McKinley Irvin Blogs from 2015

• Does Adultery Affect Divorce?

  Dec 29, 2015
  While adultery may be grounds for divorce in regards to a person’s emotions, in the state of Washington (and in most other states), the law does not recognize infidelity as “grounds” for divorce. Instead, Washington is considered a no-fault divorce state. This means that a spouse does not have to provide any specific reasons as to why they want to divorce their partner. A judge will issue a divorce order if the spouse who wishes to divorce states the current marriage is irretrievably broken, meaning the relationship is so ...
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• How Long Does the Average Divorce Take in Washington State?

  Dec 18, 2015
  Because each couple’s situation is different, the amount of time it will take for a divorce to be finalized in Washington will vary. The exact amount of time will depend largely on whether the divorce is uncontested or contested, whether there are any minor children to consider, and the net-worth of the marital property. Generally, first-time divorces with no children and relatively small collection of assets will be much quicker to obtain than contested divorces which must be resolved in court. On Average How Long Does ...
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• How to Choose the Right Divorce Lawyer

  Dec 11, 2015
  One of the most important choices that you will make if you are going through a divorce in Seattle is your divorce attorney. There are many attorneys to choose from and it can be difficult to know which one is going to represent your interests, protect your rights and achieve the goals you have in mind. You will, therefore, need to carefully consider all aspects of the attorney-client relationship as well as each attorney’s skills and background. Referrals Before you make any decisions, you should ask people you know if they ...
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• "Why Can't We Share a Divorce Attorney?"

  Nov 30, 2015
  Divorce raises many questions. For some, the most important question is “Who gets the house?” or “Will I get sole custody of my children?” For couples facing a low-conflict divorce, one common question is, “Can we share a divorce lawyer?” The short answer to this question is no – even if you and your spouse have resolved important issues like asset division and child custody before finalizing the divorce. Sharing an Attorney Means Conflict of Interest Even if your divorce is “uncontested,” you and your spouse are opposing ...
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• Will Divorce Affect My Credit?

  Nov 16, 2015
  You built a life with someone here in Seattle and now that life has changed—and you’re getting divorced. As you prepare yourself for this change, one of the things that you should give some thought to is your credit. Good credit can give you the opportunity to move on to a fresh new start more easily, while bad credit or a burden of debts can become one of your biggest obstacles after the divorce. Therefore, it is vital for you to understand the pitfalls surrounding credit as well as the ways you can protect it and your ...
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• How Divorce May Affect Children and What to Do About It

  Nov 10, 2015
  Going through a divorce is a difficult experience for anyone, but it is especially traumatic on children. Often, one parent essentially disappears from the family home, even if they still see that parent on weekends. Instead of one home, they now have two that they are shuffled between—and in some cases, both homes are new environments. Additionally, they may find themselves caught between parents, asked to choose which parent they prefer to live with, asked to deliver messages from one parent to the other, or used as a ...
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• Medical Decisions & Divorce: Why Khloe Kardashian Was Legally Responsible for Lamar Odom

  Oct 27, 2015
  By Brent Bohan, Associate Entertainment headlines came fast and furious when former NBA and reality TV star, Lamar Odom, was found unconscious at a Nevada brothel. And while Odom and wife, Khloe Kardashian, both signed divorce papers in July, a judgement was never entered into court and their divorce never finalized. That meant Kardashian was still next of kin – and legally responsible for making his medical decisions even though they’d filed for divorce. How did that happen? In many cases, when a person is hospitalized or ...
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• Unmarried couples living together: What are your legal rights?

  Oct 8, 2015
  In place of common law marriage, Washington recognizes committed intimate relationships (also known as meretricious relationships). These are relationships that mimic a marriage and give you legal rights without being married. If you and your partner have been together intimately for several years, have lived in the same residence during that time, and possibly have children together, an estate plan, or joint purchases, bank accounts or debt, then you have a good argument that you meet the requirements of a committed ...
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