Retirement funds are often the largest assets in a divorce case. People who have spent decades contributing to a retirement plan have often accumulated thousands of dollars of savings into their 401(k) plans, pension plans, or other savings program. These types of plans can be very complicated. Most plans do not allow the owners to…
Having a driver’s license means having the freedom to go whenever and wherever you want. Most people in this country rely on a personal vehicle to get to work, to attend school, to run errands and shop for groceries, and perform any of the hundreds of tasks that we do with our cars. For that…
The United States Senate and the Department of Homeland Security are continuing to investigate a burglary at the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) located in Olympia, Washington. Earlier this year, the organization reported that computer equipment belonging to the OCSE and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department was stolen from the building…
Washington is a community property state. This means that any income, property, or debts that a couple acquires during a marriage is assumed to belong to both partners equally. This is the case even if only one spouse purchased the property or actually owes the debt—under the state’s community property laws, all assets and debts…
Calculating child support is a complicated endeavor. While it is easy to find a child support calculator online, creating a legally accurate and acceptable agreement takes more than simply entering numbers into a website. Every state offers parents a way to estimate their child support obligations. Parents can find numerous calculators and worksheets online that…
Summer vacation is a great opportunity for non-custodial parents to enjoy quality time with their children. Over the summer, it is common for children to spend weeks or even months with their non-custodial parent, giving the family time to go on vacation or simply spend time bonding with each other. With so much time together,…
Most people are familiar with the concept of common law marriage, but much of what people think they know is based on rumor rather than fact. For example, many people incorrectly believe that living together for a certain period of time is sufficient to establish a common law marriage. Common law marriages are a relic…
The process of getting a divorce takes months to complete. Couples going through a divorce may need to attend mediation sessions, court hearings, or depositions, which all take time. Even the simplest divorces must go through Washington State’s mandatory 90-day waiting period. During this time, it is not uncommon for one or both spouses to…
Annulments are a relatively rare way to end a marriage. While many people are familiar with how divorce or legal separation works, people who get an annulment are often confused about what their rights are after their marriage is over. In many ways, annulments are similar to a divorce. However, a divorce recognizes that a…