How do tI get my Spouse to sign the divorce papers? - Seattle Divorce Services

How Can I Get Someone To Sign Divorce Papers?

This question can refer to two very different sets of divorce papers. One is the initial papers filing for divorce, and one is the final order completing the divorce; and of course, I am only discussing this from the perspective of divorce in Washington State. The law in other states or countries m...
March 6, 2018
Woman on

Can I Afford To Divorce In This Housing Market?

Over the last couple years, Seattle has seen an extreme rate of growth in housing prices. Right now we are leading the nation in housing price growth. While this may be good for sellers and landlords, it is making it harder and harder for buyers and renters. One impact is that some people in the ar...
November 2, 2017
Man counting money

Can I Have My Spouse Pay For Both Divorce Attorneys?

If your spouse agrees to pay for both divorce attorneys, certainly it is possible. Some attorneys may be reluctant to accept payment from the other spouse, citing conflict of interest concerns, but I would expect most would be okay with it. Even if the attorney does not want to take direct paymen...
October 26, 2017
What to ask for in divorce

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...
October 17, 2017
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....
June 21, 2017

Can I Modify My Spousal Support?

In Washington, spousal support, also known as alimony or maintenance, is modifiable under some conditions. First, the decree of divorce must have NOT ordered non-modifiable spousal support. Second, there must be a "substantial change of circumstances". I would add, however, that in my experience, s...
February 16, 2017

How Are Retirement Benefits Divided in Divorce?

This might also be titled "What is a QDRO?", but the answer is really bigger than that. Some people assume that because retirement benefits were earned by the one party and is in her or his name, it is not subject to division. In fact, retirement benefits are considered community property and so...
January 4, 2017

“Compassionate Divorce” – My Thoughts on an Article by Roger B. Ley

I just read an article in our local Bar magazine, NWLawyer, by attorney Roger B. Ley on Compassionate Divorce. Basically, Roger's thesis is that kindness gets better results than vindictiveness. I agree wholeheartedly! Roger points out that when one side to a divorce makes room for thinking about...
November 8, 2016

How Can I Keep The Cost Of My Divorce Down?

Let me start out by cautioning that divorce is not a cheap process. But one of the things that hugely affects the ultimate cost is the amount of fighting. Many a King has emptied the treasury (i.e. gone broke) by fighting endless wars. Here are a few tips for keeping your costs down:...
June 28, 2016

Alternative Child Support

Washington has established child support guidelines for how child support is to be calculated by the courts.  The courts have the ability to deviate from the guidelines but have an obligation to ensure that the deviated support still meets the needs of the children.  The ability to deviate actually...
July 30, 2015