Washington State Divorce & Child Custody Legal Library

Many of our clients have never before been throught the process of filing for divorce, arranging child custody, or resolving property disputes in Washington State – and even those who have been through the divorce process before soon discover that every divorce case is different. We have created this index of legal articles to help our clients and potential clients better understand the WA divorce process and the divorce, child custody, and domestic violence laws that are unique to Washington State. We hope that these clear, informative articles can help answer some of your basic questions and gain a better understanding of your case.

If you need more information about a legal subject, don't hesitate to contact us today for more information or to discuss your Seattle-area case.

Library Categories:

• Divorce and Property
• Domestic Violence
• Child Custody and Support
• Mediation
• General

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Divorce and Property:

• Divorce After A Lengthy Marriage Holds Unique Challenges   
  Description: Silver divorce is receiving a fair amount of press after famous couple Al and Tipper Gore announced that their marriage was over. But just how common is divorce after decades of marriage? And are there complications to getting a divorce so late in life? Read more about silver divorce in Washington State.
• Washington State Divorce And Retirement Plans: Is Your Retirement Money Protected?   
  Description: When you and your spouse divorce, you will have to decide how to split your retirement funds fairly. The best way to do this without paying tax penalties is through a Washington State divorce lawyer. Learn more about what happens to your retirement plans in a divorce and how a lawyer can help you keep what you are entitled to.
• It doesn't always take two to cause conflict in a divorce. [PDF]   
  Description: The idea that both parties are "guilty" and should be treated (or chastised) equally does not help resolve the conflict.
• Using a lawyer to coach you through your divorce. [PDF]   
  Description: Using your lawyer as a coach to keep costs down.
• Questions To Ask Your Potential Seattle Divorce Attorney   
  Description: Choosing the right Washington State Divorce lawyer is an important decision that could affect how your WA divorce process. Below, we have listed a number of important questions that you should ask potential Seattle divorce lawyers when you are picking a lawyer to help you with your case.

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Domestic Violence:

• Why Do Some Spouses Stay In Abusive Relationships?   
  Description: Some outsiders may wonder why spouses stay in domestic violence situations for years after the first incident, but, unfortunately, escaping an abusive family situation can be much more difficult than it first appears. Learn more about how difficult it can be to escape an abusive relationship - or even to tell someone about it.
• False Allegations Of Domestic Violence And Domestic Abuse In Washington State   
  Description: Marking false accusations of domestic violence is not only extremely harmful to the person accused, it is also harmful to the real victims of family abuse and family violence. However, false claims of abuse are all too common in divorce and child custody cases, both against men and women.
• Washington State Domestic Violence Resources   
  Description: If you are a survivor of domestic violence or are in a domestic abuse situation currently, there are a number of resources available for you in Washington State. These are just a few organizations in Seattle and the surrounding area that can help you start a new life and and leave your past behind.
• Domestic Violence: Emotional Abuse Is Still Abuse   
  Description: Emotional abuse does not leave visual scars like physical abuse can, but it can be just as destructive and harmful. Learn emotional abuse red flags and better understand how emotional abuse can destroy relationships.
• Is What You Are Feeling Healthy? Signs Of An Abusive Relationship   
  Description: Abusive relationships are not limited to physical acts of violence in Washington State. If your spouse or partner degrades, threatens, and verbally berates you, you could be in an emotionally abusive relationship. Learn some important signs of emotional abuse in the following article.

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Child Custody and Support:

• Medical Marijuana Use Can Jeopardize Washington Child Custody Cases   
  Description: Families in Washington State are being affected by the legal use of medical marijuana - some parents are losing child custody rights for using the drug while others are seeking sole custody from parents who take the medication for pain.
• Is There A Bias Against Dads In Washington Child Custody Cases?   
  Description: A number of recent national and international child custody cases have put the spotlight on dads: do they get a fair chance at custody in the courts after divorces, or is there gender bias when it comes to physical and legal child custody?
• How Does A Washington Judge Determine A Child’s Best Interests?   
  Description: When a judge decides child custody and child visitation rights in Washington State, he or she keeps the best interests of the child at heart. But what does that mean, and how does a court ascertain what a child's best interests really are? Learn more about Seattle child custody decisions in this article.
• What Are Some Common Child Visitation Schedules In Washington?   
  Description: Arrangements for children in the wake of a divorce are always in the best interest of the child - and in many cases, child visitation schedules are very different depending on each family. in this WA child visitation article, learn about some of the most common types of Washington child visitation schedules.
• International Family Relocation And Child Custody In Washington   
  Description: The International Judicial Conference on Cross-Boarder Family Relocation examined the problem of child custody and international family relocation in Washington last week and drafted a document called the “Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation," which outlines how judges should decide cases in which child custody crosses borders.

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Mediation:

• Four Reasons Divorce Mediation Might Not Be For You   
  Description: While mediation is a smart decision for a number of Washington State couples seeking separation and divorce, it is not the best choice for certain people. Learn about four major reasons to choose traditional litigation over mediation: substance abuse issues, domestic violence issues, a partner that doesn't want to respect the process, and couples with especially complex finances.
• The Three Major Steps Of The Divorce Mediation Process   
  Description: Not many people are familiar with the divorce mediation process in Washington State. In this article, we break down the process into three major steps: the initial consultation, the actual mediation sessions, and the divorce agreement.
• Divorce Mediation Could Be Better For And Easier On Your Children   
  Description: Divorce mediation may be more than an easier and less stressful way to settle a divorce in Washington State - it could also help your children through the process and your relationship with your children after the divorce. Learn more about how divorce mediation can help couples with children.
• Four Common Divorce Mediation Myths   
  Description: Divorce mediation is a advantageous option for many couples who are planning to separate, but many people have mistaken thoughts and feelings about divorce mediation and the mediation process. In the article below, we disprove four different common myths some people believe about Washington State divorce mediation.
• Religious Differences Complicate The Washington Divorce Mediation Process   
  Description: Divorce mediation help you and your spouse come to a fair agreement regarding child custody and child visitation in Seattle and Washington State. It can also help you discuss sensitive subjects, such as how a child will be raised in regards to their parents' religion and cultural preferences.

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General:

• Washington Grandparent Visitation Rights: Troxel v. Granville   
  Description: If you are not the parent to a child, can you still gain custody or visitation rights in Washington State? Learn more about the history of important child visitation cases in Washington and how child custody and child visitation rulings are decided in Seattle.

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