Family law is a broad area of legal practice, including separation, divorce, custody, paternity, support, property division and modifications. It can include many complicated issues like paternity, visitation restrictions, and restraining orders. It can involve many legal issues that cross disciplinary boundaries, such as real estate rights, pensions and retirement plans, income calculation, taxes, child custody issues, and restraining orders. It frequently is one of the most stressful events a person can go through, and involves the shattering of a lifelong dream. The articles written below are offered to give you general background information that may be helpful to you. If you need further assistance in a family law matter, please contact us by phone or email.Family Law: Parenting Plan A Parenting Plan is a document that addresses the issues associated with making arrangements for children, traditionally referred to as custody and visitation issues. In Washington, a Parenting Plan specifically sets forth the respective rights and responsibilities of both parents regarding their children. If married parents of minor children are seeking […]
Passport for a Minor Child
Family Law: Passport for Minor Child What do you do when you hear your ex-spouse plans to take your children on a vacation out of the country? What do you do? Knowing your legal rights will help put you at east and protect your relationship with your children. To take your children out of the […]
Paternity in Washington
Family Law: Paternity in Washington When a child’s parents’ are not married, an action to establish paternity can be initiated by a Court proceeding under the Uniform Parentage Act. An action to establish parentage may be initiated by the State of Washington, through the prosecuting attorney, or by a private party. The Court will also […]
Pets in Divorce
In many divorce or legal separation settlements, the most complicated matters to resolve are child custody arrangements and the division of the couple’s assets. In recent years, however, more and more couples have found themselves caught in a legal battle somewhere between the two: custody disputes over pets. How do the courts handle pets in […]
Post Secondary Support
Many people are unaware of the concept of continuing child support beyond a child’s eighteenth birthday, graduation from high school, or otherwise requiring the parents to contribute to the child’s college education. While a court cannot order a married couple to pay for their children’s college education, in Washington they can order a divorced couple […]
Prenuptial Agreement
Family Law: Prenuptial Agreement A Prenuptial Agreement is a contract entered into by two people before their marriage. They redefine the laws of the State of Washington and how it applies to their specific marriage. They often decide how property will be divided if they get a divorce, legal separation, annulment, of when one of […]
Pretrial Conference in King County Divorce
Family Law: Pretrial Conference in King County, Washington, Divorce In King County Washington, the clerks monitors cases with a Case Schedule to make sure that the parties and their lawyers are ready for trial. The trial judge will typically schedule a Pretrial Conference about a month before the scheduled trial date. The purpose of this […]
Procedure of Divorce
Family Law: Procedure in Divorce The following is a description of the possible procedure involved in a divorce in Washington state. Commencement: A dissolution of marriage is a difficult process which you must go through in order to end your marriage. It is commenced by one party (petitioner) filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. […]
Relocation of Children
Family Law: Relocation of Children In 2000, a new statute was enacted in Washington which codifies each parties’ rights and responsibilities before, during and after a parent seeks to move away with a child. Under the new relocation statute, if the person with whom the child resides a majority of the time plans to move, […]
Residential Time in Parenting Plans
Family Law: Residential Time in Parenting Plans In an action between married parents – either dissolution or legal separation – residential time arrangements are provided for in the Parenting Plan. In a paternity action – that which involves unmarried parents – a Residential Schedule only may be entered, or a Parenting Plan will be required […]