This brief is submitted on behalf of the Family Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association as amicus curiae. Amicus asks the Court to accept review and reverse the Court of Appeals' decision. Over fifty percent of the civil cases filed in this state are dissolution actions.
Many citizens never have any other interaction with the justice system during their lifetimes.
Most divorcing couples should be able to agree on a proper property distribution based on case law establishing how their assets should be valued and characterized. The rules governing the valuation, characterization and division of property should be simple, consistent, and simply and consistently applied. They must be perceived as fair. The rule for employee stock options announced by the Court of Appeals in this case is not simple. It is inconsistent with the method in which other employee benefits are treated.