Snohomish County Family Law
The decision to get a divorce may be one of the most difficult you'll ever make, but there are decisions that must be addressed during the divorce process when it can pale by comparison. You will have to make tough choices regarding child custody, child support, alimony, and property division. Those choices could affect your relationship with your child and lose belongings that you cherish. It's also possible that your spouse will be fighting for the same things, so what does that mean for you?
If you and your spouse have divergent opinions on these important issues, divorce negotiations can take an emotional toll and lead to heated discussions. Experience handling these sensitive issues is paramount when making hard choices, and this is where our Snohomish County divorce lawyers can offer a great deal of assistance.
Our Snohomish County divorce attorneys often see firsthand how devastating a divorce can be for everyone involved, especially children. Because of this, we take a caring approach to legal representation and help our clients make informed choices as they confront some of the most difficult questions they will ever have to answer.
- Will I get custody of my kids, and who will be responsible for support?
- Will I have to move out of my house, and how will mutually owned property be divided?
- How does visitation work, and will make choices about my children’s future?
We understand that your situation is unique, so our Snohomish county divorce lawyers will give you the personal attention you need as the process moves along.
Snohomish County, the Family Court, and YouSnohomish County has a population of just over 800,000. It's biggest city is Everett, which is also the county seat, and nice place to visit or start a family. It's also part of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area, and lies adjacent to Puget Sound. However, the east side of Snohomish County is part of the Cascade Mountains, so it truly does have something for just about anyone. The county runs a quality website with all sorts of useful information, so check it out if you have the time.
It's almost easier to ask what you can't find in Snohomish County rather than what you can find. If you like fine dining, you can eat just about any sort of cuisine from all over the planet. If you like shopping, get another credit card because there's a store carrying virtually anything you can think of. If you like sports, you have countless options including NFL and NBA teams playing relatively close by. And if you love the outdoors, Snohomish County is virtual playground for adults. You can climb a mountain and swim in Puget Sound in the same day without ever leaving Snohomish County, just be sure to bring a change of clothes if you plan to do both.
In many ways, a marriage is like climbing a mountain. Sometimes it becomes too painful to continue and rather than fall to your death it's better just to quit. Family law matters and divorces are handled by the Snohomish County Family Court , so you definitely want to be prepared. Our WA State divorce attorneys can help you take the next step toward a brighter future, but we can't guarantee that the path will be easy. You have a lot to consider, so why not contact our law office and speak to a qualified litigator so that you can arm yourself with the facts.
Common Issues Heard in the Snohomish County Family CourtIf you have to handle a family law matter in count, it's essential to be prepared. It's also important to have an experienced family law attorney at your side who will protect your legal rights at every turn. When facing serious issues involving child custody, alimony, or property division, you need reliable counsel from a person that you implicitly trust. To get started, review the following information about some of the more common issues our Snohomish county family law lawyers encounter on a routine basis. Then contact our law office for a free consultation.
Child Custody – If you have kids, the last thing you want is to lose custody of them. Getting a divorce will likely mean losing daily physical contact with your kids, which is hard enough, but not being able to see them for days on end can be devastating. Because of this, parents will often do just about anything to retain possession of their kids. This means that negotiations can get downright nasty, and sometimes ex partners say things about one another that aren't even true. This has a terrible effect on their kids, so it's important that you do your best to remain productive during negotiations.
This may not always be easy, but if you fail to produce a parenting plan to the court, a judge it going to do it for you. Our Snohomish County child custody attorneys maintain that you know what's best for your kids, so we will urge you to put their interests first. This may mean that you'll have to hear something unpleasant, but it's our job to be honest with you. However, if your former spouse and their lawyer aren't being reasonable, we won't hesitate to aggressively defend your interests.
Child Support – The family court uses a schedule to determine the rate of child support. However, there are certain factors that must be considered ahead of time, so that they can be plugged into this formula. If you're an unmarried parent, you may need to establish paternity to get your child's other parent to pay their fair share. We can petition the court on your behalf for a DNA test to be administered on the individual in question. If you have questions about this process, contact one of our Snohomish County child support lawyers for more information.
Spousal Support – Also known as alimony, this is another hot topic during divorces that can get people's blood boiling. The court will look at your living situation and finances and then determine whether alimony will be rewarded. How long do these monthly payments last? If you were married for 10 years or more, it's likely payments will continue until the recipient dies or remarries, whichever comes first. If you would like to find out whether alimony will part of your divorce, contact one of our Snohomish County spousal support lawyers.
Divorce for Men – Men have special considerations to think about during a divorce because they are often the primary breadwinner in the home. This means it's more likely they will pay alimony and child support. Men are also sometimes concerned that they won't be treated as equals to their wives when it comes to child custody issues. You can ease your mind because the court treats both genders the same, but it's still very important to make sure your legal rights as a father are fully protected. If you would like to know more about challenges fathers face during a divorce, contact one of our Snohomish County divorce for men attorneys.
Protection Orders and Restraining Orders – You may be surprised to learn how common orders of protection are in the State of Washington. Both of these legal options are exceptional tools that you can use to end abuse in your home, whether it's happening to you, your kids, or both. Best of all, orders of protection are almost always obeyed, likely because there are severe penalties for breaking them. If you want to get out of an abusive marriage, contact one of our Snohomish County protection order lawyers for a free consultation.
Support Modifications – Sometimes modifications to child support and/or spousal support are made, but only if there is a very good reason. First, you have to petition the family court for such an action and then you have to prove that you are in a distressed situation. This may not be easy. If you would like to ease your financial burden and are wondering if this options is possible for you, contact one of our Snohomish County support modification lawyers today.
Our Snohomish County Divorce Attorneys Have Decades of Experience That They Will put To Work for YouEach choice you make during a divorce will have a far reaching affect on your life and the lives of everyone else in your family. It would be foolish to enter into this process blindly, so our first step will be to outline a path that will lead you toward a favorable resolution of your divorce case.
The goals we work together to define will lay the groundwork for the negotiation process, helping you to make decisions that benefit your entire family. If your spouse is unwilling to treat you fairly, your divorce attorney will aggressively fight for your interests and protects your legal rights according to Washington family law.
We Offer a Free Divorce Case Evaluation in Snohomish CountyGoing through a divorce alone would be a poor choice. You can get some valuable information today by contacting one of our WA State family law lawyers about your unique situation. Whether you are facing a divorce, or another family law issue such as support modification, we will answer your questions without risk or obligation.
Contact our law office today for a free case evaluation, and make sure that you have the information you need to resolve your family matter.