Washington state courts emphasize the best interests of children when examining proposed divorce settlements and in determining child support. They will look at a couple’s combined gross income, remove allowable deductions, and arrive at an amount each parent should pay that the court deems fair...
Child support can be very confusing, and many myths exist about these payments. Get to know the common misconceptions about these payments to clearly understand what your child support order could look like. Learn more about what these monthly payments entail and what you should...
Fights over money are often the biggest fights couples ever have. When couples split, they may argue over whether one partner should support the other financially after a divorce. Courts take several aspects of a couple’s life together to determine whether one partner should support...
In Washington state, divorcing parents submit a parenting plan to the court for approval. The plan should establish custody arrangements for both legal (major life decisions) and physical (where the child will live) custody. If parents can’t agree on a plan, or if the court...
Couples that live in community property states often assume that should they ever split, their property will be divided evenly between them. But it’s not as simple as that. In Washington state, courts are required to find a “just and equitable” division of property. This means...
In the movies, pregnancy is a time of excitement and anticipation, false alarms, and mad dashes to the hospital. Sometimes, it’s a time of tragedy shared by the expectant parents when the pregnancy ends in miscarriage, threatens the life of the mother, or the child...
When your relationship implodes, you are faced with decisions: If you want to repair your marriage, you can file for a legal separation while you and your partner try to patch things up. A separation can also provide a time buffer that allows you to...
Fathers often (wrongly) assume that they will be the losers when it comes to child custody and visitation in a divorce. But courts in Washington State have long abandoned the notion that they should give mothers precedence when it comes to the children in every...
Washington State requires divorcing parents to file parenting plans that address custody and visitation. Couples experiencing difficulties in their relationships—even if they intend to work them out—should have clear ideas of how they will care for their children in the event of a separation. When...
Some couples resist discussing a prenuptial agreement because they think having one means they don’t trust each other. But the reverse is true: a prenuptial agreement demonstrates that you are committed to honoring each other’s past, future, and autonomy. Before we get into four reasons...