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 they 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…
Dealing with a spouse who is unfaithful or who attempts to hide money and assets can be a frustrating experience. Many times the other spouse knows something is going on, whether it be because of little inconsistencies or just a gut feeling, but has no actual proof to back up his or her suspicions. If…
Some couples choose to get legally separated rather than divorced for religious or personal reasons. While legally separated people are under no obligation to ever get divorced, those people who wish to remarry will have to get divorced to do so. In Washington, the state allows separated couples to convert their legal separation into a…
Parents who are owed child support will not have the right to collect it indefinitely. Whether or not you can still enforce a child support depends on the terms of your support agreement as well as the age of your child or Children. If you are owed back child support, it is important to take…