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…
After weeks of negotiation, you and your soon-to-be former spouse agree to a divorce settlement which makes everyone happy. All issues, from child custody to the division of property are decided and agreed upon, and you are finally ready to move forward with your life. Suddenly, your spouse changes his or her mind about the…
Most people who file for divorce want everything to be over as quickly as possible. However, in many states the law requires that couples wait a certain amount of time before a divorce will be granted. In Washington State, spouses are required to wait at least 90 days from the time their petition is filed…
Life can change in unexpected ways. When most people get married, they never expect that their marriage may end because one person is sent to prison. If your spouse is incarcerated and you wish to end the marriage, you don’t have to wait for him or her to get out—the divorce can continue even while…