Washington is a no fault divorce state; the only legal ground for getting divorced in the state of Washington is a claim by either spouse that there has been an “Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” This simply means that one or both spouses believe that the marriage doesn’t work anymore and will not work out…
Washington law does not use the terms “custody” and “visitation” when referring to arrangements for children following a divorce or separation. Rather, Washington law refers to the term “residential schedule” in order to describe the parents’ physical custody and visitation arrangement. The primary residential parent is equivalent to the custodial parent, or the parent with…
While both parents have a responsibility under Washington law to financially support their children, changes in financial circumstances and related issues can justify a modification to a parent’s court-ordered child support obligation. However, it is important to remember that a parent’s child support obligation will stay the same amount until the court issues an order…
The essence of a parenting plan is who lives where, when, and with whom. The parenting plan is a court order that accompanies a petition for divorce, separation, or custody. It outlines the residential schedule of the child and lays out who can make decisions regarding the children involved. Before creating a schedule consider the…
Collaboration sounds nice….but in the context of divorce, is there such a thing? Collaborative divorce is an out-of-court method of coming to a resolution on the issues involved in a divorce: custody, division of assets, spousal support, parenting plans, etc. Collaborative divorce requires a special participation agreement in which both spouses commit to specific out…
Thinking about adoption? Before you go any further make sure you’ve asked yourself the right questions, are in the right stage of your life and, most importantly, are prepared. Here are the 5 things you need to know before you bring a new child into your life. 1. Are You Eligible to Adopt? – The…
Finding the ideal divorce attorney is different that finding, let’s say, the perfect criminal defense lawyer. Divorce is a complicated, personal event that encompasses various aspects of finances, family, and, often, heartbreak. To pursue a path towards divorce you need someone who is the right fit to lead that journey. What are the most important…
Congrats to you and your soon-to-be-spouse for having “the talk.” The prenup talk, that is. You’re both responsible, smart and have decided to enter into a pre-nuptial agreement. With all the expenses of a wedding (the flowers alone!) you are hoping you can DIY the prenup. First of all, be clear on what a prenup…
Sadly your marriage or domestic partnership is ending. Your reality now includes understanding what is alimony, who pays whom, how much, and for how long. Here is what you need to know about alimony. What is Alimony? Alimony, also called ‘spousal support,’ is money paid by one spouse to the other to help the other…