If you live in Mill Creek and are in the first stages of the divorce process, there are probably a million questions swirling around in your head. How long does it take to get a divorce? How are assets divided, and will I get to keep living in my home? Will I get custody of my kids? Who gets custody of my kids while the divorce process is going on? Will I have to pay alimony to my ex? How much does a divorce cost?
It's true that divorce is one of the most mentally exhausting experiences that anyone can endure. The process takes a toll on everyone, especially children. You may have serious concerns about life after marriage, or even wonder where you're going to live. If you have kids, you may not enjoy the daily contact you've had with them up until now. Still, a bad marriage is arguably far worse than dealing with the unknown, and our Mill Creek divorce lawyers are ready to help you make the transition into your new life.
What will that new life be like? Much will depend on how your divorce is resolved. You will probably have to make some tough decisions regarding property division, spousal support, child support, and child custody. It's unlikely that you will get everything you want out of the divorce, which means you'll have to compromise. Throughout negotiations with your ex partner and their lawyer, your Mill Creek divorce attorney will offer you reliable counsel based on years of experience. The goal is to help you make the best choices possible.
Focusing on your end-goal will help you deal with the stress of going through a divorce, but that may not be much help at the moment. If you were served with divorce papers with no prior warning, you may be in a state of shock. However, you can't let this emotional tsunami keep you from acting in your own best interests. Your spouse's lawyer has likely already filed motions with the court, and you only have so much time to respond and file motions of your own. So, what should you do next?
First, contact one of our Mill Creek divorce lawyers for a free consultation. Without cost or obligation, we will provide you with some legal information based on your particular situation. Next we urge you to familiarize yourself with Washington family law, especially areas of the law pertinent to your case. If you have kids, read up on child support and child custody. If you have a large amount of assets, we have information on this website about large asset divorce cases. Finally, start the process of building a new life by identifying your goals and share this information with your lawyer.
Mill Creek, Washington, the Snohomish County Family Court, and YouLocated just 20 miles from downtown Seattle is a little town of about 18,000 called Mill Creek. It is situated within Snohomish County, and was originally planned as a gold course community and country club. However, the city rapidly grew after this original development in the 1970s, and today it is full of houses, apartments, and a big 4A school. If you would like to know more about Mill Creek, the local government, and business opportunities, check out the municipal website.
You may be wondering, “What could there possibly be to do in a place like Mill Creek?” Good question. The city has a number of neighborhood and community parks that are popular with all ages. There are some quaint little shops and number of quality restaurants. If you're a member of the country club, you can also play a round of golf at the town's namesake golf course. The course is kept in great shape and enjoyed by members and their guests throughout the year. If you're not a member, you can always travel to some other nearby city and play 18 holes.
If you play too much golf and ignore responsibilities at home, you may end up getting a divorce. If you're living in Mill Creek and have to deal with any family law matter, it will be handled in the Snohomish County Family Court . This court handles divorces, adoptions, support modifications, issues involving paternity, among others. For more information about the courts or what to expect from the divorce process, contact one of our Snohomish County divorce lawyers today.
Common Family Law and Divorce Issues for Mill Creek ResidentsPeople living in Mill Creek are really no different than any other Washington resident when it comes to divorce and family law matters. Even though every situation demands personalized care, the topics covered are universal. The following information covers some of the more common divorce and family topics we encounter.
Child Custody – This is a difficult divorce topic for any parent. If you have kids, you face the very real prospect of losing daily interactions with your kids. You may even no longer have a say in basic things that affect their life like education and choice of religion. If your spouse gets primary custody of your kids, you will likely have visitation rights, but there is a lot to deal with before reaching that point. Child custody arrangements are outlined in your parenting plan, and the court must approve the document before it goes into effect.
Some couples are unable to compromise and work out a parenting plan, which forces the court to do it for them. This outcome should be avoided. Our Mill Creek child custody lawyers urge clients to maintain civil discourse with their ex in an effort to work out a fair custody arrangement. If your ex will not treat you fairly, we will fight to protect your interests even if it means taking your case to the judge. You also must be willing to compromise. Our attorneys may not always tell you something you want to hear, but you can assure yourself that it's something you need to hear.
Child support – Support payments are often made to the parent with primary custody. The amount of support is calculated using a table supplied by the family court. If the child has supplemental needs, they may factor into that number. Unwed mothers also need support from their child's father. Unfortunately, not all dads are willing to admit paternity. Our Mill Creek child support lawyers can petition the court on your behalf to require that deadbeat dads take a paternity test. If the DNA test is positive, we can then pursue fair support.
Spousal support – Alimony payments are based on a variety of factors including how assets are divided and the ages of each divorcing spouse. The term of the payments is based on the length of the marriage. If you were married more than 25 years, you may never stop making alimony payments. If the marriage lasted less than 25 years, you will likely pay one year of alimony for every three you were married.
Divorce for men – Our male clients often have certain concerns specific to their gender. They worry whether they will be treated fairly by the court, especially in relation to child custody issues. It's a legitimate worry, because you often see men on TV shows complaining about alimony and losing their house in a divorce. However, the courts are required to treat men and women as equals, and if a woman is the primary wage earner in the home, she may have to pay alimony. To make sure you rights are protected, contact one of our Mill Creek divorce for men lawyers.
Protection orders and restraining orders – If your partner is abusing you or your children, you need to put a stop to it. This often seems easier said then done, especially if you fear reprisal from the abusive partner. In our experience, this seldom happens. In fact, protection and restraining orders are almost always an effective way to end abuse once and for all. For a confidential consultation with one of our Mill Creek protection order lawyers, reach out to us today.
Modifications of support – Sometimes there is a good reason to alter a parenting plan by changing the level of child support. If you find out your ex got a new job and is making a lot more money, you may be able to lower your monthly support payments. If you suddenly get seriously ill or lose your job, you may also be able to petition the court for a support modification. It's sometimes possible to modify alimony amounts, but this is very rare. If you would like to find out, contact one of our Mill Creek support modification lawyers today.
Our Mill Creek Family Law Lawyers Offer a Free ConsultationIf you have questions about divorce contact one of our Snohomish County divorce lawyers for a free consultation. They will answer your questions and offer you a listening ear. If you choose to retain one of our highly experienced family law lawyers, they will be at your side throughout the divorce process providing a listening ear when you need it most.