We also accept payment by VISA and MasterCard. You can prepare the documents yourself. Simply create an account and follow the step-by-step instructions to complete your order. After all, you're getting divorced. The best thing any couple can do is to reach an agreement before hiring any lawyer. Uncontested Divorce in Washington State: The Costs Additionally, you will have to pay the filing fee for divorce in Washington. The clock begins when the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is filed and served to the non-filing spouse. Also, don’t forget that Washington is a no-fault divorce state, and irretrievable breakdown is the only reason you will ever need to cite for an uncontested divorce Washington. Our experienced Washington State uncontested divorce attorneys can handle your situation as well, allowing you to breath easier knowing that all the little details will be taken care of in an efficient and professional manner. Lawyer Costs: If you are planning to hire a divorce lawyer, then the lawyer’s fees are around $10,600 and the cost of the divorce can range between $4,000 and $30,000. A 2006 Forbes article estimated most contested cases in the US cost between $15,000 and $30,000 per side. Many contested cases begin as skirmishes but end as wars. Everett, WA 98201 It is becoming more popular for attorneys to offer this service. About how much does an amicable divorce cost in Washington State? Therefore, all a non-attorney can do is type your documents for you using the exact information you provide. If you choose to file your case in Lincoln County, Washington, you can complete this process by mail and never have to appear in court. For more free articles, guides, and videos, we encourage you to visit our website’s ‘resources’ section located among the tabs at the top of this page. Under your attorney's guidance, you can rest assured that the court will accept your documents. (Wash. Rev. We pride ourselves in providing stellar representation at substantially lower hourly rates than other firms in the Puget Sound. Uncontested divorce in Washington State. In a limited representation, you and the attorney share the responsibilities of completing your uncontested divorce. But in order to prepare the documents you must first determine what documents apply to your situation, then edit and revise each document for your situation and circumstances. Or call us at 866-631-0028 to speak directly to one of our firm’s divorce lawyers. Absent any more reputable statistical studies on contested divorce fees in the United States or Washington State, it appears Forbes’s guesswork may be the best information available. The average rate of divorce filing fees in the state costs $314, while you should have $10,600 to pay the average fee of a divorce lawyer . I filed for divorce 10 years ago while I was incarcerated, but neither of us actually went to court. Unlike most other states, there are no residency requirements to initiate a divorce on Washington. Washington Divorce Facts. Washington only approves “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” as a recognizable grounds for divorce as per the Revised Code of Washington Annotated; Title 26, Chapter 26.09.030. Or if you have no minor children of the marriage, use our do-it-yourself interview program, Washington Forms Online, to complete the forms. The law does not require that an attorney prepare your divorce documents. You might further refine your prediction by factoring in the complexity of your anticipated case. The most common type of limited representation is for the attorney to simply draft all the documents for you and answer basic questions. For example, an early agreement removes the need for temporary order hearings, which can be expensive. What is the cost of an average uncontested divorce in Washington state? Home / Blog / Top 10 Cities with the Highest Divorce Rate in Washington State For decades, the divorce rate has been consistent – at least as far as the general population is concerned. Nolo’s average for Washington did not filter out uncontested divorces, and the survey participants were all from Nolo’s self-help site (bargain hunters). Admin@genesislawfirm.com A self-help website named Nolo performed a survey indicating the national average for a contested divorce is around $19,500 per party, largely in attorney fees. We recommend Peaceful Separations because they seem to do the job right, whereas many other agreed divorce services botch the paperwork in our experience. The benefits are not only financial, but also emotional. My husband and I have not lived together for over 10 years. While many factors can change the overall cost, it is typical for each spouse to spend $10,000 or more to complete their divorce. Our firm recommends an agreed divorce service named Peaceful Separations, which charges closer to $700 including the court filing fee. To file for divorce in the State of Washington, this grounds must be established. Most people become overwhelmed or spend countless hours completing this process, usually by trial and error. On the other hand, your case might be much more expensive if the parties are wealthy, with some well-to-do divorcees spending millions on attorney fees. The divorce cannot be granted until 90 days have elapsed after the petition for divorce is filed. Keep in mind it is not just divorce attorney fees. You can have all your divorce documents prepared by a duly licensed attorney for a flat fee of $249. This will save you from having delays with your case that will result if the judge rejects any provisions of your divorce. Another Forbes article, published in 2015, estimated most contested divorces cost between $5,000 and $50,000 per person, putting the halfway point at $27,500. In some cases, divorce cost in Washington State goes up to $20,000. The average contested divorce in Washington costs $27,310, but an uncontested divorce can be handled for a fraction of that price because it takes much less time. § 26.09.030 (2018).) Instead, they seek the help of a non-attorney, such as a paralegal or typing service. VitalChek does cost more than ordering vital records by mail: $26.50 per certificate. This is because an agreed petition (petition and joinder) delineates the terms of the settlement, such who receives what assets, who pays what debts, and the amount of alimony. For example, most divorce lawyers in the Puget Sound area charge between $250 and $350 per hour, which might make divorces in the Puget Sound slightly more costly than the national average. The divorce rate in Washington is not as low as some other states, but it is lower than quite a few states. Grounds are merely the reason for divorce, and the state must approve them. Virtually everyone getting a divorce (called a ‘marital dissolution’ in Washington State) wants to know how much it will cost to hire an attorney. In Washington, the minimum length of a divorce case is three months. If the divorcing parties meet this criterion, they are in luck (in a sense)—an uncontested divorce is much less expensive than the contested variety. In more complicated cases your attorney and your spouse's attorney may be unable to reach an agreement, and you will be required to attend mediation. By way of further clarification, it does NOT simply mean the parties agree to a divorce. (This includes fees for filing, a judicial surcharge, and court facilitator costs.) 1) Divorce in Washington State: An Overview & How-To Guide The differences between divorce and legal separation in Washington State can be subtle, but they are extremely important when it comes to your property, your children, your relationship, and your future. by Samuel K. Darling, Divorce & Family Law Lawyer. If the divorcing parties meet this criterion, they are in luck (in a sense)—an uncontested divorce is much less expensive than the contested variety. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2011, the divorce rate in the state of Washington in 2011 was 4.1 out of every 1,000 residents. Local: (425) 212-1789 This option is called limited representation. This is known as full representation. Plaintiffs who cannot afford to pay filing fees may fill out a special form to request the court to waive the filing fee. Washington state partners with VitalChek for online orders of vital records, including divorce certificates. Then either you or your spouse will have to attend a three to five minute hearing to confirm your divorce with the judge. www.genesislawfirm.com Most uncontested divorces cost each spouse several thousand dollars before a final agreement is reached. If you and the opposing party have no dependent children together, your case will probably be less expensive. Most agreed divorce services in Washington State charge between $500 and $700 including the $300+ court filing fee. FL Divorce 201: Petition for Divorce ... Washington State Child Support … Instructions are provided for all counties in Washington State, including the divorce-by-mail option in Lincoln County, Washington. State law doesn't require you to live in Washington for any specific length of time. In this day and age, it’s easier than ever to download the forms, fill them out yourself, file them, and be done. In addition, each county often has unique requirements and special documents specific to their court that is in addition to the mandatory documents required by the state. If you have children and are considering getting a divorce, read this first. Toll Free: (866) 631-0028 Divorce and Other Options for Ending Your Marriage with Children in Washington State Authored By: Northwest Justice Project Read this in: Spanish / Español. We encourage you to call us so we can learn more about your needs and how we … You and your spouse need to reach an agreement on how to divide your property and debts. In an amicable divorce, you and your spouse work out the issues of your divorce instead of having your lawyers fight it out. Washington Residency Requirement. The uncontested divorce in the Washington State costs approximately $15,000. You could, in turn, determine whether your case is likely to be on the high or low end of Forbes’ estimated range. Unlike in other states, where the fees can reach almost $500, the Washington State divorce filing fees are just $280. Finally, by having an attorney prepare your documents, you can often get "free" legal advice. And you will have to either work out your own child support arrangement or agree to use the standard child support calculation. For example, an attorney can advise you of options and explain the legal process to you. No matter how clear-cut and uncomplicated your divorce, you still can’t get off Scott-free. Divorce isn't cheap. Take a vacation, take a trip, or visit family or friends. Reaching an agreement with your spouse and having your documents prepared affordably by a licensed attorney will save you time, money, and stress. This arrangement should save you well over $1,000 on an uncontested divorce in Washington State. If the attorney has any concerns about your agreement, he or she brings these issues to your attention, allowing you and your spouse to amend your agreement. We should begin by defining the term ‘uncontested’. An attorney that has extensive experience with the family court system knows exactly what documents and language are required for your particular situation and set of circumstances. Indeed, in some cases, your legal fees may even equal or exceed the property you are fighting over. Washington courts will still grant the divorce, even if the other spouse protests. The honest answer is "it depends." But even if you decide to file in your local county, the process is still simple because your case is uncontested. By Jaclyn Rainey | Reviewed by Bridget Molitor, JD | Last updated July 21, 2020. Code Ann. You can use this divorce online tool to determine if you qualify for an uncontested divorce in Washington. We have no affiliation with Peaceful Separations; this is our unbiased opinion. The order of divorce is on file with the courts because we have a child. You can have all your divorce documents prepared by a duly licensed attorney for a flat fee of $249. This type of divorce is inevitable when spouses have some irresolvable disputes concerning such important matters as child support and custody, property division, or alimony. The halfway point of this range would be $26,450 per divorcee. It can include the attorney help that may cost $500-600 per hour. You can find plenty of typing services by doing a simple Google search. Once your documents are complete, you can download them along with detailed, step-by-step instructions drafted specifically for you and your situation. Divorces don’t happen overnight. 12 suprising divorce laws from Washington State. This article provides cost information on both, to the extent available. Washington State has state-specific divorce laws pertaining to property division, child custody, and other divorce-related issues in Washington State. If you want to predict the cost of representation in your case, you might begin by comparing your attorney’s hourly rate to the national average, which is around $250 for a divorce lawyer. Try to reach some common ground with your spouse. State Website: If you can’t afford the filing fee, then you can download and print the Filing for Waiver of Your Filing Fee packet by clicking here If you would like to pay by VISA or MasterCard, please e-mail the Clerk's Office at supreme@courts.wa.gov , and include a credit card number, the expiration date, and the zip code associated with the card. The law will still keep you from moving to the state and immediately getting a divorce, though. Learn more about Washington State divorce laws. Much like mediation, divorce collaboration takes the power out of the judge’s hands and into the … You are better off spending your money on yourself and even your spouse than on attorney's fees. Online Divorce Codes - Washington State Revised Code - Title 26. Since your divorce is uncontested, you can have an attorney complete your divorce for you. 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. 40 Lake Bellevue Drive Ste 330, Bellevue, WA 98005 We understand that it can be hard to reach an agreement with your spouse. The process is simple: You pay the processing fee, answer some questions online, and submit your answers to the attorney. Nevertheless, 99% of all cases end up with the spouses reaching an agreement. Find out if you qualify to use Washington Divorce Online. If your case started out contested and you and your spouse are now working together to reach an agreement, or if you've been in mediation and recently reached or will soon reach an agreement, you may still use our website to prepare all of your documents based on your final agreement. Welcome to your online Washington divorce guide Qualify for divorce1 ____________________, Bellevue So the real question is, When will you and your spouse come to an agreement? Nowadays, if you meet all the residency requirements of the Washington State, you can easily get a divorce just depending only on yourself. Then come back and try to reach the agreement with your spouse. It is common for divorce in Washington to take up to 6 months or longer. There are two major types of divorce in the state of Washington: contested and uncontested. Genesis Law Firm, PLLC How much does a divorce in Washington cost? We know that this may seem like a tall order, but it is in the best interest of you, your spouse, and your children to reach an agreement. We hope that this article will help you if you ever need a Washington state divorce. However, not all services are equal, and some will not even provide all of the documents you need to file and finalize your uncontested divorce. First, an attorney can review the agreement you and your spouse reached to ensure that it is legal and likely to be approved by the court. Just to file for divorce in Washington, it costs roughly $350. Let's face it, unless you have lots of property, it makes little sense to spend thousands in legal fees to "fight" over your property. Washington recognizes domestic partnerships, and the following information applies to both dissolution of marriage (divorce) and dissolution of domestic partnership situations. A non-attorney can't advise you on whether your agreement is valid or likely to be approved by the judge. 3802 Colby Ave Ste 2 There are several options for preparing your divorce documents. Local: (425) 458-2414, how to keep your divorce lawyer’s fees low, what to do if you cannot afford a lawyer for your divorce, Property Division in WA Divorces: The Basics, Types of Parenting Plans | Washington State, Can’t Afford a Lawyer for My Divorce | WA, Unbundled Legal Services: Representing Yourself With Limited Help From an Attorney, Divorce in Washington State: An Overview & How-To Guide. We offer exceptional limited representation for uncontested Washington divorces via our website at www.WashingtonDivorceOnline.com. In Washington state, it is $280 on average, but this amount may vary by county. While legal separation is not the best choice for some couples that want to end their relationship, it can be an ideal option for others. However, most people who are on a budget can't afford $1,500 for an attorney to draft, file, and finalize their uncontested divorce. On a related note, our firm has published separate articles on how to keep your divorce lawyer’s fees low and what to do if you cannot afford a lawyer for your divorce, which you can find by clicking the links in this sentence. In Washington State, the law only requires one spouse to petition for the divorce. We believe the best solution is to have an attorney prepare the documents for a fixed price, and you complete certain tasks yourself. Adjusted for inflation, that means contested cases would presumably average between $17,600 and $35,300 in 2015. It's relatively easy to file for divorce in Washington State, though there are some local differences from one county to the next. Spouses then have several options on how … Unfortunately, most couples reach their agreement much too late to save themselves thousands of dollars in attorneys fees. We get asked this question all the time. A divorce where lawyers argue back and forth on behalf of their clients can cost tens of thousands. The average divorce in Washington state costs $13,400, including $10,600 in attorneys' fees. 2) How to Sign for a Business Blank forms to print and fill out on your own, with how-to instructions for completing and filing. Finally, if none of these measures work, the court, commonly known as the judge, will make the decisions for you. If you have children, you should also reach an agreement on custody, visitation schedules, and basic decisions about how you will parent the children. We offer exceptional limited representation for uncontested Washington divorces via our website at www.WashingtonDivorceOnline.com. If you're in the position of needing to file for divorce in Washington State, you need only file paperwork with your local family court. This article and video were produced by Genesis Law Firm's divorce and family law practice group. The court filing fee is $280 for a dissolution of marriage (divorce). File for Divorce | Printable Packet Authored By: Northwest Justice Project Read this in: Spanish / Español. How much does an Uncontested Divorce cost in Washington? WASHINGTON DIVORCE LAWS . Please make checks payable to the Washington State Supreme Court. But it seems Nolo’s methodology contained flaws that skewed their statistics downward by almost half, particularly for Washington. If you can not afford this fee, you may fill out a special form that will request the court to waive the filing fee. If there are parts of your agreement that a judge may not approve, the attorney can bring these issues to your attention so that you and your spouse can revise your agreement. Marriages or domestic partnerships in Washington can end through an annulment, legal separation or a divorce, also known as a dissolution of marriage. This time allows you to think more logically than emotionally. Since the other spouse cannot legally prevent the divorce, working with each other to accomplish the divorce amicably is wise and the most affordable approach. Non-attorneys cannot practice law, just as non-doctors cannot practice medicine. Of course, if you have a significant estate, you likely already have an attorney and would not be reading this article about affordable divorce options. We always say it is better to take your money and spend it on yourself. Contested. Washington collaborative divorce is an excellent choice if you and your spouse are looking to settle using alternative dispute resolution. We created www.WashingtonDivorceOnline.com to make the uncontested divorce process as quick and painless as possible for couples seeking uncontested divorce in Washington State. The cost of such coverage does not exceed twenty-five percent of the obligated parent's basic child support obligation. How do I begin a divorce process in Washington State? 3) How Long Does It Take for USCIS to Decide My Naturalization Case? An analysis listed Washington State as the eight most expensive place in the U.S. for a divorce, based on the high cost of filing and lawyer’s fees. You only need to reside in Washington when you file a petition with the court. 6. A similar Nolo survey for Washingtonians put the average around $13,400. The attorney reviews the agreement you reached with your spouse and then prepares all the necessary documents for your unique situation and circumstances. In contrast, it is against the law for a non-attorney to give you any legal advice, such as explaining your legal options based on your particular situation and circumstances. In fact, researchers indicate that the average American divorce costs between $10,000 and $20,000. To be uncontested, the parties must reach agreement on EACH AND EVERY TERM AT THE DATE THE DIVORCE PETITION IS FILED. You can follow the detailed instructions to complete your part of the process easily and efficiently. In this context, uncontested means the parties (husband and wife) settle at the outset of the case. Divorce services come in two basic price-categories: contested and uncontested. As you probably gathered, contested divorces can be expensive—very expensive. Most Washington attorneys will draft the documents, have you and your spouse sign them, file them with the court, and complete the entire court process for you. However, there are many advantages to having an experienced family law attorney prepare your documents. How Long Does It Take for USCIS to Decide My Naturalization Case. Unlike many other states, you do not have to be a resident of Washington for a specific amount of time before you can file for a divorce. Washington State Does Not Recognize Common Law Marriages Advantages of Washington Collaborative Divorce. The harder the parties fight, the more hours the attorneys bill and the more expensive the case becomes. To file for divorce in Washington, either you or your spouse must be resident of the state. If you do not use the divorce-by-mail option, you will simply have to deliver your documents to the court. Anyone walking down the aisle knew they had a 50-50 chance of making their marriage work. You may also need to pay for things like: In order to qualify for an uncontested divorce Washington, the spouse filing must be a resident of the state or, alternatively, a military member who has been stationed in Washington. If you are facing a divorce, this may not sound like good news -- but there are ways to manage and budget the cost of your divorce. Since your divorce is uncontested, all you will have to do once you and your spouse reach an agreement is to have your divorce documents prepared and file them with the court. Other costs may include photocopying and delivery service fees. For example, the attorney drafts the documents, and you submit them to the court and attend the five-minute hearing to finalize your divorce case. Learn more about what divorce attorneys charge and additional fees … Divorce isn't easy. Most agreed divorce services in Washington State charge between $500 and $700 including the $300+ court filing fee. From there, you have to serve your spous… The cost is also difficult to predict, because it depends on how hard each party fights. The Center for Divorce Education provides access to the Parent Education And Family Stabilization Course, which may be a court-ordered parenting class required in the state of Washington for parents that are seeking a divorce or separation with minor children, according to Rule 17 under Chapters 26.09, 26.10, and 26.26 of the Revised Code of Washington. But even if you take a do-it-yourself approach, you have to pay. 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