Ending a marriage in Washington State is a relatively straightforward process. Even if one spouse contests the divorce, the court will grant a dissolution of marriage petition if the other states that the marriage is irretrievably broken. However, disagreements about property division, child custody, spousal support, or other relevant issues must be addressed legally. Divorce Lawyers in Tacoma WA help spouses negotiate agreements on those issues by setting up collaborative meetings or mediation sessions. That way, the couple can avoid bringing the divorce to court and dealing with the hassle, expense, and the emotionally trying experience of litigation.
These agreements should never be done casually. They must be documented with the court for the protection of both spouses. Even the most amicable divorcing couple may find one of them changing his or her mind later about important issues. Agreeing to an informal shared child custody schedule may seem reasonable, for example, but not having the agreement filed legally leaves both parents at risk of the other person attempting to make a significant change without going through proper legal channels.
It’s important to realize that an attorney such as Rafal Gorski makes sure the client’s rights are protected, and the client may not even be aware of some of those rights. What if the divorcing couple is nearing retirement age and only one spouse has been working full-time throughout the marriage? The other spouse may have a right to payments from the pension plan. Even if that individual does not want to pursue those payments, knowing about legal rights in divorce is crucial to make informed decisions.
Divorce Lawyers in Tacoma WA see to it that all aspects of the marriage dissolution are legally documented and fit within state regulations. The court is unlikely to approve arrangements that are far outside of normal parameters. For instance, divorcing couples generally cannot decide that one person receives 90 percent of the marital property. A more equitable distribution is required for the sake of fairness. It does not matter whether only one person wants the divorce and feels guilty about leaving or whether one person has earned all or nearly all of the money during the marriage.
