Almost every time a Tacoma couple gets divorced, the exes establish separate residences. The children then shuffle back and forth between the parents' homes. This is the usual way shared child custody works in Washington. But for many divorced co-parents, the...
Family Law
Can I prevent my ex-spouse from taking the kids out of state?
When spouses get a divorce, practically every aspect of their lives change. Your ex-spouse may have decided to move to a different state for employment opportunities, to be close to family, or because of remarriage. If they have sole custody of your children, this can...
What Happens to Your Child Custody Arrangement if You Move Across the Country?
Life goes on after your initial child custody arrangement is determined. A major life change, such as a new job opportunity, may lead you to move away from the Seattle-Tacoma area or from Washington entirely. In these situations, it is critical to understand...
Using Evaluators and Advocates in Child Custody Cases
Child custody disputes can often be contentious, and especially so when substance abuse, questionable parenting or children with special needs are involved. Depending on the circumstances, an evaluator or advocate may be requested by one of the parents or by the...
How Can a Parent’s Mental Illness Affect Child Custody and Support?
The best interest of the child is the standard that guides a court in deciding a custody case, and a parent’s ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment factors heavily into the evaluation. As such, the court will consider whether a parent has a mental...
How Will a Child’s Preferences Be Weighed in Child Custody Determinations?
In a Washington divorce, custody and visitation arrangements are incorporated into a parenting plan, defining how each parent will be involved in the child’s rearing and where the child primarily will live. When the spouses are unable to agree on key aspects of a...
How to Make a Claim of De Facto Parentage in Washington
Over the last few decades, the parameters of the word “family” have evolved to keep up with the progress we’ve made in society. Blended families are now much more common and same-sex marriage is now legal across the nation. An unsettled question until recently has...
Domestic Violence Protection Orders: Who Can Obtain One?
It is an unfortunate reality that many people live in danger of violence from a family member, spouse or other person close to them. One thing a victim can do to seek relief is to obtain a domestic violence protection order. In Washington State, a DVPO can be obtained...
Tips for Co-Parenting During the COVID-19 Crisis
Even in the best of times, it may be hard for divorced or separated people to juggle their responsibilities under a court-ordered co-parenting plan. The coronavirus pandemic has amplified the challenge, adding even more stress to parents’ and children’s lives and...
Legal Requirements for Washington Parents Who Relocate with Children
If you are a parent in Washington State with custody of a child and wish to relocate with that child, you must give notice to anyone else — usually the other parent — who has joint custody, equal parenting time or visitation rights under an existing court order. The...