What happens if you fail to appear at a hearing for divorce or child custody in Washington?

What happens if you fail to appear at a hearing for divorce or child custody in Washington?

The worst-case scenario here is that the judge will find you in contempt and issue an arrest warrant. Police will show up to your place of work or home and take you into custody. You will end up in jail. You will face fines.

Respecting the courtroom is a major priority

Regardless of your thoughts on the nature of your divorce, regardless of your feelings about your spouse, when you have a court date, skipping it entirely is not advisable. An unexcused absence can show remarkable disrespect for the judge and can make it may also make your case more difficult.

Judges are bound – both ethically and statutorily – on how to divide marital property and child support. Still, they have a great deal of power over your case and disrespecting a judge can put you into a bad position. Often, a favorable outcome in court depends on a sympathetic or at the very least an open-minded judge.

Contact a Washington State Family Law Attorney

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What if there was an emergency or another problem?

Missing out on a court date can happen in one of two ways. The first is because of an individual choice. The second is circumstance. If you missed your court date because:

• You were in a car accident
• You had a medical emergency
• Your childcare fell through
• You were misinformed about the court date

You have many options. However, the most effective and important option is to retain a skilled, thorough attorney who will not miss your date.

Representation means you don’t miss your date

In most cases, your attorney’s presence is enough to satisfy the court, at least enough to either get a continuance or some leniency. A skilled attorney can move quickly even in unexpected circumstances and help you from making a bad impression on the judge in your case.