Anchorage Legal Issues Blog

Accused facing drug charges entitled to criminal defense

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert posted in criminal defense on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

While Alaska may be geographically removed from the lower 48 states of the country it does share some of the same problems. Among these is the ongoing struggle against illegal drugs. The police force in Alaska strives to maintain order and reduce the crime that can accompany the illegal drug trade. A couple in Anchorage were recently arrested and charged with drug related crimes. Anyone facing such charges is entitled to a criminal defense.

Following a lengthy investigation, the police executed a search warrant for the apartment of a couple who is affiliated with a local chapter of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. The search reportedly uncovered 120 grams of methamphetamine. In addition, there was equipment that could be used in distribution including digital scales and packaging materials. Officers also reported finding a large amount of cash.

Can you keep your full 401k in your divorce?

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert posted in family law on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Your divorce proceedings in Anchorage are sure to be a challenge. Even if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse go into them having gotten over any bitterness associated with your separation, there will almost certainly be points where the two of you disagree. Both of you being willing to make concessions is the key to ensuring that your proceedings move smoothly and avoid costly delays. Yet one area where you may not be prepared to concede anything is in the division of your 401k.

Contributions made to your 401k during your marriage come from marital income. Thus, while its full value may not be subject to property division, the total amount of those contributions is. Your ex-spouse can take their portion and roll it over into their own retirement account, or they can elect to cash it out and gain access to the funds right now (divorce is one of the few situations where this is allowed without incurring an early withdrawal penalty).

Alaska's drunk driving laws carry stiff penalties

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

Few things can change the tone of a relaxing evening faster than the lights of a police car in the rearview mirror. If police believe you are impaired by alcohol, your life could take a very unexpected turn. Facing drunk driving charges means facing the potential for harsh sentences and long-term consequences.

However, you do have rights no matter how much evidence police seem to have against you. It is important that you are aware of those rights and that you know where to turn when your future is on the line.

What happens if your workers' comp claim is not successful?

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert on Friday, October 25, 2019.

If you suffered injuries on the job, you know how important it is to get financial support through a workers' compensation claim. These benefits, secured through your Alaska employer's insurance policy, can allow you to address some of the financial losses associated with a work accident. It can be devastating to discover your claim came back denied.

When an initial claim is not successful, an applicant may feel like there is nothing he or she can really do about it. In reality, there may be steps you can take that will allow you to keep fighting for and eventually secure the benefits you need. This is not the end of the road for you, and you do not have to continue your pursuit of what you need to get better and move forward alone.

When your spouse wants to keep the house

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert posted in family law on Sunday, October 13, 2019.

If you are like a lot of people who live in Alaska and who own a home, your property may be the most valuable asset in your estate. This is one of the reasons that makes it hard to know what to do with a home when you get divorced. In addition to the financial aspect of home ownership, there tends to be a high level of emotional attachment to a person's family home. For this reason, many people work hard to try and keep their house when they get divorced.

If you are getting divorced and your spouse has indicated that they would like to keep your family home, there are some things you should know before you agree to this. As explained by MortgageLoan.com, your house and your home loan are viewed as two distinct things in the eyes of your lender. If your divorce decree stipulates that your spouse should make the mortgage payments, but your joint loan remains intact, you could still be responsible for the debt. This would be the case even if you have signed a quit claim deed.

Do you suspect that your spouse is trying to hide assets?

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

Divorce is a complex process, and not all Alaska couples are able to walk through this process amicably. In fact, you may be facing the prospect of a divorce that is sure to bring battles over marital property and other complicated matters. One of these issues may be the possibility of hidden assets.

Sometimes, one spouse may hide certain assets in order to retain more than his or her fair share of marital property. The motivation for this may be greed, or it may be the result of a desire to enact revenge against the other party. Whatever the reason, it is your right to fight back and discover the truth if you suspect your spouse is doing this. Your financial future is on the line, but there are steps you can take to protect your long-term interests.

Divorcing in 2019? Know these new tax laws

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert posted in family law on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

As someone navigating an Alaska divorce in 2019, you will have to navigate certain tax changes that did not affect those who divorced prior to this year. At Kalamarides & Lambert, we recognize that this year’s new tax changes can have a substantial effect on parties who divorce this year and moving forward, and we have helped many clients understand the tax implications of divorce and navigate numerous other issues relating to it.

According to Forbes, one of the most significant tax changes that will impact you when you divorce this year involves spousal support payments. Until this year, the person paying spousal support after a divorce would get to deduct the amount of support paid from his or her taxable income, resulting in a nice little tax break for the paying party. The party on the receiving end of the spousal support payments, meanwhile, would include the amount received as part of his or her taxable income for the year.

What are the “fatal four” accident types in construction?

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert posted in workers' compensation on Monday, September 23, 2019.

As you know, you can get hurt on the job in any industry, but some industries are more dangerous than others. Construction ranks near the top of the list for hazardous jobs in Alaska and elsewhere. You may be interested to learn that some accident types are common in the construction field, accounting for more serious and fatal injuries than other mishaps.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported 971 deaths in the construction industry across the country in 2017, making up 20.7% of all fatalities in the workforce. If you work in construction, you may have heard about the “fatal four.” These four accident types are the most common when it comes to catastrophic and deadly injuries in construction. They include the following:

Falls – 39.2% of construction fatalities in 2017
“Struck-by” accidents – 8.2% of construction deaths
Electrocutions – 7.3% of fatal construction accidents
“Caught-in/between” accidents – 5.1% of construction fatalities

Is swatting a serious crime?

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert posted in criminal defense on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

The Internet gives people a measure of anonymity, which can lead to them saying or doing things they would not think about doing in person. People in Alaska and elsewhere need to understand that there is a line that can be crossed, even online where they feel they are safe enough to get away with anything. You may have heard about the online prank known as “swatting,” without realizing the serious repercussions that can result from this type of joke.

As you may know, the swatting prank receives its name from pranksters’ intent of drawing armed law enforcement or SWAT teams to an innocent person’s address. These pranks usually stem from disagreements over online games, but targets can also include celebrities, political figures or public buildings. The “swatter” makes a false call to authorities, usually indicating violence, and provides the target’s address for law enforcement.

You defended yourself and your family, but you may face charges

On behalf of Kalamarides & Lambert on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

Your home is your safe haven. When you walk through the doors, you can relax, be with your family and otherwise enjoy your home. One day or night, someone violated the sanctity of your home.

Perhaps you own a gun, and you used it to defend yourself and your family from the intruder. Now, authorities consider pressing charges against you for murder or assault with a deadly weapon. What defense options does Alaska law allow you?