News & Insights from The Family Law Team

While many of the issues affecting LGBTQ+ couples are the same as those affecting opposite-sex couples, it is important to have an attorney with experience working with same-sex couples and the unique issues faced by their families during divorce. LGBTQ+ Divorce & Child Custody Washington State has been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights for […]

Here are some frequently asked questions about Executive Divorce. 1.  What is an executive divorce?An executive divorce involves a divorce where one or both spouses hold high-ranking positions in their careers, often accompanied by substantial income, complex financial portfolios, and significant business interests. These cases require careful handling due to the intricate nature of assets […]

Studies show that divorces among those over 50 have indeed been rising. For example, research from the U.S. has shown that the rate of divorce among those aged 50 and older has roughly doubled since the 1990s. Here are some frequently asked questions about Gray Divorce. What is a gray divorce? A gray divorce refers […]

From time to time a person may want to change their name—maybe their first name, or maybe their full legal name.  Maybe it is for a serious and legitimate reason (perhaps they have married), or maybe it is for a more whimsical reason (Instagram stardom?).  If you go by what you see on TV, you […]

In a divorce, the judge will have to divide your marital property and debts between the spouses.  The division must be “just and equitable” under the circumstances of the relationship.  But can an unmarried couples receive a just and equitable division of property after breaking up?  Under the right circumstances, the answer in Washington is […]

Around the world there are millions of people who rely on insurance for homes and vehicles to celebrity body parts.  Nowadays, there is even insurance to cover the postponement or cancellation of one’s wedding.  Ironically, the average couple prefers to forgo the “marriage insurance” a proper prenuptial agreement can provide because of the stigma associated […]

The Washington State legislature defines a “Parenting Plan” as “a plan for parenting the child, including allocation of parenting functions, which plan is incorporated in any final decree or decree of modification in an action for dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership, declaration of invalidity, or legal separation.” Setting forth various procedures and responsibilities the […]

It can feel overwhelming going through a divorce when you have children. There are so many things to consider that it can be tough to know where to start. If you have children under age 18 and are getting divorced in Washington State, you will need a parenting plan. You can think of a parenting […]

How does the court decide issues of child custody? Washington uses “the best interests of the child” standard when it comes to decisions about child custody. Under statutory policy, the State recognizes that the best interests of a child “is ordinarily served when the existing pattern of interaction between a parent and child is altered […]

In many states, child support obligations do not extend past either the age of 18 or the child’s graduation from high school.  In Washington, however, a parent can file a petition to continue child support after the child turns age 18 and while the child is enrolled in college or vocational school.  This is known […]

Both parents have a duty to support their child regardless of marital status.  Child support is designed with the primary goal of preventing a harmful reduction in a child’s standard of living, in the best interests of children whose parents are divorced.[1]  The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that parental duties entail these minimum attributes: […]

Sometimes divorce means saying goodbye to more than just your spouse. In the State of Washington, dogs, cats, and other household animals are considered personal property. Accordingly, when it comes to pets, as part of the division of assets in a divorce case the court must decide who gets to keep our furry friends, without […]