After a divorce (called dissolution of marriage in Washington State), most people feel relieved and ready to move on with their lives. Unfortunately, in some instances the divorce decree is not the end of their dealings with their former spouse. Of course this is true for people who have children…
Parents are sometimes surprised about how vacation provisions are drafted into Washington State parenting plans. The term “vacation” within the parenting plan can be a bit misleading. In reality, instead of drafting vacation time to be used exclusively for traveling (meaning reserved for use when one parent will actually be…
With the economy improving and unemployment going down, things are changing in the lives of many families in Washington. People are changing jobs, changing careers, relocating for new opportunities, and (happily) earning more money. For families with unmarried or divorced parents of minor children, these changes can mean more than…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…