We love our dogs in Vancouver. For many (maybe most) dog owners, their dogs are part of the family just as much as their spouse and children. But when it comes to divorce, Washington state law does not treat dogs like people. As we have discussed before in this blog, like most states, Washington treats […]
Social Security is usually shared between married couples in Washington once one or both partners reach retirement age. Since many people depend on Social Security as their main income after retirement, there are a lot of questions about what happens to Social Security during a divorce. Federal laws regarding how Social Security benefits can be […]
Divorce is one of the most personal and serious decisions facing couples in Washington. Coming to the decision to get a divorce is a serious step. Sometimes, couples agree to divorce amicably. But more often, it’s a decision made by one partner. Their spouse may not agree to the idea of splitting up. When that […]
With so many details to keep track of during a divorce, couples going through this process in Washington might overlook hidden assets. However, it is important to be aware of these items and their values as you begin your divorce negotiations since they might significantly affect what agreement your spouse and you reach when it […]
One of the complex issues you may have to work through when you are getting a divorce is assessing the value of debts and assets and figuring out how to divide them. Since Washington is a community property state, shared property is supposed to be divided equally, but this does not mean that every asset […]
A survey from the American Veterinary Medical Association found that over 80% of respondents said that they considered their pets to be part of their families. However, the law generally classifies animal companions as property. The state of Washington is a community property state, which means that all joint assets are generally split equally by […]