Family Law | Page 3 of 6 | Seattle Divorce Services

collaborative divorce teams can help settle a divorce out of court

Can Divorce Be Settled Out Of Court?

It may surprise people to learn that most divorces are actually settled out of court. Only when the parties are not able to reach an agreement does the case move on to a trial. My general estimate has been that maybe 2-3% of divorce cases actually go to trial. There are a number of methods for se...

Father with his children - shared custody vs single parenting - by Seattle Divorce Services

Shared Custody: Children’s Right and Parents’ Duty

Around half of all U.S. children experience the divorce of their parents; and nearly half of those children also witness the termination of a parent’s second marriage. This means that divorce will affect half of America’s future decision makers; and the responsibility falls on parents and courts...

open book of knowledge - Seattle Divorce Services explains what a no-fault divorce is

What Is A No-Fault Divorce?

It is not uncommon for people to come into our office wanting to know what grounds they need to get divorced. They might say, "My spouse has not had an affair or been abusive, but I just don't want to be married anymore. Can I still get divorced?" We explain that Washington is a no-fault state,...

What Is An Uncontested Divorce?

"Uncontested Divorce" is a phrase one hears a lot, but it means different things to different people. Some people simply mean a divorce where both parties have agreed to divorce; while others mean that the parties have informally agreed upon the terms of the divorce, and some just mean that they ex...

How To Avoid A Negative Divorce With Children

Children tend to prefer stability and predictability over change. Stability and predictability feel safe. Divorce means change. On the other hand, a home with significant conflict also does not feel safe, and even without open conflict a home where love between the parents is missing sets our chi...

What To Ask For In A Divorce

The main thing you need to be aware of (at least in Washington State): you don't need to know every detail about what you will ask for at the time the divorce is filed. The Petition, or Response to Petition, can be framed in very general terms. All you need to know are the broad categories. For ins...

Can You Stop A Divorce After Filing?

At least here in Washington, and I imagine in any state, you can stop a divorce action before the divorce has been finalized if both parties agree to the dismissal. A dismissal ends the case so that the divorce does not move forward. Also, if the other party has responded to the Petition for Diss...

Can We Divorce Without A Lawyer?

It certainly is possible in Washington State to divorce without a lawyer, although as a lawyer I need to clarify that I do not recommend it. I have had clients spend a lot of money trying to undo mistakes they made writing their own court orders (remember the old car care commercial "Pay me now, or...

Money , keys, and cars representing assets

How is Property and Debt Split During a Divorce?

In Washington the courts are instructed to make a "just and equitable" division of all property and debt, both community and separate. Some factors the court is to consider include the nature and extent of the property, the duration of the marriage, and the economic circumstances of each spouse....

Who Pays for the Divorce?

In Washington State, each party is responsible for hiring and paying their own attorney, including any initial deposits as well as any subsequent bills. So this means that each spouse pays for the divorce based on their personal choice of attorney. However, the court does have the authority to alloc...

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