King County, located in western region of Washington, is the most populous county in the state with a population of over 2 million people. The county is also home to the city of Seattle, where large tech industries including Amazon and Microsoft have set up their headquarters. However, the majority of King County’s population lives in the suburbs and most of them have settled down in that area with their families. Unfortunately, that also means divorce and family law issues are frequent in King County and the Seattle metropolitan area.
No matter your situation, if you’re wishing to file a family law action or have had one filed against you, it’s imperative you consult with an experienced divorce lawyer in King County, Washington. Family law is an extremely complicated area, and if you overlook something or make a mistake it could have long-lasting consequences. This is why it’s incredibly important to secure legal representation from a Seattle divorce lawyer who has the resources, knowledge and dedication required to resolve your case efficiently and effectively.
Family Law Attorney King County, Washington | Seattle Divorce Lawyer
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed during a divorce or any other family law issue. Ease your worries today by contacting the experienced and skilled King County family lawyers at Law Offices of Shana E. Thompson. Our dedicated King County family law attorneys provide compassionate and effective legal services for our clients. We understand exactly what’s at stake and are always up to date with Washington’s ever-changing family law statutes.
Set up your first consultation with the legal team at Law Offices of Shana E. Thompson by calling our office at (206) 712-2756. Law Offices of Shana E. Thompson accepts clients throughout the greater King County and Seattle metropolitan area including Bellevue, Shoreline, Renton, Kent, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, and Federal Way. We also accept clients in the Snohomish County area.
Family Law Cases in King County, WA
In King County, the family courts have jurisdiction over various divorce and family-related issues including legal separation, modifying a support order, and filing for a restraining order. While most of these issues are related to divorce, there are a few that are separate from dissolution such as establishing paternity. The following are some typical family law cases the legal team at Law Offices of Shana E. Thompson takes on in King County and the Seattle area.
- Divorce
- Legal Separation
- Committed Intimate Relationship
- State Registered Domestic Partnership Actions
- Invalidity
- Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements
- Child Custody Issues
- Child Support Issues
- Establishing Paternity
- Non-Parental Custody Actions
- Modifications
- Restraining Orders
- Protection Orders for Petitioners
- Protection Orders for Respondents
- Contempt Orders
How to File for Divorce in King County
Washington is a no-fault state, meaning you can file for divorce at any time and don’t need a reason or “fault.” The state claims the only permissible ground or reason for divorce is that the marriage is irreparable and there’s no chance the parties will compromise. Your first step to filing for divorce is to fill out all the necessary forms. These forms will include a petition for divorce as well as a parenting plan if you and your ex share minor children together.
File these forms with the King County clerk and have one copy for your records and the other to serve to your ex-spouse. You’ll likely have to pay a filing fee of around $200 and if you can’t afford that you can waive the fee if you qualify. The next step will likely decide if your divorce is contested or not. When your spouse receives the forms, they will sign a “Acceptance of Service” form to acknowledge they’ve been served the documents.
If you and your ex-spouse agree, then all you’ll need to do is file a few more documents to finalize the divorce. Email your signed and completed forms to the King County Family Law Facilitators who will review your documents. After they’ve reviewed your documents, you can mail or drop off the completed and signed proposed final orders to the Seattle office.
However, if your spouse challenges the petition, then matters will get more complicated. It’s likely lawyers will become involved and your spouse may file a motion requesting information. They may also file a temporary order to address child custody, shared property, debt, and other matters while divorce proceedings are pending. Many couples try to resolve these issues using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or mediation services.
When mediation isn’t enough, then both parties have no choice but to go to trial. Although it may be messy, sometimes going to trial is the best option to fight for your assets and family. An experienced divorce attorney can guide you through the process and inform you of your legal options. At the end of the trial, a judge will determine an agreement that both parties must follow, and their marriage will be dissolved.
King County Divorce Forms
There’s a lot of paperwork involved in a divorce, no matter how simple or complex it is. If you’re seeking dissolution, you should expect to fill out a lot of forms. The types of forms and amount you have to file will depend on the circumstances of your divorce. If minor children are involved, you will be required to fill out a parenting plan and child support documents. Temporary orders and restraining orders also require paperwork, and if it’s an immediate restraining order there are different types of forms for that process.
The following are some different types of divorce forms you may have to fill out in King County.
- FL Divorce 200 – Summon: Notice About a Marriage or Domestic Partnership
- The first form to fill out will be a summons to your ex-partner or spouse. The form will simply provide notice to your ex-partner that you’re looking to separate or end the marriage or domestic partnership. Your ex must respond in 20 days or 60 days if they’re outside the state of Washington.
- FL Divorce 201 – Petition for Dissolution
- The next form to file is the actual petition for divorce. In this form you’ll have to include various types of information including child custody, child support, parenting plans, how real and personal property will be divided, and other pertinent marital issues.
- FL All Family 001 – Confidential Information
- Only court staff and some state agencies can see the information on this form.
- FL All Family 002 – Attachment to Confidential Information
- If you share minor children with your ex-spouse, then you’ll fill out this form.
- DOH 422-027 – Certificate of Dissolution, Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage, or Legal Separation
- FL All Family 101 – Proof of Personal Service
- Whoever serves the document to your ex-spouse must fill out this form. It essentially shows the court the respondent was served in a timely manner.
- FL All Family 119 – Agreement to Join Petitioner
- If you and your spouse agree on the petition, then they will have to complete this form. Filing this document shows the court that the respondent agrees to the petition and approves the requests by the petitioner.
- FL All Family 117 – Service Accepted
- When your spouse has been served, they must complete this form to show the court they accept they’ve received the court papers. It doesn’t mean they agree and will default to the request.
- FL Divorce 211 – Response to Petition About a Marriage
- To respond to a Petition for Divorce, Legal Separation or Annul a Marriage, the other party must use this form.
- FL Divorce 231 – Findings and Conclusions About a Marriage
- Information about the marriage is included in this form such as duration, debt allotted since the marriage, shared children, and more.
- FL Divorce 241 – Final Divorce Order (Dissolution Decree)
- This form is used to finalize the divorce.
If you have shared children, you should expect to fill out additional forms including:
- FL All Family 130 – Child Support Orders
- WSCSS Schedule/Worksheets
- FL All Family 131 – Financial Declaration
- FL All Family 140 – Parenting Plan
- FL Divorce 243 – Residential Time Summary Report
King County, WA Family Court Resources
King County Superior Court | Family Court Division – Visit the official website for the King County Superior Court to learn more about their rules for the family law division. Access the site to file a family law action, domestic violence protection orders, family court services, and other family court programs that may help you.
King County Court Clerk – The King County clerk acts as a historian and files for all court cases in the Superior Court. If you’re filing or responding to a family law action, then you’ll likely have to visit the clerk’s office at least once. Access the site to search up court records, file documents, submit working copies, request a record or copy of a record, and look up a case number.
Washington Family Law Handbook – Visit the official website of the Washington Courts to learn more about the rules and statutes for family law cases. Access the site to learn about marriage in the state, how to end marriage, domestic partnerships, child abuse and neglect cases, and more.
King County Divorce Resources
General King County Family Law Resources – Visit the official website of King County to look at a list of family law resources that may be helpful to you. Access the site to learn more about alternative dispute resolution (ADR), child support services, domestic violence services, and more in the King County area.
Family Law Instructions – Family law is complex, and it’s important you know the steps to filing a family law action before doing anything. Access the site to learn how to ask for a divorce, how to create a parenting plan, how to notify your ex you’re relocating, temporary orders, and other important information you may need.
King County Divorce Roadmap – Divorce is a complicated process, especially if children are involved. Check out a document made by King County that details how to end a marriage step by step. Access the document and see what forms you may need, costs of divorce, and other pertinent information.
King County Parent Seminar – In Washington, parents are required to attend a “parent seminar” after they’ve finalized their divorce. Access the site to learn how you can register, the fees for the seminar, what the seminar covers, and additional information you may need.
Seattle Domestic Violence Victim Resources – Unfortunately, for some the reason for divorce is due to domestic violence. In these types of situations, leaving a relationship can be deadly. You can thankfully find help by checking out these domestic violence victim resources provided by the Seattle government site. Access the site to see if you’re a victim of abuse, learn how to file a protection order or no-contact order, and additional domestic violence resources.
Divorce Lawyers in King County | Washington Family Law and Dissolution
The attorneys at Law Offices of Shana E. Thompson handle dozens of divorce and other types of family law cases every year. We know the ins and outs of the local rules and the commissioners who make decisions for many of the important issues that may affect your case. We constantly are honing our skills and extending our resources to serve our clients to the best of our ability.
Call Law Offices of Shana E. Thompson today at (206) 712-2756 to set up your first consultation. Law Offices of Shana E. Thompson accepts clients throughout the greater King County area including Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Redmond, Kirkland, Shoreline, Burien and Issaquah.
