Considering Divorce in the State of Washington?

It is one of the most impactful decisions you will ever make, especially if there are minor children in the home.  Please give it careful consideration.  In Washington state divorce is officially called “dissolution of marriage”.  Note that common law marriage is not recognized by the court system.  However, it is important to note that a court may divide up property acquired during a relationship when it finds that the partners have lived in a quasi-marital situation.  Marriage between partners of the same sex is recognized in Washington, as are Domestic partnerships.  Either may be dissolved with the same process as a marriage dissolution.

Here is some of what you may expect.  The court will consider all of the family’s liabilities as well as its assets, whether owned separately or acquired during the marriage as community property.  Their task is to be “fair and equitable,” which does not necessarily translate into “equal”.  One of the spouses (partners) may be required to pay maintenance (alimony).  And perhaps most importantly, the dependent children will have residency and visitation decisions made on their behalf.

All of this is stressful enough.  To go into the process without a trained veteran family law lawyer on your side is just plain folly.  In the Seattle area the right choice is Bellevue, WA divorce attorney Lyle M. Clark Jr.  For more than 35 years he has dealt with all matters of Washington state family law.  Begin this important process in your life by calling Lyle at (425) 452-3092.

Minors Applying for SSI

If you need to apply for SSI for someone under the age of 18 you need to know some of the rules.  The first step will be to complete an application for Supplemental Security Income AND a child disability report.  In this report you will delineate the specific disabling condition of the child and how it affects their ability to function.

Here are some helpful steps to begin your journey –

1.  Look over the Child Disability Starter Kit.  You will have basic questions answered and have a worksheet from which to work.

2.  Contact your local Social Security office.  Find out if you are within the income limits to start the process.

3.  Fill out the report online.  You will be asked for a medical release to allow Social Security to obtain records from the child’s doctor(s) in order to assess the nature of the disability.

The legal issues relating to child’s disability claims are complex.  If your application is denied you need to seek the counsel of someone who is intimately familiar with the process.  In the Seattle area that man is Lyle M. Clark Jr.  Lyle is a professional SSI attorney located in Bellevue, WA.  Tap into his more than three and a half decades of experience on matters of obtaining SSI benefits for a minor by calling (425) 452-3092.

Legal Separation vs. Divorce.

The distinction can be very confusing.  This decision will be one of the most important of your life.  Divorce or legal separation.  Which is best for you and your family?  It is essential to educate yourself on the legal and emotional effects that both possibilities will have on your future.  If you decide to hold off on filing for divorce, making your separation legal is also important to fully understand … it is not just a matter of leaving the household.

In Washington State, a legal separation proceeding is identical to a marriage dissolution, except that the court does not dissolve the marriage.  Your finances are kept separate.  Things like child custody and support as well as spousal maintenance may be ordered by the court.  When you divorce, the marriage is formally ended and you may proceed with your life including marrying someone else.  With a legal separation you obviously cannot remarry. However, a decree of legal separation may be converted to a decree of marriage dissolution later on upon the request of either party.

There is a great deal more to understand from an experienced family attorney.  Before you make an important life-changing decision in the Seattle area call on Lyle M. Clark Jr., a professional family law attorney located in Bellevue, WA.  Call him on matters of family law and tap in to his 35+ years of experience at (425) 452-3092.

Smart Estate Planning.

When you are thinking ahead you are usually thinking smart.  Planning for the future of your family after you are gone is certainly no exception.  Who makes those future vital decisions that celebrate a life well lived?  Start with a clearly crafted, will written with all of the i’s dotted and t’s crossed and you have already achieved great peace of mind.

Some things to remember as you do –

1.  Don’t forget life insurance.  You don’t want expenses to pile up on your loved ones.

2.  We recommend durable powers of attorney so that someone can manage your financial affairs and make medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated.

3.  Discuss probate with your attorney.  Probate in Washington State CAN be as simple as filling out some forms and paying a few hundred dollars to have the papers filed.

All of this is the purvey of an experienced attorney.  That is why you call on the veteran expertise of someone who has been dealing with estates in the Seattle area for 35 years.  That man is Lyle M. Clark Jr. - a professional estate planning attorney located in Bellevue WA.  Call him on matters of estate planning from start to finish at (425) 452-3092.

Make Your Labor Day Weekend Plans!

Labor Day Weekend Events!  

(Follow the link above for more information)

"The 2016 Labor Day Weekend takes place September 2-5th. There are many great Seattle and Washington events all weekend including festivals, free concerts, movies, and more."

Get out and enjoy your weekend! 

 

The Differences Between SSDI and SSI.

Perhaps the most important thing to understand is that both SSDI and SSI are for disabled individuals seeking cash benefits due to inability to work.  These two programs differ, however when it comes to financial eligibility.  SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance.  SSI, on the other hand, is Supplemental Security Income.

While both SSDI and SSI require medical proof that a claimant is unable to work, the two programs have different financial qualifications.  SSI is a “need based” program for people of Washington State and throughout America.  It has nothing to do with work history, but rather is available to people without other sources of income and assets from which to support themselves.  SSDI gets its funding by levying taxes on everyone’s payroll.  By working over many years you have “contributed” to this fund and may be entitled to benefits while you remain disabled or until you reach your full retirement age.

The layman would never be expected to know all of the ins-and-outs of SSDI and SSI.  This is why you should call on the professional expertise of someone who has been dealing with their nuances for three and a half decades. In the Seattle area that man is Lyle M. Clark Jr., an experienced SSDI and SSI attorney.  Call him on any and all of these matters at (425) 452-3092.

Some of the Reasons for a Prenuptial Agreement.

Some months ago in this space we defined the prenuptial agreement.  Today let’s look at its pros.  For people with large estates the division of property in the event of a divorce can have an impact on their heirs after death.  This is especially true when BOTH parties have property that they do not wish to have co-mingled.  Property distribution and the assignment of debt are at issue if the union dissolves.

Personal issues such as child support and child custody are NOT part of a prenuptial agreement.  The court has the power to decide those issues based on the laws at the time of the divorce.  What ARE valid subjects, however, are real estate, business interests, significant retirement benefits, stock options, and other investments.  Some people may want to provide for their children from a previous marriage.  To be valid and enforceable, however, a prenuptial agreement must be carefully drafted.

In the future we will discuss the cons of a prenuptial agreement.  In the meantime, please know this…for more than three and a half decades Attorney Lyle M. Clark has been advising people seeking divorce in the Seattle area.  You and a generation before you have known him as a Bellevue WA divorce attorney.  Call him on any family legal matter at (425) 452-3092.