Often the key to avoiding endless fights over children is a well-crafted parenting plan which addresses potential disputes and which is consistent with the best interests of the children. Child support is the money paid by one parent to another to cover a portion of the costs of food, clothing, and shelter for the children. The amount of child support is generally set at a pre-determined amount based upon the incomes of the parents. Sometimes parents can be obligated to pay additional expenses for the children in addition to normal child support such as day care, counseling expenses, and school tuition. Under Washington law, property acquired by either spouse during the marriage is generally community property.
Community property is owned jointly by both spouses.
Factors such as preserving the family home for the children or a significant disparity in the earnings of the spouses can lead to lopsided divisions of the property in favor of one spouse or the other. An attorney can assist you in identifying and valuing all of the property and in obtaining a division of the assets that is fair and equitable under your individual circumstances. Traditionally, spousal maintenance is most common in marriages of longer duration where there is a significant difference in incomes. Maintenance can be used to allow a spouse to obtain education so that he or she can earn a higher salary. Maintenance can also be used to compensate a spouse who has made economic sacrifices to benefit the marriage.