Tumwater Family Law

Whether you're considering a divorce or were served with divorce papers by your spouse, you have a lot to think about. Divorce is difficult for everyone involved, especially so for kids, and the uncertainty mixed with the sudden upheaval of your life can make you feel awful. If you were unaware that there were problems with your marriage, you may feel personally devastated. Right now what you need most are answers so that you can forge a clear path toward resolution, but who can you turn to when your family is in tatters?

A divorce will have an effect on you emotionally and financially. You will have to make tough choices about the custody of your kids, how your assets will be divided, and you may even have to pay child support and alimony. Right now you need to take a deep breath and reach out to a Tumwater divorce lawyer who can provide you with some answers. Just some of the questions you may be asking include:

• Will I lose custody of my kids?
• Will I have visitation rights?
• How much will child support payments be?
• Who will pay my bills while the divorce process moves forward?
• Do I have to move out of my house?
• Who will get my prized Mustang?

Even if you don't own a Mustang, you likely have property you want to hold onto. While no two divorce cases are ever identical, our Tumwater divorce attorneys can use their more than 50 years of collective experience to answer some of your most pressing questions. Together, we can identify your goals, make motions with the court, work through negotiations with your ex partner, and resolve your divorce case once and for all.

If you're dealing with some other important family law issue like adoption, paternity, or a support modification, one of our WA State lawyers can help. We offer a free consultation to every Tumwater resident, so contact our law office today and find out how we can help.

Tumwater lies at the southernmost part of Puget Sound, and with a population of only about 17,000, is has a small town atmosphere that many people adore. The name Tumwater came from an indigenous language, and it means “waterfall,” which makes sense because Tumwater Falls Park features some majestic waterfalls and a thriving salmon run. If you would like to read up about Tumwater, it's local government, and community happenings, be sure to check out the government website.

Tumwater has something for just about anyone. Not only can you visit the above-mentioned waterfalls, you can also spend a day at the Olympic Flight Museum, where vintage airplanes and helicopters thrill adults and children alike. If you like beer, and who doesn't, you should visit the Schmidt House, which highlights some of Tumwater's foamy brewing history. If you enjoy the soothing sound of rushing water, spend some quality time by the river at Pioneer Park, where a host of trails lead to some amazing natural areas.

Sometimes all of the quiet walks in the woods you can muster won't save a doomed marriage. When this happens, you're left with few alternatives other than divorce. If you file for divorce, respond to divorce papers, or have to deal with some other family law matter, you will need to familiarize yourself with the Thurston County Family Court. You should also take time to discuss the details of your situation with your Tumwater family law lawyer so that they can help protect your legal rights, defend your interests, and make sure that your emotional needs are met.

The first step in handling any legal matter is to get information about the law so that you can apply that knowledge to your situation. What are your legal right during a divorce? How the court decide who gets custody of your kids? How are assets divided? How is the rate of alimony determined? These questions are easily answerable, but it's more complicated applying it to a particular situation because there are numerous variables in play. You can get specific details by talking to one of our Tumwater family law lawyers. In the meantime, review the following information about some of the more common family law legal matters we encounter.

Child custody is the biggest issue on divorcing couple's minds, if the have children. Child custody arrangements are outlined in a document called a parenting plan, and each parent must follow the guidelines set forth in the document. There are many possible custody arrangements. One parent may have primary custody, which gives them the power to make decisions on behalf of the child. Both parents may “share” custody. One parent may have visitation rights. In rare cases, one parent may have sole custody.

Obviously, few parents are eager to relinquish any part of their role in their child's life. However, this is often how the process works out. Some parents will aggressively fight to obtain “primary residential parent” status, even going so far as to say things about their former spouse that are untrue. Negotiations with an ex spouse can bring all sorts of tension to the surface, and if an agreement proves impossible the court will craft a parenting plan. This should be avoided whenever possible, so we urge our divorce clients to maintain an air of civility and treat their ex fairly. We also demand that our clients be treated fairly, and we will take your case to a judge if your former partner refuses to do so. For more information contact one of our Tumwater child custody attorneys.

Child support is required from both divorcing parents. However, the non-custodial parent usually makes monthly support payments to the primary residential parent. Washington has something called a support schedule that outlines how much child support will be based on the income of the child's parents and other relevant factors. On top of this basic amount, the court may also require additional money for the child's healthcare or education. Failure to make support payments will get you into trouble, so you always want to stay current.

Unmarried mothers sometimes need support from a father that won't admit their responsibility. In these cases, our Tumwater child support lawyers can petition the family court to require they take a DNA test to establish paternity. If they are indeed the father of the child, we can then work on child support.

Spousal support is also called alimony and it's when one former spouse makes monthly payments to the other former spouse. There are many factors the court considers when determining the level of spousal support. Age, overall health, standard of living may all be part of the equation. Because Washington is no-fault divorce state, the court will not care if your former spouse was adulterous or couldn't cook an omelet to save their life.

How property is divided will likely play a large role in determining alimony amounts. The duration of the payments will hinge on the length of the marriage. Marriages lasting at least 25 years will likely result in permanent spousal maintenance, unless the recipient remarries or dies. For shorter marriages, plan on one year of alimony for every three you were married. Contact one of our Tumwater spousal support lawyers for further details.

Divorce for men is a serious topic because many men feel as though they are more likely to get the short end of the stick during a divorce. Men are often the primary wage earners in the home, making more likely candidates for alimony. Many fathers also worry about child custody, and are worried that a judge will show the mother favoritism. This is why it's so important to work with a lawyer who understands the court and will make motions for temporary orders on your behalf, as this will set the stage for more permanent arrangements. Get more information from one of our Tumwater divorce for men lawyers by contacting our law office.

Protection orders and restraining orders are tools that help stop abuse, both during the divorce process and after. Your Tumwater protection order lawyer can petition the court on your behalf. Best of all, these orders are almost always obeyed, giving victims a new lease on life.

Support modifications are sometimes necessary if there a sudden change in a divorcees finances. Perhaps an illness or losing one's job causes financial difficulties, so the court is petitioned to allow a modification of support. Child support modifications are more common, but sometimes alimony is subject to modifications. For more information, contact one of our Tumwater support modification lawyers.

Whether facing a divorce or some other family law issue, now is the time to talk to a lawyer and start preparing. We offer a free consultation, so you have nothing to lose by contacting one of our divorce attorneys today.