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.

  • How to Handle Child Custody and Visitation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

    How to Handle Child Custody and Visitation During the COVID-19 Pandemic As people are being asked to stay home and limit exposure to others during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been receiving important questions from divorced parents feeling conflicted about how to adhere to these guidelines and stay healthy when their children are supposed to be dividing time between two households. To help ease these concerns, we have put together the following guide about child custody during the COVID-19 pandemic: How does Washington’s “Stay Home” order affect child custody for divorced parents? Whenever ...
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  • Announcing Family Law Temporary Order Arbitration Services

    Announcing Family Law Temporary Order Arbitration Services As the courts are currently limiting and postponing temporary order hearings due to the Coronavirus, McKinley Irvin is offering another way to quickly obtain family law temporary orders that are enforceable by the Court. Family law attorneys can use arbitration to help clients resolve temporary orders in an effective and timely manner during this unprecedented time. In compliance with social distancing guidelines, temporary order arbitration will be held remotely via videoconference or teleconference for the safety of all ...
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  • Family Law Attorney Theresa Lorella Joins McKinley Irvin in Seattle

    Family Law Attorney Theresa Lorella Joins McKinley Irvin in Seattle McKinley Irvin is delighted to welcome Theresa R. Lorella as a Senior Attorney in our Seattle office. Theresa represents clients in all areas of family law including divorce, post-divorce issues, child custody, child support, and modifications. While she is a strong advocate in litigation, Theresa believes in reducing conflict whenever possible. She is specially trained in collaborative law and serves as a neutral mediator in settlement conferences. With her extensive background in mediation and negotiations, Lorella ...
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  • Protecting the Health of Our Employees and Clients is Our Top Priority

    Protecting the Health of Our Employees and Clients is Our Top Priority Due to the presence of Novel Coronavirus in our region, we want to emphasize the importance of the health and wellbeing of our clients, employees, and visitors. We are closely monitoring the situation as new information becomes available, and we will follow guidelines and recommendations from the CDC, Washington State Department of Health, and King County Public Health for prevention. To do our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19, our team is working remotely. For your peace of mind, please note: We are fully operational ...
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  • Financial Obligations of Ending a Long-Term Relationship

    Financial Obligations of Ending a Long-Term Relationship Married couples aren’t the only ones entitled to legal rights after a breakup, at least not in Washington state. Although Washington law doesn’t recognize common law marriage, it does protect the rights of certain unmarried couples through the doctrine of “Committed Intimate Relationship.” Although these relationships aren’t legally recognized, couples involved in intimate relationships can seek recourse in court for property and liability distribution. If you were involved in a committed, long-term relationship and you and ...
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  • What You Need to Know About Child Custody Mediation

    What You Need to Know About Child Custody Mediation When dealing with a child custody issue, trying to reach an agreement through mediation could be a great alternative to traditional court litigation. When you work with a mediator, you and the child’s other parent will be able to negotiate the terms of your custody agreement in a way that best suits your lifestyles and the needs of your child. However, when you don’t know what to expect from the mediation process, it might feel a bit daunting. If you will be handling a child custody case through mediation, make sure you know ...
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  • Is Washington a 50/50 Divorce State?

    Is Washington a 50/50 Divorce State? In the state of Washington, all property in a divorce is subject to division. However, the way in which your assets are divided may vary depending on the nature of your divorce, the status of your property, and several other factors. That being said, your property will likely not be divided 50/50 in a divorce. Instead, Washington divorces focus on “equitable” division—that is, a division that is fair and just, not necessarily equal. To determine precisely how that plays out for divorcing couples, we’ve delved into the ...
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  • Marriage Story: What the film got right and wrong about divorce

    Marriage Story: What the film got right and wrong about divorce The Oscar-nominated Netflix film Marriage Story is a moving narrative that depicts the experiences and evolution of a family going through a divorce. The film follows divorcing spouses, Nicole (played by Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie (played by Adam Driver), as their split plays out. It got a lot of things right about what it’s like to go through a divorce in real life…but not everything. Read on to see what Marriage Story got right and wrong about divorce. What Marriage Story got right about divorce: The value of hiring ...
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  • Three New Attorneys Join McKinley Irvin in Seattle and Everett

    Three New Attorneys Join McKinley Irvin in Seattle and Everett MI welcomes family law attorneys Elizabeth Mount Penner, Tarik Polovina, and Hillary Roberts to the team We are pleased to welcome Elizabeth, Tarik, and Hillary to McKinley Irvin. They are an outstanding addition to our team of attorneys and will serve our firm’s ongoing commitment to excellence in family law practice. Elizabeth Mount Penner, Attorney - Seattle & Bellevue Elizabeth Mount Penner represents clients in divorce and other family law matters in King County, with significant experience representing clients in ...
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  • McKinley Irvin Announces New Partners

    McKinley Irvin Announces New Partners McKinley Irvin congratulates Mark Arend, Brent Bohan, and Lindsay Camandona on their promotion to partner. The promotion of these three outstanding attorneys reflects our firm’s commitment to leadership and excellence in family law. Mark Arend , Tacoma Mark represents clients in complex family law and divorce matters with an emphasis on business owners, professionals, and military families. In addition to his family law practice, Mark also serves as a certified mediator and Pierce County Commissioner Pro Tempore. Read a Q&A ...
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