat confusing, however, so it may be a good idea to contact an attorney if you have additional questions about what specifically the State must prove in your case.