Spousal support can be a major concern when a marriage ends. One spouse may worry about meeting everyday expenses while the other adjusts to a new financial situation. In Washington, courts consider several factors when deciding whether maintenance is appropriate and...
Grandparents often step in when parents face sudden crises like severe illness, drug addiction or jail time. Seeing a grandchild in an unsafe home naturally causes immediate worry about their safety and everyday well-being. Snohomish County courts do allow nonparents...
Mediation can help divorcing spouses work through disagreements without asking a judge to decide every issue. But before scheduling a session, many couples have one practical question: Who pays for the mediator? In Washington, the answer can depend on the type of...
Many people focus on who keeps the house or other property during a divorce. Debt also deserves careful attention. Credit card balances, loans and other debts can affect both spouses even after the divorce ends. Knowing how Washington divides debt makes preparing for...
Parents rely on child support to meet their children's essential needs. Missed payments can create significant stress and jeopardize a child's well-being. Fortunately, several enforcement tools exist to help ensure child support obligations are met in Washington....
Child support mediation can feel more stressful when you do not have the information needed to explain your finances. In Washington, state guidelines and forms use both parents’ income and certain child-related expenses to calculate support. Bringing organized...
Yes, a parent's health can influence child custody decisions. The court looks at numerous factors when making a custody determination, and the mental and physical health of the parents is a key component. The parent's age may also be considered. Generally, this just...
Parents sometimes don’t remain in the same area after they divorce. This means that one parent won’t be in the same area as their children, so they will have to determine how to make long-distance co-parenting work. While this isn’t always easy, it’s possible to find...
Studies have found that your daily commute really could be connected to your odds of divorce. For instance, if you have a commute that is over 45 minutes, the odds that your marriage will end in divorce go up by roughly 40%. This does not mean that divorce is a...
Raising a teenager often costs more than raising a younger child. As a parent in Washington, you might be paying or receiving child support that was calculated years ago. When your teenager's costs go up, you have options to address these changes without turning your...
