Domestic Violence and Your Job
Last night, New Zealand took a huge leap forward by becoming just the second country to grant victims of Domestic Violence ten days paid leave from work each year. (The first country was the Philippines). These ten days exclude annual holiday or sick leave. This additional time provides the victims an opportunity to find a new home, and otherwise protect themselves and their children. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. According to
Summertime Fun, Not Stress
Summer is the time to have fun in the sun, take vacations and generally try to relax. But for divorced and separated parents, Summer often brings its own unique set of challenges. With the kids out of school, a variety of complications may arise from agreeing to allowing the children to participate in sports, music, religious camps, to finding child care while a parent has to work, to negotiating time for extended vacations, and everything in between. Below are some tips th
Grandparents Rights (and Relatives) in Washington State – Procedure
Grandparents and relatives now have the ability to petition the Court for visitation. Please click - Breaking News!!! Grandparents (and Relatives) Now Have Rights, for more information. The purpose of this article is to further detail the process for loving grandparents and relatives to seek visitation. Proper Venue and Notice Most requests brought by grandparents or relatives should be filed with the Court in the county that has exclusive original jurisdiction (i.e. Parentin
Things to do Before Filing for Divorce
1. Educate Yourself About the Process Before filing for any family law action, such as divorce (or Legal Separation and Committed Intimate Relationship) educate yourself about that process. This can be beneficial when you decide to move forward. Consulting with an attorney may be helpful. In addition to seeking legal advice, reading other materials may also be useful. Be selective, as there is a lot of inapplicable and misinformation online. As divorce laws vary from state t
Trump's Tax Plan Has HUGE Implications Upon Divorce
In Washington State, when a party to a divorce is ordered to pay support (also known as maintenance, or alimony) to a former spouse, that payment is tax deductible. This means the party paying support ("payor") receives a tax benefit for the amount paid and the party receiving support ("payee") must pay taxes as earned income. However, the current tax system is about to undergo a big change. Currently, divorce settlement is often reached when the parties agree to larger pa
Reasons Why Women Initiate Divorce
Women initiate divorce more often than men. According to a study conducted by sociology researchers at Stanford University, nearly 70% of divorces are initiated by women. Marriage itself is no longer burdened by outdated notions or expectations. As a result, there are a variety of reasons why more women are seeking a dissolution of their marriage. 1. Abusive Marriage Increasingly women will not stay in abusive marriages, nor should they. In Washington State there are a vast
Use of Social Media in Family Law
Use of Social Media in Family Law: Divorce, Child Custody, Parenting Plan, Protection Orders, Parenting Issues,
Anti-Harassment Protection Order
Family law litigation often involves the need for protection of property or from the other party. There are several different types of protection and restraining orders, including a general Restraining Order, Domestic Violence Protection Order, Sexual Assault Protection Order and Anti-Harassment Protection Order. Much of the protections available to litigants seeking general Restraining or Domestic Violence Protection Orders are also available to persons seeking an Anti-Hara
Sexual Assault Protection Order
Family law litigation often involves the need for protection of property or from the other party. There are several different types of protection and restraining orders, including a general Restraining Order, Domestic Violence Protection Order, Sexual Assault Protection Order and Anti-Harassment Protection Order. Much of the protection available in a Domestic Violence Protection Order is also available to victims seeking a Sexual Assault Protection Order. Protection orders i
Violations of Court Orders: Enforcement, Contempt, and Punitive Sanctions.
In Family Law, often a party does not comply with the Court's Order. When that happens, what can be done? In Washington there are a variety of legal remedies to compel enforcement, impose contempt, or otherwise punish a party for violations of a valid Court Order. Contempt of Court for Child Support and Parenting Plan Violations: Contempt is a serious remedy that is often used in the context of violations of a Child Support Order or a Parenting Plan. Bringing a contempt mo
