Federal Way Divorce Law Blog

The number of divorces rises during the summer months, according to a study conducted by sociologists from the University of Washington. The study examined data from divorce filings made in Washington from 2001 to 2015 and was presented to the American Sociological Association in 2016. According to some divorce attorneys, another spike occurs around the beginning of each new year, in January. The important thing for couples is to plan ahead of time for divorce.

The planning required to get through the divorce process should begin months before the intended date of divorce. In a lot of couples, one or both of the parties may not be entirely aware of all of their shared bank accounts, credit cards or other financial products. Practically speaking, it is a good idea early on for people to take stock of their assets, collect records and put together a support team to help get through the divorce.

Divorce is rarely easy. If you share children with your former spouse, though, you must work diligently to ensure your kids have what they need to become successful adults. While parenting on your own terms may be an option, you likely must share parental duties with your ex-spouse. 

Parenting in a post-divorce family does not have to be difficult. With a bit of planning and some effective communication, you may boost your chances of raising good kids. If you want to maximize the time you spend with the young ones in your family, though, you may want to consider adding a first right of refusal provision to your child custody agreement. 

When couples in Washington begin their marriage with a traditional arrangement in which the husband is the breadwinner while the wife earns less or stays at home, if there is later a change in the wife's status, the couple could be headed for divorce. A study by Swedish researchers found that when a wife begins making more money, the likelihood of divorce increases. This is not the case for couples who begin on a more even footing.

There are several reasons why this occurs. In some cases, a husband who is suddenly making less money may become resentful and controlling. In other cases, he may work fewer hours but take over none of the household duties that his wife no longer has as much time for.

Divorcing and figuring out child custody agreements are seldom simple processes, but they may be even more complex if you or your spouse is a military service member. In divorce cases involving military service, you may need to figure out exactly how Washington's child custody laws address situations such as overseas deployments. At the Clement Law Center, we understand how military service influences child custody terms, and we have helped many parents come to satisfactory agreements.

Military service often puts strain on a marriage, especially when overseas deployments or frequent reassignments occur. If you decide to divorce, it is important to understand that military service may factor into the divorce proceedings. Establishing custody terms may be especially vital if your divorce occurs around the time of a military relocation. Divorcing during an overseas assignment or while you are living on a military base may make it harder to determine legal jurisdiction. In some cases, federal law may intersect with Washington state law to determine how custody discussions occur.