Three Legal Options for Grandparents in Washington State Neither the United States Constitution nor Washington State law grants grandparents any inherent legal rights. Previously, statutes existed that permitted grandparents to pursue visitation rights with their grandchildren through the courts, however these laws were struck down by the United States Supreme Court in 2000 in the…
Most marriages don’t end with a blowout fight. They end with silence. Distance. Emotional entropy. At Pacific Northwest Family Law, we fight against the harm that divorce brings. Not every marriage can—or should—be saved. But too many fall apart quietly, when they could have been rebuilt. We believe marriage is a good thing—maybe the best…
Your Instincts to Protect Your Children We understand and respect your urgency and instinct to protect and provide for your children. If you find they are in an unhealthy or possibly dangerous situation, you may find yourself scrambling for answers. You have options, and you are not alone. Though emergency custody is only granted in…
Custody Takes a Team Approach You may remember when one parent would be awarded full custody of children, and the other would get minimal visitation. As times change, so does the need for both parents to remain active in the child’s life, barring any allegations of abuse or an unsafe home. Due to this, the…
Divorce can be difficult and full of emotional twists and turns, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With proper planning and communication, you can move toward the next chapter of your life with confidence and peace of mind for you and your children. Determining who will be the custodial parent is a large part…
I Think My Spouse May Be Considering Divorce Filing for divorce isn’t ever an easy conclusion to come to. You may be experiencing signs that lead you to believe that your spouse is considering divorce and wonder how to prepare yourself. This article will discuss common signs and how to prepare yourself should a divorce…
What is the Family and Medical Leave Act Offer? If you’ve never had to take a consistent amount of time off work before, you may not know that in the early 1990s, the Family and Medical Leave Act FMLA was created to help ease the financial strain on employees while they needed time off. Eligible…
Adopting a Foster Child First of all, let us just first say thank you. Several children wait to be fostered or adopted, and changing their lives is an immeasurable step to the quality of that child’s life. If you have fostered and are now considering adoption, you are not alone. While over 1,000 children in…
What is a Prenuptial Agreement? A prenuptial agreement is a common form used between two people before marriage that offers some direction for handling situations that arise should the couple consider divorce. When accurately assembled, it can provide a legally enforceable plan in writing that both parties can expect to adhere to during a divorce.…