Filing for Divorce in Seattle, WA?

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Choosing to dissolve a marriage can be a difficult decision. But once you’ve made that first step, you may find that the entire divorce process is much harder than you originally thought. You will have to make decisions on important issues regarding your finances and properties. If both of you share children, you and your spouse will have to decide on how to split parenting time between your households.

Divorce can be stressful and emotionally draining – but you are not alone. Our attorneys can walk you through every step. Helping you with paperwork, mediating disputes, finding amicable solutions, and even protecting your rights in court if necessary. We are here for you every step of the way with our quality advice and personalized guidance.

Getting a Divorce in Washington

Residency requirement. To file for divorce in Washington, either spouse must be a resident of the state. You are not required to have lived in the state for any specified length of time, as long as either you or your spouse has established residency.

No fault divorce. Washington is a no-fault divorce state. This means that you do not have to provide any reasons for the divorce beyond the fact that it is “irretrievably broken.” Couples do not assign blame or provide reasons why the marriage did not work. As long as one party wants to file for divorce, then the state will still grant the divorce, regardless of whether the other spouse disagrees.

Cost to File for Divorce in Washington

Divorce costs vary significantly depending on the complexity of the case. Still, there are some fees that all couples can anticipate. The fee to file for a dissolution of marriage in King County is $314. In addition to this expense, a pair can brace themselves for:

• Attorney fees
• Costs for official copies of divorce paperwork
• Service fees
• Moving costs
• Psychiatric evaluations for expert witnesses in divorces with children

In total, an uncontested divorce can cost around $4,000.

The fees will increase with any additional court appearances, petition filings, responses to motions, and more. Overall, couples can safely anticipate some sort of charge any time they must submit paperwork, see a judge, or issue a formal response to the opposition.

If a case necessitates a trial to settle multiple issues, it could cost around $20,000.

Skilled Negotiator. Fierce Trial Advocate.

Our attorneys are skilled at negotiating disputes when the stakes are high, such as in high net worth divorces and between couples with significant assets. We understand the value of reaching fair and amicable resolutions that preserve harmony in relationships. While we do our best to resolve issues outside of court, we can competently take your case to trial in order to protect your interests.