Going through a divorce will be one of the most difficult experiences of your life. The emotional upheaval caused by divorce is well documented, and some experts say that it actually takes years off of your life. Some divorces are easier than others, but if you have to deal with issues like child custody, alimony, and property division, you have a long road to travel.
If you were served with divorce papers by your spouse, you may in a state of bewilderment. This often happens with no prior warning, even if you thought your marriage was doing just fine. Make no mistake about it: Your spouse has been planning this for a while, likely has an attorney, and probably already filed motions in family court. You may feel personally devastated, but now is the time to talk to one of our North Bend divorce attorneys and make sure your legal rights are fully protected.
If you're considering a divorce, with or without the knowledge of your spouse, you have a lot to consider. For couples amenable to divorce, there are options like uncontested divorce that are more affordable and potentially less dramatic. If your spouse is not amenable to a divorce, you have a lot of preparing to do.
In either situation, you will have address serious issues that could effect the rest of your life. If you have children with your spouse, their needs must be met. You will have to make some touch choices regarding child custody, and perhaps even visitation. You may no longer be able to live in your home. You may lose daily contact with your kids. You may have to pay alimony or child support.
With so much at stake, we urge you to take advantage of our free consultation offer. Simply give us a call and talk to one of one of our North Bend divorce lawyers about your situation. We can help you better understand family law, how it applies to your situation, and how the divorce process often unfolds.
North Bend, Washington, the King County Family Court, and YouNorth Bend is famous because of the television show Twin Peaks. It's a highly prosperous community with a population of only about 6,700 people, located in King County. North Bend has a rich history and dryer climate than much of King County. It's located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range, and Mt. Si is a recognizable landmark as it towers 4,167 feet above this quaint little Washington town. For information about local government and some of the incredible outdoor opportunities in the region, be sure to check out the North Bend Municipal Website.
No trip to North Bend would be complete without stopping at Twede's Cafe for a “damn fine cup o' coffee” and a slice of cherry pie, made famous on Twin Peaks. There are countless hiking trails and bicycle paths in the area, including the Mt. Si Trail, which is the most popular in the entire state of Washington. Fun fact: Rattlesnake Lake and Rattlesnake Ridge weren't named for the snake (there are no poisonous snakes in Western Washington). They were actually named because a road surveyor got scared of the sound made by seed pods native to the area because he though they were a rattlesnake. How silly!
While rattlesnakes aren't found in Western Washington, divorces are quite common. If you have to deal with a family law matter like adoption or support modifications, or handle common divorce issues, it will take place in the King County Family Court. If you were served with divorce papers, it's likely your spouse already filed motions with the court. You will need to respond, so it's important to figure out what's most important to you in as little time as possible. Contact one of our North Bend divorce lawyers today and take the first step toward resolving your case.
Common Family Law Issues We Encounter in North BendIf you're living in North Bend and are forced to deal with a serious family law issue, the best way to inform yourself about the law is to contact one of our lawyer for information specific to your situation. However, we prepared the following information on your behalf, so you can familiarize yourself with some of the more common family law and divorce issues. When you're ready to move forward, don't hesitate to contact one of our North Bend family law lawyers.
Child custody issues have huge implications for divorcing parents. Custody arrangements are outlined in a document called a parenting plan, and the court must agree to its conditions. Both parents may have custody, one parent may have primary custody, and in rare cases one parent may have sole custody. Non-custodial parents usually have visitation rights, but they may not have the final say when it comes to important decisions regarding their child's upbringing.
Obviously, the day your child was born was one of the happiest of your life, and the though of missing out on parts of their life can be personally devastating. However, this is a common reality of divorce, which is why you need to talk to one of our North Bend child custody lawyers and develop some kind of strategy. If your spouse won't treat you fairly, then we will have to use more aggressive methods to reach a fair agreement. If negotiations break down, the court will draft the parenting plan, which is a resolution best avoided. One of our key roles as your attorney is to help you keep emotions in check so that you can make rational decisions in your child's best interests.
Child support is calculated according to Washington's support schedule. By plugging in certain variables, it's relatively easy to determine the base amount of child support that one parent will be required to pay, usually the non-custodial parent. The income of each parent and other factors will influence this amount. Additional money may be required to pay for the child's medical care or schooling.
If you were never married and the father of your child refuses to talk responsibility in the form of child support. You can contact one of our North Bend child support lawyers and ask them to petition the court to require the man in question take a DNA test. If they are the father, we can then takes steps to make them responsible.
Spousal Support is often referred to alimony, and it's when one former spouse makes monthly payments to the other after a divorce. How evenly marital assets are divided will also influence the amount of these payments. Age, standard of living, and the overall health of the parents are also pertinent factors. What the court doesn't care about is if your spouse was adulterous or a terrible cook because Washington is a no-fault divorce state. To get more information about this topic, talk to one of our North Bend spousal support lawyers.
Divorce for men warrants special attention because men often feel like they will lose custody of their kids, lose their home, and then be forced to pay alimony and child support while never getting to see their kids. While it's certainly important to protect your legal rights, the court is supposed to treat men and women as equals. Still, if you were served with divorce papers, your wife has a big head start and may have already filed temporary motions with the court. Protect your interests with help from out experienced North Bend divorce for men attorneys.
Protection orders and restraining orders are used to protect innocent victims from abusive spouses and parents. These orders are a highly effective way to stop abuse and put the guilty party on notice because if they violate the order they will likely face serious consequences including jail time. Don't put up with even one instance of abuse. Contact one of our North Bend protection order lawyers for help.
Support modifications are another useful family law tool that allows for adjustments in the dollar amount of child support or alimony payments. The former is more common, but there has to be a reason for the petition to modify child support. If the custodial parent got a new job that pays a lot more money, one of our North Bend support modification lawyers may be able to help. A severe illness or losing your job may also be good reasons, but we will need details to provide you with answers.
Contact One of Our King County Divorce Lawyers for a Free ConsultationNo matter what family issue you're facing, one of our North Bend family law attorneys can help. With more than 50 years of collective experience in Washington's family courts, we understand how these situations often play out. We will work diligently to resolve you matter, always stay in contact, and offer you a listening ear when times get tough.
Divorce is never easy, but it's a lot easier when you work with a family law lawyer that you trust with some of the most important decisions you'll ever make. Contact us today to take the first step.