Legal Grounds for Divorce . FL Divorce 201 Petition for Divorce (Dissolution) p. 1 of 10 Superior Court of Washington, County of In re the marriage of: ... Washington State, or is stationed in this state as a member of the armed forces. We encourage you to call us so we can learn more about your needs and how we can help. The case is dependant on the issues that can make the divorce more complicated. In such a circumstance, the parties are somewhere between an "uncontested" and a "contested" matter. We are always ready to assist if you have any difficulties with filling out our questionnaire. Although Washington is a no-fault state and you must only cite irreconcilable differences to move forward with a divorce, if substance abuse is present in a marriage, it can have an impact. In some, like New Hampshire, it only takes a couple of weeks. Our team of professionals will answer all your questions via phone or email. Generally, first-time divorces with no children and relatively small collection of assets will be much quicker to obtain than contested divorces which must be resolved in court. Residency requirements & grounds for divorce - In Washington, a divorce is called "dissolution of marriage". You should do everything to get an uncontested divorce to save time. In this situation, participating in mediation with a trained family law mediator could be a good option. A contested divorce looks like most other court cases. So, there is no need to visit our offices – you will receive a full WA State divorce packet via the email. Our Awards & Accolades. Most state divorce laws require your spouse to respond to the petition for divorce within 30 days. There is no specific length of time for you to reside in the state. This article provides cost information on both, to the extent available. Uncontested Divorce (Low Costs) Whether you have children or not, opting for an uncontested divorce is faster and comparatively less expensive. Also, don’t forget that Washington is a no-fault divorce state, and irretrievable breakdown is the only reason you will ever need to cite for an uncontested divorce Washington. Child Custody and Child Visitation Issues are Often the Most Difficult to Settle. If your spouse does respond, your case will proceed on to the discovery and settlement stages. While the overall divorce rate in the United States has decreased, Washington D.C. has the highest divorce rate in the country (1). Legal separations are uncommon, but can be beneficial in some cases. The process is similar to divorce in that spouses still divide property, draft parenting plans, set child support and decide on spousal maintenance. While contested divorces may end up at trial, many of the disagreements in a contested divorce can be resolved through negotiations or mediation to reach a divorce settlement outside of court. Grounds for divorce. There is no set time required for a person to be a resident of the state before they can file for divorce in Washington. Call now to speak with a family law lawyer from our team today! The only legal grounds for a divorce in the state of Washington is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Did a member of your family die and leave unique estate division matters to be resolved, such as the following? Parenting Plans in Washington State Divorce Parenting Plans Child Support Spousal Support Military Divorce Schedule a Consultation. Coming to an agreement is difficult as emotions often get in the way of rational thinking. The contested divorce takes much time and can be approximately 12 months. Washington has a minimum time limit on divorces, imposing a 90-day “cooling off” period which must elapse between the time the petition is filed through the time when the court can issue a dissolution degree. The Contested Divorce Roadmap gives an high-level overview of what to expect in your dissolution proceeding. Washington Divorce. How to serve your spouse in Washington. All the petitioner or couple must plead is irreconcilable differences to have the separation granted. To begin your Washington divorce action, you or your attorney must complete and file a petition for dissolution of marriage. Washington recognizes domestic partnerships, and the following information applies to both dissolution of marriage (divorce) and dissolution of domestic partnership situations. You and your spouse sit down and decide how your property and debts will be divided. This Divorce Worksheet and Law Summary for Contested or Uncontested Cases is a package that contains the following: information about divorce in general, definitions, visitation, child support, child custody as well as other matters. Contested divorces take a long time and are more expensive, as you will need to hire a divorce attorney to represent and fight your case on your behalf in court. UPDATED: The minimum amount of time required to finalize a divorce varies from state to state. This can be extremely expensive and time-consuming. Our experienced Washington State uncontested divorce attorneys can handle your situation as well, allowing you to breath easier knowing that all the little details will be taken care of in an efficient and professional manner. A contested divorce is any divorce in which the parties cannot agree on all terms. The report looked at 3661 Residential Time Summary Reports filed between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 in Washington State. When a couple chooses to get a divorce in Washington State, they have the option of filing an uncontested divorce, which is generally a much quicker and easier processes. If it can be proved that one spouse has a drug or alcohol problem, then it will have a negative impact on a parent’s ability to retain custody and visitation rights if children are present. Washington adopted No-Fault divorce legislation in 1973, and New York was the last state to adopt a full No-Fault divorce process in 2010. Each state’s family law eventually recognized that marriage is more of an emotional contract leaving the legally binding marriage license subject to an unfortunate, and all to often, termination. That’s the absolute minimum, but many take much longer. Each party has their own ideas about the outcome of their case. Resolving Estate Distribution Disputes In Washington State. If you have children, you and your spouse also decide on a residential schedule that is best for your children. A contested divorce usually more or less follows the same steps as any other court case. Virtually everyone getting a divorce (called a ‘marital dissolution’ in Washington State) wants to know how much it will cost to hire an attorney. An uncontested divorce is a process by which your marriage is ended by negotiation and agreement. In a way, it is an amicable divorce. Washington State Parenting Plans, Child Custody, and Child Visitation Learn everything you need to know about Washington Parenting Plans. A divorce legally ends your marriage and the court can divide property and debts, award one of you spousal maintenance (alimony), limit one spouse’s contact with the children, change a spouse’s name, and, if you have children, enter a parenting plan and order child support. The issues in a contested divorce are often conflict-ridden. Print the packet (first in the list) or print each form in the packet individually. In Washington State, the divorce forms most often required to be filed in an uncontested divorce include the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Summons, Acceptance of Service, Response to Petition, Joinder, Decree of Dissolution, Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, Financial Declaration. Forms for Dissolution (Divorce) and Dissolution of Registered Domestic Partnership. According to the Revised Code of Washington, Sec. If a couple cannot come to an agreement they have to go through a contested divorce. Washington does not recognize any fault-based grounds for divorce, so each dissolution of marriage in Kitsap County is a no-fault divorce, no matter if it is contested or uncontested. Either your spouse or you must be a resident of Washington to file for divorce in the state for any amount of time. Divorce does not always have to be a bitter battle between former spouses. Divorce services come in two basic price-categories: contested and uncontested. In Washington, a legal separation is a decree by a county superior court, which dictates the rights and duties of spouses that are still married, but living separate. In order to qualify for an uncontested divorce Washington, the spouse filing must be a resident of the state or, alternatively, a military member who has been stationed in Washington. Worksheets are als FRIENDLY SUPPORT. Contested Divorce vs. Uncontested Divorce. In the Washington State, you need to serve your spouse within 21 days from the Petition signing. Washington is a no-fault state meaning that it is unnecessary to prove to the court which spouse caused the divorce. Washington state divorce laws. In Washington, divorce takes a minimum of 90 days. You can file for divorce as long as your spouse or you have established your residency. Washington State divorce paperwork online doesn’t require meeting with a client in person. Washington DC Divorce Laws and Resources. Divorce usually falls into two separate categories: contested and uncontested. If you and your spouse agree on all issues and your divorce will be uncontested, then you can use Washington State Divorce Online for your divorce process. If your spouse does not respond within your state’s specified time limit, he/she is in default and you may obtain a default judgment of divorce. In a contested case the parties are unable to reach agreements about the issues of the divorce such as how to divide property or debts and how to care for minor children. Others, however, have a mandatory waiting period that exceeds six months. A recent report from the Washington State Center for Court Research offers interesting statistics that shed light on this matter. What is a Washington State uncontested divorce? Divorce in Washington state can be categorized as contested or uncontested. Contested Divorce If you find yourself going down the bumpy road of divorce in the state of Washington, chances are you will need an educated and experienced attorney to help guide you through. In this document, you will state that your marriage is irretrievably broken, and you are requesting the court dissolve your marriage. 26.09.030 , the only officially established ground is … A divorce is never something that you expect to go through and are likely not prepared for all of the legal aspects of it. In the first case, the parties involved can’t agree on terms of divorce, which can include property division, custody, and support.. Contested divorces usually create a … Legal separation. Online Divorce Codes - Washington State Revised Code - Title 26. Unusually, all cases of divorce in Washington are considered no-fault divorces. In a contested divorce you asked the judge to make these decisions for you. 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