We’re nearing the end of summer, and you know what that means: it’s almost time for the kids to go back to school. Some districts have already started, but most still have at least a few weeks left. This time of year often gets hectic and stressful for children as well as parents. For newly …
Child custody battles tend to become heated and contentious. Emotions run high, parents often drag each other through the mud, and it’s generally a harrowing experience. This all makes sense: we love our kids and want them to be part of our lives. But what do you need to know about actual child custody hearings? …
How did we get here? Summer’s almost over. Stores have started advertising back to school sales. It all snuck up so fast! But don’t worry if it feels like summer slipped through your fingers, you’re not alone. It happens to everyone. There’s no need to worry, though. There’s still plenty of time for one last …
Kids these days are more active than ever before. Between school and various extracurricular activities, it’s amazing how busy and cluttered children’s schedules become. These are vital outlets for exercise, socialization, and plain old fun. Sports frequently form a large piece of this puzzle. Often these pursuits are so important they wind up as part …
The papers are signed, the assets divided, and the logistics all worked out. Everything’s done and over and you never have to see your now-ex ever again, right? In some cases, the answer is a resounding yes. If you have children, however, it’s not always so easy. Welcome to the brave new world of co-parenting. …
Custody exchanges following divorce are often tough. No matter how bitter and hostile the process of ending your marriage was, if you have kids, you’re generally going to see your ex for at least a few minutes when picking up or dropping off. Depending on how the parenting plan shakes out, you may potentially encounter …
When it comes to child custody cases, the right of first refusal is a provision that impacts the time noncustodial parents spend with their children. It allows a parent to capitalize on opportunities to look after the kids. In some cases, it helps one parent increase their the one-on-one time they have with their children. …
Child custody battles are often an unfortunate part of divorce. Parents jockey back and forth about parenting time and who sees the kids how much. And that’s one of biggest changes that comes with ending a marriage. You may go from seeing your kids every day to once every few weeks depending on the parenting …
One of the most harrowing parts of many divorces is the fight for child custody and visitation. The prospect of not being a part of their children’s lives, or at least having a diminished presence, terrifies many parents. Numerous factors play into the court’s decision on child custody and visitation. It’s important to put your …
The last few years have been a time of great change in regards to same-sex marriage in Washington state, as well as the rest of the country. Gay or straight, marriage comes with challenges. Relationships don’t always work out and divorces happen no matter who’s involved. Similarly, divorce gets complicated across the board. One big …
Legal matters tend to be complicated. It’s easy to get lost or even just miss a small detail along the way. This happens all the time in divorce and family law cases. One area where slip-ups can be especially costly is in child custody disputes. Too often, blunders or errors in judgment have huge ramifications. …
Winning a child custody case is a huge moment. Maybe this means getting primary guardianship, a child support order, visitation, or another victory you fought for. That’s great, you got what you needed or wanted. But just because there’s a court order doesn’t always mean the other parent will abide by the ruling. What happens …
It’s traumatic and painful when a couple breaks up, but when they’re parents, it’s often downright devastating for the kids. Divorce throws a child’s world in upheaval, and almost every aspect of their lives shifts with one fell swoop. The end of a marriage often comes with a move, a change in living situation, and …
In most situations, divorce represents a titanic life change, one with lasting repercussions. A traumatic experience, after ending a marriage, many people want to get as far away as possible. If it’s just you, that’s simple enough. But when there are kids involved, it complicates matters. An issue that often arises is what to do …
When you think of a family, your mind probably conjures up images of a mother, a father, a couple of kids, and that sort of thing. But families come in all shapes, sizes, and configurations. With a divorce rate estimated to be between 40% and 50%, and a rising remarriage rate (one recent study indicates …
Whether it’s right or wrong, there is a public perception when it comes to divorce and child custody, that wives, mothers, and women always have the upper hand. Proponents of this stance throw around all manner of statistics and expert opinions on the topic. On a practical level, many men feel that they are at …
When Washington State voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in 2012, it opened up a metaphorical can of worms, legally speaking. Initiative 502, which passed by a 56% to 44% margin in a general election, allowed for adults over the age of 21 to possess and use small amounts of the drug for …
As you already know, divorce is a tricky business. Emotions run high, tempers can flare, and the situation is further heightened when minor children are thrown into the mix. In custody cases, whether the parents are married or not, and where both sides have, perhaps, lost sight of the well-being of the kids caught in …
Family law isn’t just a business for Goldberg Jones. We aren’t just here to take your money and do our best. After 20 years in business, we’ve seen some stuff and it’s not always about the money. We learned early on that if we do the right thing, the business will come and following that …
Ahhhhh, custody issues. Could anything be more aggravating? It’s been our experience that the majority of people seeking divorce are initially focussing on their unhappiness with their relationship and not drilling down into the more granular aspects of the journey they’re about to embark on. Luckily, that’s why we write these posts. Life is easier …
In this episode of Life Coach with Sarah and Danny Bonaduce, Seattle divorce attorney Rick Jones gives the four-one-one on custody, jurisdiction, enforcing a parenting plan, and meretricious relationships. The show’s first caller had some concerns about custody and wanted to know what the next steps would be for getting a custody order. Three months …
Losing custody and visitation can be a frightening prospect for fathers facing divorce and custody issues. Every case is unique, but there are some basic do’s and don’ts for protecting the priceless relationship between you and your child. Don’t move out Remaining in the home until a parenting plan has been created is extremely important. …
Managing partner, Rick Jones, stopped by KZOK to provide divorce and family law answers on “Life Coach with Danny Bonaduce”. This episode presented an eclectic collection of questions with topics ranging from getting custody of a non-biological child to investigations by Child Protective Services. Because Goldberg Jones focuses its practice on fathers’ rights, we are …
In this installment of Life Coach, Goldberg Jones’ managing partner, Rick Jones, fielded questions that covered everything from relocation and custody to knowing when to divorce. The first caller was a grandmother with custody of her grandchild. Her question for Rick: “How difficult will it be to get the court’s permission to move with my …
Michael Jordan was in the news a few months ago—but it wasn’t about his wedding, basketball, or even baseball. Jordan has been making headlines because of a paternity claim. Pamela Smith has alleged that basketball legend, Michael Jordan, is the father of her 16 year old son. In a recent episode of Divorce for Men …
My ex wants to take my kids out of the country. What are my rights? The news that your ex is planning to take the kids out of the country can be a scary proposition. Knowing your rights and your legal options will help put your mind at ease and protect your relationship with your …
A new bill has been proposed in the Washington State Senate that could make changes to custody laws. The proposed changes to the legislation come one year after the tragic events that were the catalyst for the amendments the Senate is considering. In February 2012, Josh Powell murdered his two young sons Charlie, 7, and …
Sperm donor on the hook for child support In a twist on father’s rights and child custody, a Kansas man, William Marotta, has found himself fighting to be absolved of his legal status as a parent. Marotta isn’t a father trying to skip out on responsibility. Marotta was a sperm donor for a lesbian couple. …
Managing your custody holiday schedule Peace, joy and celebration are the hallmarks of the holiday season. The stretch between Thanksgiving and the New Year can be filled with happiness and goodwill. But for parents with shared custody, the holidays are often filled with copious amounts of stress, disputes over visitation and conflict. As Washington divorce …
Legalized marijuana in Washington State In Washington State, Initiative 502 passed legalizing recreational use of marijuana and has been hailed a victory by supporters. But before you start stocking up on munchies and Google-ing for a retail outlet near you, there are a few facts you should consider about legalized marijuana. Initiative 502 won’t go …
Episode 2 – What happens when Mom is relocating? For fathers in Washington State, relocation can be a challenging issue. Under the current statute, relocation by the primary parent often means relocation of the children. This can be disheartening for fathers wanting to remain active in their children’s lives. In the latest episode of Divorce …
A Google search on Parental Alienation will quickly reveal the heated debate that has erupted around the proposed addition of Parental Alienation Syndrome to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health. Both sides of the debate are hot under the collar to defend their stance, as is evident in the comment section under …
Joint custody and other child custody terms If you are battling for sole or joint custody of children, you have probably heard numerous custody terms being used. There is a wide variety of custody arrangements that can be made and understanding those options is helpful in navigating the process of determining custody of children. In addition, …
Staying Connected The role of grandparents post divorce can be an important element in smoothing the transition into a new definition of family for children. While there is a wide range of involvement and roles grandparents can play, a positive relationship between grandchild and grandparent can provide support and stability that is essential for children …
Initiative 502 seeks to legalize marijuana and will be on November’s ballot. This initiative for marijuana legalization has spawned heated debates about how legalization will impact the state of Washington. While it is impossible to decipher how Initiative 502 will directly impact child custody in the future —we can give some insight into how legal …
The divorce decision has been looming on the horizon for quite some time. You and your wife have worked hard to sort things out. Maybe you have gone to couples counseling and tried everything you can think of to salvage your marriage. With all your effort the relationship is still beyond repair — you have …
During Tuesday’s appearance on Danny Bonaduce’s Life Coach, Rick answered questions from callers regarding divorce and custody issues in Seattle. One call in particular stood out. It highlighted the importance of developing and negotiating a comprehensive parenting plan from the onset of filing your divorce in Seattle. Here is what the caller had to say: …
Being a father is an investment of love, time, and financial resources. However you acquired the noble title of “Dad” —you earn it every day. You are there for your children day in and day out — and the idea of not being part of their daily life is a scary thought. Unfortunately for one …
You are considering divorce, or perhaps you have already made the decision to divorce. Either way, you are most likely facing difficult challenges and a great deal of stress in your personal life. Meeting with a family law attorney might feel intimidating and overwhelming during this difficult time —but it is an essential step when facing …
This week on Life Coach Seattle family law attorney Rick Jones talks about evidence in a child custody dispute, modifying child support orders, and how long it takes to get divorced. One Seattle father calls in to ask what evidence can use to get full custody of his daughter. He asks: My ex is abusive …
Despite technical soundboard problems at the start, Rick tackles a number of interesting questions on divorce, family law, and child custody in Seattle. He starts by addressing one of the most common questions we get at Goldberg Jones. One father calls in to ask what is the most cost effective way to get a divorce. …
Rick Jones was on the Danny Bondaduce Show to talk about family law, divorce, and child custody in Washington. One caller had a question about her rights as a grandparent and whether or not she needed to get permission from both her daughter and son-in-law to take her grandchildren out of Washington. She describes her …
In this week’s episode, Rick Jones of Goldberg Jones talks child support, divorce, child custody, and modifying parenting plans in Washington. We also took some great behind-the-scenes pictures while Rick and Danny took calls from around the Puget Sound. One dad called with a question about his ex-spouse who has been keeping him from visiting …
Rick Jones and Danny Bonaduce were in rare form on Valentine’s Day as they talked about divorce and family law in Seattle. They took calls from around the Puget Sound and answered questions about back child support, the likelihood of joint custody, and separating property during a divorce. Listen to the whole episode below: Ironically, we …
It is rare that an article in the mainstream media looks at purported politically incorrect bias in family courts. The article highlights many of the problems fathers may face as they negotiate the family court. While we have no comment on this particular piece, it would be great to hear your thoughts in the comment …
As you can imagine, working with men who are facing a divorce has its ups and downs. It can be difficult to support men as they face challenging situations, such as moving out, battling for custody, false allegations of abuse, ect. Nevertheless, we do it because we believe we are doing some good and …
We have partnered up the Danny Bonaduce Show and KZOK 102.5 to put Rick Jones on the radio. He will be on for a special Valentine’s Day and Divorce for Men episode of lifecoach. Tune in tomorrow at 7:30 am to catch the broadcast. In the meantime, if you missed the audio from the …
Our founding partner Rick Jones was on the radio last week. He is a regular on a local station here in Seattle – KISW 99.9. He loves getting on the show because it gives him a chance to give advice to the public and talk about the kind of work he does everyday. The topic …
I ran across this story on Twitter today titled “One mother’s heroic decision.” The story follows a court proceeding in a custody dispute. There are five children that are given the choice of who they would like to be with. The father’s suggestion is that the children should be split up between the two parents. The …
Obtaining custody of your child is a complicated affair and one best left in the hands of a family law attorney. The timing, route, and cost of the proceeding depends heavily on the fact surrounding your case, where you child is located, and the laws of the state where you are bringing the legal action. …
We are often asked what the chances are of the father getting primary custody in Washington. Even though the laws are neutral on face, you can see from a recent report by research group that the results favor women. In the 2010 report, there are some interesting findings about parenting plans. First, in general,children are …
