Yes, you can absolutely file for a Washington State divorce without the help of an attorney. However, while this is a good avenue for a small minority of couples, many others will benefit from hiring an experienced family law attorney to make certain that their divorce process is handled fairly and that their rights are protected.
Filing for divorce in Washington State requires filling out a number of documents, many of which are available online. After these documents are complete, you must file them and serve them to your spouse. If you and your spouse come to a divorce agreement, your divorce will be finalized within 90 days.
Good candidates for filing for divorce without an attorney are those who have been married for a very short time, those without significant assets, those who have a strong understanding of the legal divorce process, and those who are largely in agreement regarding the divorce. You should absolutely not file for divorce without the help of an attorney if your spouse would like to go to trial, if you have substantial assets, if you have children and child custody concerns, if you are intimidated by your spouse, if your marriage involves domestic abuse, or if you have been married for a significant amount of time.
A Seattle divorce attorney can help you make sure you and your children get what you deserve during the divorce process. To learn more, contact Molly B. Kenny today by calling 425-460-0550.