Unlike other states where you would need to prove that one partner is “at fault” in a divorce, Washington state has an exclusive “no-fault” divorce law. What are no-fault divorces? How could this impact your case? What is an “irretrievable breakdown”? A no-fault divorce cites the reason for your divorce as an “irretrievable breakdown” of the marriage. This does the following: Takes the court’s guesswork out of Read More

Washington parents who are no longer together may find themselves struggling over parenting time. It is common for parents to make minor adjustments when custody schedules conflict, but seeking more comprehensive or long-term custody modifications may require a court order. The courts seek the best interests of the children in these cases, so it is important for parents pursuing such modifications to present valid Read More

You may need an expert’s testimony to set the record straight during your divorce proceedings. Even if you decide to settle out of court, an expert can provide invaluable information to help you obtain a more favorable outcome. These experts can shed light on any number of topics from financial investigations, child custody issues or simple asset valuation. Their opinions can have a significant impact on a judge’s Read More

Packing up the bags, getting the kids ready and heading off for a vacation are what many families look forward to. It can be a little harder to orchestrate when parents in Seattle are separated or divorced. These are the kinds of issues that can be ironed out and reflected in well-rounded parenting plans since all things that affect children need to be spelled out, including vacation time. Vacation time is one of the Read More

During divorce proceedings, it is natural for couples to disagree over how to divide their marital property. Furniture, real estate, retirement funds and other assets may become a battleground if the couple cannot resolve the matter out of court. However, one area of property division that often has as much emotional trauma as child custody is how to divide the ownership of the family pet. Washington does not have Read More

Jeff Bezos and his soon-to-be former wife, MacKenzie, are about to go down in the history books. Besides being the creator of the wildly successful Amazon, Bezos will give a 4 percent stake in the company to MacKenzie as part of their impending divorce settlement. Divorcing Washington couples will likely never have to contend with such high-stakes financial scenarios. To put it into perspective, the settlement is Read More

Even plans carefully made and agreed upon by all parties may not stand the test of time. This may be especially true when it comes to divorce agreements and child custody arrangements. Life has a way of interfering with the best laid plans, and a Washington parent may find he or she is no longer able to meet these obligations. Seeking child support modifications may be an option in these situations. Parents who are Read More

Going through a divorce can be difficult, especially when children are involved. Like most other states, Washington offers joint custody as an option for divorcing parents; however, the state’s laws do not use the specific terms of custody or visitation and instead use the term parenting plans to refer to any agreements parents may devise for how to deal with their shared children. The following provides some insight Read More

It is not uncommon for a couple to decide their marriage is essentially over. However, it is not always easy to take the leap into divorce. Spouses may decide to separate instead of formally dissolving their marriage. For those in Washington considering this option, it is important to understand the laws and implications of such a choice. While living together may be too painful, a couple may have good reason for not Read More

Going through a divorce can be a traumatic experience for Washington couples and others around the nation, particularly if they have children. Determining who will get custody and deciding upon parenting plans can be quite contentious. Many family experts have been advocating a move from traditional custody arrangements. In agreement with this shift in philosophy, another state has recently gotten behind an effort to Read More