Insight, Analysis, and Perspective for Businesses and Individuals

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 […]

In a divorce or legal separation, the trial court must order a “just and equitable” distribution of the parties’ property and liabilities, whether community or separate.[1]  All property is before the court for distribution.[2]  The pertinent statute addressing property division—RCW 26.09.080—mandates that the court consider the following factors: (1) the nature and extent of the […]

What are tech divorces and their unique challenges?  A “tech divorce” is not a formal legal term, but refers to a divorce involving a couple who work in the technology industry or have significant assets tied to technology companies.  It underscores the unique challenges that couples in the technology industry may face during divorce proceedings, […]

Are you navigating the maze of business valuation in your divorce? Business valuation in divorce is the process of determining the monetary value of a business or business interests owned by one or both spouses. It is a crucial step in equitable property division when a couple decides to end their marriage. This valuation is […]

What happens to the family home in a divorce or legal separation? For property awards in Washington State, the court must make three primary decisions: 1) the value of the property, 2) the characterization of the property as either community property, separate property, or a combination of the two, and 3) the award or division […]

As a divorce lawyer in Washington State, it is common for new clients to come in to our first meeting with the understanding that Washington is a community property state and believing that this means all property and debts are split right down the middle, 50/50. While this is often a good place to start […]

In Washington, alimony is referred to as either “spousal support” or “spousal maintenance.”  An award of spousal maintenance aims not merely a means to provide the financially disadvantaged spouse with bare necessities, “but rather a flexible tool by which the parties’ standard of living may be equalized for an appropriate period of time.”[1]  To accomplish […]

What Is a High Asset Divorce? A high asset divorce is a type of divorce where the couples’ lives are interwoven with substantial wealth, be it businesses, real estate, investments, or cherished collections. In these cases, the financial stakes are much higher compared to a typical divorce, and the process can be significantly more complex […]

A Collaborative Divorce process is an alternative method of resolving a divorce whereby both spouses, along with their respective attorneys, work together to reach a mutually agreeable settlement in a team-oriented approach outside of court.  In a Collaborative Divorce, they must adhere to the following principles: Acting with honesty, transparency, and candor; Demonstrating cooperation, respect, […]