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. You know what I’m referring to. The thing that people do when they are dating one person while they are technically still married to another. And, to be clear, we are not talking about cheating. When you are in the midst of a divorce, are you even allowed to freely date or are…
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…
You say you can’t make your child support payments. The first question is – why? The next step is to take action in the form of notification. Child support payments can be modified but only in certain circumstances. It is crucial to follow the proper procedures in a timely fashion because the reality is that…
More and more people these days stay together because they believe can’t afford to get a divorce. For those who truly have no money, they may qualify for pro bono legal representation through organizations like the Benton-Franklin Legal Aid Society. For others, the cost of divorce may be a daunting expense, but here are some…