There are 2 types of property division. There is community property, which means the state views all property and debts acquired during a marriage as belonging equally to both spouses. There is also separate property, meaning it belongs to one spouse or the other.
In most cases in Washington, child support comes to an end when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes later. A number of circumstances do exist where payments continue longer, such as postsecondary education or a child with a mental or physical disability.
Can you get an itemized breakdown of what your child support payments actually cover every month? How do you go about ensuring child support accountability?
Having a Joint Residential Schedule, or joint custody, is when the court awards both parents parental rights and responsibilities. They may not live together, but both participate and share duties in the child’s life in a substantial way.
The process of divorce sounds complex and scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to file for divorce in Washington state.
The short answer is no, Washington doesn’t allow common-law marriage. As usual, however, the real answer is more complicated.
If you don’t shield your inheritance properly, you stand to lose a substantial amount when it comes to divorce and the division of property.
On a practical level, a divorce decree grants the dissolution of marriage and lays out the basic information regarding the separation.
Ending a marriage usually evokes images of court, but there are other options. Divorce mediation is a common, effective option.
The initial consultation is an opportunity to get your questions answered and help you better understand how your circumstances affect the divorce process.
Moving out of a shared home can have a negative impact on your divorce in a number of ways. It’s important to know the impact this decision can have.
In divorce and custody suits, a guardian ad litem may come in to look after the best interest of any children involved. Here’s what you need to be aware of.
Divorce or bankruptcy, which should you file first? Every situation is different, and there are many variables, but here’s what to consider.
The division of property plays a big role when it comes to ending a marriage, but it’s also important to know how courts treat shared debt in divorce.
Divorce throws a child’s world into upheaval, but what about cases of split custody? Will the court really separate siblings?
In child custody cases, the right of first refusal is a provision in a parenting plan that affects the time noncustodial parents spend with their children. It allows a parent to capitalize on opportunities to look after their kids.
While no single number encompasses everything, the average cost of divorce in Washington is between $10,500 and $12,000. With children, the average cost of divorce is $15,500. Depending on the circumstances, the total can be much higher or lower.
There’s a lot of information floating around, but how can you differentiate between an urban legend and a scary divorce fact?
People are quick to offer advice about divorce, and one frequently shared tidbit is that you need to file for divorce first. But do you really?
Sports are important to a lot of kids, but can your ex step in and stop your child from playing sports or participating in other activities?
Where money comes from in a marriage has a lot to do with who gets it in a divorce. How does this impact a personal injury settlement?
From football, basketball, and baseball, to rugby, cricket, and NASCAR, fantasy sports are everywhere. But how can they be useful to divorced dads?
What are the primary differences between a contested and an uncontested divorce and which category does your case fit into?
A great deal of information changes hands during the divorce process. Discovery is the tool through which this happens. Here’s how it works.
We like watching movies with dad, and we’ve compiled a list of great films to watch on Father’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, or just because.
What happens when your spouse serves you with divorce papers? It comes with a lot of questions. How do you respond? What do you do next?
Right or wrong, many people look at you and immediately judge your appearance, which is why how you dress for court is so important to your case.
Education is a big part of most people’s lives. And at least one person believes education impacts divorce and divorce rates.
Divorce isn’t the only way to end a marriage. In certain cases, legal separation is an option. Here’s what to know about the differences and similarities.
Here’s a question we don’t hear often: Can you challenge your custody order if your ex gets a job at a strip club? One of our founding partners, Rick Jones, has a recurring guest spot on the KZOK 102.5 Morning Show, where he tackles family law questions from listeners. This …
Sweat equity can increase the value of shared assets, which often impacts divorce settlements.
Like trying to alter most court-issued decrees, child support modification in Washington isn’t particularly easy, but it is possible.
People often do things that damage their own divorce cases. Common issues include: Filing before they’re ready. Agreeing to unfavorable terms. Taking bad advice. Moving out without considering the ramifications, and more.
Life insurance policies can be one of the more delicate knots to untie in divorce and oftentimes get overlooked when ending a marriage.
“My ex filed for divorce in January. I have requested mediation I don’t know how many times, and she won’t answer, won’t step up to the table, won’t do anything. And this is still dragging on. Is there any way to get her to finalize this, or go to mediation, or just speed things up?”
It’s the stuff movie melodrama: trapped in a loveless marriage, your spouse doesn’t want to divorce. But don’t worry Washington is a no-fault divorce state.
When it comes to ending a marriage, timing is everything. Here’s what to consider when determining the best time to divorce.
What does a parenting plan include? After a divorce, this document lays out all of the custody, residential time, and visitation regarding your children.
There are many things divorced parents can do to successfully navigate their holiday custody schedule—and not so successfully.
Deciding to end a marriage is a huge choice, and knowing whether or not to hire a divorce lawyer can have a massive impact on the outcome.
Your ex planning to take the kids out of the country can be a scary proposition. Knowing your rights and legal options will help put your mind at ease.
You’ve tried everything you can to fix your broken marriage, but nothing works. It’s time. But there’s one looming question: how do I ask for divorce?
So you got drunk in Vegas and woke up married, what do you do? Is annulment an option? If so, how do you proceed with the process?
Different generations have different traits. Obviously. But how each age group views marriage and divorce tells us a lot about them.
Mudslinging and conflict are common occurrences in divorce, but when abuse allegations come into play, that changes things dramatically.
In Washington, protection orders serve to guard against abuse, stalking, and harassment. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Most of us think ending a marriage is a sad, somber event. It often is, but not always. Here are some fun, festive ways people choose to celebrate divorce.
The Washington Division of Child Support is key to enforcing support orders. Here’s how it works.
Ending a marriage is delicate and complex, and a business only complicates matters. Here’s how to protect your business in divorce.
The minimum amount of time a divorce takes is 90 days, but many factors can make it take much longer.
Your ex may be tempted to hide assets during the divorce. Here are some signs this may be going on. These don’t automatically mean that’s the case, but if you see one or more of these, it might be worth closer examination.
Child custody hearings are hugely important, but what should you expect? What questions will you be asked? How do you need to prepare?
As a rule, the longer the marriage, the more complex the divorce. The other side of that coin is in shorter marriages, divorce can be relatively simple.
While every couple has their own unique reasons to break up, themes do emerge and there are many common reasons for divorce.
The Washington State Support Schedule provides the standard basis for child support calculation. The court uses this formula to define its terms, lay out the specifics, and calculate the final amount.
Ending a marriage can be a long, tricky process. Here are some divorce strategies to prepare and make the road as smooth as possible.
If you’re going through a divorce, you may want to hold off making major purchases until the process is over. Here’s why.
If you have kids, custody exchanges after divorce are going to be a fact of life. They’re not always easy, but here are some ways to keep things civil.
What options do you have if you want to divorce but you can’t find your spouse and don’t know where they live?
The most harrowing part of many divorces is the fight for child custody and visitation. Here are some dos and don’ts to strengthen your case.
What makes a good lawyer? What personality traits make up a good divorce attorney? We take a look at the good and the bad.
Keeping track of your money is important all the time, but taking steps to rebuild finances after divorce is especially vital moving forward.
You can choose to represent yourself in divorce proceedings, but is that the smart choice? Here are some benefits and drawbacks of pro se divorce.
Child custody disputes can be heated, contentious affairs. But what if you’re not a biological parent? Do you even have a chance to win guardianship?
Just because you have a divorce agreement down on paper, that doesn’t mean everyone will automatically play by the rules.
Thanksgiving and other holidays can be tough times for newly divorced dads. Here are some tips and strategies to get through a difficult stretch.
In divorce, arbitration offers an alternative to going to court, presenting arguments, and having a judge rule. But is it the right choice?
Many states have provisions to secure visitation rights for grandparents, Washington, however, does not.
Divorce has drastic financial implications no matter your age, but couples approaching retirement face a number of unique potential pitfalls.
My ex-wife wants to move to another state for work, but I don’t want them to. How can I stop this?
You may never want to see your ex again after the divorce, but when there are kids, co-parenting is a way of life. Here’s how to survive.
It’s important to make sure post-secondary payments are going to the right place. Here’s how.
Spousal support is often one of the biggest expenses encountered after divorce, and it’s important to understand how it works.
Divorce is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. And as you’ll learn, jurisdiction has a major impact on your case.
Divorce requires the separation of more than just assets and debts. It also requires dealing with often overlooked items, like health insurance.
Though marijuana use in Washington State is now legal, it carries a stigma, and, like it or not, can still impact child custody cases. Here’s how.
In a divorce, the two parties are the petitioner and the respondent. If the two sides agree to the terms, the respondent can sign a joinder.
How do you divvy up the house during a divorce? We look at the steps for valuing your home and how courts may split the asset.
Are divorce records public? How do you acquire them? And how easy is the process? We answer these questions and others below.
Because social media has such an impact, it makes sense that it plays a role in our marriages. And often times that also means it plays a role in divorce.
Many of us consider pets part of the family, but how does the law view them in divorce?
Criminal charges often have a major impact on custody cases. The legal mire of new Seattle Seahawk Quinton Dunbar may show us how.