Depression is a serious mental illness that can have devastating effects on the lives of people living in Washington and around the world. It can cause problems in relationships and sometimes leads to divorce. It’s important to understand the signs and symptoms of depression so that you or your spouse can get help if you’re struggling and potentially avert a divorce. What are the common symptoms of depression in a marriage? One of the most common symptoms of depression is withdrawing from social activities and losing interest in things that used to bring you joy. For instance, your spouse may ..read more

While most co-parents want to live at a close distance to one another to facilitate easy visitation, this is not always possible. In the event that one co-parent must move to a great distance, how can both parties make long-distance co-parenting work? Adapting to technology Onward App looks into ways to maximize parenting time as a long-distance co-parent. It is still possible to have a meaningful connection even at a distance, especially in today’s world of technology. Parents looking to establish a high quality of contact when they cannot rely on a high quantity should learn their way around ..read more

Dealing with custody and child support issues can be difficult and stressful no matter how long it has been since the divorce or separation. Not only that, but it may not always be easy to maintain a harmonious relationship with an ex-partner. This can put a damper on lines of communication. In addition to that, an unexpected change in child support payments can add to that stress. The good news is that even if you are not sure where to start, there are steps you can take to right the situation. Understand what your first step should be When the non-custodial partner has missed child support p ..read more

Your life can change quite a bit as your child grows up, and you may find that need you an adjustment to your existing custody arrangement. Whether you are the custodial parent or the non-custodial parent, you can ask a judge to grant a modification to the parenting plan. In Washington state, you can request either a major or minor modification when there is adequate cause for the potential change. Major vs minor modifications A major modification is a big change to the current parenting plan. These modifications often include significant increases or decreases in the time each parent has with ..read more

When you decide to divorce or you have a child outside of marriage, arranging legal child support ensures that the child has his or her financial needs met by both parents. Understanding this process helps families access the required resources. Review the steps to request child support services in Washington state. Enrolling in support services A custodial parent must fax or mail a paper form to request child support assistance from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. You must sign the form and include all required documentation, such as financial details. The agenc ..read more

Perhaps you and your spouse, a member of the military, have decided to end your marriage. The military divorce process in Washington involves a set of numbers. You may face the 10-10 rule regarding retirement and the 20-20-20 rule for the continuation of benefits. A little background In a military divorce, as in a traditional divorce, questions about support and healthcare arise, among other considerations. For some of the answers, you can turn to the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act. The 10-10 rule The USFSPA plays a role in your divorce if the court awards you a certain portio ..read more

When you decide to divorce or you have a child outside of marriage, arranging legal child support ensures that the child has his or her financial needs met by both parents. Understanding this process helps families access the required resources. Review the steps to request child support services in Washington state. Enrolling in support services A custodial parent must fax or mail a paper form to request child support assistance from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. You must sign the form and include all required documentation, such as financial details. The agenc ..read more

Perhaps you and your spouse, a member of the military, have decided to end your marriage. The military divorce process in Washington involves a set of numbers. You may face the 10-10 rule regarding retirement and the 20-20-20 rule for the continuation of benefits. A little background In a military divorce, as in a traditional divorce, questions about support and healthcare arise, among other considerations. For some of the answers, you can turn to the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act. The 10-10 rule The USFSPA plays a role in your divorce if the court awards you a certain portio ..read more

When married couples who have children divorce in Washington, they must come up with a parenting plan. This document details how they will share time with their children and make decisions together. If you face this situation, review the aspects of a parenting plan and factors used to determine custody in the state. Creating a parenting plan You and your spouse can negotiate a parenting plan together or ask the court to decide on your behalf. You can also go through the mediation process. In any case, you must end up with a plan that includes information about how you will resolve conflicts wi ..read more

Child support is usually regulated on state and local levels, but not always. The Child Support Recovery Act (1992) and the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act (1998) allow federal interference in the case of severe offenders. The state of Washington has specific penalties for those who willfully fail to meet their parental duties. However, these apply to those outright refusing to meet their obligations, not those who cannot. If parents are financially unable to keep up with required child maintenance payments, they have recourse. They may appeal the judge’s original decision. If an economic situ ..read more