Most people are not in the habit of creating a written contract every time they make a promise to another person. In society, we expect that people will keep their promises, and many people put great stock in always keeping their word. However, without a written contract, how much is an oral agreement or promise…
Advances in reproductive technology have allowed thousands of otherwise infertile couples to conceive children. While this technology is nothing short of miraculous for couples who are struggling with infertility, it can also cause legal and ethical problems if those same couples later divorce. When a couple divorces, who gets custody of frozen embryos and other…
Representing yourself in court—being a “Pro se” litigant—is a difficult process. Pro se litigants are left to figure out the complexities of court procedures on their own and must follow all rules and statutes as though they were an attorney. In a recent study conducted by the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal…
Divorce not only brings a change of lifestyle but also often a change of address as well. Are you trying to decide where to live next? Looking for a fresh start in a new town? Well, lucky for you the attorneys at Pacific Northwest Family Law are more than just legal eagles. Let’s begin with…
The overlap between dating a new person and divorcing your spouse is a difficult time, even though you are not cheating on your spouse it can still be an awkward position to be in and questions may pop up. Such as when you are in the midst of a divorce, are you even allowed to…
Is separating siblings in a divorce ever a good idea? And how do courts rule on this? If you have two terrible teens that fight constantly, you and your spouse may be considering dividing the siblings to ease family tensions. Or perhaps you are blended family that has decided to dissolve – do the step…
A new job, a new relationship or just a new life – you’ve decided to move. Your only concern is how to relocate with your child that you have legal custody of. There are several issues to take into account so let’s begin. When there is an existing court order, like a parenting plan: If…
Are kids in “custody” spending more time with mom, dad, or is it equal? And who is doing the deciding – the parents or the courts? Children in sole custody situations are usually with the mother. This is not that surprising but still, the fact that only 1 in 6 custodial parents are fathers seems…
Do you hate when people say “back in the old days?” I suppose it depends on who you are asking when it comes to alimony, known in Washington as spousal maintenance or spousal support. Because, back in the old days, the man seemed to always pay because the husband was usually the one bringing home…