Making the decision to file for divorce is life-changing. It means carving out a future for yourself that better matches your needs and goals.
At Dellino Family Law, founded in 2013, our divorce lawyer in Port Orchard is the guidance and legal resource you need to create the best possible way forward. Call today to speak with our Port Orchard family lawyer.
Understanding the Divorce Process in Port Orchard
The uncertainty of divorce can be enough to cause some to pause. With our legal team by your side, you will know what to expect at every stage of the process. You can learn more about the stages of the process in our Family Law Handbook. Here is a look at what you can expect:
- You will file a petition for divorce or respond to divorce papers presented to you.
- We will guide you in properly completing the documents to minimize risk, and then file them in the Kitsap County court system.
- Both parties must complete the applicable waiting period before the court finalizes the divorce.
During this process, our team will work with you to better understand your needs and goals so that decisions about how the court will separate debts and assets are clear. Once the agreements are finalized and the waiting period ends, a judge will review and sign off on the divorce.
The Benefits of Hiring a Divorce Lawyer in Port Orchard
The legal process of divorce is far more than filing a few papers. It means making critical decisions and navigating the complexities of divorce law within the Washington State Courts. When you hire a lawyer from our firm, you gain several benefits.
- We get to know you and your situation. The decisions you make about assets, investments, and debts define your future. Knowing your legal options and the strategies that provide the most secure foundation is your right.
- Professional guidance through the hard steps creates peace of mind. From high-conflict divorce to amicable resolutions, our guidance is always from a distance. That is, we can help you see beyond the emotions to create peace of mind.
- We build creative solutions. Most divorce cases are not simple processes but involve numerous obstacles that can prevent both of you from having the future you desire.
We provide you with much-needed clarity and reliable legal representation to minimize disputes and navigate contention even when both parties have very different desires. Let our legal team at Dellino Family Law be the confident way forward you need during this rapidly changing legal process.
How We Will Help You Through Your Divorce
Our Port Orchard divorce attorney will provide you with legal guidance and insight into your options and rights. It is important for both parties to have their own attorney, one who can represent their best interests throughout the process.
Our commitment to you means creating a custom divorce plan that addresses your needs. We will:
- Review all assets considered marital property in Washington law. This includes identifying any assets your spouse may have that you are not yet aware of.
- Review all debts considered marital property. This includes debts for vehicles, homes, credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. The law requires an equitable split of both assets and debts.
- Help you determine what your options are for your home and larger assets. In many situations, this may mean determining whether an agreement can be reached to split assets fairly and whether the home must be sold.
- Provide insight and guidance on navigating retirement plans, long-term investments, and any other investments you own together, even if just one person was contributing during the marriage.
- Help you navigate complex situations related to businesses owned by one or both spouses and special considerations.
- Determine if spousal support plays a role in the divorce. If one spouse earns significantly more than the other, there may be a need to establish spousal support.
Marital property typically consists of assets jointly owned by both parties, such as those acquired during the marriage. Equitable division of these assets does not mean equal; the court seeks to provide both parties with the same footing and opportunity to rebuild their lives after the divorce.
Child Custody and Child Support Matters
One of the most challenging aspects of any divorce is child custody and support. The law always focuses on a single most important factor: decisions must be made that put the child’s best interests at the heart.
With our guidance, both parents will work together, when possible, to reach an agreement on these matters. If not, the court will make decisions for you. As your lawyer, we will:
- Help you work out a parenting plan that aligns with your child’s best wishes.
- Take into consideration factors such as the child’s specific needs, including school, religion, relationships with extended family, and support needs.
- Create a plan that determines who should pay child support, if applicable, and how much.
- Determine the role each parent will have, including whether custody is joint or partial.
- Create a plan to address the specific needs of children with special needs.
Our objective is to create a plan that honors everyone’s goals and wishes, but it is critical that both parents are willing to work together on these decisions. That is not always easy to do. Our experience allows us to create an open conversation that can work through complicated matters.
That way, you, as your child’s parents, can continue to make decisions for your child instead of the courts. Learn about how we handle family law fees & billing.
Contact Our Divorce Attorney in Port Orchard Now
Take the time to speak to our Port Orchard divorce lawyer now to learn what you can expect from the legal process. At Dellino Family Law, we understand not just the legal process of divorce but the critical decisions made during this time, and how they will impact your future.