How is my divorce affected based on where I file?

#law #family #familylaw #divorcepapers #divorce #childcustody
Divorce becomes much more complex when spouses live in different states. Here are the main factors to consider:

Remember that the state you file in matters as courts have limited ability to divide property that doesn’t reside in the state that you file in.

Washington courts aim to get both spouses into the workforce and calculate how long it will take for that to happen, while other states may only look at formulas based on the length of the marriage and income.

Washington treats parents equally regarding residential time (child custody). They’ve implemented Long-distance parenting plans which might involve children living with one parent during the school year and the other during the summer.

If you or your spouse decides to move with the kids what is needed is court permission and justification, such as better opportunities or family support in the new state.

You’ll should also be aware of Washington court jurisdiction as depending on the previous or current residency of your spouse the Washington courts may have little to no authority to enforce the orders that they draft up. A good way to check this is to hire an attorney to make sure the court orders can be enforced.

For more information, contact us at [email protected] or call us at 509-866-4111.