You didn’t enter your marriage expecting to get a divorce, yet this is the outcome for many couples’ marriage stories. Life gets complicated, and sometimes, going your separate ways is the only way forward. A Seattle divorce lawyer from Dellino Family Law can work to make your divorce process as smooth as possible.
Our attorneys have over 180 years of combined experience. We have helped resolve high-conflict divorces and helped keep the peace in more or less troubled situations. Connect with a same-sex divorce lawyer in Seattle to get the support and protection you need as you work through the end of your marriage.
How a Seattle Same-Sex Divorce Attorney Can Help You Through Your Divorce
Even easy divorces can be difficult. Ending a marriage is an emotional process. It can bring out the worst in even the most amicable circumstances. Divorce is also a high-stakes process. The agreement reached affects the most important matters in your life, from your role in your children’s lives to your finances.
Washington State does not require you to work with an attorney to get a divorce. Though there is no legal mandate, there are good reasons to partner with a Seattle family lawyer. You have a loyal advocate who does not get sidetracked by the intense emotions that come with divorce. Your lawyer keeps your interests, and your children’s if you have them, front and center.
A lawyer handles all legalities involved with your divorce. For example, filing for divorce requires several important steps. An experienced attorney knows them and can move through them efficiently. Your time is better spent focusing on your kids, your own healing, and your future.
Washington is a No-Fault Divorce State
Our team can give you a full understanding of no fault divorce, the system Washington State follows. Simply stated, you can file for divorce without presenting a reason for ending the union. In some states, you need to have grounds for divorce, such as adultery or cruelty. That requirement doesn’t apply to Washington State. The no-fault divorce process includes these steps:
- One spouse (the petitioner) files for divorce in court.
- The other spouse (the respondent) is served with divorce papers and formally responds.
- The spouses negotiate an agreement for dividing assets, child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance.
- The court renders decisions for any issues the spouses did not agree on during the negotiating process.
- The court finalizes the divorce and issues a divorce decree.
In removing the need for grounds for divorce, the no-fault system presents the opportunity for a less contentious process. Sometimes, the process runs smoothly. However, conflict can still occur, especially during negotiations. Representation from a skilled same-sex divorce attorney in Seattle provides critical protection.
Divorce and Division of Property
Determining who gets what after a divorce is one of the more challenging elements of the process. Washington is a “community property” state and establishes the implications of this status in RCW 26.16. Under this system, any money earned or property acquired during the marriage counts as “community property” and can therefore be divided.
The term “property” has significant reach. It can include vehicles, real estate, investments, financial holdings, pensions, and other assets. The “community” description also applies to debts incurred throughout the marriage, making debts subject to division as well. “Separate” property represents assets each spouse acquired before the marriage, or gifts or inheritances given specifically to one party.
You and your spouse may disagree about what is community property versus separate property. There may even be exceptions that apply to your circumstances. The team at Dellino Family Law can work to ensure property divisions are fair and to protect your separate property.
Negotiating Child Custody Arrangements
When a couple has children, dissolving the marriage has even more heightened implications. Washington courts give the highest priority to serving the best interests of the children, and to that end, require divorcing couples to develop a parenting plan. Other states often call these plans “custody orders.”
An attorney from our team can tell you what you need to know about parenting plans in Washington State. The parenting plan determines the terms for physical and legal custody of the children:
- Joint physical custody: Children split time living with each parent. Sometimes, the kids move back and forth from each parent’s residence. Other times, the kids live in one house, and the parents make the shifts.
- Sole physical custody: Children mainly live with one parent, called the “custodial parent.” The other parent has regular, scheduled visitation times established in the parenting plan.
- Joint legal custody: Parents share equal responsibility for making important decisions for the children, including decisions about education, religion, and healthcare.
- Sole legal custody: One parent has the authority to make important decisions for the child. Sole legal custody typically applies when one parent is abusive or neglectful.
Couples can combine custody types, agreeing on sole physical custody and joint legal custody, for example.
Child Support and Spousal Maintenance
Determining child support payments is a matter of law, as established in RCW 26.19.065. As of January 1, 2026, factors affecting support amount have been updated, per the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Division of Child Support.
Spousal maintenance, referred to as “alimony” in some states, is not guaranteed in Washington. Spousal maintenance is money one spouse pays the other after a divorce, and is separate from child support.
The court considers each spouse’s circumstances and determines if spousal maintenance is warranted.
If granted, spousal maintenance is not necessarily permanent. The court considers the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, household contributions, financial resources, age, and other factors when determining the amount and duration of spousal maintenance.
Rooted in Strength, Guided by Compassion
The team at Dellino Family Law provides powerful legal representation. We also know that ending a marriage is extremely difficult and offer compassionate support throughout the divorce process.
A Seattle same-sex divorce lawyer is ready to listen to your story and help you move toward a more peaceful future.