Washington Family Law

Couples who intend to spend their lives together but don’t want to marry should consider a cohabitation agreement. These agreements are similar to marriage contracts and prenuptials. They outline the rights and responsibilities of both people during the relationship, and provide guidelines for separation. As is the case with all legal documents, it’s wise to have a lawyer draft or review your cohabitation agreement. They’ll ensure your agreement adheres to contract laws in Washington. Any contract drafted without legal assistance may be voided by a judge during a civil case. Lawyers can easily dissect a contract that was drafted by a layperson, as those documents tend to contain several legal errors. This can create significant complications during a breakup, such as asset loss and financial instability. Envision Law’s cohabitation agreement attorneys have years of experience in contract law. Using this knowledge, they’ll draft a fair and valid cohabitation agreement for you and your partner. Click the button below to contact us today! Learn more about what cohabitation agreements are, who should get them, and get the answer to a few frequently asked questions on this subject: Yours, mine and ours are a lot harder to determine after a few decades […]

Every child deserves a stable, loving home. In the state of Washington, adults may adopt people of any age to make these special relationships legal and official. For the safety of adopted children, and the stability of family units, adoption is a lengthy process of petitions, approvals, and hearings. Further, there’s always the chance for obstacles and disputes. Let’s explore the legal perspective on adoption and outline the steps to growing your family this way. We’ll also discuss how an adoption attorney can help along the way. Legal Requirements for Prospective Adoptive Parents in Washington In the state of Washington, anyone who is at least 18, legally competent, and passes relevant assessments may adopt. No requirements exist concerning marital status, whether you rent or own your home, or sexual orientation. You’ll undergo background checks and home studies. You’ll also need to prove a level of financial stability and the capacity to care for a child, and possibly go through foster parent training. Types of Adoption in Washington State Several paths to adoption exist. Depending on your situation, you may choose to work with an agency, independently, with your existing family, or internationally. Agency Adoptions Agency adoptions involve state-licensed organizations that […]

There are many ways to choose which attorney will handle your family law issue. The first thing you can do is ask your friends. But if no one around you has any experience with divorce or adoption, there are other options. Since you’re reading this blog, you’re already familiar with using the internet to get information. However, there’s a great deal to being a top-rated attorney that you must understand to make an informed decision. Peer ratings Peer ratings are ratings crafted by third-party organizations that solicit feedback from working attorneys. These ratings are highly sought after and mean a great deal. Often, competitors and collaborators across the local legal landscape leave glowing reviews. Many attorneys take a great deal of pride in a mark like this from something such as Martindale-Hubbell or Super Lawyers. Client ratings Law practice is about providing results to clients who need help. Lawyers work hard to perform for clients, and usually, once the case is over, so is the relationship. However, if you see an attorney with significant numbers of glowing reviews, that means a lot. That attorney or firm has touched many lives and made a big difference. Qualifications While all attorneys have […]

Perhaps one of your Washington friends has told you that anyone who asks you sign a contract before getting married must not really trust you. Or, maybe you’ve always thought of such things as highly unromantic. You might be surprised to learn, then, that many couple say that signing a prenuptial agreement before their wedding day actually strengthened their relationship. There are also many spouses who wind up in divorce court, only to be relieved and thankful that they had the insight to sign a prenup ahead of time. This is often especially true in cases where one or both spouses are business owners or have a high-net worth. What exactly is contained in a prenuptial agreement? Since every state has its own family law regulations, and each couple can customize a prenuptial agreement to fit their specific needs and goals, there’s no one answer to the question of what’s contained in a prenup. You might sign a premarital contract that looks quite different from one that your friend has signed. A prenup basically states each member of couple’s rights and responsibilities regarding assets and debts. For instance, if you have $500,000 in the bank before you get married, you […]

To get your marriage annulled in Washington, you must petition the court to dissolve the marriage. Pursuing an annulment is far from certain because the court will only grant an annulment in certain circumstances. What kinds of couples are “eligible” for an annulment? Washington law reserves annulments for specific situations involving “prohibited marriages.” These marriages include: Those between people more closely related than second cousins Those where one party’s previous marriage is not fully dissolved Those where one of the parties was under 17 and did not receive a waiver at the time of the marriage Those where consent to the marriage was attained through fraud In these specific situations, the court may find that the marriage is invalid and dissolve it completely. What will happen to my children if my marriage is annulled? Essentially, nothing will happen to your children. Under Washington law, any child of an annulled marriage is still a legitimate child. Indeed, you may still have similar child custody and child support discussions with your former spouse, regardless of how the marriage ended. What about property division after an annulment? An annulment can have a massive impact on property division discussions. Because Washington is a “community property” state, […]

The LGBTQ+ community has, historically, faced many challenges in basic family law matters. In many ways, those issues are in the past, but they can reverberate in certain ways that can be difficult to resolve. LGBTQ+ couples face family law issues with many uncertainties, and we at Envision Family Law want to serve as a resource. Below are answers to some of the more pressing questions that they face. How is divorce different for LGBTQ+ couples? The “nuts and bolts” of divorce between LGBTQ+ couples are the same as for straight couples. You will file the same paperwork, meet the same deadlines and marriage dissolution negotiations. However, same-sex marriage is relatively recent in the grand scheme of family law. Many couples chose other routes to acquire familial rights, such as filing for domestic partnerships or selecting other options. Some decided to simply make do without. When those relationships end, many issues require detailed, compassionate legal advice. Are there any complications that divorcing same-sex couples face? Based on the relationship between the partners, whether it was a divorce, a domestic partnership or something else, there can be potential difficulties in such issues as: Asset division: In many cases, asset division will […]

Family law is slow and deliberate for a reason. Most matters are the end result of negotiation, court dates and state-mandated waiting periods. However, there are times when family law must move quickly for the sake of safety, and that is where emergency actions come in. Envision Family Law has a long history of providing efficient guidance to people in high-stakes family law matters. We understand our clients’ urgency and know how to pursue an emergency order. Below are our responses to questions our clients have had about emergency orders: What situations demand emergency orders? Two situations may require you to seek an emergency order. They are: Child custody emergencies: A temporary custody order is necessary if one parent is a clear danger to their child for reasons such as drug use, neglect or abusiveness. Physical safety emergencies: When someone faces threats or harassment in the form of stalking, they must take action to protect themselves. In both situations, time is of the essence and the law responds as quickly as possible. What are the options for protecting myself from an abuser or stalker? Abuse and stalking and other forms of harassment require the use of an order of protection. […]

In any family law case, there is a chance that you will have to go to court. Depending on your perspective and needs, this could be just what you wanted or not. Any trial, in any courtroom, is an experience in procedure and argument, but things may not always go as smoothly as you planned. At Envision Family Law, we’ve gone to court for clients in every conceivable family law matter, and we want to help prepare you for your day in court. Every case is different, but everyone going to family court has some of the same questions, like: Is every court the same? The court and the law strive for general consistency, but the ideal and the practice are different. Each county has its own rules and guidelines. Each judge has their perspective. Navigating those subtle shifts in legal approach is an essential skill that attorneys hone over a career. Will I always have the same judge? For each matter brought before the court, such as a divorce or an adoption, all of the hearings related to that case will usually go before the same judge. There are some exceptions to this. Subsequent matters taken to court, such […]

Family law mediation is one way to resolve a divorce or custody issue without becoming involved in a significantly bitter, disruptive dispute. Mediation isn’t a middle way, it’s a part of alternative dispute resolution, and if you believe you’d like to pursue it, we have compiled some answers to many of our client’s most pressing questions. What are the advantages of mediation? Mediation has four main advantages over traditional litigation. They are: Speediness: It is often quicker to see a mediator than to get in front of a judge. Cost-effectiveness: Because it takes less time, you end up spending much less on mediation in the long run. More collaborative: In mediation, both parties are often motivated to work together to find a solution rather than fight. Privacy: Confidentiality is a huge component of mediation. The issues and their resolutions remain private and outside the public record. For these factors, families that wish to remain amicable often find a successful mediation is the best option. How long does mediation take? Mediation, while often faster than litigation disputes, isn’t necessarily quick. It can take time to get parties on the same page and come to a mutually acceptable compromise. That time, however, […]