Statistics show that nearly 40% of all marriages involve a partner who has been married at least once before. Second and third marriages are more common today than ever before, and so are the prenuptial agreements that go along with them. Prenuptial agreements are more common in second and subsequent marriages than they are in…
Couples often wonder how divorce will affect their shared property. Washington is a community property state, which means that all property or debts acquired during a marriage belong equally to both partners and must be split between them. But does this split need to be exactly even? In Washington, state law requires judges to split…
During a dissolution, a couple is required to split their community property in an equitable way. Community property includes any money, property, debts, or other assets that the couple acquired during the marriage. This is true even if only one spouse earned an income during the marriage. In contrast to community property, an individual may…
For the majority of married couples, the most expensive item that they own is their house. During a divorce, the house becomes a marital asset whose value must be equitably divided between both parties. In order to divide the marital property fairly, the house must be accurately valued by an experienced appraiser. Depending on the…
One of the most contentious issues during a divorce is the division of personal property. Each person feels connected to what is theirs and understandably wants to be able to have access to their own items during a divorce. Retrieving personal property can be difficult when two people simply cannot get along, especially if one…
For many couples, divorce is a long time in the making. Whether the divorce results from years of growing hostility or resentment or comes shortly after a major blowup, most people know that a divorce is imminent for weeks or even months in advance. If you are thinking of divorcing your spouse or believe that…
Engagement and wedding rings are often worth far more to their owners than their resale value. These rings carry an emotional significance that can stay with a person for years, even after a divorce. For that reason, many people have a hard time letting go of the rings regardless of the state of their relationship…
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…