Do I need a Washington divorce attorney?
A seasoned Washington divorce attorney can explain how this complex web of laws affects your specific divorce issues, like property division, assignment of marital debt, alimony/spousal maintenance, child custody, visitation, and child support, among others. Paralegals and clerks cannot lawfully give you this kind of legal advice; the law only allows licensed Washington divorce lawyers to answer questions about your individual situation. Online help sites usually deal only with general divorce principles and hypothetical situations, not the kind of Washington-specific guidance and know-how available from an experienced Washington divorce attorney.
A Washington divorce attorney knows that you are not a hypothetical problem to be solved. You are a real person, and the final resolution of your case will have a direct impact on you and your children for years to come. Because of its complexity t takes years of training and practice for any Washington divorce lawyer to become intimate and familiar with all the critical aspects of properly handling a Washington divorce. Many of our clients come to us seeking advice from a divorce lawyer only after trying to handle their divorce on their own and hitting a brick wall. Why spend time trying to duplicate that effort, especially at a time that will probably be one of the most difficult periods of your life?
As a practical matter, you try to consult with a Washington divorce lawyer before ever separating from your spouse. Why would you want to see an attorney first? Even before you separate, a Washington divorce lawyer can explain how your choices now will directly affect and impact your divorce in later stages. Remember, many Washington State divorces take a year or more to complete once the first Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is filed.
Your decision to divorce may have results that you have not considered or foreseen. An experienced Washington divorce attorney can point out factors that may affect a number of different critical variables, such as whether you decide to try and stay in your marital residence, who will pay what bills while your divorce is pending, and what kind of a custody and child support arrangement is best and most appropriate while your divorce is pending. Your spouse may already be seeking legal advice, and your consultation with a Washington divorce lawyer is your best bet for properly preparing for any scenario that might unfold.
It is often said that knowledge is power. In which case, obtaining the professional guidance of a Washington divorce attorney can help you to shape realistic divorce goals and give you the power to achieve them. Your Washington divorce attorney will tell you when it is in your best interest to settle an issue by agreement and when you should contest it in court. If you are forced into court by an unreasonable spouse but have an experienced Washington divorce lawyer in your corner, you will be able to properly respond and fight back.
By law, only a licensed Washington divorce attorney can appear with you in court to protect you and the best interests of your children. Having an advocate by your side in these kinds of situations also give you piece of mind and allows you to focus on other critical areas of your life, which often become chaotic once divorce proceedings are initiated.
If you believe that a Washington divorce might be on your horizon, we encourage you to call today and schedule a consultation with David M. Lux or one of the other experienced Washington divorce lawyers who work with him. Whether you have already separated or you’re still at home, whether you expect an agreed divorce or you expect a fight, you deserve to have the answers you need to make intelligent decisions about your future.
A knowledgeable Washington State divorce attorney can address your individual circumstances and give you the kind of valuable advice that you really need. Call today to learn more about your legal rights and options.
Rumors abound in the UK that Prince William is set to propose to Kate Middleton, his seven-year girlfriend. Dubbed “Waiting Kate” by the ever-so-clever British press, Middleton is set to literally have the royal wedding every girl dreams of when growing up. All this speculation is based on a block of two days in June that have been set aside in the palace diaries for some unknown reason.
While the efforts of the press are focused on rumor mongering and rampant speculation, yours truly would rather speculate on other potential issues, i.e. what crazy kind of prenuptial will they need to write up?
While perhaps a cynical question, it is a necessary one considering that it was William’s mother, Diana Princess of Wales that so famously divorced Prince Charles. After aggressive negotiations, Diana received a lump sum of £17 million, roughly $30-35 million, an amount that forced Charles to liquidate virtually all of his personal holdings and borrow money from the Queen.
William is second in line to the throne, behind his father, and is set to inherit quite the fortune. The Queen’s personal fortune is an estimated $700M, in addition to privately held property of unknown value including Balmoral Castle (estimated $300M), a $20B (that’s Billion) art collection, and the Crown Estate (publically held property valued in excess of $16B that generates over $450M a year that the crown returns to the Government).
Though considered a “Commoner” by British standards, Kate’s family actually made a small fortune selling party supplies and decorations. While she will be no stranger to wealth, and is well regarded in fashion circles, the amount of money on both sides of this potential marriage means that more than one attorney will be involved in this marriage, and Kate better be getting some good advice.
Our Washington divorce attorneys are frequently asked about prenuptial agreements whether or not they are enforceable. Despite rumors to the contrary, prenuptial agreements remain alive and well here in Washington State. But it is critical that they be properly drafted in order to be upheld. If you or someone you know is in need of a good prenuptial agreement, they should consult with an experienced Washington State family law attorney as far in advance of their wedding as possible, particularly if significant assets are at issue.
Lorraine Bracco has built quite the career for herself over the years. Goodfellas is arguably one of the best mob movies ever made, there is no better ponytail in the world than the one sported by Sean Connery in Medicine Man, and even the cyberpunk pseudo cult hit Hackers has its redeemable components. Add to her career brew Radio Flyer and The Basketball Diaries, two films that redefined the coming of age story M.O.
Despite the makings of a well designed acting career, Bracco got sidetracked following the completion of Basketball Diaries. Bracco was married to Harvey Keitel for over 10 years when their marriage fell apart, thus beginning a protracted custody battle over their daughter Stella.
A drawn out custody battle can be a nasty bit of business that drains both the emotions and the pocket book. The fact that her legal battle dragged on for five years makes me wonder what in the hell was really happening. Did she get bad advice from her divorce attorney? Which party was actually at fault for the litigation continuing on and on for such a long period of time?
Five years of legal fees and taxes can really add up and in 1999 Bracco declared bankruptcy. I’m sure after such a drawn out custody battle declaring bankruptcy would be a relatively pain free legal process. Of course, Bracco quickly got back on her feet as Dr. Jennifer Melfi in The Sopranos, whose 1st season aired that same year. Just goes to show, you can always bounce back after taking a couple of hard knocks.
Many Washington divorce proceedings end up hitting the wall over custody issues. It is often one of the most difficult parts of any divorce. Mothers often feel betrayed and abandoned. Fathers often feel unappreciated and alienated from their children. And, many mothers shamelessly wield their children like blunt instruments both in vindictive spite, and to try get more property and money.
Washington State’s child custody and child support laws are complicated. If you have questions about your legal rights and options, it’s always best to consult with an experienced Washington divorce attorney.
If possible, you should consult a good WA State divorce attorney long before you ever file a Petition for Dissolution. There are many ways to properly for and handle the early stages of a divorce, especially if there are children involved.
Mistress’s Beware
The old adage, “Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn,” is well understood by us men folk. Thanks, however, to an old law currently on the books in a few states, women will now be subject to the fury of their fellow females’ scorn.
In a common enough story, Cynthia Shackelford found herself, at the age of 62, single and unskilled (after giving up her career to raise her children). Attorney Allan Shackelford, a man of questionable judgment but with a supreme grasp of the cliché, decided to leave Cynthia for a younger woman, 49 year old Anne Lundquist.
Luckily for Cynthia, North Carolina has an old law called the “alienation of affection.” The law evolved under common law as means of husbands to protect their “property.” If a woman left her husband, he could sue the other man for a loss of “property.” Fast forward a few hundred years and the ironic result? Cynthia Shackelford was able to sue Anne Lundquist, and was awarded a whopping $9 million!
Unfortunately for Washington state women who might find themselves in a similar situation, they have never been considered property, and thus no “alienation of affection” law exists.
Of course, Washington women who give up their careers to raise children are often very vulnerable in the dissolution of their marriages. Their lack of recent work experience, combined with advanced age, often make it difficult for them find work in a highly competitive and fluid work market. It is very important, if you are facing the potential break up of a marriage, to find a Washington State divorce attorney who will aggressively fight for a fair amount of spousal support.
A good WA State divorce lawyer should also argue for disproportionate share of the couple’s property at the time dissolution. This is especially true if her husband is still working, and she has been a stay at home mom for many years.
I’ll Never Understand Women
I’ll never understand how a guy, who divorced the mother of his children to get married to a porn star, can land a woman as hot as Sandra Bullock. Looking at the situation objectively: Sandra Bullock is more beautiful today, at the age of 40, than she was 20 years ago; is, as far as I know, the only woman to win an Oscar without having to get funky ugly (think Charlize Theron in Monster and Halle Berry in Monsters Ball), and has donated over three million dollars to charity.
Plus, she just seems like a helluva nice lady who has her head on right.
Jesse James on the other hand, has more ink than the Gutenberg Bible, was sued for taking 400k to build a custom car (and then not building it), sued again for not paying his attorney, and is a fan of NASCAR. His most meaningful contribution to the American landscape is custom built, overly loud bikes for the supper rich, and an appearance on Celebrity Apprentice.
And here is the rub; Bullock is the adoptive mother of one of James’s kids. Specifically, the one that he had with the porn star. A custody battle along those lines could get ugly. On one hand you have serial cheater/womanizer with a history of unstable relationships, and on the other hand a woman with a very bad taste in men. One way or another, someone needs a good divorce attorney.
Under Washington divorce law, Bullock would be highly unlikely to ever get primary custody of the couple’s child, as she is not the biological parent. But the fact that she is the adoptive parent means that she would likely have to pay child support until the kid graduates from college, while having limited visitation. Talk about a nightmare of epic proportions.
And, given Bullock’s income, her child support payment could be huge. Listen, no one goes up to the alter thinking about what’s going to happen in divorce proceedings. Sadly, however, nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. If you are looking for an experienced Washington State divorce lawyer, pick up the phone and call family law attorney Laura M. Groves.
Mrs. Groves is an experienced WA State divorce attorney, and she will aggressively protect you and your family. Whether your case involves significant marital property, a custody battle, or is completely uncontested, Mrs. Groves and the attorneys who work with her have the resources and the experience to successfully resolve your case.
On January 17, 2009, an underage drinking patrol took place in East Pierce County, Washington. The patrol, which was funded by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, netted arrests of 35 teens for being minors in possession of alcohol, and one arrest for suspicion of Washington DUI.
Washington drunk driving and underage DUI patrol also broke up a teenage party that resulted in one minor actually being in the hospital for treatment of alcohol poisoning. Underage kids drinking and driving under the influence of intoxicants remains a very serious problem in WA State, as it does throughout the country.
The Participating police agencies responded to neighborhood complaints of a loud party in Puyallup, WA. Upon their arrival they encountered one teen attempting to leave the scene and pulled him over. His blood alcohol level was reported to be .145. This is nearly twice the legal limit under Washington’s drunk driving law. If this kid is smart, he will retain an experienced Washington DUI attorney to assist him.
Inside the party, they encountered an unconscious teenager in a bathtub. He was determined to be suffering from alcohol poisoning and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Fortunately, it appears as if this teenager is going to be OK.
Trooper Charged with DUI in Pullman
Casey Myers, a 26 year-old King County State Trooper is on administrative leave after being charged for a WA State DUI near the Washington State University campus. Myers was on vacation at the time of his arrest. When he returned to work on October 16, it was then that he was placed on administrative leave with pay.
A 4-year employee with the State Patrol, Myers will remain on administrative leave with pay until an investigation is completed by the State Patrol. Washington State Patrol will review the facts of Mr. Myers Washington DUI arrest before making any recommendations regarding his future employment.
Myers was arrested on October 9th after he was pulled over by Pullman police for running through a stop sign. There was no report of what his blood alcohol level was at the time of his Washington DUI arrest. Myers has been the arresting officer in several WA State DUI cases during his 4-year career. It is not expected that his arrest will have any effect on any pending Washington drunk driving cases.
Assuming that this is Myers first Washington DUI arrest, he is still facing very serious consequences as a result of his poor decision making and lack of judgment. For example, if he is convicted of drunk driving, he will be facing mandatory jail, a mandatory license suspension, and will also be required to complete any recommended drug and alcohol treatment.
Myers will need a good Washington DUI attorney to assist him. An experienced WA State drunk driving lawyer should be able to collaterally attack his arrest and DUI charge depending on what the police reports reveal and whether or not Myers ever invoked his right to counsel. The alleged level of his breath test will also be a significant factor in how his case is resolved.
Public Health- Washington State DUI Emphasis Patrols
In 2008, there were 94 people killed and an additional 669 people seriously injured in auto accidents in the Seattle and King County areas, as reported by a public-health agency. Many of these auto accident were attributed to Seattle drunk driving cases involving people who should not have been out on the road.
Dr. David Fleming, the Director and Health Officer for Public Health- Seattle and King County made the following statement: “Traffic crashes kill or seriously injure hundreds of people in King County each year. By driving sober or planning safe rides home, you can protect yourself, family and friends.”
Seattle and King County will be working with local law enforcement agencies and traffic safety groups over the coming holiday weekends to beef up Seattle DUI patrols. Funding for these additional patrols is being provided by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
