Divorce
Filing for divorce in Washington can be a confusing process. While there is only one ground for divorce in the state—irretrievable breakdown of the marriage—according to Washington’s Family Law Handbook, knowing where to file your petition for divorce, how to serve your divorce papers, and how to resolve complex issues in divorce often requires the counsel of a legal professional. A family law attorney can also represent you during a Washington collaborative divorce.
Property Division
Washington is a community property state. This means that when two people separate or file for divorce, all property that was acquired during the course of the marriage is jointly owned by both parties, with a few exceptions. As such, the property must be divided in a manner that is equitable and just. Because many divorcing couples are unable to come to a property division agreement on their own, a family law attorney can serve as an advocate during a contested divorce hearing, or could act as a neutral mediator in helping the parties reach a resolution.
Child Custody and Child Support
One of the most sensitive areas of family law is that of child custody and child support, for both married and unmarried couples. A family law attorney can help to ensure that your child’s best interests are protected, help you to gain custody or visitation rights of your child, and help you to enforce a child support order if your child’s other parent has defaulted on court-ordered payments.
Domestic Violence & Protection Orders
The rates of domestic violence are often elusive, as there are many unreported cases of domestic violence in Washington State every year. When an individual is a victim of a domestic violence, he or she should contact a family law attorney as soon as possible for guidance in filing a domestic violence protection order. A protection order can be used to prevent the abusive party from coming within a certain distance of the victim, traveling to the victim’s place of work or school, can temporarily remove children from the abusive party’s custody, and more.
If you have been accused of domestic violence and someone is seeking a protection order against you, a family law attorney can also help you respond to and contest the requested protection order. If a protection order is entered against you and you violate the order, it could subject you to criminal charges. Therefore, seeking legal guidance immediately is very important.
Contact a Family Law Attorney Today
Dealing with family law matters on your own can be both emotional and confusing. When you are in need of a legal resolution regarding a family law matter, look no further than the experienced Washington family law attorneys at Bolan Law Group. Our family law attorneys are not only skilled, but are passionate about helping you to resolve your family law matter in a way that supports your best interests. You can fill out our contact form online today, or call us now at (253) 470-2356.