Family Law Blog

McKinley Irvin Blog

A little knowledge can go a long way to protect your assets and family relationships. Planning can save headaches and money, and can provide peace of mind. The articles and tips in this section of the McKinley Irvin website are intended to help you understand and prepare for some of the more common issues you’ll encounter in a divorce, child custody, or other family law matter.

Please be advised that family cases can be very complex. The information provided here should not be construed as legal advice in your case.

  • Common Obstacles When Stepparents and Second Parents Adopt

    Common Obstacles When Stepparents and Second Parents Adopt Although being a stepparent is rewarding, many stepparents struggle when they encounter situations in which the legal rights associated with parenthood don’t apply to the relationship they have with their stepchildren. That is why stepparent adoption is such a major milestone for blended families. There are two common types of adoption in Washington, stepparent adoption and second-parent adoption. Stepparent adoption is a legal process by which the spouse of one of the biological parents legally adopts the child and the ...
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  • Parenting Rights for Stepparents

    Parenting Rights for Stepparents Roughly 40% of all married couples with children in the U.S. are blended families. With so many stepparents raising their spouse's children, the question of parental rights and legal guardianship is commonly raised when it comes to matters like discipline, medical decisions, and where the children will attend school. It is important to note that stepparents do not automatically have the right to make legal decisions for their stepchildren simply by virtue of their relationship to them. In order to obtain this right, a ...
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  • Does It Matter Who Files For Divorce First?

    Does It Matter Who Files For Divorce First? Are There Benefits to Filing for Divorce First? Many divorce attorneys argue that there really is no advantage to filing for dissolution (divorce) first, however, we believe that it depends on your individual circumstances. In general, there are certain financial and legal benefits to being the first to file for divorce. The advantages of filing for divorce first can include: More Planning : You get to plan in advance and take your time selecting a lawyer, rather than having to scramble to find a lawyer to meet with you and ...
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  • 3 Things to Know About Spousal Support in Washington

    3 Things to Know About Spousal Support in Washington Spousal support, also called spousal maintenance, is a court-ordered payment that one spouse must make to the other to make sure that neither spouse is left destitute both during and after the divorce proceedings . Below, we explain different types of spousal support, the tax consequences, and when spousal support can be modified in Washington. #1: Types of Spousal Maintenance Judges in Washington can award three types of spousal maintenance: temporary support, short-term maintenance, and long-term maintenance. Judes can ...
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  • McKinley Irvin Welcomes Caitlin Dennis to our Vancouver Office

    McKinley Irvin Welcomes Caitlin Dennis to our Vancouver Office McKinley Irvin is excited to welcome family law attorney Caitlin Dennis to our Vancouver office. Caitlin represents clients in divorce, custody, and other family law matters. Caitlin has over fifteen years of experience working in family law, first as a paralegal and later as an attorney. She is passionate about finding solutions that minimize conflict and stress for her clients. While she works to reach favorable settlements outside of court, she is a strong advocate in litigation when trial is necessary. Caitlin completed ...
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  • How the Length of a Marriage May Affect Divorce

    How the Length of a Marriage May Affect Divorce The length of a marriage is one of several important factors for a court's consideration in a divorce and is primarily relevant to two aspects of a marital dissolution: the division of marital property and spousal support . Does the Length of a Marriage Affect Property Division? The length of a marriage can influence two aspects of property division. First, the duration of the marriage is relevant to the precise distribution of property between the spouses . Second, long-term marriages often involve more complex property ...
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  • 7 Marriage Questions Every Engaged Couple Should Ask to Avoid Divorce

    7 Marriage Questions Every Engaged Couple Should Ask to Avoid Divorce Before tying the knot, couples should make sure they have the same expectations going into marriage. When couples communicate their wants, needs, and expectancies, they’re far less likely to find themselves having major disagreements about big life decisions that could eventually result in divorce. Even if certain topics don’t seem relevant now, they are almost certain to become so later down the line. When couples have different views on major issues, such as the desire to have children or other future goals, they might not ...
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  • FAQ: Serving Divorce Papers in Washington

    FAQ: Serving Divorce Papers in Washington After a person files for divorce , a copy of the summons, complaint, and the notice of the initial hearing must be hand-delivered to the other spouse. This process is commonly referred to as serving divorce papers. Below, our divorce attorneys answer common questions we are asked about serving divorce papers in Washington. Question #1: How do I serve divorce papers? A: There are three ways to serve divorce papers: hand-delivery, certified mail, and publication. Question #2: Can I personally serve divorce papers? A: You ...
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  • Proving Neglect in a Child Custody Case

    Proving Neglect in a Child Custody Case Child custody cases in which one parent accuses the other of neglecting their children deal with some of the most complicated and emotionally agonizing matters. In the context of family law , any activity or behavior by a parent that threatens the physical or emotional wellbeing of a child can be considered abuse or neglect. Because of the serious nature of child neglect allegations, parents seeking custody or modification of an existing custody agreement must do more than simply tell a judge that the other parent is ...
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  • Divorce by Default: When a Spouse Fails to Respond to Divorce Papers

    Divorce by Default: When a Spouse Fails to Respond to Divorce Papers Divorce by default might be necessary if one party fails to respond to the divorce petition within the deadline. Essentially, default is an easy court victory that allows the person seeking divorce to finish their case without the other party. The default order also prohibits the respondent from taking any other actions in the divorce case, including presenting evidence, witnesses, or arguments. To obtain a divorce by default, you must file a motion for default with the clerk of the superior court and schedule a court ...
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