Spokane Family Law Blog

Children and lashing out during divorce

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

As you may know, a divorce can have a negative impact on children. It's not always true that they act out, but some children may as a way of exhausting their emotions. If they aren't sure how else to get their point across or don't have the emotional tools to find productive ways to state their grievances, sadness or anger, then children may act out instead.

Emotional challenges are common for some children following a separation or divorce. As a parent, it's your job to make sure you talk to them about the divorce and help guide them through it. If, however, they are not responding well after a few weeks of talks and support, then it may be time to call a family therapist or children's therapist.

Protecting your money during a divorce

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office posted in Divorce on Wednesday, July 3, 2019.

In the past, it was generally assumed that once a couple got married they would combine their finances by creating a joint bank account. Nowadays, however, many couples, particularly "millennials," are choosing to keep their finances separate even after marriage. A survey by the Bank of America revealed that close to 28 percent of married millennials, compared to only 11 percent of "Gen Xers" and 13 percent of "Baby Boomers" are keeping their money separate from their spouse.

Couples who keep their finances separate may also be trying to avoid the complications of property division if they ever get divorced. However, experts say that just because an asset or bank account is in your name, doesn't mean it will automatically go to you in the divorce.

The right information every step of your divorce

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office posted in Divorce on Thursday, June 20, 2019.

For most couples, getting a divorce is a painful and difficult process, emotionally and otherwise. Even if you and your spouse are on good terms and agree on most issues at the beginning, things can easily change by the end. It is easy for divorcing spouses to let their emotions cloud their judgment and, as a result, they make mistakes that affect them negatively for years to come. The right information can set you up for success as a newly single man or woman living in Washington, and help you avoid these costly mistakes.

At our law firm, we are experienced in all kinds of family law matters, from contested divorce to custody disputes. Many divorcing parents, for example, say that coming up with an effective parenting plan is their number one priority, so that their children can continue living happy, stable lives. Divorcing couples without children may be more focused on dividing up the marital assets or spousal support to set themselves up financially for the future.

Don't put your kids in the middle of your divorce

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office on Sunday, June 16, 2019.

You and your spouse don't get along, so you've separated. You're going through the motions, making sure you divorce correctly, but you've already roughly worked out custody plans for your kids.

The trouble is that the plans aren't yet 100%, and there are times when you and your estranged spouse have to talk. Those times tend to end up in screaming matches, so to avoid it, you've both been sending messages through your children.

Grandparents now have the right to seek visitation with grandkids

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Being a grandparent is an incredible, rewarding time. You have all the joy and love that comes from watching a child mature and develop, but there is less strain than is often found in the typically fraught parent-child relationship. Many grandparents treasure their unique and special bond with their grandchildren.

That makes it all the more tragic when families encounter circumstances that interfere in that relationship. Perhaps you have a falling out with your child, and they don't want to let you stop by to visit your grandchild anymore. Maybe there's been a divorce, and your child completely lost custody. Now, your former son- or daughter-in-law doesn't want you to see the kids.

What happens if you lose your job during a divorce?

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office posted in Divorce on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

You and your spouse are getting a divorce and have already begun the process when suddenly, one of you loses your job. How will this change in circumstances effect the proceedings? While every situation is different, there are certain things you can do help yourself during this challenging time.

Your income and your spouse's current incomes play an important role when it comes to determining spousal support and child support. For instance, a higher earning spouse may be expected to pay a certain amount each month to a lesser-earning spouse to provide them with financial support to help them get back on their feet after the divorce. Washington courts also will often enter your income and your spouse's income, as well as the child's expenses, into a formula to calculate how much child support is owed by the non-custodial parent each month.

How can I file for divorce in the state of Washington?

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office posted in Divorce on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

If you have decided to file for divorce, you should know that every state has its own version of the divorce process. If you or your spouse lives in the state of Washington, you will generally start the process by filing a petition for the dissolution of marriage with the clerk's office in your county or the county where you spouse lives. You will also file a certificate of dissolution, or vital statistics form, with the family law court in Washington. If you choose to hire a divorce attorney, they can help you with every step of the divorce process, starting with the initial filing.

As a no-fault state, Washington courts will not require you to establish which spouse caused the divorce. In your petition, all you will have to do is state that your marriage is "irretrievably broken" and request the dissolution of your marriage. You will also need to provide information regarding your spouse and children and enter requests for child support, spousal support, health insurance, and property division.

Your options for creating a parenting plan in Washington

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

When you chose to have children with your spouse, you probably didn't think about what would happen if you eventually ended your marriage. Most couples conceive their children when they still foresee spending the rest of their life with their spouse. Unfortunately, circumstances and people can change, leaving you worried about how divorce is going to affect your relationship with your children.

The good news for people in Washington considering divorce is that the state typically wants to protect the relationship between the children and both parents when they create the parenting plan. Your parenting plan can come from the courts through litigation or from you and your spouse via mediation or an uncontested divorce filing.

Wendy Williams' ex seeking spousal and child support

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office posted in Divorce on Friday, May 10, 2019.

Talk show host Wendy Williams has been in the news lately after filing for divorce from her husband, Kevin Hunter, after 22 years of marriage. According to multiple reports, Hudson apparently was seeing another woman and the two of them had a child born in 2019. Hunter recently responded to Williams' divorce petition, reportedly requesting spousal support to help him get back on his feet after the divorce, as well as child support to cover college expenses for the couple's 18-year-old son.

When one spouse is a higher-earner than the other, the lesser-earning spouse may seek spousal support or maintenance to provide them with financial assistance following the divorce. In the state of Washington, the court will determine how much to award in spousal maintenance based on various factors including the age, financial obligations, and health of the spouse seeking support, and the standard of living established during the parties' marriage.

Adele's impending divorce may cost her millions

On behalf of Mark Hodgson of Hodgson Law Office posted in Divorce on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

During the wedding planning process, soon-to-be married couples may be reluctant to consider the very real possibility that their marriage will not work out. As a result, many people refuse to enter into a prenuptial agreement with their fiancé, thereby putting themselves at risk financially if the marriage goes south. Despite this risk, statistics show that only 5% of married couples have a prenup in place. The lack of a prenuptial agreement can be a costly mistake, particularly for high-earning spouses like pop superstar Adele.

It was recently revealed that Adele and husband Simon Konecki would be getting a divorce, but that the couple had reportedly not signed a prenuptial agreement when they married in 2011. If the couple chooses to file for divorce in California, they may have to split their assets evenly, meaning that Simon could get half of Adele's earnings. California, like Washington, is a community property state, meaning that both spouses get an even share of the marital assets upon divorce.

Related
Video