Experienced WA State Divorce Lawyers

Experienced, aggressive, and effective Auburn divorce lawyers.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our Auburn divorce website.  We hope that you will find it informative. 

We are Auburn divorce attorneys and Washington State family law lawyers.  If you have questions about Washington divorce law and how it will be applied to your Auburn divorce, we invite you to call our offices today.  One of our Auburn divorce attorneys will be happy to review the specific facts and details of your case and offer suggestions about how we can help.

Facing a King County divorce or family law problem?

Looking for an Auburn divorce attorney?

We can help!

Few things in life are as difficult and emotionally consuming as having to face a Washington State divorce.  if you life in Auburn, Washington and are facing a King County divorce or family law problem, our Auburn divorce attorneys are here to help.  We've been protecting the legal rights of parents and divorcing spouses for over ten years.  Our Auburn divorce lawyers are experienced, aggressive, and effective.  We understand what's at stake, and our approach to every case is both unique and results oriented.

Most psychologists will tell you that going through a divorce is one of the most stressful and disconcerting life events that many people will ever have to endure.  This is especially true if you have been married for any significant period of time, or if you and children are caught in the middle of a protracted custody battle.  Indeed many custody battles alone can be psychologically devastating.  Fortunately, you don't have to go through the process alone.  Our Auburn divorce attorneys are here to help.

If you are like most of Auburn divorce clients, you probably have a lot of questions regarding the divorce process in Washington State. 

• How is the divorce process initiated in Washington State? 
  
• Who is going to live in our house while my Auburn divorce is pending?
  
• How long does it take to get divorced in King County?
  
• What happens to my children while my Auburn divorce case is pending?  
• What's the difference between community and separate property?
  
• Who is going to pay the mortgage and other bills while my Auburn divorce is pending?
• How is the court going to divide our property?
• What about spousal support or maintenance?
  

How long will my Auburn divorce case last?

If you live in Auburn, WA, your divorce case will be heard at the Regional Justice Center in Kent.  At the time that your Auburn divorce is filed, the party initiating the divorce will receive a case schedule with a number of very important court deadlines.  It is absolutely critical that these court deadlines be followed in every Auburn divorce case.

The case schedule will also schedule a trial date approximately eleven months to one year from the date of filing.  As a result, many Auburn divorce cases last for one year or longer.  But it is NOT necessary that they do so and our Auburn divorce attorneys work hard to try and get our clients divorced much sooner if at all possible.  Of course, the length of your case often revolves around the willingness of your spouse and their attorney to be fair and reasonable.

If we are able to able to fully negotiate the terms of your Auburn divorce, you can be divorced in as little as 91 days from the date the Petition for Dissolution is filed.  Washington State has a 90-day "cooling off" period that every divorcing couple must wait out prior to their divorce being finalized.  After this 90-day period, however, you can your spouse can be divorced at anytime that you both agree on all of the material terms of your Auburn divorce.

Auburn, WA divorce attorneys fighting for you and your children.

How is the Auburn divorce process initiated?

Our Auburn, WA divorce lawyers are here to help you understand the divorce process, as well as your legal rights and options.  The Washington State divorce process is initiated by filing a "Petition for Dissolution".  If you recently been served with King County divorce paperwork, this is one of the documents that you received.  It is typically a fairly generic document or "pleading" that simply formally starts the divorce process.  Most petitions are overly broad and lack few specific details.

After one party is served with the petition, they are required to file a response, typically within 20 days.  The response is generally only and admission or a denial of the material terms in the petition.  Again, these documents often do little except start the Washington divorce process.  It is critical, however, that they be properly drafted and cover all of the potential issues involved in your Auburn divorce. 

If you have questions about your Petition for Dissolution, we encourage you to call and speak with one of experienced Auburn divorce lawyers who will be happy to explain this document in more detail.

What happens after my Auburn divorce is formally filed?

What happens to our property and our debts?

What about my children?

Often, one of the most difficult and draining parts of the Washington State divorce process involves what happens immediately after your Auburn divorce is filed.  This is often referred to as the "Temporary Motions" stage of the proceedings.  If you and your spouse are unable to agree on who is going to move out, who is going to pay what bills, who is going to use what property, and the issues involving  your children are going to be addressed, you will probably be forced to a temporary motions hearing.

In many case, the party filing for divorce also serves the other party with a proposal for addressing the issues raised above.  Unfortunately, this is often done in a very antagonistic and unproductive manner.  It involves the party making a number of unsavory allegations against the other party in an attempt to gain the upper hand on issues such as property division, child custody, spousal maintenance, and debt division.

At the time that this Motion for Temporary Orders is served, a court hearing is simultaneously set at least 14 days out, but typically within three weeks from the date of service.  You must either agree to the proposed temporary orders, attempt to negotiate a different set of orders, or file a response in which you set out specific facts as to why your proposed orders should be implemented.  Our Auburn divorce attorneys are very experienced at handling these kinds of motions and how we advise our clients to respond depends on a number of specific factors in your case.

What happens after the Temporary Motions stage of my Auburn divorce?

If you and your spouse are able to agree on all of the material terms of your divorce, your Auburn divorce can be finalized on the 91st day following the filing of the Petition for Dissolution.  If you and your spouse cannot agree, however,  your case will progress into what is often called the "Discovery" state of the divorce proceedings.

During this state, each party has a number of tools to require the other party to disclose financial information and other documents relevant to the divorce.  In most cases, the court will also want the issue of child custody to be reviewed by a "Guardian Ad Litem" or a "Parenting Evaluator".  Each party's attorney also has the power to subpoena bank records, credit card statements, pension information, and other documents.

Additionally, each party has the right to depose the other party and ask questions regarding any aspect of your Auburn divorce.  This process often lasts from three to nine months.  At the end of discovery, and prior to your trial date, King County local divorce rules also require the parties to engage in mediation.  Many Auburn divorce cases are actually settled at mediation, often only a month or two prior to their trial date.

What happens if my Auburn divorce case is not resolved at mediation?

If your Auburn divorce is not resolved at mediation, your case will be set for trial.  It is not uncommon for Auburn divorce cases to be continued once, especially if it appears as if you and your spouse are close to an agreed resolution.  But this is a very fact specific determination that you can discuss with your Auburn divorce attorney as your trial date approaches.

If you have specific questions about your Auburn divorce, we encourage you to call our offices for an initial consultation.  One of Auburn divorce lawyers can review the specific facts and circumstances involved in your case and discuss your legal rights and options.

Having to face and going through an Auburn divorce is often a nightmare.  Fortunately, it's not a process that you are required to face alone.  Our Washington State and Auburn divorce lawyers are here to help.  There is no reason to feel confused and anxious about your divorce proceedings.  Our Auburn divorce lawyers are here to explain your legal rights and assist you through this complicated and difficult process.

Talk to an Auburn, WA divorce lawyer today!