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: Temporary Order After Decree What happens to a Temporary Order after the entry of a final Decree? The old rule in Washington was the temporary orders were “merged” into the Decree, meaning that unless they were specifically addressed in the Decree, they went away. That made sense for restraining orders and Parenting Plan […]
Temporary Order in Divorce
Family Law: Temporary Order in Washington Divorce In King County, the trial date for a dissolution is set for approximately eleven (11) months from the time of filing. While awaiting the trial, either party may move the Court for Temporary Orders, including temporary spousal maintenance, Temporary Parenting Plan, temporary child support, and restraining orders. The […]
Temporary Parenting Plan Criteria
Family Law: Temporary Parenting Plan Criteria When the parties separate during a divorce, and cannot agree on what the residential schedule should be for the minor children, it is not uncommon for either party to file a motion in Family Court to establish a Temporary Parenting Plan. The Washington statute, RCW 26.09.197 sets out the […]
The Lawyer Client Relationship
Whenever a relationship is established, its participants form expectations of each other. The lawyer client relationship is no different. And as in any other relationship, lawyers and clients have rules and boundaries which govern those expectations. Some expectations are appropriate; others are not. Here is an overview of what you can and cannot expect of […]
Third Party – Grandparent Custody
Family Law: Third Party – Grandparent Custody in Washington There used to be a specific statutory section governing third party or grandparent custody cases (RCW 26.10). Third party referred to anyone other than the biological parents (grandparents, aunts, uncles, other friends and neighbors), who wants to seek custody of the child. Third parties were able […]
Time for Divorce
Family Law: What is the Time for Divorce? What is the time for divorce? In the State of Washington, there is a mandatory waiting period of 90 days between the time you file for a divorce and the time you may obtain one. This means that it takes a minimum of 90 days to obtain […]
Uncontested Divorce
Family Law: Uncontested Divorce in Washington The phrase “uncontested divorce” does not have any legal significance in Washington, it is merely the description of a dissolution action that is not being contested by the other side. There are basically two ways of achieving an uncontested divorce. One is by the agreement of the parties up […]
Understanding a Case Schedule
Family Law: Understanding the King County Case Schedule Order and its Deadlines What is the King County Case Schedule Order? When you file for divorce or for modification of a parenting plan in King County, or start a parentage action, the Clerk will hand you (or your lawyer, if you have one) a mysterious four-page […]
Valuing Business Interest
Family Law: Valuing Business When one party to a divorce is either self employed or has an ownership interest in a business, there are typically two issues that arise. The first is determining that persons actual income for child support and spousal maintenance purposes as discussed in another article. The second, which is discussed here, […]
Washington Property Division
Along with hammering out a parenting plan and sorting out child support issues, property division issues are on of the most contentious issues in any divorce. As part of an action for the dissolution of a marriage, the Washington Court must determine the division of property. The standard the Court uses is not necessarily an […]