Strategic Approach, Optimistic Outcomes In Family Law
Your digital footprints can reveal a lot about your life. If you scroll through the settings on your phone, you may find a growing digital trail of breadcrumbs. Even the most tech-savvy can miss something on their phone that can be utilized as evidence in a divorce or custody case. Here are a few of the major types of digital…
Individuals who are contemplating divorce generally need to feel comfortable with the process before they are ready to file the initial divorce paperwork. People may plan for months before they finally file paperwork with the courts and serve their spouses. Part of the planning process entails reviewing the marital estate. Spouses need to determine what resources are separate property that…
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…
In short, yes. Property division is only one of many aspects of your divorce, and even there, a divorce following a lengthy marriage is going to be different from a short one in many respects. While the law doesn’t necessarily have a large body of laws regarding longer marriages, there are many areas of influence where time simply changes things…
Parentage is the legal term for an adult’s biological relationship with a child. When a man wants to establish his parentage, he may use the word paternity. Some men automatically have parental rights after the birth of a child. Men married to the mothers of their children benefit from a presumption of paternity or parentage in Washington state. They are…
The term ‘de facto’ means ‘in fact’ or ‘in reality,’ and that’s precisely what de facto parenting is about. A de facto parent is someone who has stepped into the role of a parent, forming a consistent, parent-like bond with a child without being the child’s biological or adoptive parent. This person provides care, emotional support, and stability in a…
When child custody is disputed, it can quickly lead to complicated legal situations. Fortunately, many custody disputes can be handled civilly. In some cases, though, emergency action is needed to protect your child. This is called an emergency custody hearing. Emergency custody orders are filed without notifying the other parent, usually to remove the child from a situation of imminent…
When Washington parents with young children divorce, they often struggle with making decisions about where to live and what to do with the family home. Kids usually do well with as little upheaval as possible after their parents split up. Moving to a new home and splitting time between one parent’s home and the other can make children feel unsettled,…
Over the decades, families have changed significantly in structure and makeup. Family law has, at times, struggled to keep up. In just the last ten years, gay marriage was nationally legalized, trans rights have become a major focus and adoption and fertility practices have come under scrutiny. The changes in society always outpace legislation in some ways, but laws in…
Washington state typically considers inherited property as separate property. If one spouse inherits a home, it is not automatically deemed community property simply because it serves as the family home. And if nothing got more complex than that, that would be the final word. The ways that family, love, marriage and relationships evolve and change is never simple. As you…