General Counsel Services
Condominium Law Group provides general legal representation services to condominium and single-family homeowner associations throughout Washington State. We assist boards in making decisions both big and small, and strive to provide cost-effective services and innovative solutions.

Our services include the following. Please scroll down for more information.

• Legal Opinions and Interpreting Governing Documents
• Amendments and Restatements
• Governing Document Enforcement and Compliance
• Dispute Resolution
• Daily Operations
• Assessment Collections
• Construction Defect Services

Legal Opinions and Interpreting Governing Documents
What do your documents say and what does it mean? It is often difficult for boards and property managers to parse out language in their declaration (or CC&Rs), apply it to a particular situation and know with certainty what the end result should be. We can help provide direction when questions arise. The process may be as simple as working it out over the phone or as involved as researching and drafting a formal legal opinion.

Amendments and Restatements
Whether your documents are in need of minor adjustments or a complete overhaul, we can help get your association’s most important documents in shape. We assist associations with a variety of amendments including:

•  Leasing restrictions;

•  Updating insurance requirements and  
responsibilities for owners;

•  Defining maintenance and repair 
responsibilities and assigned responsibility between owners and associations;

•  Clarifying documents to be readable and accessible to owners.

The process of amending association documents can be lengthy and complex. We’ll walk you through step by step, keeping it as straightforward and simple as possible and addressing any questions or concerns you have.

Governing Document Enforcement and Compliance
What do you do when an owner simply refuses to live by the rules governing the community, despite warnings, fines and loss of privileges? We can help provide tools and solutions for dealing with difficult owners. We look first to obtain compliance without legal action through alternative solutions, but will also take any necessary steps through the courts to protect your association. We work to pass the cost of obtaining compliance through to the offending owner, not the association, whenever possible. We assist boards in complying with their governing documents as well, especially when boards are considering major repairs or improvements, contentious homeowner meetings or special assessments. This ensures fewer challenges from owners to board action.

Daily Operations
We assist boards with answers to day-to-day operations questions, frequently by phone or email. Questions from board members and property managers range from “Who is responsible for replacing windows in a unit?” to “Does the Board have authority to take out a loan?” We review contracts for a variety of services provided to associations, including contracts from vendors, contractors and property managers (to name a few). We help boards balance the risks inherent in any decision while working towards association goals.

Assessment Collections
In a perfect world, owners pay assessments in full and on time. Unfortunately, delinquent assessments are a reality and a burden for many condominiums, making it difficult for associations to work within their budgets and provide necessary services to owners. The world of collecting assessments is fraught with uncertainty and involves the unpleasant prospect of taking hurtful action against a neighbor who may have sympathetic reasons to not pay. We understand that collecting past-due assessments is one of the most difficult and unpleasant tasks homeowner associations and property managers must face. We work closely with boards to make decisions on all stages of collection actions, from an initial letter to the owner through foreclosure of the home, if necessary. We help associations balance the risks and avoid legal pitfalls involved in any collection action, while recognizing individual owner hardships may not make rigid adherence to a collection policy reasonable. We help boards establish clear collections policies which comply with their governing documents and which can be enforced promptly and consistently, while allowing flexibility when necessary. This reduces the number of collection actions in an association and increases the success of those actions.

Construction Defect Services Evaluation and Pursuit of Claims Against Developers
Condominium Law Group provides construction defect evaluation and litigation services to community associations throughout Washington State. We have helped our clients recover more than $20 million in construction defect claims. We are happy to provide a free initial consultation and/or on-site evaluation of your condominium.