Military Pensions and Divorce in the State of Washington
In the state of Washington, a military pension can be considered shared property and is therefore subject to division during a divorce. Washington is a community property state, which means that any property acquired during your marriage is generally considered shared property. Pension plans, investments, and other retirement plans contributed to, or formed, during a […]
What if my Partner Doesn’t Want a Divorce?
You’ve decided you want a divorce, but your partner doesn’t want one. What can you do? It’s not uncommon for one person to be ready to file for divorce, while the other still wants to fight to save the marriage. In this article, we’ll explore what happens when your former spouse is uncooperative in the […]
The One Factor That Keeps Divorce Affordable
If you’re thinking of filing for divorce, it’s understandable to want to find ways to keep your divorce affordable. According to a recent article in the New York Times, a couple can expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 – $20,000 on their divorce. And if your divorce is contested, you can expect to pay far […]
History of Same Sex Marriage in Washington State
It has been almost ten years since the Supreme Court made same sex marriage the law of the land with Obergefell v. Hodges. And it was just over 40 years ago that the first same sex couples attempted to obtain marriage licenses. The court cases they filed when they were denied the fundamental right to […]
Tax Implications of Divorce
Getting divorced has tax implications as well as financial ones. In this article we’ll explore some of the common tax implications of divorce and address some things that can also get commonly overlooked. If you have a complicated tax situation, are filing for high net worth divorce, or are dividing a business with your former […]
Military Wedding Planning: Do I Need a Prenup?
Military couples face unique challenges, and while they might not have some of the circumstances that lead some couples to write a prenup, military couples sometimes face situations that a prenuptial agreement can address. Frequent moves due to recurrent deployments, for example, can impact the career and earnings of a civilian spouse. Not all states […]
Divorce and Immigration
If you are getting divorced and are in the United States on a visa or green card, you might be wondering how divorce might affect you, or your spouse’s, legal status in the U.S. If you are currently living in the U.S. on contingent residence status, or if you are living in the U.S. on […]
How Family Lawyers and Mental Health Professionals Can Work Together
Family lawyers and mental health professionals can work together for better outcomes in divorce. Of course, such a statement raises the question of what a “better outcome” is. Emotions can shape the outcome of a divorce. Couples who are more aware of how their emotions affect how they approach their divorce are more likely to […]
How to Talk to Your Spouse About a Collaborative Divorce
As collaborative divorce lawyers, we meet many clients who want an amicable divorce, and who have chosen the collaborative divorce process to achieve that goal. With collaborative divorce, both spouses agree to settle their divorce outside court through collaborative negotiation. But, because both spouses agree to approach their divorce collaboratively, there must be “buy in” […]
You’ve Been Served Divorce Papers: Now What?
If you’ve been served divorce papers, you might be wondering what your next steps should be. In this article, we’ll help you understand your rights and responsibilities if you’ve received divorce papers and offer a general overview of the divorce process itself. If you haven’t hired a divorce lawyer to represent you yet, you might […]