Most people know when the end of a marriage is coming. During the breakdown of a marriage, both partners may be waiting for the other to finally end the relationship. When a marriage is unsalvageable and the parties are considering a divorce, is there a legal or financial advantage to filing first? Financial Benefits Divorce…
Adopting a stepchild is a rewarding, life-changing experience. When your new spouse has children, adopting these children as your own cements your new family’s bond. If you are considering adopting a stepchild in Washington state, you will need to clear several legal hurdles. Getting Consent In order to adopt a stepchild, you must have consent…
Divorce rates for people over the age of 50 have skyrocketed in the past 30 years. For the first time in history, older adults are more likely to be divorced than they are to be widowed, and the divorce rate is expected to continue climbing as the Baby Boomer generation ages. Dubbed “gray divorces,” the…
Families come in all different shapes and sizes. As a result of divorce, remarriage, or separation, many of today’s Washingtonians have a family that consists of stepchildren, half siblings, or adopted children. While you may view all your children equally, the law will make a distinction between your biological and non-biological children in the event…
No matter what type of legal proceeding you are involved with, the laws of this country protect your right to represent yourself in court. Though most people would never seriously consider representing themselves in a serious criminal trial, many divorcing couples wonder if they need an attorney at all to represent them in court. If…
Married in Mexico, divorced in the Dominican? For many couples, foreign countries aren’t just for weddings. The rise of “destination divorces” is attracting separating couples to exotic locations for a weekend of relaxation and paperwork. Why would a couple want to go on vacation together to get a divorce? For many of these couples, they…
When a couple is contemplating a divorce, one of the first things that usually happens is that one spouse or the other will move out and find a new place to live. Though the impulse to be away from your soon-to-be ex is understandable, leaving the marital home during the marriage could come back to…
At Pacific Northwest Family Law PLLC, our attorneys pride themselves on practicing collaborative law and using every weapon in our arsenal to work through the conflicts of a divorce. Though many people are familiar with dispute resolution tactics like mediation and arbitration, collaborative law is different and allows our attorneys to intervene early in the…
For every parent, child custody is the most heart-wrenching aspect of divorce. Pacific Northwest Family Law advocates for your parental rights so you can raise your children in an appropriate and healthy home.