Family and Parenting
Financial Planning for the Blended Family
January 24, 2017
First, congratulations. We love helping families who are coming together. In addition to some of the emotional implications that make come along with blending your family, it is also important to get your financial arrangements in order. Here are some top suggestions before you tie the knot: C...
Restructuring DSHS
January 9, 2017
Locally and nationwide it's clear the child welfare system is in a dire state of disrepair. We recently highlighted one of the bigger problems facing the system: caseworker burnout and turnover. One possible solution on the horizon is a dramatic restructuring of the Department of Social and Healt...
Youth Incarceration
December 17, 2016
The Youth First Initiative, a national advocacy campaign, is seeking to end incarceration of youth by closing youth prisons and investing in community-based alternatives. The Initiative believes that the system of incarcerating youth is so beyond repair that is does not need mere improvement but ...
Crisis in Child Welfare
December 14, 2016
One of the biggest crises in the child welfare system is caseworker turnover. Many involved families have ten or more new workers through the life of their case. According to Crosscut, turnover is around 20 percent a year in Washington State and has been as high as 30 percent in King County (almo...
Practical Guide to Grandparent Rights for Visitation in Washington
December 13, 2016
Wonderful grandparents can make an enormous impact in the lives of their grandchildren. Arguably, it is in the child's best interest to have visitations with their grandparents, and the grandparents have an interest in maintaining their relationship with their grandchildren. The Washington Legisl...
Parental Alienation: How to Help a Polarized Child
December 9, 2016
Parental alienation occurs in high-conflict divorce, where the child is caught between two fighting parents and made to choose sides. While every divorce, every family, and every child is unique there are some universal recommendations for helping the polarized child form and maintain healthy rel...
Toxic Stress – Just How Toxic is it to Kids?
November 29, 2016
Harvard University recently highlighted research showing how the child welfare system can benefit from utilizing findings in the neuroscience and child development fields. Focusing on the causes and effects of toxic stress, this research shows how children could greatly benefit from streamlined s...
Parenting Plan
November 15, 2016
Every person, every family, and every divorce is unique. Gone are the days where everyone is stuck in the “every Wednesday and every other weekend” rut. While this arrangement may work for some, in the modern age attorneys and families can work together to craft unique parenting arrangements that...
DSHS Changed Visitation Policy
November 10, 2016
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) recently modified its visitation policy in a major way. There is now a presumption that visits between parents and children be unsupervised and in the least restrictive setting unless the presence of threats and danger to the child requires the ...
Getting Married Again? You May Need a Prenup to Protect your Kids.
October 19, 2016
A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into by a couple before marriage. The prenup spells out the property rights of one or both of the parties involved. One of the most common situations calling for a prenup in Washington is the second marriage involving children. Why? Pre-marital agre...