Most people facing a divorce (called dissolution of marriage in Washington) have heard the horror stories about the cost of divorce proceedings. We have heard and witnessed these stories too. However, in many cases there is one major way to combat this problem: compromise on issues of lesser importance during…
Articles Posted in Divorce
Divorce After a Long-Term Marriage
Divorce (called dissolution of marriage in Washington) after a long-term marriage can be especially difficult. Families, finances, housing, and emotions have likely become well enmeshed after twenty or more years of marriage. The procedure to end a long-term marriage is the same as the procedure to end a short or…
Petition for a Declaration of Invalidity (a.k.a. an Annulment)
Annulment is a term in family law that many are familiar with. This is probably partially because of the dramatic circumstances that can lead to annulments (ex. Britney Spears in 2004). Most people understand the term to mean that there was something wrong at the time of marriage that makes…
Time is of the Essence in Family Law Cases
We all have certain things we procrastinate about. It seems that we are most likely to procrastinate on the tasks that we least like to do. Maybe a person hates doing the dishes, and so she lets them pile up in the sink. Some people hate exercising and always think…
Is a 50/50 Parenting Plan Stressful for Children?
It probably goes without saying that most family law attorneys are not psychologists, mental health counselors, or child development researchers; however, family law attorneys do work to stay up-to-date on issues related to how family law and child development intersect and how we can help our clients help their children deal…
Postsecondary Child Support – A Reminder
Spring in Western Washington is a time for rain, tulips, planting gardens, and planning for summer vacation. It is also a time for unmarried parents of high-school aged children (especially seniors in high school) to consider whether they will be looking to their child’s other parent for help paying for…
Frequently Asked Questions – Part 2
To continue from last week’s post, here are more questions frequently asked by Washington clients involved in family law cases: Am I allowed to move? When an unmarried parent wants to move they have to consider how their move may impact their relationship with their child. With that in mind, many…
Frequently Asked Questions – Part 1
In family law, we see a wide variety of cases; family law cases can vary as much as the families involved in the cases do. That said, there are some similar issues and questions that come up in our cases. This is a FAQ list for Washington State family law…
An Overview of Legal Separation in Washington State
Many people that come into our office hoping to “legally separate” from their spouse are unsure what being legally separated actually means. In many cases, when we explain what a legal separation is, people decide that a legal separation is not what they are looking for. In many cases, they…
Valuing Property as Part of Your Divorce Case
Most divorces include the division of property. In some cases, especially those with limited assets, this can be a very simple, straightforward process. However, in cases involving complex assets, especially those of high-value, the process can be much more complicated. In these more complicated cases, it may be necessary to…