In King County, all spouses are required to participate in mediation before trial, with few exceptions. Most cases are resolved in mediation saving the spouses litigation costs and emotional exposure. This process gives each spouse the power to choose a middle ground,...
Who gets Custody is a big question. How it is answered can have lifelong consequences for both parents and their children. When faced with this difficult situation, having an attorney to help throughout the process is always recommended. In Washington State, "Custody"...
In Washington State, separate property can be divided and given to the other spouse. All property is before the Court for a "just and equitable" distribution. This means that before a divorce can be finalized all community and separate property must be divided....
Safety should always be the first priority before seeking a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO). After a Domestic Violence Survivor is in a safe place, contacting an attorney to help is highly recommended. If an arrest has been made a criminal protection order...
Similar to most other legal matters, obtaining a protection order is complex and in some situations getting the necessary protection is critical. When the wrong type of protection order is sought, or when the proper procedure is not followed, an individuals may not...
Prenuptial Agreements are recognized as a valid agreement in Washington State, however, in order for the agreement to be enforced or to hold up in court, the contract must be drafted, executed, and completed properly. A defective prenuptial agreement can be thrown out...
In high conflict cases, filing for a motion as soon as possible may be beneficial. The benefits of doing so can including, removing a hostile spouse from the family home, receiving necessary spousal support to pay bills, to buy groceries or even accessing funds to...
In Washington State, a parenting plan is typically a court order that a judge signs as part of another legal matter, such as divorce, legal separation, change of custody, or non-parent custody. A parenting plan can determine when each parent will have time with the...
In Washington State, spousal support or as it is sometimes called spousal maintenance, can be awarded as part of a divorce, separation, or invalidity proceeding. Unlike child support, spousal support does not have a formula or direct calculation provided by the State....
In Washington State, child support is typically determined based on each parent's income. Both parent's income is added together and put through a formula, known as the Washington State Support Schedule. This provides the basic structure for the support obligation....
