Testimonials. That means a spouse does not have to prove the other spouse did anything wrong to get a divorce. Our family law attorneys have helped hundreds of families get through difficult times. In Washington State, all property acquired during the marriage is generally deemed community property and must be divided equally at divorce. It also does mean you should have a separate property interest in it during divorce. An analysis listed Washington State as the eight most expensive place in the U.S. [...] Home; About Us. Even so, with more than 61 million married couples living in the U.S., combined with a divorce ocurring every 13 seconds, it's helpful to understand what happens to your mortgage in a divorce. Washington State has state-specific divorce laws pertaining to property division, child custody, and other divorce-related issues in Washington State. According to Washington state laws, only one spouse in the marriage must believe and declare that the marriage is irretrievably broken in order for the divorce decree to be granted. In an at-fault divorce state, if you're claiming abandonment, you'll have to prove certain things to the court. The answer depends on a number of factors, including the laws of the state in which the divorce is filed. Please consult the laws of your individual state before taking steps to divide marital assets. Lauren Thomann. There you will find numerous free articles and videos on topics this article only briefly touches upon. The answer is both simple and complex. As long as you or your spouse has established residency, you can file for divorce within the state. If one of the parties purchased the property before the marriage, it might be considered a pre-marital asset that belongs exclusively to that spouse. 8. We are just now divorcing. Who gets the house? Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about property division after a divorce. Some states allow people to "appear" in court by telephone. Each state, however, has developed its own specific rules regarding property division at the time of divorce. Our family law attorneys have helped hundreds of families get through difficult times. Read more testimonials from our past clients + "“Molly and her staff supported me completely through a drawn out divorce. Arm yourself with information and find out exactly what marital abandonment really is, and how it can affect your divorce. On Day One as you approach divorce, you may be thinking, “My house is one of my biggest assets.” or “Maybe I want to keep it.” “What you really need to understand is that there’s a lot of due diligence to be done before mak ing a decision on what to do with the house,” says Marilee Wolf, realtor at BHHS Fox & Roach and Real Estate Collaboration Specialist for Divorce. What Happens in a Divorce? Divorce lawyers often see an increase in clients before, during, and after Christmas. Most states, except those listed as community property states below, use the "common law" system of property ownership. To start a divorce, a spouse (the “petitioner”) must generally file a petition for dissolution and summons, and then serve both on the other spouse to start the divorce action and the 90 day waiting period. If the couple didn't make an estate plan, the intestacy laws of the state where they lived would govern who gets what. In 2014, she joined Dotdash as an expert writer, focused on fine jewelry topics. Entry of a “decree” is required to legally end a marriage, such as a “decree of invalidity” (annulment) or a “decree of dissolution of marriage” (divorce). months before the divorce action is filed (i.e., Washington State must have “home state” jurisdiction). These states include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Washington State is a no-fault state. Updated March 18, 2018 If you're going through the divorce process, a lot is running through your mind. What are community property laws? These laws tend to vary a great deal among community property states. If you wait (and fight) through the season, you may destroy any chances for an amicable split and wind up hashing out your differences in court. Divorce Issues: Division of Property and Debts. My husband has 30 years ($350,000.00) in his retirement pension fund. 1. We were married 14 years (1994-2006). Stating the marriage is “irretrievably broken” as the reason is enough. You can file for divorce in Washington as long as you or your spouse are living in Washington on the day you file the petition. It's important to figure out whether your state is a at-fault or no-fault divorce state. What are the grounds for a legal separation in Washington State? Divorce and your mortgage. If you owned a house before marriage and you expect a divorce, you will ask this question. Marital property is everything you've acquired during the marriage. Lauren Thomann is a freelance writer and business owner who covers DIY projects and home renovation on The Spruce. Don't Forget About Taxes our editorial process. Although divorce is common throughout the United States, the divorce process varies depending on the couple’s situation. Understanding the Legal Implications of Marriage and Divorce in Washington State JULY 2019 Family Law Handbook How does a marriage end in Washington State? Quite often, we are asked what a person may be entitled to in a divorce in Oregon. Washington is a no-fault divorce state, which means neither you nor your spouse need to have grounds for a divorce beyond irreconcilable differences. A divorce based on abandonment cannot be filed immediately following the act of desertion. If only your name is on the deed, registration document, or other title paper, it's yours. Washington recognizes domestic partnerships, and the following information applies to both dissolution of marriage (divorce) and dissolution of domestic partnership situations. Nine states (and Puerto Rico) have community property laws that determine how debt and property are divided in a divorce. An overview of the basic divorce process. Testimonials. By law, in Washington state, must you divide retirement funds & 401K in divorce settlements? If your case is straightforward and you and your spouse both agree to the material terms of the divorce, the state where you actually file for divorce may not matter. In Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico, all property of a married person is classified as either community property (owned equally by both spouses) or the separate property of one spouse. Divorce proceedings will not begin until at least 90 days have elapsed since the petition was filed and the respondent has been properly served. The Washington court does not consider marital fault in determining alimony because Washington is a no-fault divorce state; therefore, it does not matter which spouse caused the marital collapse. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Your state's property ownership system will take precedence over any drama you bring into the courtroom, so in the interest of self-preservation, it's best to check your emotions at the door. Criminal Abandonment . This includes real estate, spouse’s earnings, pension benefits and 401(k) contributions. What Happens If We Move from a Community Property State to a Non-Community Property State? In order to file for divorce in Washington, one of the parties must be either: a) a resident of this state; or b) is a member of the armed forces and is stationed in this state… 8. State law doesn't require you to live in Washington for any specific length of time. Home; About Us. Home Legal Information Family Divorce. This article explains the basics of how Washington courts typically divide property (assets) and liabilities (debts) in a divorce. It's also easier to get used to an empty home before the holidays. You can take any separate property you want even before the divorce is finalized. The typical way to transfer house ownership after a divorce is with a quitclaim deed. Both the husband and the wife may be eligible for alimony in Washington. Washington is a “no-fault divorce” state, meaning there is no need to assign blame or prove that the other spouse is at fault for the failure of the marriage. However, it is the next set of questions that complicate the issue. Divorce; Advice; By law, in Washington state, must you divide re... Q&A. However, in general, property acquired as community property in a … You can also take marital property, as long as you're honest about it during the divorce. So, how is it determined who gets what? The biggest part of the analysis for what happens to real estate after a divorce is when the property was purchased. But divorce experts say that's a common misconception. This means you can call into your hearing rather than attend in person. Owning a house before marriage of course means it is premarital property. Some people are concerned how assets and property will be divided, who keeps the house, or who will be responsible for debts. Here, read more about community property agreements and your marriage. Most states require that an entire year has passed since the abandoning spouse has disappeared from the marital home. Online Divorce Codes - Washington State Revised Code - Title 26. Read more general information about property division here. The same legal grounds for divorce apply to a legal separation. How to Transfer House Ownership After a Divorce. Asked in Auburn, WA | Jan 23, 2010 . Just because your name is on the account, or the deed to the house, doesn't mean it's yours alone. Call (425) 460-0550. Since some states operate according to community property principles while others do not, moving from state to state might have some effects on the couple’s property, depending on the specific laws of the new area of domicile. For readers wanting more in-depth information, we encourage you visit the 'resources' section of our law firm's website. Washington is one of only nine states that uses community property laws for marriage. To prove residency, you must maintain a permanent home within Washington and demonstrate the intent to make it your primary dwelling. What Happens to Divorces During Stay-At-Home or Shelter-in-Place Orders? In these states, it's usually easy to tell which spouse owns what. Residency requirements & grounds for divorce - In Washington, a divorce is called "dissolution of marriage". Divorce, dissolution, and annulment are all terms generally used to describe the same event–the end of a marriage. Whether you choose to file for divorce in your home state or your spouse’s may depend on a number of cases. If the deserting spouse returns home within that time period, the clock starts again from the beginning. Only seven states follow this system of property ownership: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. During a stay-at-home order, many divorce hearings will be rescheduled for a future date. I have $35,000.00 in my 401K. Don't take our word for it, read testimonials from our past clients to get an idea of how we can help your family get through this difficult time. What happens to our property and debt if we get divorced? The easiest way to deal with property during a divorce is to decide how to … As with divorce, the distribution of assets following the death of one of the spouses in a community property state depends to some extent on the state. How do I file for a divorce in Washington State? Who gets the dog? Some want to know if they are entitled to support payments from their spouse. It must be divided up according to state law. At divorce, community property is generally divided equally between the spouses, while each spouse keeps his or her separate property. To both dissolution of marriage ( divorce ) and liabilities ( debts ) in his retirement pension fund jewelry. 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