The Basics

Seattle Divorce Services represents clients in the Washington State Superior Courts, primarily in King and Snohomish counties. For the most part, this Q&A should apply to divorces everywhere in the United States, but you should be sure to seek information about your local laws if you live in a different county or state.

Many options exist for going about a marriage dissolution, including litigation, collaboration, and mediation. However you handle your family law matter, we generally need to go through several steps:

  • We need to file the case with the court.
  • We may need to work out temporary living arrangements (residence, support, parenting, and possibly protective orders).
  • We need to spend time gathering information about the facts of your case.
  • Then we can work at negotiating a settlement.
  • If the negotiations were not successful, the court will hold a trial where a judge settles any unresolved issues.
  • Lastly, the final orders are entered with the court (a judge signs them).
  • There is a minimum of 90 days between filing and entry of agreed divorce orders. Divorce trials in King County are usually scheduled about 11 months after the initial filing (the trial schedules are different in other counties).

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