If you're a Lake Stevens resident considering a divorce, you have a lot of things to consider. Going through a divorce won't be easy, especially if you have children. You will have to deal with issues like property division, child custody, child support, and alimony. You will also have to deal with the emotional strain that often accompanies a major lifestyle change.
And what will those changes be like? For starters, you could have to move out of your house. You may also lose daily contact with your children. It's possible the court will require you to pay your spouse temporary support. You may also have to live alone for the first time in many years.
If you and your spouse talked about divorce and were ready to make the change, the entire process may be a lot easier. You may even be able to file for an uncontested divorce, which will save you time and money. However, you should still take an in-depth look at this option and talk to one of our Lake Stevens divorce lawyers before making any final decision.
If your spouse served you with divorce papers with no prior warning, you may be in shock. This is understandable. Keep in mind that they probably already have a Lake Stevens divorce lawyer who has filed motions with the court. You can't let feelings of hurt and betrayal prevent you from getting your own divorce lawyer and protecting your interests. Failure to take action could cause you to lose temporary custody of your kids and make you financially responsible for temporary spousal support, depending on the nature of your marriage.
If you are in the initial stages of considering a divorce, you may simply be gathering information. Perhaps you and your spouse haven't been getting along and you want to explore the repercussions of a divorce in private. This website is full of information on every family law and divorce topic, and you are free to read through every pertinent section.
Lastly, if you have questions about the law or would like to get more detailed information specific to your situation, contact one of our Lake Stevens divorce lawyers for a free consultation. We also handle other common family law issues like adoption, protection orders, support modifications, and issues involving paternity.
Lake Stevens, the Snohomish County Family Court, and YouLake Stevens is located in Snohomish County, and got its name from the beautiful lake that it was built around. With a population of about 32,000, the city has everything you would expect to find in a Suburb of Seattle. Before it was incorporated in the 1960s, Lake Stevens was a popular resort community where people went to enjoy the many public and private beaches around the lake. Since the turn of the century, the city has seen tremendous growth, growing by five times over in less than 20 years. The lake is still the big show in town, and it's considered the focal point for continued growth and expansion. If you would like to learn more about local government, check out the Lake Stevens municipal website.
The lake is definitely the highlight of Lake Stevens, and there are countless things to do in and around the lake. If you like fishing, you can catch perch, bass, and rainbow trout. If you enjoy festivals, there are several throughout the year featuring great food and endless fun. There's even a Lake Stevens Historical Museum to visit if it's raining out and you can't get a suntan. Eagle Ridge Park is another highlight, and since 1992 residents and visitors have been watching “George and Martha” rear their little ones until they're old enough to leave the nest. You see, George and Martha are bald eagles, and they are all about their family.
Bald eagles mate for life, unless one mating partner is unable to make eaglets, which will cause the other partner to fly away and find another mate. In this way, eagles and humans are somewhat similar. Still, divorce for eagles is relatively simple, whereas humans living in Lake Stevens must handle their divorce issues in the Snohomish County Family Court. This court also handles other family law issues. No matter what issue you're dealing with, it's a good idea to talk to a qualified Lake Stevens family law lawyer about your situation, so that they can provide you with useful information. If you're ready to take the next step, contact our law office today.
Sommon Divorce and Family Law Issues Encountered by Lake Stevens ResidentDivorce and family law issues require personalized attention from a qualified Snohomish County divorce lawyer who will take time to thoroughly review your situation. However, most divorces cover similar ground. For example, if you have kids, you will have to deal with custody and support issues. If you have property and other assets, you will have to divide them in a fair way. This is where the law comes into play, so it's important you fully understand the laws that pertain to each divorce topic you need to deal with. The following information covers some of the more common family law topics our lawyers handle every day.
The first is child custody. This is the most important issue for divorcing parents. It is often the most difficult part of the divorce. This makes sense, because no parent wants to lose contact with their kids or give up their right to choose their schooling or choice of religion. Still, these are realities for many parents. The court requires divorcing parents to craft a parenting plan, which is a legally binding document outlining child custody arrangements and support obligations. The court must approve the document, so parents must work together in a spirit of compromise to create a parenting plan that is fair and balanced.
Problems arise when parents refuse to compromise. If they can't come to an understanding and negotiations fail, the court will draft the parenting plan and that's that. Obviously, you know what's best for your kids, which is why we urge our clients to work toward an amicable solution to disagreements. If your spouse refuses to treat you fairly, our Lake Stevens child custody lawyers will aggressively protect your interests and will not back down from a fight.
Child support issues are next on the list. The court uses a schedule, which is a table of sorts, where pertinent information is entered to calculate the amount of child support that will be paid every month. Other factors may come into play and alter this amount, including any special needs the child may have. Unwed mothers having difficulty getting a father to pay child support, have legal options at their disposal. Our Lake Stevens child support lawyers can petition the court to require a paternity test. If the man is indeed the father, we can then pursue court-mandated child support.
Alimony is another word for spousal support and it's when one former partner makes monthly payments to the other to cover some of their living expenses. Whether alimony is part of a divorce depends on the nature of your marriage, how property is divided, and the age and overall health of each spouse. If you're marriage lasted 25 years or longer, alimony payments will likely be a lifetime commitment, unless the recipient remarries. For marriages that last less than 25 years, payments will last one year for every three years of marriage. For more information, contact our Lake Stevens spousal support attorneys.
Divorce for men is different than divorce for women because men often worry whether they will be treated fairly. The courts are supposed to treat everyone as equals regardless of gender, but every man still must protect his legal rights. Our Lake Stevens divorce for men attorneys can do just that.
If you're being abused by your partner, you should consider either a protection order or restraining order, depending on your circumstance. The same applies if your child is being abused. You owe it to yourself to remove yourself from a marriage with an abusive partner, and our Lake Stevens protection order lawyers can help. Best of all, these court orders are almost always effective and offer the best possible way to stop abuse.
If your financial situation changes through no fault of your own, you can petition the court for a modification of support. Usually, changes are made to child support obligations, but sometimes spousal support can be modified although is far less common. To explore whether this options is possible for you, contact one of our Lake Stevens support modification lawyers today and get the facts.
Our Snohomish County Family Law Lawyers Offer a Free Consultation to Every Lake Stevens ResidentThis means you can gather some facts quickly, and then take steps to protect your own interests. Our Lake Stevens divorce lawyers handle every sort of family law issue, and are ready to help you fully resolve your issue.