Legal Expertise You Can Rely On

Our Northwest Law Group family law attorneys have been helping clients in the greater Bellevue area for the last five years. Alice, our lead family law attorney, understands that getting a divorce is an emotionally trying time. Because of this, she focuses on client involvement, so you understand what is going on in the case and positioned to make informed decisions about your future.

Northwest Law Group has multiple locations to better serve residents of King and Snohomish counties. If you are thinking about starting a family law case or have been served and are in the throws of a case, we are here to help. Contact us today via email or phone and we will help resolve any type of case as quickly and simply as possible.

Dissolution of Marriage

In Washington, the legal term for divorce is a “dissolution of marriage.” To dissolve a marriage, one or both spouses must allege the marriage is “irretrievably broken.” As a “no-fault” divorce state, the alleging spouse need not prove any wrongdoing on the part of the other spouse in order to dissolve the marriage. The goal of this system is to reduce resentment between the spouses and is particularly important in dissolutions involving children.

Legal Separations

For a variety of reasons, some couples opt for a legal separation instead of a divorce. This type of action offers the same legal relief as a dissolution, just without actually “ending” the marriage. This means spouses who opt for a legal separation cannot remarry, but either party can file to convert the legal separation decree into a final decree of dissolution after a 6-month waiting period.

Annulments

An annulment is much less common than dissolution or legal separation actions. Also known as a “Decree of Invalidity,” there are very strict rules around what types of situations warrant a marriage be deemed invalid. It is important to note that, even if the marriage is invalid, the court still has jurisdiction to provide both parties with legal relief like that offered in dissolution and separation actions. Annulments often come down to highly specific details and in-depth legal arguments, so having one of our experienced Bellevue family law attorneys at your side is integral.

Child Custody

The word “custody” is not used in Washington State, and most often both parents maintain a shared responsibility for their children. Most often, the kid(s) will live with one parent for the majority of the time. In Washington, the residential time schedule for the child is determined by what plan captures their best interests. Absent evidence to the contrary, our state laws require a parenting plan to give each parent enough time with the child, so the two develop a loving and stable relationship.

Child Support

In Washington, both parents are responsible for financially providing for their children. The amount to be paid is determined by the Washington State Child Support Schedule. This schedule looks to each parent’s income, the number of children, and other expenses related to caring for the child(ren). Child support is often the longest-running financial obligation placed on a spouse. It is with the long term affects in mind that our Bellevue family law attorneys work to ensure each spouse pays an equitable share of expenses related to their child(ren).

Spousal Maintenance

Unlike for child support, there is no set schedule for maintenance. Instead, the request for maintenance is analyzed against the parties’ relative financial situations. This analysis looks to factors including length of the marriage, each spouse’s employability, and the age and health of each party. The vast discretion of the court in these matters is all the more reason hiring a knowledgeable family law advocate in Bellevue or otherwise is integral.

Division of Property

Washington is one of the few “community property” states in the U.S. This means that each spouse has an equal but undivided interest in the property acquired during the marriage. “Separate property” refers to property that was acquired before or after the marriage. The court looks to various specifics but attempts to distribute property in a fair and equitable manner. Depending on the length of the marriage and how much community property was acquired during that time, this can be one of the most complicated steps in a dissolution of marriage case. If you and your spouse are a high net-worth couple, you must seek representation from a competent advocate.

Modification of Court Orders

The most common types of modification actions relate to parenting plans, child support orders, and orders to pay spousal maintenance. As a general principle, the court will only modify a final order if key circumstances have changed considerably since the time the order was entered. The Court generally does not like to change final orders, so the standards by which these cases are judged is a high one. Our family law attorneys representing clients in Bellevue and beyond have experience in successfully handling all types of modification actions.

Domestic Violence Protection Orders

The two important types of Protection Orders when speaking about Family Law are a Domestic Violence Order for Protection and a Restraining Order. Domestic Violence Orders for Protection are not filed as part of a divorce case, while Restraining Orders are. As such, Domestic Violence Orders for Protection cannot address child support, spousal maintenance, division of property, or permanent child custody. Included in the things both orders can address order the respondent not to hurt you or enter your residence; grant possession of essential personal effects or use of a vehicle; or provide temporary custody of the child(ren).

If you think any of these areas of family law might apply to an action you are part of, or are thinking about starting, hiring a trustworthy family law attorney from Northwest Law Group can be the first step in getting past this stage of your life. Contact us today, either by clicking the “Contact Us” link on our homepage. Our family law attorneys working in the greater Bellevue area experienced and will work with you towards a resolution.

Our Bellevue attorneys can also represent you in matters related to personal injury. There are two main components to a personal injury case. The first is proving the other person or company is liable for the injuries you sustained, and once this has been sufficiently shown, what is the extent and nature of those damages? Our attorneys are well versed in navigating this fraught area of law and have a strong track record of providing our clients with the relief they desperately need.

Traffic infractions can take a range of forms, including speeding tickets, parking violations, and many others. Although many types of traffic infractions can be handled without an attorney, oftentimes this leads to a less than desirable result. This can lead to large fines, increased insurance costs, and income lost due to time spent in court. Attorneys at our Bellevue and Everett offices work to not only reduce the likelihood of these undesirable outcomes, but also work to reduce the amount of time and energy you must spend on such matters to get them resolved.

Everyone makes mistakes, and here at Northwest Law Group we feel as though everyone deserves a second chance. For this reason, if you ever come into contact with the law in a criminal matter, our attorneys will fight for you in a non-judgmental environment. Something as small as a DUI can vastly uproot your life and ability to function normally, so having an experienced attorney who can fight for you is absolutely crucial. Contact us today if you have a criminal matter looming over you and our attorneys will work to see it to its speedy conclusion.

Whether you are dealing with a Family Law matter, traffic violation, personal injury case, or criminal DUI, attorneys at Northwest Law Group are experienced and ready to help you reach a resolution. No matter what your specific case relates to, issues that must be resolved in court are emotional and oftentimes difficult to navigate. Contact us today through the contact form on our website, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.