In this episode of Trickle Down Compliance, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline attorney Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by Charlie Floberg and Jennifer Hawkins of Hawkins-Poe to discuss two critical responsibilities for real estate professionals: record retention and confidentiality.

Learn how designated brokers and team leads manage transaction documentation and enforce compliance policies.

Understand your legal duty to protect client information—even within team environments.

Gain insight into how real estate firms structure access to sensitive data and maintain file integrity.

Whether you’re a managing broker, team leader, or individual agent, this episode provides valuable guidance to help you stay compliant and serve your clients ethically.

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

In this episode of Trickle Down Compliance, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by Charlie Floberg and Jennifer Hawkins of Hawkins-Poe to explore how Washington license law governs compliance from the broker level up through the firm.

Learn how designated brokers delegate authority, what a delegation agreement includes, and how teams operate within firm policies. Whether you’re a new broker, managing broker, or designated broker, this discussion offers essential insights into legal responsibilities and best practices under Washington law.

Topics Covered:

• Broker vs. managing broker roles

• Delegation agreements and compliance

• Supervisory duties and audit readiness

• Operating teams under firm policies

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

--------------------------

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

It’s time for the 2025 Computation of Time Challenge! Join Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons as she walks you through this year’s Computation of Time Challenge! In this real-world scenario, you’ll test your understanding of contract timelines, holiday rules, and key legal deadlines affecting inspection contingencies and buyer walk-throughs.

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

Welcome to another episode of The Team’s Playbook with Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons. In this episode, we dive into the legal mechanics of assumed name licenses for real estate teams in Washington State.

Join the discussion as we cover:

* What an assumed name license is and why it matters

* Who can obtain and control an assumed name

* Legal naming restrictions and how to avoid licensing pitfalls

* Office policies that impact team advertising

* The legal risk of misrepresenting MLS statistics and agency roles

Whether you’re starting a team or managing an established one, this episode offers essential legal guidance to help you stay compliant and avoid costly mistakes.

Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources:

Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring:

Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Charlie Floberg & Jennifer Hawkins (Managing Brokers at Hawkins-Poe)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

--------------------------

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

In this episode of The Team’s Playbook, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by Charlie Floater and Jen Hawkins of Hawkins-Poe to discuss one of the most critical — and often overlooked — elements of team success: compensation.

They cover essential legal insights, including:

* Who legally earns commission in a transaction

* Whether escrow can pay brokers directly

* Why brokers cannot pay each other

* How team leads should approach splits

* The importance of updating team agreements regularly

IMembers: Ask a question or explore more legal resources:

Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring:

Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Charlie Floberg & Jennifer Hawkins (Managing Brokers at Hawkins-Poe)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

Who represents the client when you’re working in a team? In this episode of The Team’s Playbook, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by managing brokers Jen Hawkins and Charlie Flow to explore the complex topic of agency relationships within real estate teams.

Learn how agency is legally established, what happens when team members share or delegate responsibilities, and why simply being part of a team doesn’t automatically make you an agent of the client. This conversation breaks down critical forms, such as Form 1A, Form 41A, and Form 42A, and highlights the legal obligations of team leads and supervising brokers.

Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources:

Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring:

Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Charlie Floberg & Jennifer Hawkins (Managing Brokers at Hawkins-Poe)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

In our second Episode of The Team’s Playbook, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons sits down with Charlie Floberg and Jen Hawkins to explore a key legal question in real estate team structures: Does a team leader need to be a managing broker?

In this video, you’ll learn:

• Why there’s no legal definition for a “team”

• When a managing broker license is legally required

• The role of delegation agreements in team supervision

• The difference between co-listing partnerships and supervisory teams

• What the Department of Licensing says about married real estate partners

This episode is a must-watch for brokers, team leads, and firm managers navigating Washington’s real estate team dynamics.

Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources:

Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring:

Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Charlie Floberg & Jennifer Hawkins (Managing Brokers at Hawkins-Poe)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

--------------------------

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

#RealEstateTeams #ManagingBroker #WashingtonRealtors #LegalHotline #RealEstateEducation #BrokerSupervision

Welcome to the first episode of The Teams Playbook, a legal education series for real estate professionals. In this episode, we introduce the concept of real estate teams—what they are, how they function, and the legal considerations every broker should understand.

Join us as we explore:

Why teams form in Real Estate

The absence of a legal definition under Washington law

How to structure teams for long-term success

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

The importance of communication, contracts, and designated broker involvement

Whether you’re building a team, joining one, or managing agents who work in teams, this episode lays the foundation for smart and compliant team practices.

Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources:

Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring:

Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Charlie Floberg & Jennifer Hawkins (Managing Brokers at Hawkins-Poe)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

When an estate sells property, are disclosures still required? Annie Fitzsimmons explains what estate sellers must reveal—even without Form 17—and how to do it properly.

Watch to learn how common law duties apply, what “known material defects” really mean, and how estate representatives can meet disclosure obligations with their attorney’s help.

Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources:

Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.

In this episode of the Washington Realtors® Legal Hotline, we tackle a common point of confusion in real estate transactions: when and why a buyer’s marital status must be disclosed.

Join Annie Fitzsimmons as she explains:

Why disclosure is legally required in the purchase and sale agreement.

How marital status impacts title, financing, and closing.

What happens when a buyer’s spouse isn’t disclosed until the last minute?

How brokers and sellers must navigate discrimination laws.

Practical steps to protect your transaction and avoid last-minute surprises.

Understanding these rules ensures smoother closings, protects client interests, and keeps your business compliant with Washington law.

Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources:

Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline

Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

Disclaimer: Legal Hotline services, including videos, articles, and access to the Hotline, are a Washington REALTOR® member-only educational benefit and do not constitute legal counsel. If you’re a primary member in good standing, visit warealtor.org with your M1 ID and password to access more features.

__________________

Copyright © 2025 Washington REALTORS®.

Please contact Washington REALTORS® (1-800-562-6024)

before using this video outside of YouTube.