Tacoma, WA Divorce Attorney

Divorce can be a stressful process, but you can protect your future and peace of mind with the right legal counsel. Choose the Law Firm where “The Family is Our Focus.” 

Key Takeaways:

• Washington is both a community property state and a no-fault divorce state, so you can expect that marital assets will be divided fairly and equitably and that fault or blame won’t factor in your divorce proceedings.
  
• Your divorce can be addressed through different forums, depending on your circumstances. If you and your spouse can make mutual decisions, you may choose a voluntary dispute resolution process like mediation or collaborative divorce. If not, your case may need to be handled in court through litigation.
  
• Our Tacoma Divorce Attorney can protect your interests regardless of the path your divorce takes.

When you’ve made the decision to divorce, you might find yourself intimidated by the process, confused by your legal options, or fearful of what the process might mean for your family and future. When you are plagued by these concerns, you need legal assistance that equally prioritizes compassion, skill, and advocacy, so you can move forward with peace of mind.

At CLEAR WATER PNW, our Tacoma divorce attorney is ready to serve you with over twenty-five years of experience in Family Law. Our lead Attorney is a Certified Mediator,  Divorce Coach, Parent Coach, and Co-Parent Coach, meaning that she has the skill necessary to help you reach positive solutions that minimize stress. With a long history and deep respect for the Court, Judges, Court Commissioners, and courtroom procedures, we can guide you through Litigation, helping you fight for what you deserve, when necessary. 

If you are ready to get started, reach out today to schedule a Free Case Evaluation.

What You Need to Know About Divorce in Tacoma

When you get divorced in Washington, you are faced with essential questions involving asset division, spousal maintenance, child custody, and child support. Since Washington is a community property state, you can expect that your marital assets will be divided fairly and equitably between you and your spouse.

Marital assets include any assets that you or your spouse acquired during the course of the marriage, such as your home, your vehicle, retirement accounts, or even your business. Separate property, on the other hand, is any property that you acquired prior to your marriage or by gift or inheritance. Generally, separate property is not divided in divorce, because it is considered solely owned. However, there are some exceptions and all property, both community and separate in nature, is before the Court, which is why it’s best to speak with our Tacoma Divorce Attorney regarding your unique circumstances. 

It’s important to note that Washington is a no-fault divorce state, meaning you are only required to submit that your marriage is “irretrievably broken” in order to be granted a divorce. Fault-based issues, such as adultery or abandonment, are generally not factored into decisions regarding divorce. However, there are certain exceptions. If your spouse wasted marital assets on an affair, for example, you might be entitled to a greater portion of the property division in order to make up for the expenditure. Or, if you are divorcing, because your spouse presents a danger to your child, it is vital to address this issue during decisions regarding custody arrangements and your Parenting Plan.

How Our Tacoma Divorce Attorney Can Make a Difference for You

When you are getting divorced, you want the right approach that’s going to make sense for your needs and goals. Our seasoned Tacoma Divorce Attorney of CLEAR WATER PNW can help you regardless of the path your divorce takes.

There are a few main approaches to divorce:

• Uncontested Divorce:  If you and your spouse agree on each and every term of your Divorce—from how to divide your assets and debts, to spousal maintenance, child custody, parenting, child support, and fees—then you have an “Uncontested” Divorce.  This approach is often called “Kitchen Table” Divorce.

• Contested  Divorce Handled through a Collaborative Law Process: When you and your spouse want to be cost-effective, stay out of Court, maintain privacy, and decide issues together, you don’t have to go to Court to achieve a resolution. With the help of your Divorce Lawyers and other professionals like a Divorce Coach, Child Specialist, or Financial Specialist, you can collaborate on decisions while protecting your time, finances, and privacy.

• Contested Divorce Handled through Mediation: Mediation can happen at different stages of your Divorce. You may choose early-stage Mediation before any Court involvement, with or without a Divorce Lawyer present. Alternatively, you may turn to Mediation after going through Temporary Orders and Discovery, as a way to avoid Trial. In Mediation, a neutral Mediator works with both you and your spouse to help you resolve issues and reach agreements together. The Mediator does not provide legal advice or represent either party in Court—their role is simply to facilitate productive discussions. Mediation offers several benefits: it’s cost-effective, keeps your matters private, and allows you and your spouse to maintain control over the decisions that affect your family.

• Contested Divorce Handled with Court-Based Litigation: If you and your spouse do not both choose Collaborative Divorce or Mediation to come to agreements on all aspects of your divorce, you may need to turn to Courtroom Litigation to fight for the terms you believe in.

No matter what type of divorce is right for you, CLEAR WATER PNW can help. With Certifications in Mediation, Divorce Coaching, Parent Coaching, and Co-Parent Coaching, we will try to help you resolve your differences to the best of our abilities, in any forum that is right for you, so that you can reach resolution of the issues involved in your divorce. If it is necessary for you to go to Court, we will advocate for you and make sure you are consistently apprised of your legal options.

We are the Law Firm and Mediation and Coaching Company where “The Family is Our Focus.” We know that you have essential priorities, and we work with you to meet them.

CLEAR WATER PNW: Helping You Move Forward

At CLEAR WATER PNW, we have the ability to guide you through divorce with empathy and legal clarity. Reach out to schedule your Free Case Evaluation and learn more about how we can be your guiding light throughout the divorce process.