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.

  • What Will Divorce Mean for Me: How to Understand the Impact of Divorce

    What Will Divorce Mean for Me: How to Understand the Impact of Divorce Divorce is a major decision that affects major life changes. If you are starting to consider divorcing your spouse, you may not understand the full scope of how a divorce will impact your life. Before you make any decisions, it is highly advisable that you get educated on what your options are. Why Talk to a Divorce Lawyer? Every divorce is different, so you cannot expect that your situation will play out similarly to other stories you may have heard from your friends and family. While divorce may seem commonplace, that ...
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  • 17 McKinley Irvin Attorneys Named 2019 Washington Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

    17 McKinley Irvin Attorneys Named 2019 Washington Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Congratulations to our 2019 Washington Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Today, 17 of our family law attorneys were named in the 2019 Washington Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers represents the top 5 percent of all attorneys in Washington State, based on peer nominations and a formal review. Rising Stars represents the top 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state who are under age 40 or have been practicing for less than ten years. Additionally, Janet George and David Starks have been named in the Washington “Top ...
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  • Coping with Divorce & Your Emotional Well-Being

    Coping with Divorce & Your Emotional Well-Being When you and your spouse choose to divorce, you’re closing the door on a major chapter in your lives. A serious change of that nature has the power to shake your foundation. When you’ve planned your entire life with someone and counted on having them by your side, it can be extremely challenging to reevaluate your goals, expectations, and plans without them. Falling into a pattern of emotional distress is easy at a time like this, but if you learn to cope with the divorce process in a healthy way, it can help you move ...
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  • What Does It Mean to Terminate Your Parental Rights?

    What Does It Mean to Terminate Your Parental Rights? Terminating an individual’s parental rights is a very serious matter, whether the court takes away those rights or the parent relinquishes them willingly. In any parent-child relationship, the biological parents inherently have certain rights and responsibilities regarding their children. If, in any situation, those responsibilities are not being upheld, the court may terminate parental rights if it is in the best interest of the child. Or, a parent may choose to voluntarily give up his or her rights, forfeiting any right to ...
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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 you and your significant other tie the knot, make sure you both have the same expectations going into your 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 to you 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 ...
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  • Property Division in Washington State FAQ

    Property Division in Washington State FAQ Deciding how to divvy up your possessions and debts in a divorce is often one of the most difficult and tedious aspects in splitting up. Whether you have been together for 10 years or 10 months, you’ve likely accumulated assets as a married couple and deciding who gets what is a sensitive, stressful, and often confusing process. In order to make the divorce process a bit more manageable and transparent, we’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions regarding property division in Washington. If you’re going through ...
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  • Can I Move My Kids Out of the State Without My Ex’s Consent?

    Can I Move My Kids Out of the State Without My Ex’s Consent? Relocating with your children is a big decision, especially if you and your child’s other parent are no longer together. You might wish to move because of a job prospect, an educational opportunity, lower cost of living, to be closer to family, or simple for a change of scenery. Whatever the reason, your ability to move out of Washington state with your child depends largely on your current parenting situation. Before you move your kids out of state, make sure you don’t need their other parent’s legal consent. Learn more ...
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  • 6 Things to Do Before You Ask Your Spouse for a Divorce

    6 Things to Do Before You Ask Your Spouse for a Divorce As commonplace as the practice may seem, a divorce is an enormous undertaking. If you’re in a position where you plan on asking your spouse for a divorce (or if you know a divorce is coming), you can protect your best interests and prepare yourself for what’s to come by being proactive before the divorce begins. While it may feel callous or selfish to plan for a divorce, especially if your spouse is unaware, remember that while the ending of a marriage is an emotional process, a divorce is a legal process. If you head into a ...
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  • Bad Social Media Habits to Avoid During Your Divorce

    Bad Social Media Habits to Avoid During Your Divorce Divorce is challenging, which is why so many people take to the most readily available outlet they know to vent their emotions: social media. Social media is a great tool for keeping in touch with friends, sharing exciting experiences, and getting into contact with new people. However, during a divorce, social media can be damaging and dangerous. While social media can sometimes serve as a great outlet, it should never be a place you go to share personal information pertaining to your divorce . Find out what bad social media ...
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  • Child Support for Children with Special Needs

    Child Support for Children with Special Needs When a court decides how to distribute child support payments, they consider several factors, including the mental and physical health of the child. The child’s well-being will always come first in the eyes of the court, so if a child has a special set of needs, the court will consider how those needs may affect the child’s care and living expenses. Whether you and your child’s other parent share custody or one of you has primary custody, it is important for you to understand how your child support could be affected by your ...
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