Connect with an Edmonds family lawyer from Dellino Family Law if you are petitioning the court for divorce or have been served with divorce papers from your spouse. The terms of your divorce agreement affect your future. A divorce lawyer in Edmonds can guide you through proceedings and fight to ensure the divorce terms uphold your rights and serve your interests.
Our firm has earned a five-star Trust Index rating. We are the only family law firm you should trust. Our knowledgeable team cares about you, your kids, and your future. We have a track record of developing innovative solutions to challenging family problems, and we’re ready to get to work solving yours.
Understanding Washington’s Approach to Divorce
Washington is a no-fault divorce state. This means neither party has to prove the other did something “wrong” to get a divorce. The couple does not have to cite a specific reason for the divorce. Simply saying there are “irreconcilable differences” is enough. In a no-fault divorce, the court does not demand or consider reasons for the split when determining the terms of the divorce agreement.
One of the spouses must be a state resident to file for divorce in Washington. If you are filing, you must file a petition for divorce with the court, and then have your spouse served with the divorce documents. Your spouse must respond. Then, you negotiate matters of child custody and support, spousal maintenance, and division of assets.
You and your spouse may agree on important issues. If the court approves the agreement, the divorce may be finalized quickly, as soon as 90 days. More contentious divorces can take longer to finalize. If negotiation or mediation fails, you may have to go to trial, and the court will ultimately decide the terms for unresolved issues.
Managing the Financial Aspects of Your Divorce Agreement
Financial matters are often points of conflict in a divorce. An Edmonds divorce lawyer can work to keep things fair and as conflict-free as possible.
Division of Assets
In Washington, community property laws largely determine who gets what in a divorce. According to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 26.16.030, assets or debts acquired during a marriage are considered community property. Community property is subject to division when the couple divorces.
Per RCW 26.09.080, community property must undergo equitable division. This means the court works toward fairness, dividing property so each party has equal financial status, though they may not receive equal portions of shared property. The court evaluates the value of community property, each party’s separate property, the length of the partnership, and each partner’s financial circumstances.
Spousal Maintenance
Some states refer to spousal maintenance as “alimony” or “spousal support.” These terms all mean the same thing. They refer to the financial support one spouse must provide the other during and/or after a divorce. Not all divorces include spousal maintenance orders. Before issuing orders, the court considers:
- The requester’s financial needs and the other spouse’s ability to pay
- The length of the marriage
- How long does the requesting spouse need to become self-sufficient
- The health, age, and emotional health of the requesting spouse
- The standard of living each spouse is accustomed to
A divorce attorney in Edmonds can fight to get you the maintenance you deserve or protect you from making unfair payments.
A Divorce Attorney in Edmonds Can Support Your Relationship With Your Children
Divorce has a major impact on children’s lives. Per RCW 26.09.002, developing parenting and support plans that serve the best interests of the child is the court’s top priority.
Parenting Plans
A parenting plan establishes how much time a child lives with or spends with each parent and the extent of each parent’s role in making important life decisions for the child. Some parenting plans establish joint plans. The child lives with each parent for a certain number of days each week, or perhaps alternates weeks. Parents may share decision-making responsibilities.
Other times, the child lives mainly with one parent, and the other has scheduled visiting times. Both could still share equal decision-making rights, or those rights could belong just to one parent. The court considers a variety of factors when approving plans or creating them. The team at Dellino Family Law can help you develop a plan that honors your relationship with your child.
Child Support
Child support is not part of the parenting plan. It is a separate issue. Parents are legally obligated to support their children. The Washington State Child Support Schedule is used to determine how much each parent contributes.
Usually, if the child lives primarily with one parent, the other parent pays child support. If parents share residential time, the higher-earning parent may have to make child support payments to the lower-earning parent.
Get Guidance and Support Throughout Your Divorce Proceedings
You and your ex may be divorcing on friendly terms. Even so, securing advocacy from an Edmonds divorce attorney is a wise decision. Ending a marriage affects your finances, your living arrangements, and your time with your children. Addressing these issues can quickly raise the emotional temperature, and friendly divorces can turn fraught.
Our experienced team knows how to approach these topics strategically to avoid conflict. Divorce proceedings move more efficiently when negotiations are civil and under control. We can help foster this civility so you can reach a resolution and move on with your life.
Some divorces are contentious from the start. We know how to handle a high-conflict divorce and can help you avoid emotionally charged mistakes that could cost you favor with the court. If your ex is aggressive or threatening, or lies about you to the court, we can guide you on steps to take to protect yourself.
We Can Help You Move Forward
When your marriage ends, Dellino Family Law is here to help you move into the next phase of your life with confidence and stability.
A divorce lawyer in Edmonds will work to make your transition as smooth as possible while providing knowledgeable, solutions-focused representation.
