What are my Spousal Support Options?

Divorce is the dissolution of a marriage and not the end of your obligation to your former spouse.  In most divorce cases one partner is more financially viable than the other.  Because of this the less well-off partner is entitled to equitable financial compensation to help them cope financially with their new post-divorce lifestyle.

Spousal support is established to recognize one individual’s support given during the union even though it was not an equal sharing of expenses.  Alimony, by the way is available ONLY to those that have been legally married.  You may anticipate that the court will award financial assistance based on factors such as the duration of the marriage, each person's earning capacity, contribution to household or career, and physical health of the recipient.

How does spousal support effect you in the state of Washington?  Hear the facts from someone who has represented divorcees in the Seattle/Bellevue/Everett area for nearly 35 years.  That man is Attorney Lyle M. Clark.  Do not hesitate another minute call Attorney Clark at (425) 452-3092 and make an appointment to visit him at his office located at 40 Lake Bellevue Suite 100 in Bellevue WA.

The Difference Between an Annulment and a Divorce.

We have all heard these two words.  They are the primary ways to legally end a marriage.  Many of us, however, are hazy on what constitutes an annulment, which in Washington State is referred to as a declaration of invalidity of marriage.  Annulment is a legal procedure which cancels a marriage between couples.  On the surface that seems simple doesn’t it?  But how does an annulment differ from a divorce?

Annulling a marriage is similar to saying that the marriage never existed.  An annulment may be sought by either party, however he or she must show that they have grounds to do so and be able to prove it in court.  There are two types of marriages that may be annulled: Ones that are void and ones that are voidable.  For example, a marriage between a person who is already married and another person is void.  Likewise, a marriage between a 21-year old and a 14-year old is void because a 14-year old cannot legally marry in Washington.  Upon reaching the legal age (18), however, that marriage would become voidable if the parties remain together.  A marriage conceived under fraudulent circumstances is also voidable.  For example, if a man doing time in prison for homicide escapes and marries a woman without telling her about his criminal past, she can have the marriage declared invalid when she learns about it.

What is right for you?  The proper way to discover this is to seek professional council in these matters.  Seattle area Divorce attorney Lyle M. Clark Jr. will help you sort through your choices between divorce and annulment.  Attorney Clark has over 30 years of experience dealing with family law matters.  Make an appointment at his office at 40 Lake Bellevue Suite 100 in Bellevue by calling (425) 452-3092.

Make a Will this New Year.

Now that you have gathered with the family for the holidays you may be reminded about how much you wish to protect them when you are gone.  Drawing up a will can sometimes be like pre-planning a funeral.  It is something that we put off and put off then suddenly the need arises and we may not be of sound mind and body.  Making a will is a New Year’s resolution worth keeping.

It is difficult to find a lawyer that you can trust with your most interpersonal issues.  You need to be able to speak openly and frankly about your wishes for your estate whatever size it may be after you are gone.  You must find someone who cares as much about each decision you make as you do concerning the estate you have accumulated.

In the Seattle area the right person to trust with this delicate matter is Attorney Lyle M. Clark.  For over 35 years he has strived to make the process of wills, trusts, and probate as safe and secure as it can possibly be.  Start 2016 with a phone call to Lyle Clark and arrange a free consultation at his office at 40 Lake Bellevue Suite 100 in Bellevue WA by calling (425) 452-3092. 

Coping with a Split Family this Holiday Season.

Many families are going through a difficult time this holiday season.  For the first time mom and dad are living in separate residences and there is tension in the air.  In many cases divorce proceedings have yet to take place and may not occur at all.  This is a particularly difficult time for the children, so remember that when you gather with them this holiday season.

Use this time to reflect on how life will be if things continue on this path.  Is everyone better off this way, or is there a better way?  Whatever you decide try to take your own selfish interests and put them on the back burner for a moment.  The decisions you make will change your family structure forever.  Maybe that is the way it should be.  However, you decide to proceed, keep in mind that your spouse is the other parent of your child or children. No matter what issues divide you, always do your best to build up that parent in your children’s eyes.

After the holidays, contact Seattle area divorce attorney Lyle Clark for sound advice as to how to proceed.  Attorney Clark has been helping Seattle area residents deal with these important issues for over thirty years.  Make an appointment to sit down with him at his Bellevue Washington office by calling (425) 452-3092.  You will appreciate the council of someone with the expertise of Attorney Lyle Clark.

Working with a Probate Lawyer.

When you hire a probate lawyer you will feel better knowing that an expert is handling the paperwork involved in settlement of the estate.  In the case of probate this entails preparing and filing paperwork in court proceedings.  However, the personal representative also has duties. You will be required to provide your attorney any outstanding bills so that creditors can be notified concerning the need to file claims.  It will also be your responsibility to gather and safeguard assets as well as to continue to pay outstanding bills relating to maintenance of a house, if any, and to approve and pay any creditors claims out of estate funds.

Wrapping up an estate always involves sorting through the deceased individual’s papers.  Then you must reach out to various agencies and institutions.  This is where communication with your attorney is essential.  How much of this work do you want the attorney to do and how much do you wish to take on?

Attorney Lyle Clark of Bellevue, Washington, knows how difficult it is to find the right person that you can trust with the most intimate details of your loved one’s life.  He has had over 35 years of experience in the Seattle area navigating through the issues of probate.  At this most important time call Attorney Lyle Clark at his Bellevue office at (425) 452-3092.

Preparing My Last Will and Testament.

Some people may encourage you to draw up the will yourself - suggesting that you can save on attorney expenses by doing it yourself.  However, drafting a will is a complex legal matter that is best done with the assistance of a competent lawyer.  Each state has its own requirements for the contents of wills and the formalities for executing a will.  There are many variables to consider depending on the desires of each individual and the nature of that person’s estate. Some variables include provisions for children, whether to use testamentary trusts for children or other purposes, the appointment of a trustee or guardian, how to divide estates involving blended families with children from previous marriages, charitable bequests, and whether there are estate tax considerations.

The most important step in this process is to find an attorney with the experience and training to help you understand your options and carry out your wishes.  You need to find someone with empathy, integrity, and high ethical standards.  Talking openly with your attorney about your final wishes should be like sharing your thoughts with your best friend.

Before you make that decision, pick up the phone and talk to a lawyer about having an initial meeting.  Find out what that meeting entails and if there will be a cost to gather more information.

We encourage you to call Seattle area attorney Lyle Clark.  Attorney Clark has had over 35 years of experience navigating through the waters of drawing up final wills and testaments.  With Lyle Clark you will get his total commitment in understanding your unique needs through in-person meetings and ongoing interaction.  Call Seattle area attorney Lyle Clark today at (425) 452-3092 and arrange a meeting at his office located at 40 Lake Bellevue, Suite 100, in Bellevue.

Uncontested Divorce in the State of Washington.

The term “uncontested” has multiple meanings.  In Washington State, all cases are uncontested because the only ground for divorce (called marriage dissolution in Washington) is that the marriage is irretrievably broken.  The necessity of proving fault of some kind has been removed from the process.

Another meaning to “uncontested divorce” is that both parties to the divorce are in full agreement as to the issues before one of them ever contacts an attorney.  Why spend thousands of dollars fighting over a variety of issues if you can resolve them yourselves?  In Washington an attorney cannot represent both sides in a divorce because doing so would constitute a conflict of interest.  However, an experienced family law attorney can help make sure that the dissolution documents have been correctly drafted and that all issues have been appropriately addressed.

Seattle area family law Attorney Lyle Clark is a very skilled draftsman and an experienced negotiator with over 30 years of handling divorce cases in the state of Washington.  His first priority is to help settle your case out of court in order to avoid unnecessary expense and minimize conflict.  Call Lyle Clark today at (425) 452-3092 to find out more about how his expertise may help for you and to make an appointment to meet with him at his Bellevue WA office.