A Seattle family lawyer can help with all aspects of the divorce process—from beginning your preparations to formally bringing your marriage to an end. If necessary, your lawyer can help with enforcing your rights after your divorce as well. Mistakes during the divorce process can lead to unnecessary costs, delays, and complications, so it is important to work closely with an experienced lawyer every step of the way.
Going through a divorce is a complex process. There are several steps involved, and even knowing where to start can prove challenging. When it is time to bring your marriage to an end, it is critical to ensure that you are making informed decisions—and this makes it important to have an experienced Seattle family lawyer by your side.
If you have decided that it is time to file for divorce (or if your spouse has decided that it is time to file), there are several ways an experienced family lawyer can help you. This includes not only helping you during your divorce but also before and after your divorce.
How a Family Lawyer Can Help You Before Your Divorce
Before your divorce, the focus is on preparation. Generally speaking, the more you do to prepare, the smoother the process will go. While you can’t control your spouse’s actions, you can plan for what might happen—and you can ensure that you will be ready to make informed and confident decisions when the time comes.
You will also need to gather various forms of documentation to prepare for your divorce, and this will likely take some time. Your lawyer can walk you through all of the documentation that is required, and, along with guiding you through what to do as you prepare, your lawyer can advise you regarding what not to do as well.
How a Family Lawyer Can Help You During Your Divorce
Once the divorce process formally begins, you will need to carefully navigate the process while making decisions with your long-term best interests in mind. As you proceed through the necessary steps, your lawyer will be able to provide assistance, including:
- Helping you determine what constitutes a “just and equitable” division of your assets and debts
- Helping you prioritize which assets you want to keep and which ones you are willing to let go of
- Dealing with the valuation of significant assets and other property-related issues
- Determining an appropriate spousal support payment amount and duration (if any)
- Determining an appropriate child support amount (if any)
- Developing a post-divorce parenting plan that complies with Washington’s “best interests” rule
- Helping you work to resolve any disagreements before they devolve into contentious disputes
These are just examples. Every couple’s circumstances are unique, which means every divorce involves distinct issues. Your lawyer will be able to help you thoughtfully address all of the issues involved in your divorce so that you do not leave anything unresolved.
How a Family Lawyer Can Help You After Your Divorce
In an ideal scenario, a divorce will result in a clean split, and both spouses will comply with their respective obligations going forward. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen.
If your former spouse fails (or refuses) to comply with the terms of your divorce, you could find yourself needing to seek enforcement in court. It will be important to have an experienced lawyer on your side in this scenario as well—and ideally one who is familiar with your divorce settlement agreement or divorce order.
You could also find yourself needing legal advice and representation after your divorce for other reasons. For example, if your circumstances change, you may need to file a petition to modify your (or your former spouse’s) financial obligations or the terms of your parenting plan. Strict rules apply to modification requests under Washington law.
In short, there are lots of ways an experienced Seattle family lawyer will be able to help protect your interests going forward. Once your lawyer becomes familiar with your personal family and financial circumstances, your lawyer will be able to provide proactive advice and recommendations—answering questions that you might not have known to ask. Establishing a relationship with an experienced family lawyer is well worth it and will provide you with much-needed peace of mind for the years and decades to come.
FAQs: Hiring a Lawyer to Guide You Through the Divorce Process
Do I need to hire a lawyer for my divorce in Washington?
While not legally required, hiring a lawyer for your divorce is strongly recommended. The divorce process is complicated, and if you overlook any issues or make any ill-informed decisions during the process, you could find yourself facing a very challenging (and potentially very expensive) situation.
What are the risks of not hiring a lawyer to represent me?
Some of the main risks of not hiring a lawyer to represent you during the divorce process include overlooking assets and debts, improperly calculating spousal support and child support, and developing a parenting plan that does not comply with Washington law. All of these can lead to problems in the future, and some of them could prevent you from finalizing your divorce.
When should I contact a lawyer if I am planning to get a divorce?
We recommend contacting a lawyer as soon as you decide you are ready to end your marriage. As discussed above, thorough preparation is important, and you need to be careful to avoid mistakes early in the process. An experienced Seattle family lawyer can guide you forward with confidence.
Schedule an Initial Divorce Consultation with an Experienced Seattle Family Lawyer Today
Do you have questions about hiring a lawyer for your divorce in Washington? If so, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. To schedule an individual divorce consultation with an experienced Seattle family lawyer, call us at 206-784-3049 or tell us how we can help online today.