The decision to change your name after a marriage or divorce is an intensely personal one. Though it is usually women who change their legal names, any person who adopted a new legal name after a marriage may wonder what their rights are to that name in case of a divorce. If you get divorced,…
For parents with children, getting a divorce requires each spouse to make multiple decisions about their children’s futures. When working through a divorce settlement with your spouse, be sure that your plan for child support and visitation addresses each of these ten issues before signing any paperwork. #1: Where Will the Children Live? First and…
Divorce is a stressful and emotional process. Unlike other legal matters, it is not uncommon for couples to reconcile during the divorce process and decide to give their relationship another shot. When a couple decides to call off their divorce, their choice will have certain ramifications depending on how far along their case is. Before…
In some family law cases, a judge will appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) who will be responsible for representing the best interests of a child in court. In a divorce or child custody case, the GAL will be charged with investigating a family situation and making recommendations to the judge about where the child…
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau report, 14.6 million Americans, or one-tenth of the nation’s workforce, identifies as self-employed. With more people working for themselves than ever, calculating child support payments is becoming more complicated. If you or your former spouse is self-employed, be aware of how the court will use employment information to…
After decades of marriage, a couple shares almost everything. In Washington State, a couple who divorces after a lengthy marriage will also have to split nearly everything, including pension accounts. Because Washington is a community property estate, any money earned in a pension or retirement account during a marriage is considered joint property of the…
During the beginning stages of a marriage, no one wants to think about divorce. However, the statistics are clear, and nearly half the couples who marry will eventually split up. With that in mind, couples are smart to plan for the financial consequences of a potential divorce, even if the marriage is currently healthy. Understanding…
When it comes to child custody, allegations of substance abuse are always issues that a judge will take seriously. However, what if your use of alcohol or marijuana is recreational, rather than problematic? Can your weekend activities negatively affect your right to see your children? Legal and Illegal Drugs When considering issues like child custody,…
Couples who are wealthy or own a significant amount of property often face issues in divorce which are much different than couples who have more modest means. Normal divorce issues like splitting up assets to deciding on parenting time and child support are much more complicated when the couple is dealing with hundreds of thousands…