A. The duration of the obligation is usually based on the length of marriage and is rarely granted in short-term marriages. Spousal maintenance will NOT be granted if the parties have never been married.

A. Generally, if each of you were earning the same amount of income, each of you would pay your own fees and costs. When one party has much more income than the other, judges may require the higher earner to pay a portion of the other spouse’s attorney’s fees.

A. No! Our divorce law sites that property should be divided equitably, which means fairly. Judges can and do frequently divide property and debt disproportionately so that the party with less income gets more than 50% of the property and less than 50% of the debit.

A. Absolutely not. Judges will all tell you that the decision is either made by the parents by agreement or the court.

A. The law only requires that a minimum of 90 days expire after the filing and service of a petition for divorce. In King County, cases may be pending for approximately one year if the parties cannot agree and a trial is necessary.