Uncontested Divorce in Washington
Couples seeking a dissolution of marriage in Washington may consider one of two possible options.
- A contested divorce occurs when spouses unable to resolve all their divorce-related issues without the court involved. If divorcing spouses cannot settle such issues as marital property division, child custody, Washington child support, alimony, etc., amicably, they may need legal advice from a lawyer or services of mediation. Thus, the overall divorce process takes much time and becomes more expensive.
- In an uncontested divorce, all the existing divorce-related issues are already settled and outlined in a Marital Settlement Agreement (also known in Washington as the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage). Agreeing on all the arrangements allows the couple to proceed without legal assistance, making an uncontested option much cheaper and faster.
If the spouses have trouble with their divorce documents filing for an uncontested divorce, they can use an online divorce, namely DivorceOnline. DivorceOnline is specifically designed to assist divorcing spouses with their paperwork. It is an excellent alternative to an expensive attorney.
Get Your Divorce Forms Completed Online
If the divorce paperwork feels challenging, you should use an online divorce service. DivorceOnline is a unique tool designed to assist couples to get their divorce forms fast for a reasonable price.
Our online divorce paperwork preparation service helps couples select and complete the appropriate forms. We don’t just sell blank forms; after you complete a simple questionnaire on marriage and divorce, we generate the completed forms. In addition, you will get our step-by-step filing guide.
Our online divorce service allows spouses to avoid expensive lawyers. You won’t need costly consultations in a law firm. Instead, in just 2 business days, you will get your forms done for as little as $139, which is cheaper than the average attorney charges in Washington.
And yet, remember that we don’t provide legal advice and won't represent you in court. Thus if you proceed with a contested divorce or there are any complications to your case, you should consider hiring a lawyer or mediation services.
Getting a Divorce With Children
Regarding child custody, Washington court tends to enter a parenting plan that typically designates one parent as the primary residential parent for the children. As for the decision-making for children, it’s common that both parents are awarded joint legal custody and have an equal say.
In Washington state, all the decisions on child custody are made based on the child’s best interest. Thus, the court will have to consider all the existing circumstances to make a final decision. In some cases, the judge may decide to limit one parent's residential time with the children and deny them joint legal custody. This may happen if the court finds any one of the following:
- Refusal to care for the children and perform parenting duties and responsibilities
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of the child
- History of domestic violence or physical or sexual assault
- History of sex crimes including child rape, child molestation, incest, or other sexual misconduct involving children
- Long term emotional or physical troubles, disturbing a parent’s ability to care for the child
- Long term drug, alcohol abuse
- Lack or absence of emotional bond between parent and child
- Refusal to give the other parent contact with the child for no clear reason
- Other reasons posing a threat to the child’s welfare and interests
The parents can amicably sort out a parenting plan before filing. However, if the parents cannot agree on all the issues regarding child custody and support, the decision can be left to the court.
Another thing to remember is that all Washington counties (except Lincoln County) require divorcing parents to attend a parenting seminar. The parents must complete it within 60 days after the petition is served.
In addition, any parent has a legal duty to help support their children. So, child support must cover the primary child's needs, like clothes, food, daycare, medical care, and a decent place for the children to live.
When Washington courts order child support, they utilize the Washington State Support Schedule. Following this Schedule, the "basic support obligation" calculation is based on both parents' incomes, the number, and age of children, etc.
Generally, child support lasts until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school.
Filing for Divorce in Washington Without a Lawyer
Proceeding with an uncontested divorce, spouses may handle all their divorce-related issues amicably without any legal help. Thus, they can save money on the whole process by choosing to get their divorce without a lawyer.
Those spouses who find it challenging to handle their divorce papers without an attorney as they have no legal training may use online divorce services, such as DivorceOnline. This way they will be able to get over their divorce papers for an affordable price.
In addition, the divorce cost may be reduced significantly if the couple chooses to proceed with a DIY divorce.
Do-It-Yourself Divorce in Washington
Washington couples eligible for an uncontested divorce can proceed with a do-it-yourself divorce. This is a go-to option for couples willing to save money on law firm services and costly lawyer’s consultations.
While a DIY divorce is a great way to save money, some spouses may find the overall divorce process tricky. For example, divorce papers preparation may seem quite challenging for spouses without legal training. To avoid mistakes in the papers and have all the paperwork requirements met, the spouses can use an online divorce service, namely DivorceOnline.
DivorceOnline helps couples with their divorce forms preparation from the comfort of home, being an excellent alternative to expensive divorce attorneys (just $139). Our service is the best option to handle the paperwork fast and simple in a do-it-yourself divorce.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
For an uncontested divorce in Washington, divorcing spouses aren’t supposed to pay much more than a filing fee. However, the overall cost depends on the complexity of a divorce case.
For example, for contested divorces with children involved in which legal assistance is required the overall divorce cost can be relatively high.
For an uncontested divorce in Washington, divorcing spouses aren’t supposed to pay much more than a filing fee. However, the overall cost depends on the complexity of a divorce case.
For example, for contested divorces with children involved in which legal assistance is required the overall divorce cost can be relatively high.
To avoid paying filing fees in Washington, the plaintiff may ask the court to waive them. They must complete and submit a particular form to the court. If the judge approves the request, finding the plaintiff unable to afford the filing fees, the divorce filing fee will be waived.
The filing spouse has to submit a Summons, Confidential Information Form, and Vital Statistics Form along with the other documents required for their particular divorce case. Another essential document is the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, which outlines all the arrangements for divorce-related issues.
To check which forms are needed, the spouses should contact the court’s clerk or use the online divorce service DivorceOnline, which may come in handy handling the paperwork for an affordable price.