Not Just Divorce and Family Law Attorneys–Hero Makers

Divorce and family law matters can be complex and emotionally draining, requiring the expertise of a skilled family law attorney. While there are many ways to uncomplicated the issues of divorce and family law, there are no good ways.

That’s why we focus on making you into a family hero. That means that you are the one coming to the rescue of your family because you have the help and support that empower you to make the right decisions.

Because only you know what is worth fighting for and what is worth sacrificing in order to protect children, protect assets, and protect your future. No attorney can or should even attempt to tell you how to do that. 

When it comes to parenting plans, alimony or spousal support, child support, or division of a house or retirement accounts, we’ll be their to help you make the tough decision and find the right answer to complex and cmplicted problems.

And we won’t treat you like a simpleton to do it.

At our Pacific Northwest Family Law, you have a law firm that understands the sensitive nature, we understand the sensitive nature of family law cases. That’s why we know it’s important to eliminate the surprises for our clients. And the biggest surprise of all should never be your attorney’s invoice.

We carefully work with our clients to make a plan of action and give them a clear understanding of potential costs before we go to work, so you that you can budget and plan according to what you believe is worth the fight.

Call us today to get started with a case evaluation and find out more about how we help families like yours across Washington State handle their divorce and other family law matters.

Serving Divorce and Family Law Clients Across Washington State

Because we believe in our mission, we’ve started offices across Washington State. Our newest office in Olympia joins our offices in Bellevue, Yakima, TriCities, Walla Walla, and Spokane.

This allows us to have a statewide presence and help most people across Washington. No other Washington law firm focuses on family law across as much of the state as we do.

This gives our attorneys a super-power because we can see what works and what doesn’t in many different courthouses and counties across Washington.

So that if whether you are going through a divorce in King County or establishing a Parenting Plan in Walla Walla, our attorneys will know how you to give you the best chance at the outcome you want.

Avoid Costly Mistakes with our Divorce and Family Law Principles

 Believe What People Do More than What They Say

We would like to trust everything that people say. It would be a better world for everyone if we lived in a time when if a person says something, they mean it.

But we don’t.

That’s why we document every agreement, cross every t, and dot ever i.

Our careful approach to family law protects clients from the underhanded and dirty tactics that some law firms like to play, believing it gives an advantage to their client.

Not only do these tactics not work against careful lawyering, we’re able to level the playing field with this carful work.

Pigs Get Fed, Hogs Get Slaughtered

The difference between a pig and a hog is how much each one asks. Pigs get everything they need and are well fed because of it. No pig is shy to ask for what they need, either.

Hogs on the other hand, eat more than they need. The eat all they can take. And they are aggressive at it.

At the end of the day, the fat hog, however gets turned into bacon.

In the divorce and family law context, we want our clients to ask for everything they need. But to not get greedy and overreach. Overreaching offends judges and opposing parties alike and more often than not backfires.

That’s why we carefully review the facts and options with our clients, ensuring they aren’t holding back in what they ask for; but also don’t ask for more than they should.

Don’t Mud-Wrestle With Pigs

Although we hesitate to make two pig analogies, few images help explain better what it means to rise above the name calling and belittlement that often come with divorce and family law than pig wrestling.

The problem is that pigs like to roll around in the mud. It’s in their nature. It makes them feel good.

In this case, our clients should not be pigs. 

Stay above the name calling, dirty tactics, rumors, and belittlement. None of it wins cases.

Instead, focus on what will win and what will convince decision makers so that you don’t get dirty and live your best life.

Family Law Practice Areas

 Family law is a general category for the following:

• Adoption
• Divorce (for Fathers or Mothers)
• Legal Separation
• Child Custody
• Parenting Plans
• Mediation
• Minor Guardianships
• Alimony/spousal Maintenance
• Relocation
• Modification of Parenting Plans
• Committed Intimate Relationships

And any related case. Basically, the divorce and family law attorneys at Pacific Northwest Family Law help when relationships fall apart and you can’t agree on how children should be taken care or how assets and debts should be divided.

If you are dealing with a problem like that, contact us today and see if we are the right fit for you.

Dividing Community Property Fairly

One of the biggest concerns people have when divorcing is dividing property fairly.

There are two general ways property is characterized during a divorce in Washington State: community and separate.

Separate property is anything you owned outright before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance.

Community property tends to be everything else. It can also include the increase in value of separate property. You can even turn separate property into community property depending on how it was managed during the marriage.

This has implications for houses, retirements, pensions, and businesses. 

Dividing a business, for example, can be especially tricky because one spouse may have started it before the marriage, but because both spouses worked in it, profits were pored back into the business during the marriage, and the business was used to pay for a lot of the household expenses–well, you may have a business that is now subject to division.

And community property always gets divided.

But even separate property may be subject to division if the court believes that is fair; if that is required to give both spouses the best chance at financial success going forward.

Dividing property 50/50 is a myth that you should avoid

If you’ve heard that all property gets divided 50/50 you aren’t alone. But it’s just not true.

It is true that it gets divided fairly and often that means each spouse takes half. 

But that’s not always true.

Many factors go into dividing community and separate property such as: the amount of property, the health of the parties, the length of the marriage, the earning ability of each spouse, the use of the property during marriage, the nature of the poperty as income producing.

All of this may suggest that a different division is fair.

And that is best addressed by an experience divorce and family law attorney.

Finding the Most Aggressive Divorce Attorney in Washington State Is A Reddit Field Nightmare

Despite what family and so called friends may tell you, aggression in divorce and family law is not the most important characteristic if you want to be successful.

And by successful, we mean getting the parenting plan that will benefit children and make coparenting with your soon to be ex better than gurgling glass; or dividing assets so that you aren’t left without a means to support yourself; or wasting everything you’ve saved and built on attorneys.

After all, aggressive attorneys cost more. Always.

So what should you look for in a divorce or family law attorney?

Rather than looking for the most aggressive attorney, you should also focus on finding an attorney who

1. Listens to what you want to do
2. Talks you through different ways to achieve your goals
3. Provides an idea of costs before starting work
4. Tailors solutions to your circumstances
5. Does not fight just to “get even” but for long-term strategy
6. Has a plan to reach an agreement, but can also advice when it’s time to walk away from negotiations.

As you can see, being an attorney is more than thumping the table and raising your voice. It’s the strategic attorney, who is able to think about complicated topics like divorce that has the most success.

Collaborative Divorce May Be a Great Solution For You

At Pacific Northwest Family Law, our divorce and family law attorneys have been trained in collaborative divorce. Collaborative divorce is a special process that takes your divorce mostly out of the court for open negotiation.

This type of divorce is not for everyone it requires:

• trained divorce attorneys representing each side
• special agreements for an open approach to negotiation
• coaches and experts to help make decisions
• absence of domestic violence or abuse

If you and your soon to be ex would like to explore the collaborative divorce process, you must start at the beginning of your divorce before things get filed. Ask us how to get started.

Divorce and Family Law Mediation Can Be the Make Or Break Moment of Your Case

Almost every case we handle ends in an agreement between the parties. Agreements allow you to control the outcome, get a better outcome, and avoid the hazards of trial.

That means that mediation is often the make or break moment in a divorce, custody dispute, or other family law matter. 

Our philosophy is to be as prepared as possible. That means to know when it’s right to agree and when it’s right to walk away. It also means being ready to go to trial (because that’s the next step).

That’s why we work with our clients to prepare position statements, outline the law, and organize evidence so that we can be confident agreements are good or a decision to end negotiation is better.

Getting Parenting Plans Right

You will have to follow the parenting plan you create probably until your children graduate high school.

That means it’s uber important that you get it right the first time. 

While it is possible to modify a parenting plan, it is extremely difficult and requires something to be really wrong. Or it requires both parties to fully agree to modify a parenting plan.

Either way, you must focus on getting your parenting plan right the first time. Otherwise your options will be severely limited going forward.

When we work with parents, we make sure that we understand the schedule of each parent and the children involved. We also take into consideration the role each parent has played in the children’s lives.

This let’s us recommend options and opportunities for our clients so they can create a plan that is right for their family.

Frequently Asked Questions about Divorce in Washington State

1. What are the residency requirements for filing a divorce case in washington state?

To file for divorce in Washington State, at least one spouse must be a resident of the state. If both spouses live in the state, there is no specific time requirement.

2. How can a divorce attorney help in a divorce case in Washington State?

A divorce attorney focusing their practice in family law can provide legal guidance, represent you in court, negotiate settlements, handle paperwork, and ensure your rights are protected throughout the divorce process in Washington State.

3. What factors are considered in determining child support in Washington State during a divorce case?

Child support in Washington State is determined based on the income of both parents, the number of children, child custody arrangements, healthcare costs, and other relevant factors. The state has guidelines to calculate child support amounts fairly. But a good lawyer can help ensure that you are examining other factors that can make the amount ordered fair.

4. How is child custody decided in a divorce case in washington state?

Child custody decisions are made in the best interests of the child. Factors such as the child’s relationship with each parent, parental ability to care for the child, and the child’s preferences (if mature enough) are considered in determining child custody arrangements in Washington State. And, of course, father’s sometimes need help ensuring that the changing dynamic does not leave them out in the cold because they were not the stay at home parent.

5. What is the role of mediation in settling divorce matters in washington state?

Mediation is a voluntary process where a neutral mediator helps divorcing spouses reach agreements on issues like child custody. Mediation is often the most important step in settling a divorce or other family law matter.