Defending your family is what we do best. At Justice Law Yakima, your family comes first.
Your family’s future is important to you and us. Embarking on a family law case can be an emotional event that will change your family’s future. Justice Law Yakima will lead you through stressful times with expert representation while using best practices to protect your family’s needs.
Divorce can bring many challenges, such as splitting assets and custody, while feeling the pressure of the divorce process. Justice Law of Yakima is unique and skilled in its practice. We pledge to understand your needs and fight for your family’s best interest every time. Our values are structured around family, ethics, professionalism, and protecting our clients from start to finish. We will lessen the pain and stress of divorce and other family law matters with our experience and knowledge of the law. We hear you, and we can help.
Divorce is a challenging step in finding new happiness for you and your family. Our attorney, Kelly Murray, listens to and understands your needs. Right away we focus on necessary actions, considering the splitting of assets, parenting plans, child custody, and child and spousal support. You want an attorney who will fight for amicable agreements and guidance towards a beneficial co-parenting plan. We will support you in making smart financial decisions. We are aggressive in protecting your voice and work to have favorable outcomes for your family. Our clients are able to trust us because we are skilled in these areas of practice, alleviating the pressure of filing for divorce. Give us a call at 509-494-8590 for a consultation and your needs will become our priority.
There is a community property presumption in Washington State. Under this presumption, any property acquired during marriage is the equal property of both parties and any property that you own prior to marriage, and keep separate throughout your marriage, will remain your separate property after the divorce is finalized. Property that you own may include money, real estate, investments, equipment, and personal belongings of monetary or sentimental value. However, despite the community property presumption employed in Washington State, property division is not always 50/50. The court will divide property as it sees fit, looking to what it deems a just and equitable division. If you are going through a divorce, legal separation or ending a Committed Intimate Relationship, quality legal representation is imperative to ensure you receive your fair share of the community’s property. Simply, call Justice Law Yakima at 509-494-8590 for an appointment to talk about splitting your assets.
Children are the most important consideration during a divorce, and they are equally important to unmarried parents. Helping you define a favorable and healthy parenting plan for both the parents and the children is our goal. Support is also a critical factor as each parent carries the legal responsibility to support their child. Read more or call 509-494-8590 for a consultation with one of our Justice Law Yakima professionals.
Spousal Support typically plays a role in a long term marriage when one spouse stands to experiences a significant decline in income or quality of living due to a divorce. The court looks to a variety of factors when determining if spousal support is appropriate and if so, what amount should be ordered and for how long it should continue. Factors include:
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- the length of the marriage;
- the age, emotional and physical condition of the spouse seeking support, as well as any financial obligations they may have;
- the standard of living the couple experienced during the marriage;
- the financial resources available to the spouse asking for support;
- how long it will take the lower earning/non-working spouse to acquire marketable skills or education for future employment; and
- the ability of the paying spouse to pay support, while being able to support themselves and meet their obligations.
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If the marriage was longer in duration, it is likely that one spouse will pay some level of spousal support. However, the unique circumstances of each relationship will ultimately play a large role in determining the outcome. Call Justice Law Yakima at 509-494-8590 for a consultation and you will become our priority.
Couples don’t need to be married to fight for custody, separate assets, or split wealth. Courts have defined a Committed Intimate Relationship as a “stable, marital-like relationship where both parties cohabit with knowledge that a lawful marriage between them does not exist.” Whether a Committed Intimate Relationship exists is determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the length of the relationship, whether or not cohabitation was continuous, the purpose of the relationship, whether the couple held themselves out as being in a relationship, exclusivity of the parties, and pooling of resources. No one factor is determinative. A Committed Intimate Relationship can be as real as a marriage and require professional representation to decide what is best for the desired outcome. Justice Law Yakima is here to help at 509-494-8590. Call for an appointment today.
Legal Separation in Washington State allows two spouses to be legally separated without an actual dissolution of marriage. This can be done with a legal separation order from the court. Legal separation is often used when couples want to work on the relationship or if religious views impact the decision to be divorced. After six months of legal separation, a divorce can be unilaterally entered if one of the parties so desires. Property division is also an issue in legal separations. With Justice Law Yakima on your side, you’ll become a priority.
Embarking on an adoption is a special time for every family, but it’s not without challenges. Whether you are looking at a private adoption or state adoption, Justice Law Yakima has you covered. You may be considering a closed adoption, where there is no to little future contact with the biological parents, or you may be looking at an open adoption, which can be customized to your particular circumstances. Having guidance during this time is essential in ensuring the best outcome for you and your future child. At Justice Law Yakima we will handle the legal aspect of your adoption for you, allowing you to focus on one of the most important moments of your life.
Domestic violence is a serious offense in Washington State. Under RCW 26.50.010(1), domestic violence is a defined term meaning physical harm, bodily injury, assault, the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, sexual assault, or stalking. While domestic violence can be, and often is charged as charged as a criminal offense, you can also seek a Domestic Violence Protection Order civilly. Domestic violence encompasses not only intimate partners, but also anyone family members, and anyone that you have lived with. A protection order can keep the abusive person away from you, your home, school, and workplace and limit or prohibit visitation with children. If a court finds a Domestic Violence Protection Order against you is appropriate, it will have negative consequences for your parenting plan, as Washington law requires restrictions on a parent when there is a history of domestic violence.
A Restraining Order may be filed as part of a family law proceeding. It can be more comprehensive than a Domestic Violence Protection Order as it can cover not only restraining a person from contacting you or coming within a certain distance, it can also include property, support, and custody, as well as weapons surrender. For a Restraining Order to be entered by the court, the petitioner must prove they would face irreparable harm without one. A Violation of a Restraining Order or a Domestic Violence Protection Order is a criminal offense. Protection orders should be taken very seriously. Whether you are seeking a protection order or need to be defened from one, Justice Law Yakima can help. Timing is of the essence in dealing with protection orders, so call us today at 509-494-8590 to set up your consultation.
