Can I file for divorce without a lawyer in Washington?

by Envision Family Law | Oct 18, 2023 | Washington, Washington Divorce

Yes. The basics of filing for divorce in Washington are not hidden in any way. The state offers many guides to find the forms and also information on how to properly create the various agreements you’ll need. Community property law means the marital estate is a simple 50/50 divide. It seems like it should be very easy.

But it isn’t.

The apparent simplicity of divorce in Washington vastly undersells the logistical and emotional difficulties at play. That’s why a divorce lawyer can make a massive difference.

The value of an experienced divorce attorney

Divorce law tends to be much more complex than what may be printed on internet guides. While there are some easily graspable areas of the law, there are many places where the law’s complexity confuses even some judges. And even simple things can provide surprising twists and complications.

However, lawyers bring a lot to the table in these areas:

They’ll ask the right questions: You may think you know what you’d like to focus on in your child custody forms, but there are some points you hadn’t considered.
They know the process backward and forwards: property division on its own is highly complex, even if it is meant to be a 50/50 split.
They will put the work in: Divorce is time-consuming. If you try to do everything yourself, you’ll easily work at it as if it were a second job.
They will fight for you: Often, your divorce will not be as amicable as you hope. There will be a dispute, and when that happens, fighting for yourself before a judge is a risk.

It is understandable that you may want to save money or time by going to any self-help divorce method you can consider. However, the simple fact is that self-service assumes a perfect divorce, and that’s just not realistic.

Your attorney only wants the best for you

You can feel aggravated by a lot of things in your divorce, but you should always know and feel that your lawyer is putting you first. Your

With 30 years of experience in family law, Jason Benjamin has handled more than 1,000 child custody cases and regularly takes on complex, high-conflict matters involving emergency custody orders, domestic violence, restraining orders, mental health concerns, and substance abuse issues. Jason brings decades of courtroom experience to challenging family law disputes and is committed to protecting families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. He is known for taking decisive action, building strong legal strategies, and advocating aggressively when the stakes are highest.

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