Monroe Family Law

If you're a Monroe resident with questions about divorce or some other family law matter, you probably have numerous questions you would like answered. Divorce is never easy. In fact, it's one of the most difficult experienced in anyone's life, especially if you and your spouse don't see eye to eye on issues like property division, child custody, and support. You may even end up being one of the many people who end up suffering from Divorce PTSD.

In times of doubt, what you need most is reassurance. No Monroe divorce attorney can tell you that everything will work out in your favor, but we can tell you that the process is far simpler when you fully prepare yourself for the road ahead. This first requires familiarizing yourself with all pertinent areas of family law. If you have assets, you should read about how property is divided during a Washington divorce. If you have kids, you should read up on laws pertaining to child custody and child support.

One of our Monroe divorce lawyers can help you better understand these laws and how they apply to your personal circumstances. If you were served divorce papers by your spouse, not only are you likely feeling betrayed, but you also probably asking yourself:

• Will I have to move out of my house?
• Will I still have contact with my kids?
• Who will pay my bills if my spouse was the primary wage earner?
• How long will this process take?

If you and your spouse agree about the details of your divorce, you may be able to file for an uncontested divorce in the state of Washington. This options is appealing for a variety of reasons. It's cheaper and takes less time. However, it is a commitment, and if you ultimately have irreconcilable differences and can't agree on the terms of the divorce, you'll have to start over entirely.

If you are simply considering a divorce, review the information provided in this website. If you have questions, you can contact one of our divorce lawyers for a free consultation at any time.

Monroe is a city of 17,000 residents located in Snohomish County, and it was named after the president of the same name. Monroe has a colorful history, much of which is based off the railway that runs through town. It wasn't always that way. Fun Fact: Monroe was originally called Park Place, but the town's merchants moved their location to be in the path of the railroad and called the new area Tye City. However the post office was in a building called “Monroe at Park Place,” which eventually became Monroe because people don't like long names. For information about the local Monroe government and other goings-on, check out the municipal website.

The big show in Monroe is the Evergreen State Fair, which is the largest county fair in the entire state of Washington. You can enjoy cotton candy, a petting zoo, animal races, and midway rides that are sometimes inspected for safety. The Evergreen Speedway is popular with racing enthusiasts. And if you like reptiles, the Reptile Zoo is a don't-miss attraction unique to Monroe. Have you ever seen an albino alligator? Have you ever wanted to see one? If so, Monroe will make your dreams come true. Check out their website and see just how proud they are of Baskar the alligator.

No white alligator is a match for the beauty of a bride dressed in all white, and while nobody thinks about divorce on their wedding day, it is an unavoidable reality of life. The Snohomish County Family Court handles all divorce and family law matters for residents of Monroe. When you call and talk to one of our Monroe divorce lawyers, they will explain how the courts work so you know what to expect. They can also help you understand how the law applies to your situation, so contact our law office for a free consultation today.

Family law is often confusing, especially when you consider that most divorcing couples have little to no legal experience and have likely never set foot in a courtroom. However, it's important to understand the laws that will be used to render decisions during your divorce proceedings. Failure to understand the law would be like trying to fly an airplane with no instruction, and the end result may not be too dissimilar. For specific information about how the law pertains to your situation, contact one of our Snohomish County Divorce Lawyers for a free consultation. To gather preliminary information about some of the more common divorce issues you may be facing, consider the following.

• Child custody issues are often complicated, especially if both parents disagree on the best living arrangements for their kids. Custody arrangements can take many forms, but the details are outlined in a document called a Parenting Plan. Parents may share custody or one parent may be the primary custodial parent while the other has visitation rights. The latter is the more common of the two, but many parents aren't eager to relinquish their role as the primary caregiver. In some rare situation, one parent may be given sole custody of their child.When parents don't see eye to eye, divorce negotiations can stall or break down entirely. If the impasse becomes insurmountable, the court will create the parenting plan and each parent will have to live with it, like it or not. Obviously, making choices for your own kids is the far better option, so your Monroe child custody lawyer will urge you to move forward with negotiations in the spirit of compromise. This doesn't mean you have to acquiesce to unreasonable demands from your ex and their lawyer. In fact, if you aren't be treated fairly, we will pursue aggressive litigation on your behalf. We never back down from a just fight.
• Child support is often paid to the primary custodial parent. The court will enter basic information into a schedule that calculates the rate of monthly support. Other factors like schooling or medical needs for the child may increase the amount.
• Unmarried mothers also need support to take care of the child's financial needs. Our Monroe child support lawyers can pursue child support by petitioning the court. Sometimes the child's father won't admit their responsibility, and we are forced to petition the court to require them to take a DNA test. This test will definitely prove whether they are the child's father. If so, we can then take steps to get the support you so desperately need.
• Spousal support is also called alimony in the State of Washington, and it's often paid by the spouse who was the primary wage earner. If a marriage lasts less than 25 years, the court will often require that payments be maintained for 1/3 of the marriage's duration. So, if you were married for 15 years, you would likely have to make monthly alimony payments to your ex for 5 years. If you were married for 25 years or more, you will likely have to make alimony payments until they die or remarry. Our Monroe spousal support lawyers can explain this in more detail.
• Divorce for men is different than divorce for women because men often think that they will be the one who has to pay alimony and child support while their ex wife gets the house, the kids, and the dog. The Washington family courts are required to treat men and women as equals, but our Monroe divorce for men lawyers still understand the importance of protecting your legal rights. Fathers served with divorce papers without any warning are often blindsided, so it's important to work with an attorney that understands the stakes.
• Protection orders and restraining orders are used to prevent an abusive partner from harming you or your child. They are effective in almost every case, and represent the best way to end emotional and physical abuse in the home. We offer a free consultation, so you can have a confidential conversation with one of our Monroe protection order lawyers without any cost.
• Modifications of support are sometimes necessary because of financial difficulties or some other valid reason. It's necessary to petition the court for a support modification and if they think there is good reason for a change they will allow you to present evidence that supports your claim. If you would like to explore this option, contact one of our Monroe support modification lawyers.

Our experienced King County divorce lawyers offer a free consultation, which means you can get answers concerning any family law matter. If you're dealing with divorce, adoption, or issues involving paternity, we can help. Contact us today and make sure you have quality legal representation working hard to protect your interests.