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Suite 1001
Seattle, WA 98101
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Fax
206.260.1420
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Family Law
Child Custody, Child Support, and Property Division
Family law, also called domestic relations, or dom. rel., refers to the field of law that governs relationships between family members. The concept of family includes children, step-children, siblings, half siblings, spouses, whether married or co-habitating, and parents, whether living together or apart, and whether gay, lesbian, straight, or otherwise.
Family law typically touches the lives of clients when they are getting divorced. A divorce (dissolution) with children has three sets of issues: 1) child custody/residential schedule, 2) child support, and 3) property division.
The governing child custody document is a parenting plan. The parenting plan establishes the child’s residential schedule – with whom the child is supposed to live at any given time, including vacations, holidays, and special occasions. The parenting plan also determines how major decisions will be made, for example, which parent will take the child to the doctor, and how the doctor will be chosen.
Child support is determined by the child support table promulgated by the Washington Legislature. One parent, almost always the non-custodial parent, is obligated to make a monthly transfer payment to the other. The amount is based on each parent’s income and any direct child-related expenses, for example, health insurance.
Property Division refers to the allocation of assets and liabilities between the parties. Typical assets include pensions / retirement accounts and the family home. Typical liabilities include credit card debt and first and second mortgages. The property division is established by the decree of dissolution. The decree also addresses related issues such as maintenance (alimony).
This page contains the following sub pages.
- Parenting Plans
- Child Support
- Parental Alienation
- Community Property
- Split Custody
- Guardian Ad Litem
- Restraining Orders
- Domestic Violence
- Pre-Nuptial Agreements
- Pro Se Divorce FAQs
- Family Law Glossary
- Residential Schedule
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