Divorce can feel like you are staring directly into the sun. It is a legal, financial, emotional and psychological unraveling of a life you planned to live. But it can also be a time of great healing, restoration, and finding the path that was meant for you. The best way through it is to ask questions, arm yourself with knowledge about the process (and your rights and responsibilities), and find your support network.

Washington State is what's known as a "community property state." In a community property state, all of the marital assets - such as real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement funds, jewelry and artwork - are jointly owned by the spouses. There are exceptions of course, such as things that were owned before marriage or were acquired by inheritance or gift. These items are considered one person's "separate property." In Washington, debts (or money that is owed to third parties) can also be jointly owned by the spouses. An essential step in the divorce process is identifying all of the assets and debts of the marriage and determining which are jointly owned ("community") and which are "separate." Once the parties have fully and fairly disclosed all of their assets and debts, they can begin discussing how they should be divided. It's not as simple as each person automatically gets 50%. The court will consider the length of the marriage, among other factors, when deciding who gets what and whether or not spousal maintenance (also called "alimony") is applicable.

If there are children shared by the parties, choices will need to be made about where they will live, who gets to make major decisions on their behalf, and who pays child support and how much.

As you can see, no two divorces are the same. In Washington, it takes at least three months for a divorce to finalize from start to finish (there is a mandatory 90-day “cooling off” period) but it usually takes much much longer. The process begins when the petition for divorce is filed and the other party is formally served. The steps ahead will largely depend on the specific circumstances of your case and whether or not the parties can come to an agreement without court intervention. After all the issues have been resolved and at least 90 days has passed, the divorce will be finalized by filing what's called "Final Orders" (including a "Final Decree").

IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO BEGIN consider our Divorce 101 service.

One of the most valuable services we provide is to have what we call a "Divorce 101" session. Our attorney will listen to your story, ask relevant questions, identify your goals and the issues that may arise, provide you with the right forms, and help you outline your next steps. It's an opportunity for you to ask any question you have about the process, the law, and your options. We will be honest and compassionate. Divorce 101 is a one-hour virtual meeting (by phone or zoom) along with a follow up written summary. Depending on your circumstances, you may walk away from the meeting armed with all the information you need to complete your divorce. (We will be honest about that too). More likely, you will walk away empowered with knowledge you didn't have before, a solid plan, and a lot less anxiety about what lies ahead.


Agreed on everything? If you and the other party have come to an agreement on ALL issues in your separation, get divorced for as little as $2,800 Without Children or $4,200 With Children.

(also referred to as "Uncontested Divorce")
Package Includes:
- Get divorced from A to Z with guidance from a licensed family law attorney for $2,800!
- Free Initial Consultation to discuss the divorce process, what it means to hire an attorney for a limited scope representation, and a brief overview of the main elements of your case.
- Extended Client Meeting to gather the details about your case, finances, property and your rights and responsibilities.
- Q&A with our attorney to address any legal questions you may have about your divorce along the way.
- Handouts that translate complicated legal jargon and help you organize your assets and debts.
- Select and Complete Forms. We will select all of the appropriate forms you need for your divorce and complete them based on the information you provide.
- Collect Electronic Signatures and File with the Court. That's a wrap!

(also referred to as "Uncontested Divorce")
*Package Includes:
- Get divorced from A to Z with guidance from a licensed family law attorney for $4,200!
- Free Initial Consultation to discuss the divorce process, what it means to hire an attorney for a limited scope representation, and a brief overview of the main elements of your case.
- Extended Client Meeting to gather the details about your case, finances, property and your rights and responsibilities.
- Parent Interview to collect details about your child(ren), custody arrangements, and financial issues related to the care of the child(ren) including Child Support.
- Q&A with our attorney to address any legal questions you may have about your divorce along the way.
- Handouts that translate complicated legal jargon and help you organize your assets and debts and discuss parenting decisions with the other party.
- Select and Complete Forms. We will select all of the appropriate forms you need for your divorce and complete them based on the information you provide.
- Draft a comprehensive Parenting Plan based on the agreed decisions of the parties.
- Draft a Child Support Order and Worksheets based on financial information you provide.
- Collect Electronic Signatures and File with the Court. That's a wrap!

*Agreed Divorce Packages:
- Do NOT include any third party costs such as court filing fees, process server fees, or parenting class fees.
- Agreed means just that! The parties MUST come to an agreement on their own for ALL issues related to their case.
- Do NOT include court appearances, hearings, drafting or filing of motions, negotiations, mediation, formal discovery, or trial. All of which require additional fees and a new fee agreement with our firm.
- We rely solely on the information you present to us as true and correct. We do not verify financial information of either party. Any errors or omissions are the full responsibility of the client.
- We have no control over the other parties' willingness to sign the documents. It is the client's responsibility to obtain consent from the other party. Fees will not be refunded if the other party changes their mind and/or refuses to sign the documents.
- Timeline is dependent upon timely cooperation of the client, third parties, and Washington's mandatory 90 day "cooling off" period.
If you have more questions, check out our FAQ or rates.

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A Parenting Plan is a court order that outlines each parents rights and responsibilities with regard to their child. The plan details the child's schedule with each parent (including vacations and holidays), who has the power to make decions for the child, and how the parents must resolve disputes. A parenting plan can also impose restrictions to address any serious issues a parent may have such as alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence history, or parental neglect. There can be provisions for choosing babysitters, how the parents must communicate, travel with the child, and introducing new relationships.

A Parenting Plan is one of the most important documents in family law and should be treated as such.

When parties separate with minor children, an order of child support will need to be entered with the court. This order establishes the financial obligations of each parent and considers factors such as income, family size, and how much time the child spends with each parent, among other things. After a child support order has been entered, it may need to be modified if there is a change in circumstances. Leland Law Group PLLC can help parents establish or modify child support payments on behalf of their children.

Relocating with a child after divorce can be one of the most difficult matters to get approved or to successfully challenge, depending on your circumstances. The law on relocation is complicated and there are strict notice requirements to follow. There are also many factors at play that courts take into consideration when deciding a relocation case. Whether your goal is to move with your child or to prevent the other parent from doing so, it is essential that you understand both the substantive law and procedural requirements before moving forward.

A prenuptial agreement is a legal contract that parties enter into before getting married. The purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to make sure that you and your future spouse have a common understanding of how your marital assets and finances would be divided in the event of divorce. Both parties make a full and fair disclosure of all of their financial assets prior to signing the agreement. A postnuptial agreement is a legal contract that parties enter into after getting married that outlines the ownership of financial assets in the event of divorce. With both prenups and postnups, it is recommended that each party hires their own attorney to advise them prior to signing the agreement.

A Marital Settlement Agreement is a legally binding contract between the parties which defines how the issues will be resolved including how the marital property, assets, and debts will be divided. It can be very comprehensive and cover a wide range of topics such as how a house will be sold, how taxes are handled, who is responsible for paying off credit card debt, custody of the family dog, etc... A Settlement Agreement helps the parties resolve conflicts without going to court.

Mediation is an alternative method of resolving disputes in family law. It can address the entire divorce or focus on specific issues such as parenting plans, division of property, or finances. Mediation is different than traditional divorce litigation because the parties work together to decide how to resolve their family law matter.

In litigation, the parties are adversaries and the decisions are left in the hands of the commissioner or judge. In Mediation, the mediator does not act as an advocate or a judge. Instead, a mediator helps the parties work together to decide the solutions themselves. If the spouses are able to reach an agreement, the mediator will prepare a written contract (sometimes called a CR2A Agreement) for the parties to sign. Each party may have the written agreement reviewed by their own attorney before signing. Once completed, it can become a part of the final divorce decree.

There are many benefits to mediation:
- Often less expensive
- Faster than litigation
- Allows the parties to maintain control of the outcomes
- Solutions can be highly customized to address your particular family needs
- High level of compliance
- Can be very amicable and collaborative

Washington State does not recognize what some states call, “common law marriage” but Washington courts do recognize “committed intimate relationships (CIR).” A committed intimate relationship occurs when an unmarried couple lives together for a substantial period of time in what can be considered a marriage-like relationship. In Washington, CIRs can create property rights and other rights similar to those of married couples. It is essential to know and understand the legal implications of living with an intimate partner, so that the partners can plan accordingly. You may be at the beginning of such a relationship and would like to protect your property interests by drafting a Cohabitation Agreement. Or you may want to know what rights you have when such a relationship ends.

If you have been awarded a portion (or all) of your spouse’s retirement or pension benefits, you may need to file a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) to actually receive those benefits. A QDRO allows the money to be moved from one spouse's retirement account to the other spouse without any penatlties or taxes due until the money is distributed later. QDROs require careful drafting as they must conform to the policy governining the retirement or pension account and are submitted to the plan administrator for approval.

Divorce can take a surprisingly long time. In Washington State, it takes an average of 12 months from start to finish. Even in the easiest of cases, the State requires that a minimum of 90 days pass between when the Petition is filed (initiating the divorce) and when a Final Decree is entered (finalizing the divorce).

Many people choose to pursue Temporary Orders as a way to create stability and predictability while the divorce moves through the process. For example, a Temporary Order can establish who is responsible for the mortgage payments, who gets to possess what car, who will move out of the family home, how much child and spousal support is paid every month, etc..

Temporary Orders are just that -- temporary. They are typically put in place until Final Orders are entered, finalizing the divorce, or until the Court enters a new Temporary Order that replaces the previous one.