Debts that are incurred after a marriage or separation, or before a marriage or separation, only belong to the spouse who incurred them. Just as it is with assets in a community property state, in Washington any debts acquired by one or the other spouse during a marriage belong equally to both spouses. Read: Who Gets the House in a Divorce? Debts This can include how much you may have contributed to your spouse’s career opportunities at the expense of your own, or whether or not you have children and want to remain living in the family home, among others. However, in Washington, a judge has discretion based on the length of a marriage and each spouse’s economic standing at the time of the divorce. If you want to retain sole possession as the owner, it is important to make sure you do not commingle the property, either by depositing money in a joint bank account, or adding your spouse to the deed on a house, or in other similar instances.ĭetermining what is community property and what is separate property are a critical parts of determining a fair and equitable division of assets. Also, any property that was acquired either before the marriage or after the date of separation of the marriage is considered the sole property of the person who acquired it. For example, if the property is acquired during the marriage by way of inheritance or a gift, then the person who was given that property retains sole interest in it. There are some exceptions regarding separate property. This means all income and property, real or personal, that was acquired by either party during a marriage is equally owned by each partner. Washington is a community property state. Here are some of the most common legal questions and major issues that come up during a divorce in the state: Copies of these laws can be found on the Washington Legislature’s website located here. IF THE KIDS ARE UNITED THEY WILL NEVER BE DIVIDED CODEThe laws that govern marriage in the state are found in Chapter 26.04 of the Revised Code of Washington. There are several laws on the books that cover specific parts of the divorce process. IF THE KIDS ARE UNITED THEY WILL NEVER BE DIVIDED HOW TOSpouses then have several options on how to proceed with a divorce, either in an uncontested action, or through several possible contested actions ranging from mediation to a divorce by trial. You only need to reside in Washington when you file a petition with the court. Unlike most other states, there are no residency requirements to initiate a divorce on Washington. Washington is a no-fault state and one spouse or the other only needs to claim that a marriage is “irretrievably broken” to start the divorce process. Marriages or domestic partnerships in Washington can end through an annulment, legal separation or a divorce, also known as a dissolution of marriage. Beginner’s Guide to Washington Divorce Laws
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |