If you think your child custody battle could potentially become contentious, or if it has already become contentious and a guardian ad litem has been appointed, you might be wondering what factors the guardian ad litem will consider when making custody recommendations and whether the guardian ad litem will choose the parent with the better job. According to Washington Courts, a guardian ad litem or GAL is typically a person “appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child,” though parents can also request that a GAL be appointed on their child’s behalf. A guardian ad litem do ..read more

Very rarely will the courts award full custody to one parent. What are the legal grounds for full custody? In this article we’ll explore the grounds for full custody and explore the circumstances that typically must be shown for a parent to be awarded full custody. What is full custody? Full custody is a child custody arrangement where one parent has the sole right to make all major legal decisions on the child’s behalf. This includes the right to make religious, medical, and educational decisions. With a full custody arrangement, one parent will have the sole responsibility of raising the chi ..read more

The concept of the ironclad prenup has gained some traction in recent years thanks largely to media coverage. Read through any recent celebrity divorce article and you’ll likely come across someone’s so-called “ironclad prenup” sooner rather than later. With the idea being picked up by major media outlets like Forbes, where you can read about “The Perfect Ironclad Prenuptial Agreement,” it’s no wonder many family lawyers have jumped onto the trend, some even offering guides to creating an ironclad prenups. Here’s the truth. The “ironclad prenup” is more marketing myth than reality. Celebrity g ..read more

Divorce can impact every aspect of your life, but one aspect couples might not consider is that divorce can impact your retirement planning. Even if you are still years away from retirement, your retirement plans and pension plans can make up a significant part of your shared marital assets. Aside from your family home, your retirement or pension plan might be the most significant asset you share with your former spouse. The collaborative divorce lawyers in Seattle, Washington at Truce Law understand that when it comes to retirement planning and financial planning, it makes sense to call in th ..read more

A POA (or Power of Attorney) gives another person the authority to make financial or medical decisions on your behalf. But don’t let the name “power of attorney” deceive you. The person you appoint to make your medical and financial decisions (known as your “agent”) doesn’t have to be an attorney. Anyone over the age of 18 can be your agent and make decisions on your behalf through a POA. There are many situations where a POA may be useful. Here are a few: Estate Planning POA. If you or someone you love is getting older, your elder lawyer may recommend that you have a POA in place to ensure t ..read more

Guardianship is a legal process where a person is appointed to make legal, financial, and even medical decisions for another person, usually a vulnerable individual like a child or a disabled individual. In Seattle, Washington, there are minor guardianships and adult guardianships. In this article, we’ll explore these different types of guardianships, situations where family might seek a guardianship, and how divorce and child custody cases can sometimes result in the need for a guardianship or guardian ad litem. Because guardianship involves a process where the court appoints someone to make ..read more

A prenup, or prenuptial agreement is a legal agreement signed by both spouses before they get married. Couples can also sign these agreements after they get married, but in this case, they are called postnuptial agreements. A prenup basically outlines how you and your spouse would divide assets should you ever choose to get divorced in the future. A prenup also lists any assets and debts each spouse is bringing into the marriage. Because a prenup changes the way Washington law is applied during your divorce and can affect your rights, it is recommended to seek the assistance of a prenup lawyer ..read more

Family mediation is an empowering process where family members work cooperatively to resolve some of the more complex conflicts that can arise in family law. While mediation is facilitated by a family mediator, mediation is a self-directed process, meaning that the individuals involved are always ultimately in the driver’s seat when it comes to decision-making. A mediator is a neutral third party whose job is to help conflicting parties resolve their differences and reach a legal agreement without having to take the case to court. The collaborative divorce lawyers at Truce Law sometimes work w ..read more

It is very rare for a parent to lose custody of a child. In general, the courts favor situations where the children share a relationship with both parents and where both parents play an active role in raising a child. If you’re wondering if you can lose custody for not co-parenting in Seattle, Washington, it is important to first distinguish between the different ways a parent can fail to co-parent because the remedies, or solutions to each situation, will differ depending on the situation. What are some situations where a parent may fail at co-parenting? The parent does not want to have a re ..read more

Various practical and legal questions arise as emotions run high during a separation or impending divorce. One common concern is whether one spouse can change the locks on the family home when the other spouse moves out.  In the state of Washington, understanding the legal aspects of this matter is crucial to ensure compliance with the law and protect your interests. Let’s discuss the need to change locks, what Washington state laws say about this issue, and why seeking the guidance of a collaborative divorce lawyer can be invaluable. Changing Locks Leading Up to Official Divorce When a s ..read more