Divorce/Legal Separation

The end of a marriage or domestic partnership can be an extremely difficult and stressful time, whether children are involved or not.

Every family law case is unique, and the outcome of every case will have a profound effect on the lives of those involved. We can explain your options and tailor our services to meet your needs, based on your specific circumstances, whether that be aggressive litigation or a collaborative, settlement-oriented approach that seeks to preserve a relationship with the other party.

Some of the common issues we deal with include:

Division of Property and Liabilities: The Court is not obligated to make a 50/50 division. Unless there is a prenuptial agreement, all assets and liabilities, both community and separate, are before the Court and will be divided “fairly and equitably” based on a number of factors.
Child Support: Child support must be set in accordance with state guidelines unless there are grounds for deviation. Income may be imputed to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. The Child Support Order will establish the obligor’s monthly support payment and obligation to make additional payments for extraordinary expenses such as daycare, health insurance and educational expenses.
Parenting Plans: A Parenting Plan is a court order establishing each parent’s residential time with the children, and is intended to cover all situations, including holidays, special occasions and summer vacations. A parent’s contact with the children may be limited if the parent has been abusive or neglectful, or suffers a health problem that impairs his or her parenting abilities.
Maintenance: Commonly referred to as alimony, one spouse or domestic partner may be entitled to maintenance for his or her support; eligibility for maintenance and the amount and duration of the payments depends on a variety of factors, including the length of the relationship; the age, physical condition and financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, the standard of living during the marriage or domestic partnership, and the ability of the other spouse or domestic partner to pay maintenance.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (425) 455-5513, toll free at (877) 455-5513, or info@palmerlegal.com.