Washington State Family Law Attorneys

In Washington, a divorce cannot be finalized until at least 90 days after the divorce petition is filed and served on the other spouse (or after the other spouse joins the petition). This is the state's mandatory waiting period.

Some uncontested divorces may be completed shortly after the 90-day waiting period, while contested divorces involving children, property, or support often take several months or longer. Every case is different, and the timeline depends on the issues that need to be resolved.

To file for divorce in Washington, you'll generally need to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in the appropriate county, serve your spouse with the required paperwork unless they accept service or join the petition, exchange financial information, and resolve issues involving property, parenting plans, child support, and spousal maintenance before the court enters a final divorce order.

If you're trying to understand what paperwork is required, explore our guide to common Washington divorce forms before getting started.

The cost of a divorce in Washington depends on your specific situation. One of the biggest factors is whether you and your spouse agree on important issues like parenting, property division, and financial support. Cases with more disagreements typically take more time and cost more.

You can use our Washington attorney fees calculator to estimate some of the financial aspects of your case. For a more personalized estimate, speak with one of our Washington family law attorneys. We also offer our SimpleStart™ reduced retainer program for qualified clients.

Washington does not have a minimum residency requirement before filing for divorce. Generally, either spouse must live in Washington or be a member of the armed forces stationed in the state for a Washington court to have jurisdiction over the divorce.

Depending on your circumstances, additional rules may apply when children, property located in another state, or an out-of-state spouse are involved.

A divorce legally ends your marriage. A legal separation allows spouses to live separately and resolve issues such as property division, parenting plans, child support, and spousal maintenance without dissolving the marriage.

Some families choose legal separation for personal, financial, or religious reasons. A decree of legal separation may later be converted into a divorce under Washington law. If you're deciding between the two, learn more in our Washington Legal Separation Guide.

Washington courts make decisions based on the best interests of the child. Rather than awarding "custody" in the traditional sense, courts typically approve or establish a parenting plan that outlines where the child will live, each parent's residential schedule, and how important decisions will be made.

When creating a parenting plan, the court considers factors such as each parent's relationship with the child, the child's needs, each parent's ability to care for the child, and any history of domestic violence, abuse, neglect, or other factors that may affect the child's well-being.

A parenting plan is a court-approved document that explains where the child lives and how parents will share responsibilities and decision-making. A clear parenting plan can reduce conflict because it helps parents understand their rights and responsibilities moving forward.

Maybe. If a parenting plan is already in place, Washington's child relocation laws may require you to provide notice before moving with your child. In some situations, the other parent may object, and the court will decide whether the relocation should be allowed.

Whether a move is approved depends on the specific facts of your case and the factors set out in Washington law. If you're considering relocating or have received notice that the other parent plans to move, it's important to understand how relocation could affect your parenting plan.

Yes. A Washington court may modify a parenting plan if the legal requirements for modification are met. Major changes often require a substantial change in circumstances and a best-interest analysis.

Common reasons to request a modification include relocation, changes in a parent's ability to care for the child, or significant changes affecting the child's needs.

Washington calculates child support using the Washington State Child Support Schedule. The calculation generally considers each parent's income, the number and ages of the children, and other factors required by state law.

Child support can vary because every family is different. Our Washington Child Support Calculator can provide an estimate based on your situation.

Yes. A Washington child support order may be modified if legal requirements are met. Common reasons include a substantial change in circumstances, a significant change in income, changes in the parenting schedule, or other situations allowed by Washington law.

If your financial situation has changed, you may be able to request an increase or decrease in child support through the court.

If court-ordered child support isn't paid, the unpaid balance becomes past-due child support, also called arrears, and may continue to accrue interest when permitted by law.

Depending on the circumstances, enforcement may include wage garnishment, tax refund interception, liens, bank account garnishment, license suspension, contempt proceedings, or other enforcement actions authorized under Washington law.

If your finances have changed and you can’t make child support payments, don’t wait to take action. You might be able to get the payments modified and avoid owing even more past due support. You can also learn more about what happens when you fail to pay child support in Washington.

Washington is a community property state, but courts divide property based on what is just and equitable, not automatically a 50/50 split. When dividing property and debts, the court considers factors such as the nature and value of community and separate property, the length of the marriage, and each spouse's financial circumstances after the divorce. Every family's financial situation is unique, so property division depends on the specific facts of your case. Get a better idea of what your outcome could look like with our Washington Assets and Debts Calculator.

Yes. Washington is a community property state. Typically this means property and debts acquired during the marriage are considered community property, while property owned before the marriage and many gifts and inheritances are considered separate property.

But community property is not automatically divided equally. Washington courts divide property in a way that is just and equitable based on the circumstances of each case.

There is no automatic right to spousal maintenance in Washington. A court may award maintenance if it determines that support is appropriate based on the facts of the case.

When making that decision, the court considers factors such as each spouse's financial resources, earning capacity, the standard of living established during the marriage, the length of the marriage, the age and health of each spouse, and the time needed for a spouse to become financially self-supporting.

Unlike child support, Washington does not have a single statewide formula to calculate spousal maintenance. Instead, the court considers the facts of each case and the factors listed in Washington law like need, standard of living during the marriage, age and health of each spouse, ability to pay, and time to become self-supporting.

You can estimate possible alimony outcomes for your situation using our Washington Spousal Maintenance Calculator.

Sometimes. In many cases, a Washington spousal maintenance order can be modified if there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the order was entered. It also depends on the terms of your court order and the specific facts in your case.

To request a protection order in Washington, you'll generally file a petition for protection order with the court explaining why you need protection. If the court finds that immediate protection may be necessary, it may issue a temporary protection order until a hearing can be held.

At the hearing, both parties have an opportunity to present evidence before the judge decides whether to issue a longer-term protection order. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 right away.

Who can get a protection order depends on the type of protection order you're requesting and the facts of your situation. Washington law allows protection orders for a variety of reasons, including domestic violence, stalking, harassment, sexual assault, and vulnerable adult cases.

A judge will review the evidence and decide whether the legal requirements for issuing a protection order have been met.

How long a Washington protection order lasts depends on the type of order and the judge's decision. A temporary protection order is typically effective until the scheduled court hearing. After the hearing, the court may issue a final protection order for a specific period or indefinitely if allowed by law and supported by the facts.