Don't Make These 5 Mistakes in an Uncontested Divorce

Just because your divorce is "uncontested" doesn't mean that it is simple. Washington State attorney Zachary C Ashby offers some warnings if you are creating your own Washington State divorce documents.

[@A7celeb]

Thanks!!!

[@EsHaQ2024]

Absolute divorce is better when both parties agree with each others and keep the attorneys away.

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

If you can agree and get along, you can avoid a lot of problems. You can even avoid divorce if you agree. Don't know what you mean by "absolute" divorce, but couldn't agree more. A big problem people have that we've seen is one spouse thinks there's an agreement, when in reality that spouse just bullied their way to get what they want yet again (fundamental cause of the divorce, too).

[@FedipeAnthony]

Divorce can be like peeling back layers of an onion, revealing all sorts of surprises. I never realized just how important firms like *Usespy* are in helping folks navigate through the mess. It's like having a guiding light in the darkness..

[@contagiouspete3061]

So we handled our uncontested divorce pretty well for everyone. Took extra time to get all the paperwork submitted and kicked back and resubmitted a few times, but got the separation agreement filed in June. Still not a great situation since I lost half my savings... but, at least it wasn't a nightmare scenario.

[@stepheneverything9192]

I’m in the same situation only mine wants to be a teenager with 50% custody of my kids. I sure hope my lawyer thinks of me while he’s on his floaty in his in-ground pool I helped pay for… Good luck to you sir!

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

As a guy, not having an attorney would be terrifying, so not really sure what you mean. Your agreement will come down to the language in it. Many of those will remain in place. But the judge gets the last say on all agreements and whether they stay. In Washington State, child support is a separate issue from custody. The amount of custody, or residential time, comes in to play after a standard amount has been calculated. Usually, if you have a minimum of contact with the kids, you have to pay the maximum child support. Child support is also the most changeable of all the parts of a divorce. In Washington, it can be changed every two year at least.

[@Maldonado19]

Separation agreement?

[@contagiouspete3061]

@@Maldonado19 the Separation contract is if you start the divorce as a legal separation. It's where the parties divide all assets/liabilities and agree to whatever they'll agree to. If everything's in order, the court just orders it so. We went with a separation first because it's effective immediately (but we have to wait 6 months to convert it to a full divorce). Only difference is that the separation can be revoked, therefore we can't marry someone else until it's converted to a divorce and therefore irrevocable. Whereas going straight for a divorce comes with something like a 90 waiting period during which you're not not separated.

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

@@contagiouspete3061 this is wrong in many, many ways

[@A7celeb]

Would you please explain what “following up” after filing is?

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

Filing for divorce is the first step, not the last. When you file for divorce, you are asking the court to take certain action. But the the Court will not take any kind of action if the other spouse does not participate or you do not continue through the court process. The Court will not, for example, prepare a final divorce order for you. You must prepare final documents and present them at the proper time to the Court before a divorce is finalized.

[@swatisuman4052]

I want to know whether the court issues a divorce order document in case of an uncontested desk order divorce in British Columbia, Canada.

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

Sorry we do not know Canadian law or how a British Columbia court would work. We are located in Washington state

[@khabzelamaseko5146]

Hi i would like to knw tht is possible to get divorce degree by signing only sommons only......which you didn't go to court??

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

@@khabzelamaseko5146 usually you expect a summons and a petition; but if you don’t respond or go to court the party who filed and served those documents can finish the divorce without the other party

[@manijehk1]

Please explain if both self business owners and work from home, 50-50 income, does one need to pay alimony to the other if one starts another business or continue the same business in a different location making more money than the other? This is a 30 year old marriage. The house which is the base of business needs to be sold and divided.

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

In Washington State spousal support (also call maintenance and known in other states as alimony), is based on the need of the party asking and the ability to pay of the party paying. If both parties are able to self support equally, there is likely not going to be spousal support. This is a rule create based on the idea that in a marriage one spouse typically earns a majority of the income and the other typically stays at home and manages household affairs (raising children, cooking, cleaning, maintenance, etc.). They both support the family in equal, but different ways. Alimony was designed to compensate the spouse who would have less of an income generating role for the family. When both spouses have the same income generating ability, alimony makes less sense.

[@nickwilliams6869]

Okiv ben married for 14 yrs i have no kids no property no car and she met one of my friend and she change her attitude towards me and i just want to be left alone

[@equaljustice8958]

Hola

[@cicciuzzu5032]

Shame he completely messed up the retirement part. You could tell he was unsure and didn't know it that well. That was something I was looking forward to hearing and learning more about.

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

Retirement accounts are often community property, but couples will give them up without knowing that because they are in one spouse's name. And even if they do think to divide it, retirement accounts are highly regulated and there are tax implications. If the right steps are not followed to divide the retirement accounts, taxes can hit immediately or the retirement account may not be divided and this won't be discovered until years and years have gone by.

[@shiamaxwell3482]

7:41

[@francesbernard2445]

Grounds for a contested divorce when it is domestic abuse and/or violence and/or adultery is very hard to prove when the person being victimized by the same has little resources to have an investigation done to get well documented enough for all judges around proof. A big mistake lawyers of parents of very small children make is not taking into account how easy it is for a parent who is using way more than only 5 rules of thumb to be isolating those children away from the other parent to convince them that the other parent is not to be trusted anymore.

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

Fortunately, Washington State does not require you to prove grounds for a divorce. And if your attorney does not take into consideration that the other parent may try to isolate the children, you should find a different attorney.

[@rogfromthegarage8158]

I suppose this was all done in one take. No editor used 12:30.

[@renatahill9794]

Is it OK for me to leave the house? Well I still get some of the property in the divorce or should I stay in the house with him?

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

@@renatahill9794 that’s a great question. Property rights in a divorce do not depend on who is living in the property during a divorce. But there may be other reasons you would want to stay in the house; who gets to use a house during the divorce is a question to discuss with an attorney at length

[@brendagaleano5016]

I have a business with generates a little over $5,000 a month from that all the home bills are paid witch doesn’t allow me to safe ,my husband works and makes over $4,000 a month,witch downs give me from that pay for anything in the house just a few dollar for groceries,he helps with the business,we are at the edge of divorce,with his par can he support me?

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

As part of a divorce in Washington state all household income and assets are considered as part of a division. So it doesn't matter that money one spouse earns from a business is used up in paying household bills and the income another spouse earns is hidden away in savings. The court should look at everything when making a division.

[@quickcleanmom]

Me and my husband have decided to do uncontested divorce. We fight a lot and decide to divorce and we also agreed on everything. Keep each others retirement and finances but also agree to live together until the kids are older. Is this safe to say we can file for uncontested divorce??

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

Uncontested means that you agree on everything as part of the divorce. There is not a special filing. That said, I've outlined some dangers to trying it alone. Many people think that when you get attorneys involved it makes things more difficult. However, the right attorney will help you communicate better, make the process smoother, and decrease the time you have to devote to the court process.

[@kavitakhurana3343]

How do you live together if you are divorced?

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

Very carefully@@kavitakhurana3343

[@sumitomoO0O]

@@kavitakhurana3343 like room mates...why pay 2 rents? why make the child feel like their parents divorced? Makes a lot of sense

[@SarbatDaBhlaChannel]

@@kavitakhurana3343will you pay rent for other spouse

[@AgentQQ8]

Holy sh!+.

[@EsHaQ2024]

Question: In ABSOLUTE DIVORCE when the children are over 18 and there's no custody fight or assets at all. Does it matter who files first any spouse?

[@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061]

No idea what you mean by "absolute" divorce. That's not a term I've ever come across. But if you have nothing to lose or gain either way, there isn't a lot that matters. So it really depends on how quickly you want thins to happen.

[@EsHaQ2024]

@@pacificnorthwestfamilylaw9061 I have documents that say Absolute divorce. The court clerk also told me that you need Absolute divorce forms. It's voluntarily divorce. Uncontested. We're not wealth or rich couples to fight over materials. When i contacted the court clerk, she said there will be Zoom call no necessary to come to the court. (Maryland)

[@aarongarcia1101]

I want a divorce from my immigrant wife. we have no joint asset.

[@robinworkman3621]

It would be nice if the court would take into consideration how people manage their money. I work with a guy who pays 1,600.00 a month child support. She claims the kids on her taxes and blows the money on tattoos. Then ask him for more money.kudos to him for telling her to grow up,stop wasting the money on tattoos and other stupid shit. Seems like the guy always gets screwed. I only know 2 men that came out on top in a divorce.

[@chevytech7306]

Spousal support lmao... paying a grown person to live but their independent right

[@tarab5833]

Uhm. Uhm. Uhm Please write a script. Lol