What Is “Family Law”?
I find quite regularly that people are confused by the term "Family Law". That is why I often prefer to tell people we practice Divorce Law, as it seems clearer. However, even that is not completely accurate....
What Documents Will You Need For Your Divorce?
While you do not need to bring your documentation to your initial consultation (except any legal documents you have been served with from your spouse), you certainly may want to start gathering the various documents your Seattle Family Lawyer is likely to need down the line. If you are participat...
Who Stays In The House After Divorce?
Often at the beginning of a divorce, one party chooses to move out because they no longer want to be living with the other person. This can impact later claims that they should be the person awarded the house in the divorce, as the courts tend to lean towards the least disruptive solutions: i.e. le...
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...
When Is My Divorce Final?
In Washington State, a divorce is final as soon as the court signs the Decree of Dissolution. The whole divorce process generally takes anywhere from 3 months to a year, and there is a minimum 90-day waiting period after the divorce has been filed and served. If the case needs to go to trial, the...
How Do I Tell My Spouse I Want A Divorce?
Every couple is different, so you may want to talk to a family counselor for advice about handling about your specific situation, but here are some general guidelines:...
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 Can I Deal With The Negative Impacts Of Divorce?
One of the best ways to deal with the negative impacts of divorce is to work to minimize them. This is both a matter of lowering the conflict and preparing for your new single life....
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...