A guardian ad litem (GAL), who is also referred to an investigator or a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) is a person appointed by the court to make recommendations about the custody or visitation rights. Either parent can ask the court to appoint a GAL, usually if there are important issues about the safety or well-being of…
If your car won’t run, you take it to a mechanic. If you are sick, you go to the doctor. Likewise, if you need to get divorced, you should consult an experienced divorce attorney who can guide you through your divorce proceedings and give you the legal advice and advocacy that you need. There are a number…
In every type of lawsuit, including divorces, you are required to serve the other party with notice of the proceedings by personally serving him or her with documents concerning the lawsuit. In some cases, however, you may not be able to personally serve his or her spouse after making several attempts to do so. In other cases, you…
A kickoff meeting is the time where you and your legal team meet, usually for the first time, and discuss your options. Work is done before, during, and after kickoff meetings. And although all clients and cases are different, there are some general features of Pacific Northwest Family Law kickoff meetings that are typically present every time.…
On June 7, 2018, Senate Bill 5598 took effect. The bill is officially called “An act relating to granting relatives, including but not limited to grandparents, the right to seek visitation with a child through the courts.” These are the criteria that must be met in order to apply for grandparents’ rights under this new…
In the state of Washington, almost 9 out of 10 child custody cases get settled by the parents themselves. That leaves only 2% for the court to determine and about 10% decided by default. Out of those cases, in about 60% of them, neither parent sought legal representation. How do you know when it is time to…
Talk to a Lawyer about Your Family Law Situation It’s understandable if you’re hesitant to talk to a lawyer about your case. Obtaining a lawyer is a big decision. You may not even be sure if you need one. But anyone facing a family law issue should at least have an attorney review their case.…
According to a 2016 study by the American Bar Association, a majority of people who don’t go to a formal advisor for assistance with a civil justice situation neglect to do so because they believe they have “no need for advice” or that such advice “wouldn’t make a difference.” Getting divorced gives you something in common…
According to a 2016 study by the American Bar Association, a majority of people who don’t go to a formal advisor for assistance with a civil justice situation neglect to do so because they believe they have “no need for advice” or that such advice “wouldn’t make a difference.” In family law situations like divorce or…