You might worry about your bank account as soon as you begin divorce proceedings. The state of Washington is one of several states that equally divide up marital property. This means that even if you deposited less than half of the money into a jointly owned account,...
property division
4 financial steps to prepare for divorce
When you are in the midst of emotional turmoil from a divorce, it may be difficult to think about finances. However, this is something that requires some careful consideration. The budget that you and your spouse used in the past now has to support two households,...
Is your spouse hiding assets digitally?
The influx of digital frontier expansion has created waves in almost every single aspect of life for citizens in the country. This goes for everything from how people work to how they socialize. It even goes for how people attempt to hide assets when going through a...
What is financial infidelity?
When most people think about infidelity in divorce, it often ties to the state of a couple's interpersonal relationship and involves the possibility of cheating on one's spouse with another person. However, infidelity can come in many forms, including financial....
Is your ex-partner entitled to your property?
Though Washington is one of many states that no longer recognizes common-law marriages, it does recognize “marriage-like” relationships. State law refers to these relationships as “Committed Intimate Relationships.” In Washington, if the courts consider your...
Dividing property when unmarried couples end a relationship
Washington state judges recognize that when a committed intimate relationship leads to cohabitation, the couples often acquire valuable assets together. As noted by the Seattle Times, unmarried couples contributed 16% toward first-time home purchases in 2017 based on...
Is your spouse hiding assets?
Going through divorce is already a difficult process. Unfortunately, your spouse will not always make it any easier on you. In fact, some may take advantage of the chaos of a divorce to try furthering their own goals. Such is often the reason a spouse may try to hide...
Who gets to keep the house in the divorce?
When you decide to divorce, suddenly your life is full of uncertainty. You aren’t sure what your child custody arrangement will look like with your ex. You don’t know how exactly you and spouse will split your assets. You may not even be certain of where you will live...
Cashing out your portion of your ex-spouse’s 401(k)
When you were not the primary income earner in your marital home in Washington, your divorce (while helping to end your marital tension) will likely bring with it some concerns about your future. You may find yourself in an immediate need of funds to secure new...
The dangers of financial infidelity
Infidelity in a marriage may take many forms, including lying about money. For many couples, financial infidelity can even lead to the irrevocable breakdown of the marriage. For others, it may arise from a planned or anticipated divorce. Regardless of the...