Articles | Seattle Divorce Services

Theories of Fairness

I was recently discussing "fairness" with another divorce lawyer. He explained the concept that there are four different theories of fairness: they are based respectively on Law, Equity, Needs, and Belief. Fairness based on Law is what we think of most often when we negotiate settlements in divo...

How Long Does Spousal Support or Alimony Last?

Divorce laws vary state to state but in modern times the idea of lifetime alimony is becoming less frequent, especially when families have both parents working outside of the home. Still, spousal support can be awarded in a divorce when there is a large income disparity between spouses – in addition...

Handling Your Finances During a Divorce

Divorce is not only an emotional split, it's also a financial one. It pays to know your financial rights and responsibilities before you divorce. Divorce can be financially devastating, so there are things to keep in mind before you divorce. Don’t be left in the dark. A Daily Finance article H...

Private School Tuition as Child Support

Mark Alexander of our firm recently answered a question about child support and private school tuition: First, the obligation to pay for private school tuition is a child support obligation, although private school tuition is usually NOT ordered unless there is a history of the child previously a...

FasTrack Divorce™

We have begun offering a new option for resolving cases through a streamlined hybrid method designed to keep costs down. This method was developed by two Seattle area Collaborative attorneys, Virginia Goldberg and Peggy Hoban. From the FasTrack Divorce™ press release: THE SIMPLE AND PREDICTABLE DIVO...

What Happens to Child Support When a Parent is Unemployed?

The economy has been a sustained downturn, and even though it has made small gains, it's often been called a "jobless recovery." So it's not uncommon for a parent who has a child support obligation to feel the pinch after losing a job or having their hours cut back. So what can a parent who is ow...

Tips for Sharing Parenting of Your Children

Generally, each parent has an equal right to participate in parenting, and it's no longer a given that primary parenting will go to the mother. A growing number of divorced couples are deciding to actively co-parent their minor children. Sharing parenting can be difficult after a divorce, but it ca...

How to Tell the Children You’re Getting a Divorce

Once you and your spouse have made the tough decision to divorce, it can be even more terrifying (and heartbreaking) to figure out how best to tell your children that their parents will no longer be married. There's no one right or wrong way to break the news, and different children will respond in...

Avoid Making Common Divorce Mistakes

Divorce is hard enough, but there are some things that divorcing people do that make the road ahead much harder financially and emotionally. By avoiding some common divorce mistakes and taking a proactive instead of a passive approach to splitting up you could avert even more heartache and stress....

Tips For Negotiation During A Divorce

It might be one of the last things you want to do, but being a good negotiator is part of divorce that can help you start a new future. Proper negotiation around issues like who keeps the marital home, financial arrangements, child and spousal support, and more can really make a difference in you...