Home » Sammamish Divorce Lawyer
Ending a marriage can be a very challenging situation emotionally and financially, and even more so without reliable legal representation. If you plan to or are considering dissolving your marriage, contact our Sammamish divorce lawyers. We can help you navigate the process and protect your best interests.
Table of Contents
ToggleThe divorce process can be incredibly stressful when going through it on your own. Having an attorney handle the paperwork and negotiations will help you dissolve your marriage as quickly and efficiently as possible. If your spouse is contesting the terms, your divorce lawyer will work hard to find solutions that still protect your interests. They can also help you by advising on any significant decisions that can potentially have a long-term impact on your life, such as property division, spousal support, child support, and custody.
To file for divorce in Sammamish, one spouse must be a Washington resident, but there is no requirement on how long. Additionally, couples can only file on the grounds that the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” rather than assigning blame (e.g., infidelity). Once the court has the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, a copy and a summons must be served to the other spouse who will be referred to as the respondent, since they have 20 days to file an Answer or respond to the petition. Alternatively, if a spouse does not contest the terms of the divorce they do not have to file an Answer and the process will proceed much quicker as an uncontested divorce. On the other hand, if the divorce is contested, it will typically head to mediation before trial. Reaching an agreement in mediation is typically much more beneficial as the spouses can decide the terms of their divorce rather than a judge.
Couples often face and must resolve the following legal issues before a marriage is dissolved.
Washington is a community property state, which means assets and debts are distributed 50/50. An attorney can help you protect the assets that are important to you.
You or your spouse may have the right to receive spousal maintenance (alimony). However, the amount and for how long can depend on various factors, such as the length of the marriage, earning potential of each spouse, and asset division.
In Washington, parents must follow a parenting plan, which can be created by the parents together, or each parent can submit their own for a judge to decide.
Our family law attorneys can help you determine child support as there are many factors that must be taken into account.
To discuss the divorce process in depth and your situation with a Sammamish divorce attorney, contact the legal team at Twyford Law Office. We offer free consultations; call (509) 327-0777 or send us a message online today.
Search Our Site
Our Law Offices
Our Seattle Office
814 Second Avenue 515,
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 590-7085
Our Spokane Office
430 W Indiana Ave,
Spokane, WA 99205
(509) 327 0777
Our Bellevue Office
1408 140th Place NE, Suite 400,
Bellevue, WA 98007
(425) 517 3350.