Shoreline Family Law

Before making the decision to get a divorce, it’s wise to gather some information about Washington State family law. A divorce is one of life’s most difficult experiences, and it is vital to ensure your legal rights are protected. You'll not only have to deal with the emotional turmoil of going through the divorce process, you'll have to make tough decisions that will affect you and your kids for the rest of your lives.

Some of the issues you'll need to resolve include:

• Child custody
• Child support
• Spousal support
• Property division

You life will undoubtedly change in countless ways, especially if you can no longer live in your home or maintain daily contact with your kids. If you served divorce papers with no prior warning that your spouse was unhappy, you probably feel personally devastated. Our Shoreline divorce lawyers have seen how this effect can lead to poor decision making. You need to protect your legal rights with help from a qualified lawyer who will act as your personal advocate.

Our Shoreline divorce lawyers can help you identify what aspects of family law apply to your case, which will help you make better decisions. This is vital because once the divorce process begins, your life will never be the same. Numerous issues will have to be discussed with your spouse, and some aspects of divorce negotiation will be mandated by the court.

It’s common for emotions to flair when sensitive divorce issues are discussed, such as alimony, property division, child custody, and child support. While some hurdles might seem insurmountable during the negotiation process, our Shoreline divorce attorneys will help you maintain focus on the task at hand.

When you work directly with one of our Shoreline family law lawyers, they ensure that your legal rights are always protected. Every attorney at our law office values the need for compassionate representation, so that our clients can maintain a calm resolve as they move forward into their new life.

Shoreline is just a short distance north of Downtown Seattle in King County, and it boasts a population of just over 50,000. Some recognizable landmarks in Shoreline are the William E. Boeing House and the Crawford Store. You may think that the city got it's name because of the shoreline along Puget Sound, but it's a little more complicated than that. Shoreline got its name in 1944 because the school district ran from the shore of Puget Sound to the shore of Lake Washington. Even though the city no longer extends to Lake Washington, the name remained. For more exciting information about Shoreline, check out the municipal website.

Because of its close proximity to Seattle, there are endless opportunities in Shoreline to enjoy a restaurant, go shopping, or spend time outdoors with the kids. One of most popular local areas is the Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, which boasts open water access, public art, picnic areas, and an off-leash dog area that Fido will absolutely love. However, be sure to check the dates, because the dog area is only open during certain times of the year.

Getting a divorce could mean that your ex gets the dog and your left with an empty leash. Obviously, nobody wants to lose their beloved pet, their favorite car, or their home, but these are sometimes realities of the divorce process. If divorce becomes a reality, you will need to prepare yourself for the time you'll spend dealing with the King County Family Court. Our Shoreline divorce lawyers are ready to help you better understand how this process works, and we can even help you fight to keep the dog, if that is your desire.

Getting a divorce means diving headfirst into the unknown. Most divorcing couples have never even been inside of a courtroom, so they are usually unprepared for how the courts work. As the process begins, you have questions that need answers. The best way to get answers specific to your situation is to contact one of our Shoreline family law lawyers. However, you can also review the following information to get a head start on this process.

Child custody – Custody issues are some of the most difficult for parents, even if they're more than ready to be out of their marriage. There are numerous factors that must be considered when figuring out custody issues as parents may share custody, or only one parent may have primary custody. Sometimes a parent gets sole custody of their kids, and sometimes a non-custodial parent has visitation rights. The threat of losing contact with their children can make some parents lash out at their former partner. Sometimes accusations are made that aren't true. This is why it's so important to work with a Shoreline child custody lawyer who will defend your parental rights.

Child support – While a schedule (table) developed by the family court is use to calculate child support, there are numerous factors that must be considered. First and foremost, the child's needs must be accounted for. Often the non-custodial parent makes monthly child support payments to the custodial parent, but sometimes other arrangements are made. If you're an unmarried parent, our Shoreline child support lawyers can help you pursue support payments from the other parent, which may require a DNA test.

Spousal support – Also known as alimony, this is when someone makes monthly support payments to their former spouse. Numerous factors must be considered to determine how much those payments will be. The duration of the payments will be largely determined by the length of the marriage. If you were married for a number of years, payments will likely be required unless your spouse remarries or dies.

Divorce for men – If you're a man, you probably have some legitimate concerns as you move forward with a divorce. Obviously, you want to be treated fairly by the court, especially if you're a father facing child custody issues. The court does treat men and women as equals, but it's still important to protect your interests with help from one of our Shoreline divorce for men lawyers.

Protection orders and restraining orders – These powerful legal tools help victims of abuse get the relief they desperately need. If you or your child is being abused, you need to prevent your partner from having any contact with you, and that's just what a protection order can do. If you would like a confidential consultation with one of our Shoreline restraining order lawyers, contact our law office in King County today.

Support modifications – There are a variety of reasons why someone may seek a modification of support. A serious illness or losing your job could apply. Perhaps your former spouse got a new, higher paying, job and no longer requires your current level of support. It's more likely that modifications will be made to child support, but there are situations where spousal support levels may be modified. To find out if you can petition the family court, contact one of our experienced Shoreline support modification attorneys.

Issues can arise outside of the divorce process that include paternity, adoption, and many more. Many more such family law issues can arise unexpectedly that will require help from a professional Shoreline family law attorney.

Regardless of whether you are facing a divorce or a family law issue, it makes sense to have a qualified lawyer offering you counsel when difficult choices present themselves. Our King County divorce lawyers will seek to earn your trust by making your priorities and goals our own priorities and goals.

If your spouse refuses to act in a fair manner while we negotiate various aspects of your Shoreline divorce, we will seek aggressive alternatives designed to protect your legal rights at all times.

Our WA State divorce lawyers are ready to help you today, and they offer a free and confidential case evaluation so that you can start getting a better understanding of the law. If you choose one of our professional litigators to handle your divorce case:

• We will focus on your needs and provide you with personalized attention.
• We will keep the lines of communication open at all times.
• We will work hard and do everything the law allows to help you attain your goals.

You can contact us by phone or online today for your free case evaluation in Shoreline.