Divorce often takes the life to which you have grown accustomed and turns it upside down. You may feel uncertain, confused, lost, and lonely at various points during your divorce proceedings. As a result of all of this chaos in your life, it is no wonder that you want start dating and move toward a…
Washington law provides that when a couple divorces, all of their property is divided between the parties. Dividing some items of property is a relatively easy process, but some forms of property take more time and consideration than others. Property includes not only real estate and bank accounts, but also retirement plans, business interests, pensions,…
We most often hear about prenuptial agreements in the context of highly publicized celebrity divorces. These cases cause the impression that prenuptial agreements are necessary only for the rich and famous. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. Prenuptial agreements are important for all couples, but even more so for older couples, who are…
While many grandparents have close relationships with their grandchildren, this is not the case in all families. Divorce, death, and disagreements all can lead to strained relationships between grandparents and the parents of their grandchildren. In some cases, grandparents may turn to the legal system for assistance in getting to visit with their grandchildren. Historically,…
Divorce is not without some degree of resentment, conflict, and even hostility between the parties. Co-parenting during and following a divorce can be extremely difficult, especially when everyone’s emotions are running high. When divorcing parties share minor children, they have a special responsibility to maintain an amicable relationship with one another to the greatest extent…
The number of individuals getting divorced who are age 50 and older has risen considerably in recent years. In fact, individuals in this age group are twice as likely to get divorced as they were 20 years ago. These divorces often involve marriages that have been 20, 30, or 40 years in length. As a…
Many Americans have deep connections and emotional attachments to their pets. When a divorce occurs, however, a dispute may arise over which party should receive custody of the family dog. Unlike children, there are no “custody” laws involving pets in the state of Washington because pets are considered property under Washington law. If the parties…
There are a wide variety of retirement plans, from pensions to 401(k) plans, but all of them are potentially subject to division as community property in a Washington divorce. Even if one spouse contributed to or accrued a portion of the plan’s value prior to the marriage it may be part of the overall division…
There is a lot of misinformation among the general public about divorce. Part of our job here at Pacific Northwest Family Law is to educate individuals on their rights and responsibilities with respect to divorce, as well as tell them how the divorce process really works. Here are some common misconceptions about Washington divorce law…