Spousal maintenance payments are historically difficult to figure out in the course of divorce proceedings.  Each state has a distinct set of rules surrounding maintenance and is based on a variety of rationale.  Because the rationale behind an appropriate amount of payment can be subjective, mai...

Experts understand that children do best when both parents work together to raise their children. Companies are increasingly allowing more generous paternity benefits as they recognize the need for fathers to be involved parents too. As stars like Zuckerberg publicly take paternity leave, they be...

You are ready to make that big step from being “Step Parent” to Parent, congratulations! Adopting your step child can be a big step in any family, and requires planning and forethought. By adopting your step child, you are given the same rights and obligations you would have if the child had been...

If you are like the majority of people facing divorce, your family home is probably one of your largest assets. While each couple divides this asset in a way that works for their unique situation, there is some general information you should be aware of when it comes to your property. Bewar...

Happiness has to come from within. Money or a perfect relationship can ease stress day to day but the only thing that will bring you true happiness is yourself. This terrifying fact requires that you first take responsibility for your current state of happiness (or unhappiness). Accept yours...

Going through a Divorce? You probably want a CR2A, but what exactly is it? CR2A refers to Court Rule 2, a Washington State Civil Rule which governs enforceable agreements made out of court. Basically, if you sign an agreement during mediation, or prior to a trial; and your attorneys sign as well,...

In most cases, divorces are not prompted by a single concrete moment of conflict or a dramatic affair. The death of your relationship is the result of a million tiny paper cuts that eventually create an accumulation of wounds so severe there is no healing them. As soon as mutual respect is lost i...

  There is nothing fair about divorce. Whether you or your spouse initiated the divorce, is it probable that you married this person with the intention of growing old together and that is no longer a possibility. That itself is unfair.   As far as the divorce process goes, being hung up on eve...

While courts in some jurisdictions are leaning more and more towards the 50/50 schedule, establishing a parenting plan can still be confusing and complicated. We have some expert tips to help you decide if a 50/50 shared custody plan is right for you. Here are a few questions to ask yourself befo...

An article in the Washington Post last week suggests that those in the 20-30 crowd are more likely to have prenups than those of older generations. This is not surprising as marriage ages are reaching an all time high and therefore people are entering marriage with more to lose financially tha...

Among many other articles, the Washington Post reported this week that Chris Pratt (38), star of Parks and Recreation and Guardians of the Galaxy and Anna Faris (40) of the CBS sitcom Mom have announced their separation. While celebrity splits arent exactly front-page news, this breakup has fans...

Divorcedgirlsmiling recently posted about the ways in which a dog can offer support during a divorce. Expanding upon that, a dog can offer not only you but also your children a unique type of comfort during the upset of divorce. First, dogs offer unconditional love. It does not matter what kin...

Today I saw a woman post in a Facebook group I belong to about her recent miscarriage and how supportive her husband has been during the process. It made me deeply sad to read so many other women (96 comments) say things to the effect of “youre so lucky your husband is very supportive” and “Im ...

According to a recent study by Harvard Sociologist Alexandra Killewald published in Time Magazine, marriages are particularly sensitive to economic changes for men such as unemployment. However, financial strain alone in this scenario is likely not the sole impetus to divorce. Why in contemporary...

Are you feeling angry? Many of the same issues that led to divorce may resurface and could be exacerbated by the divorce process. What is a person to do when they are a on the receiving end of their soon-to-be-exs anger, blame or hostility, and how should you deal with your own anger? Reco...

You co-parent your child because you understand that your children do best when they have loving, fulfilling and respectful relationships with both their parents. But could you accidently be sabotaging your own efforts? According to this Huffington Post article released in March, co-parents ma...

According to Stanford University, “…nearly 70% of women initiated a divorce.” Psychologists argue that this is the result of building resentment resulting from years of emotional miscommunication. Women typically seek deep levels of emotional connection, including support, which often goes unmet ...

Times are changing and in 2017 it is not uncommon to find women earning more than their husbands. How is this fact related to divorce? Marriage itself is a tradition born out of a woman's need for financial support by a man so what happens when you take away women's financial dependence? Accor...

Gaslighting This is a relatively trendy word in the psychology community right currently but gaslighting essentially involves a constant form of manipulation and/or emotional invalidation that leaves one party questioning their own sanity. In the case of conflict, gaslighting often involves de...

Despite its reputation, divorce does not have to cost an arm and a leg. There are several steps you and your ex partner can take to minimize the cost of divorce. Lawyers spend dozens of hours prepping for divorce litigation behind the scenes and this time spent preparing for litigation can result...

We understand at you have many options for legal representation when selecting an attorney to help guide you through your divorce process; but all of those options can be overwhelming! How do you know how to find the right lawyer for you? Research: Don't just choose the first divorce attorney ...

During a life-changing event such as divorce it is normal to seek guidance and support from friends. For the most part this support is beneficial but there are those friends, who despite their best intentions, create negative energy and may impede your judgment in the divorce process. The fr...

Family dynamics are changing and the legal system meets these changings with varying degrees of success. With leaps in assisted-reproduction and the embrace of non-traditional family structures courts are moving past the historic two-parent model. However, Courts still struggle to balance the rig...

As a family law attorney, I was riveted to hear about this 17-year-old Girl Scout fighting to change the law in her home state of New Hampshire; the law allows girls as young as 13, and boys who are 14 to be married with the consent of a judge who finds a special circumstance. You can watch th...

The nuances of abortion are not something readily discussed in our society. Abortion is a hot button issue that many people feel strongly about on both sides of the isle and I view this issue through a limited partisan lens, often ignoring both scientific and economic facts. One of the most strik...