FAMILY LAW RESOURCES IN WASHINGTON – 2021
Divorce & Separation in Washington State
Basic Information
Washington State Courts
Family Law Handbook: https://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/content/pdf/flhbmarriageedition.pdf
Divorce & Separation: https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.contribute&formID=13
Washington Law Help
Family Law Issues: htts://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/issues/family-law
Divorce & Separation: https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/issues/family-law/dissolution-of-marriage-divorce
Types of Divorce
Washington is a no-fault divorce state, which means neither spouse needs a reason for divorce aside from irreconcilable differences.
– Uncontested Divorce: when spouses agree upon the following basic issues:
– Contested Divorce: when spouses disagree upon one or more of the basic issues
– Uncontested-Contested Divorce: when spouses agree to resolve contested issues through mediation and negotiation with the help of a mediator
See https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/general-information-about-divorce?ref=EfMJh
Filing for Divorce
https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/filing-for-dissolution-of-marriage-divorce?ref=l6hNh
State Family Laws
Washington family laws governing divorce and separation are located in Chapter 26.09 of the Revised Code of Washington.
See https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=26.09
Procedural Rules
There are rules that govern the procedures of every Washington State court.
– Washington State statutes: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/
– Washington State case law: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/washington.html
– Washington State Court Rules – Superior Courts: https://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.list&group=sup&set=CR
– Findlaw (a national site with state specifics for legal information): https://statelaws.findlaw.com/washington-law.html
Washington Forms
There are certain required forms to use in family law matters.
See http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.static&staticID=14#FamLawForms
Washington State Largest Counties Information:
King County:
– Family Law Instructions: https://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/superior-court/family/family-law-instructions.aspx
– Family Law Court Rules: https://kingcounty.gov/courts/clerk/rules/Family.aspx
Snohomish County:
– Court Forms: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5523/Snohomish-County-Superior-Court-Forms
Spokane County:
– Court Rules: https://www.spokanecounty.org/1675/Local-Court-Notices-Resources-Rules
References to Professional Legal Help
Lawyers
Washington State Bar Association’s Legal Directory: www.wsba.org
Washington Law Help: https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/find-legal-help?subtopic=dissolution%2Dof%2Dmarriage%2Ddivorce&topic=family%2Dlaw
Collaborative Lawyers and Other Professionals
https://www.collaborativeprofessionalsofwashington.org/find-a-professional/?role=S1_FLatt
Mediators/Alternative Dispute Resolution
Free services
Volunteer Settlement Conference Program
– Seattle: 206-477-1353
– Kent: 253-852-2345
Volunteers of America (Snohomish/Skagit Valley/Island County): www.voaww.org/drc
Lower Cost Services
State Programs:
– Moderate Means Program: www.moderatemeanswa.org
– Northwest Justice Project: https://nwjustice.org/get-legal-help
Local Legal Clinics & Programs
– King County Bar Association: 206-267-7070
– International District: 206-624-5633 ext. 4111
– Rainier Valley Legal Clinic: 206-695-7639
– Eastside Legal Assistance Program: https://www.elap.org/
Limited License Legal Technicians: www.wsba.org/LLLT
Qualified Private Services
Washington Mediation Association: https://washingtonmediation.org
Dispute Resolution Centers
– King County: www.kcdrc.org
– Kitsap County: www.kitsapdrc.org
– Peninsula: www.pdrc.org
– Yakima/Kittitas County: www.drcyakima.org
Minority Bar Associations
– Asian Bar Association of Washington: https://www.abaw.org/
– Disability Rights Bar Association: http://disabilityrights-law.org/
– Filipino Lawyers of Washington: http://www.filipinolawyers.org/
– Hispanic National Bar Association: https://hnba.com/
– Korean American Bar Association of Washington: https://www.kaba-washington.org/
– Latina/o Bar Association of Washington: https://www.lbaw.org/
– Loren Miller Bar Association: https://www.lmba.net/
– Mother Attorney Mentoring Association of Seattle: https://mamaseattle.org/
– Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington: https://www.melaw.org/
– National Asian Pacific American Bar Assoc: https://www.napaba.org/
– National Association of Women Lawyers: https://www.nawl.org/
– National Bar Association: https://www.nationalbar.org/
– National Black Law Students Association: https://nationalblsa.wildapricot.org/
– National Conference of Women’s Bar Association: https://ncwba.org/
– National Lesbian and Gay Law Association: https://lgbtbar.org/
– QLAW Association: http://www.q-law.org/
– South Asian Bar Association of Washington: https://www.sabaw.org/
– Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington: https://www.vabaw.com/
– Washington Attorney’s with Disabilities Association: https://wadaweb.org/
– Washington Women Lawyers: https://wwl.org/
Washington State Bar Association Referral Service: https://www.wsba.org/for-the-public/find-legal-help
King County Bar Association Referral Service: http://www.kcba.org/For-the-Public/Hire-a-Lawyer
Domestic Abuse Resources & Information
Eastside Legal Assistance Program
National Resources
CALL: 211 (help by zip code)
TEXT: “HOME” to 741741
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 (hard of hearing: 800-787-3224)
Peace in the Home Helpline: 888-847-7205
WA Legal Help
WA State Domestic Violence Information & Referral: https://www.domesticviolenceinforeferral.org/
WA State Protection Order Resources: www.protectionorder.org
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center: 888-998-6423
DV Family Law Clinic (Vashon Island): 206-940-6430
Mental Health Resources
Substance Use/Gambling Resources
Washington Court Certified
– Washington State Directory of Certified Resources: https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/free-or-low-cost/directory-certified-behavioral-health-agencies.pdf
General
– Washington Recovery Helpline (24-hour): https://www.warecoveryhelpline.org/
– Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
General Mental Health Resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness (WA): http://namiwa.org
American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce/
American Psychological Association Psychologist Locator: https://locator.apa.org/?_ga=2.86597592.1335761285.1497298925-
Washington State Resources
Washington Mental Health Counselors Association: https://wmhca.org/
Washington Association of Family Therapists: https://networks.aamft.org/washington/about-us/who-we-are
Multicultural Therapists: https://www.multiculturalcounselors.org/
Military Families
https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/issues/veterans-military/veteran-and-military-families
https://www.militaryfamily.org/info-resources/marriagedivorce/
https://www.military.com/spouse/relationships/military-divorce
https://veteranslegalservices.org
Support Groups
Divorce Lifeline: https://samaritanps.org/training-and-groups/divorce-lifeline-group-counseling/
Parenting & Children Resources
Washington Court Certified Parent Education Classes
https://www.divorce-education.com/wa/
Parenting Professionals
Organization of Parent Education Programs: https://www.opepwa.org/
Child Abuse
WA State Child Protective Service: https://www.atg.wa.gov/child-abuse-neglect
Child Support
Child Support Guidelines: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/division-child-support
Alimony/Spousal Support/Maintenance
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.09.090
Financial Resources
Free Credit Reports
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action
Pensions and retirement plans
General information: http://www.qdrodesk.com/qdro/The-QDRO-and-the-Divorce-Decree- Settlement-164.shtml
Social Security
You can get a Social Security statement that will tell you if you have sufficient credits to receive Social Security and gives you an estimated benefit.
See https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
For information about eligibility based on your ex-spouse’s benefits, see https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying7.html
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying7.html#h4
Internal Revenue Service – Pension, IRA and retirement information
Types of Retirement Plans: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-sponsor/types-of-retirement-plans
Retirement Plan FAQ: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-frequently-asked-questions-faqs
IRA accounts: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/individual-retirement-arrangements-iras
Distributions from IRA: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b
Internal Revenue Service – Tax issues
IRS Publication 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p504.pdf
Free Tax Preparation Services
AARP Tax Aide Sites: https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/aarp-tax-aide-sites?ref=GrYaT
Free Tax Filing Assistance: https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/free-tax-filing-assistance?ref=GrYaT
Military OneSource Tax Service: https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/military-onesource-tax-services?ref=GrYaT

I think you have observed some very interesting points, appreciate it for the post. Heriberto Gindi
Very neat article post. Thanks Again. Really Great. Renato Quijas
Well I really liked reading it. This tip offered by you is very constructive for good planning. Giuseppe Niemela
Loving the info on this web site, you have done great job on the articles. Justin Wassink
Great article! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Rudolf Monachino
I always emailed this web site post page to all my associates, since if like to read it afterward my links will too. Wilmer Justman
I am genuinely thankful to the holder of this web site who has shared this impressive article at here. Franklyn Penagos
I could not refrain from commenting. Perfectly written. Lavern Belfi
I have recently started a blog, the information you offer on this site has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work. Tommie Covert
Hello friends, good article and nice urging commented here, I am actually enjoying by these. Isiah Laraway
Excellent write-up. I absolutely appreciate this site. Neville Dayley
Admiring the hard work you put into your website and in depth information you provide. Grady Kaller
This is my first time visit at here and i am really pleassant to read all at one place. Eldridge Heggins
There is certainly a lot to know about this topic. I love all the points you made. Hassan Mertz