Washington Divorce Tips

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Every couple goes for marriage dreaming that together they will make life a beautiful experience. But unfortunately things don't work between some couples and they go for divorce after making repeated attempts to save their marriage. Sometimes a divorce becomes a necessity since it improves the lives of the couple and their children, if any. But before going for a divorce, you should be familiar with the all the changes that a divorce is likely to bring in your life, the hardships involved in the process and all the legal formalities related to your case. Knowing the basics of divorce will be the first important step in this process. Washington divorce tips help you get acquainted with the divorce rules and laws prevailing in the Washington state.

Some useful Washington Divorce Tips

• One of the primary Washington divorce tips is to check whether the couple meet the residency requirements to file for a case. The plaintiff must be a resident of the state or a member of the armed forces who is stationed in this state or must be married to a resident of this state or to a member of the armed forces who is stationed in this state. If he/she meets any of the four requirements mentioned here, he/ she can go for the divorce.

• The defendant has 20 days to respond if he/ she is a resident of Washington. But if the defendant lives outside the state, he/ she has 60 days. The separating couple gets a 90 days waiting period before the judge signs the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage.

• Washington divorce laws grant equitable distribution of property. It means that the marital property will be distributed between the two parties equitably and not equally. A lot of factors like the duration of the marriage, the nature and extent of separate property owned by each party, etc.

• Regarding the postsecondary educational expenditure of a child, the court issues orders that either one or both parents should direct their payments to the educational institute, if possible. However, when this is not practical, the court might use its discretion and issue orders that the payments should be directed towards the child, if this child does not stay with either parent.

• If a child has completed its 23rd birthday, the court does not issue orders pertaining to the payment of postsecondary educational expenditures. However, there are exceptional situations like emotional, physical or mental disabilities of the child, when the court might act otherwise.

• The basic child support obligation is determined as follows:
  • The combined monthly net income of both parents and each parent's share is calculated.
  • The economic table is used to determine the basic child support obligation.
  • Depending on each parent's share, this basic amount is divided amongst the parents.

• Assume that it is proved that either one or both parents have children from their other relations and the parents owe a responsibility of support towards these children. In such a case, the court might deviate from the standard calculations.

• The court considers the following issues and then concludes if the parent is voluntarily unemployed or voluntarily underemployed:
  • Age
  • Health
  • Education
  • Work History

  If the court finalizes that a particular parent is voluntarily unemployed or voluntarily underemployed, then, the court might impute income to this parent.

• The net monthly income is computed after deducting the following expenses from gross monthly income:
  • State industrial insurance premiums
  • Compulsory union or professional dues
  • Compulsory pension plan payments
  • Federal insurance contributions act deductions
  • Federal and state income taxes
  • In case of self employed individuals, self employment taxes and normal business expenses
  • Court ordered spousal maintenance up to the extent that has been actually disbursed
  • If the inputs regarding voluntary pension payments were made for the 2 tax years preceding the earlier of the following:
    • Tax year during which the partners filed for divorce or
    • Tax year during which the partners separated with an aim of living separate and apart

  then, deduction is up to 2000 USD per year

• Gross monthly income is calculated by adding up the following values:
  • Disability insurance benefits2222
  • Social security benefits
  • Bonuse
  • Spousal maintenance that has been actually obtained
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Workers compensatio
  • Pension retirement benefits
  • Capital gains
  • Annuities
  • Severance pay
  • Trust income
  • Interest
  • Dividends
  • Income from second jobs
  • Contract related benefits
  • Overtime
  • Deferred compensation
  • Commissions
  • Wages
  • Salaries

• Any parent's total child support obligation should not be more than 45 percent of net income, unless some good cause is shown. Some of the examples of good causes are as follows:
  • Larger families
  • Educational requirement
  • Special medical necessity
  • Children having day care expenses
  • Having substantial wealth

Once you read these Washington Divorce Tips, you will gain a deeper understanding of your case. This knowledge along with your confidence and honesty will definitely bring good results.

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