However, this can leave one spouse with a slight advantage since they will get expert legal advice which is tailored to their best interest. Online divorce may be appropriate for couples who have an uncontested case. After you agree, our Washington State uncontested divorce lawyers handle everything else. If you have questions about the Washington State divorce process, you should contact a local family law attorney for advice. The Washington State Courts offer online forms for completing an uncontested divorce or in hard copy at your local courthouse. The process of filing for divorce as a sole petitioner is quite lengthy. All the costs are stipulated by the Supreme Court and can vary according to the terms of your case. At Bliss Law Group, we will provide you with the legal guidance you need … Just like a contested divorce, an uncontested divorce will legally end your marriage. Code Ann. This will ensure you are both happy with the agreement terms. The divorce process begins with the divorce form or petition for divorce. Code Ann. Online Divorce in Washington. For example, it might be decided that one spouse will keep the marital home to live in with your children. In some states, the information on this website may be considered a lawyer referral service. With a divorce by agreement, the spouses must agree on every issue in the divorce including child custody and child support, if children are involved. They are free to fill out online but some courthouses require … This article provides a general overview of the process of obtaining an uncontested divorce in Washington. However, it’s not always possible when one spouse disputes the divorce or you find it difficult to come to agreements on important points such as assets or child custody. The divorce process may also involve limiting contact if needed and one spouse may change their name if they changed it during the marriage. FL Divorce 201: Petition for Divorce (Dissolution) ... Washington State Child Support … § 26.09.030.) RCW 26.09.030. Virtually everyone getting a divorce (called a ‘marital dissolution’ in Washington State) wants to know how much it will cost to hire an attorney. September 18, 2020 If you have minor children, you must complete a divorce education course and provide proof of your attendance to the court. Having outside counsel gives you both a sounding board to reduce arguments and help you reach the fairest compromise possible. Although you may think a divorce attorney isn’t necessary, it’s surprising how quickly divorce proceedings can become complicated. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. Are Parenting Plans Affected By New Covid restrictions? If served in Washington state, your spouse will have 20 days to respond. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. This shows the vast difference between the two and the money you can potentially save when filing for an uncontested divorce. Divorces don’t happen overnight. For more information on uncontested divorces in Washington, see Washington Statutes, Chapter 26, Section 9. Because of this, even if you don’t need outside counsel, hiring an attorney as support will ensure your paperwork is correct and no delays will happen. According to Washington State law, any property acquired during your marriage is community property and must be divided equally. The only legal grounds for a divorce in the state of Washington is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Any property or assets owned prior to the marriage is not considered community property and will not be subject to the divorce proceedings. In this case, one spouse must still be the petitioner and the other the respondent. If you and your spouse are both happy to get the divorce and can come to an agreement on assets and terms, an uncontested divorce is the best option. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. Actions are filed in the Superior Court. It's important to understand that if you file the wrong forms, submit your petition without all the required forms, or bring your paperwork to the wrong court, the judge may dismiss your case, and you will have to start the process over. 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. Washington only grants divorce on a no-fault basis. Uncontested Divorce in Washington. However, if you have issues reaching agreement on the settlement, a hearing will need to be arranged to come to a legal agreement in front of a judge. A written settlement agreement will be submitted to the Ex Parte Department Commissioner who will need to approve the settlement to make the divorce final. Support is less common, but involves the attorney advising both parties after the papers have been drafted. In an uncontested divorce, both spouses agree on the issues involved in the divorce, such … It can include the attorney help that may cost $500-600 per hour. You’ll then have to wait 90 days for the courts to finalize the divorce. Failing to respond can lead to default. Anyone can file for an uncontested divorce as long as their spouse agrees to the settlement conditions. The best candidates for an uncontested divorce are a couple with no children, few assets to split, who have an amicable relationship. In the process, all of your assets accumulated during the marriage will be split, and one spouse might receive an alimony payment. The date the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution is when your divorce becomes final. There’s no need to attend a court hearing and it’s much quicker, easier, and cheaper than a contested divorce. All rights reserved. Ensure all paperwork is filled out in full and filed in the correct departments to avoid delays. Divorce is inevitably difficult for the adults and children involved. Instead, you must file to end your domestic partnership. Before you request an uncontested divorce action in Washington, you and your spouse must agree on all of the following issues: Washington offers a simplified process for uncontested divorces if spouses can agree on all issues in their divorce—divorce courts in the Evergreen State refer to this simplified process as a "divorce by agreement.". For the process to work, however, your partner will need to agree on the following: If you can’t agree on any of these issues, an uncontested divorce will not work and you’ll need to go through the process of a contested divorce. The law will still keep you from moving to the state and immediately getting a divorce, though. (Wash. Rev. They are free to fill out online but some courthouses require a fee for filling them in in-person. Uncontested Divorce in Washington 100% Court Approval Guarantee. In this case, there are fewer issues to resolve to make the divorce final. No comments yet. Washington offers a simplified process for uncontested divorces if spouses can agree on all issues in their divorce—divorce courts in the Evergreen State refer to this simplified process as a "divorce by agreement.". This article provides cost information on both, to the extent available. This will also require a court fee. Uncontested Divorce in Washington D.C. 100% Court Approval Guarantee. In this instance, the courts will intervene and help resolve any issues. Although a joint petition may seem like a good option, it’s usually only advisable in the most uncomplicated divorces when the following applies: If you are thinking about filing a joint petition, it’s always best to consult an attorney first to see if this is the best option for your circumstances. Remember, this can be your home county, your spouse’s home county, or Lincoln County, but you’ll need permission from your spouse to file in Lincoln if you’re not a resident there. Uncontested Divorce in Washington State: The Complete Guide, How To Have an Effective Co-Parenting Relationship. You will also need to pay an additional court filing fee of around $300. An uncontested divorce occurs when: (a) there are no disagreements between you and your spouse over any financial or divorce-related issues (i.e., child custody and support, division of marital property or spousal support); and (b) your spouse either agrees to the divorce, or fails to appear in the divorce action. This usually isn’t necessary in an uncontested divorce. For self-help options, visit Washington Law Help for information, forms, and guidance. The step-by-step process of preparing divorce documents at Onlinedivorce.com makes it easy on you. To begin the process of an uncontested divorce, you must know your spouse’s address and both agree on the terms of the divorce. The spouse who files the initial paperwork is called the "petitioner," and the other spouse will be the "respondent." Some counties have more than one superior court. Since Washington is a no-fault state, there’s no need to prove your spouse did something wrong in order to file for divorce. It is common for divorce in Washington to take up to 6 months or longer. Copyright ©2021 MH Sub I, LLC dba Nolo ® Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. § 26.09.006.) Fo… By VSSF However, your divorce can be easier, and more like a polite negotiation than a boxing match. The forms you’ll fill out are as follows: There are additional forms if you and your spouse have children together who are under the age of 18: If you do have children, you’ll also be required to attend a divorce education course and provide proof of your attendance during the divorce proceedings. In Washington, divorcing spouses (contested or uncontested) must meet the state's residency requirement before the court accepts the case. An uncontested divorce can make the separation process easier and less stressful. Divorce and Other Options for Ending Your Marriage without Children in Washington State Authored By: Northwest Justice Project Read this in: Spanish / Español. 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