Engagement and wedding rings are important pieces of jewelry for both sentimental and financial reasons. For many people, an engagement or wedding ring may be the most expensive piece of jewelry that they own. These pieces also carry a great emotional weight, as they are often considered a physical representation of a couple’s love for…
When you know that a divorce is in your future, it is important to take steps for to prepare yourself financially for life as a single person. Many married people, especially those who have been married for a long time, have forgotten how expensive living on your own can be. If you are planning to…
Retirement funds are often the largest assets in a divorce case. People who have spent decades contributing to a retirement plan have often accumulated thousands of dollars of savings into their 401(k) plans, pension plans, and/or other savings program. These types of plans can be very complicated. Most plans do not allow the owners…
Washington is a community property state. This means that any income, property, or debts that a couple acquires during a marriage is assumed to belong to both partners equally. This is the case even if only one spouse purchased the property or actually owes the debt—under the state’s community property laws, all assets and debts…
Calculating child support is a complicated endeavor. While it is easy to find a child support calculator online, creating a legally accurate and acceptable agreement takes more than simply entering numbers into a website. Every state offers parents a way to estimate their child support obligations. Parents can find numerous calculators and worksheets online that…
The process of getting a divorce takes months to complete. Couples going through a divorce may need to attend mediation sessions, court hearings, or depositions, which all take time. Even the simplest divorces must go through Washington State’s mandatory 90-day waiting period. During this time, it is not uncommon for one or both spouses to…
If money is tight, you may be looking for ways to pursue your divorce without a lawyer. Before you attempt to handle your divorce yourself, there are a lot of hidden costs to consider. A skilled attorney will help identify potential problems with parenting plans or financial arrangements that you and your spouse are considering.…
Child support can be paid either directly to the parent who is owed support, or indirectly to the state of Washington. When a judge approves a child support order, that order will state how the child support should be paid. Some parents prefer to have payments handled through the state, so that the receiving parent…
Many couples assume that a prenuptial agreement is unnecessary. When two people get married at a relatively young age, neither person may have the assets or career that would seem to warrant a prenup. However, as the marriage goes on circumstances may change, and you could end up dealing with a messy, expensive divorce. This…