FAQs

Select an attorney with real experience in family law, and who focuses their legal practice on representing family law clients. Select an attorney with a history of getting the results their clients want. Select an attorney that listens to you when you speak, and understands what you want. Interview your potential attorney, and make certain you are comfortable with them. Your personal comfort level with the attorney leads to a better working relationship and a better result in your case. A divorce requires a close working relationship for many months. You need an attorney whose opinions you can trust and rely upon. Hiring an attorney with an office in close proximity to where your case will be filed, or to where you live, will help to minimize costs.

The Washington State Legislature has adopted a statewide formula that sets child support. The formula takes into consideration the income of both parents and the number of children.  You can use the Washington state support calculator to estimate child support.  Remember the formula is only as accurate as the data put into the formula. The net income of both spouses is required to calculate the support. Net income can be manipulated. You may need legal help to determine the actual net income of both spouses.  Read more about child support.

No one can truthfully tell you how much your divorce will actually cost before it starts. Even after being told the details of your case and the current agreements with your spouse, your attorney cannot control future behavior and changes in attitudes that can dramatically increase the cost. We can advise you of approximate amounts incurred in similar cases, but that will only be an estimate if the facts remain fixed. Possible contributing factors include: court costs, attorney’s fees, Guardian ad Litem fees (when children are involved in divorce), whether you and your spouse are able to reach an agreement on key issues, appraiser and accountant fees for complex property issues, special counseling costs if ordered by the court, and possibly your spouse’s attorney fees, if they are without funds. Read more about controlling divorce fees and costs.

There is no formula for setting spousal support / alimony. Each judge can make their own ruling based upon the financial facts and needs presented to the court.  The number of years of marriage, career histories, earning potentials of each spouse, and any special needs will be considered by the court.  This is an area where you will need to work closely with your attorney. You have to make certain all the facts that will help you are properly presented to the court. If there are significant differences between you and your spouse regarding income, employment history, and ability to work, we highly suggest you hire a lawyer to assist in determining the need for spousal support.  Spousal support does not have the same safeguards as child support.

Morris-Sockle, PLLC will not represent both the husband and wife. To do so creates an automatic conflict of interest. No lawyer can equally represent both sides of a contested situation.  Even if there is an agreement in the beginning, disagreements can and do arise during the process. If the two spouses are certain they agree on all aspects and terms of the divorce, then we will represent one spouse, draft all of the documents as directed, and the other spouse can review the documents and sign them if they are still in full agreement. Attorneys at Morris-Sockle, PLLC will legally represent only one party in the divorce proceedings. If you have an amicable relationship with your (ex)spouse read more about self-represented divorce services.

Washington permits do-it-yourself divorces (Pro Se) where one or both parties represent themselves. In cases where child custody, child support, and property division are not in dispute, many people are able to proceed without the assistance of an attorney. The required forms can be purchased from the county clerk’s office or found online. Even when the parties decide to do their divorce themselves, they must comply with the law and court rules. Legal representation is recommended where there are significant disagreements over custody, support, or complex property division issues.

The statutory mandatory waiting period for a divorce in Washington is 90 days after filing a petition with the court and serving the opposing party with the initial pleadings. If the parties are able to reach an agreement on all terms of the divorce (uncontested divorce), the court will grant the divorce after 90 days based upon the agreement.  In a contested divorce, it is difficult to estimate how long a case will take to conclude. If the parties have not reached an agreement during the 90 day waiting period, the court will assign a trial date which is typically within one year. The parties are encouraged to continue to negotiate while waiting for the trial date. If an agreement is reached, the divorce can be granted before the trial. Most cases settle without a need for a trial.

Because the court will seek to maintain stability and continuity in the child(ren)’s life. To achieve this, the court must decide who can best care for and communicate with the child(ren) on a daily basis. The court considers which parent can best meet the emotional and physical needs of the child(ren) through the separation, divorce proceedings, and post-divorce.  The court believes it is in the child’s best interest to grow up with the parenting influence of both the mother and the father. Even if one parent is technically awarded primary custody, a well-presented divorce case can award the other parent significant visitation and involvement in all aspects of the children’s lives.

Yes, however, it is mothers who are most often awarded primary custody of the children. In the past, women were nearly always given full custody, and many judges find it difficult to change their ways. The attorneys at Morris-Sockle, PLLC have experience fighting for and winning custody cases for fathers. There is a heavy burden of proof on the father, however, a well-presented case with good facts will prevail.  There are more and more men asking for and receiving primary custody of their children. Courts are open to hearing these cases for good fathers and granting fathers custodial rights or increased visitation rights. The issue is truly what is in the best interest of the child(ren). There are also a growing number of cases where joint custody is granted.

It is a divorce in which neither person is required to, or allowed to, blame the other spouse for the breakdown of the marriage. The only basis for a no-fault divorce is “irreconcilable difference” or “irretrievable breakdown of marriage.” The court will grant the divorce, but will not assign blame. Marital misconduct is not considered by the court. Washington is a no-fault divorce state.

No-fault divorces are considered a more humane and realistic way to end a marriage. Spouses who are divorcing usually are suffering enough without adding more fuel to the emotional fires by trying to prove who did what to whom. With no-fault divorce the court does not get involved in the emotional issues involved in the marriage. The laws of no-fault divorce recognize human relationships are intricate and family law is complex. The courts acknowledge it is difficult to prove a marriage broke down solely because of what one person did. The court will only consider the issues and terms of the divorce, not the misconduct or reason for the divorce.

If you are active duty military you should discuss your marital problems with your commanding officer, and keep them informed of any significant changes at home and any legal actions. You should contact the JAG officer for advice on how to proceed in this jurisdiction. The JAG officer cannot represent you in a divorce, but they can provide helpful information and direction.  This site also has additional resources. We have provided some basic military divorce information on this site. Beyond that, our attorneys can help you determine how to proceed with your divorce.

Our attorneys have an established working relationship with Fire Fighters and Law Enforcement Officers unions and associations. We understand the pressures of your job, and the restrictions caused by your work schedules. We understand the LEOFF retirement/pension program and know how to protect it. We know the valuable contribution being made to firefighters and law enforcement officers by SAFE CALL NOW, which we support.