This varies based on what type of divorce you’re filing for. In Washington, you’ll need to wait 90 days before you can file for divorce. 

From there, if you’re filing for an uncontested divorce, it will generally take about 3 months, while contested divorces may take up to one year or more to be finalized. You can read more about contested and uncontested divorces on our blog.

Attorneys at Marble are experienced in family law litigation and have helped over 20,000 clients nationwide with cases just like yours.

No matter what you’re dealing with, our team is trained to get it done. We also offer clear pricing and the flexibility to pay over time.

At Marble, you’re hiring an experienced legal team for one part of your case at a time. By taking it step by step, you get a clear price for each service. This is called Limited Scope representation. We do it this way so you know exactly what’s included–and what it costs–before we start working.  

No divorce is exactly the same, but they typically include the following steps: 

• Petition for divorce or response to petition 
• Temporary Orders hearings
• Discovery Phase
• Settlement/mediation or trial
• Final judgment

The cost of a divorce in Washington depends on a number of factors in addition to the legal fees. Typically, an uncontested divorce is a faster and more affordable process than a contested divorce. There are also a number of other factors that can determine the cost, including but not limited to: how simple or complicated it is to serve the opposing party, how many assets there are to divide and whether there are children involved. If you choose Marble for your divorce in Washington, we’ll provide a clear, fixed price for each step of your divorce. 

Yes, Marble offers financing options for divorces in Washington. You can learn more here, but the best way to understand your options is to book a call with our team. To find a time that works for you, you can click here.

Yes. After an initial free call with the Marble team, where they’ll walk you through our process, you’ll connect with an attorney for a legal strategy session. There’s a one-time fee to reserve this time with the attorney. During this call, they’ll review the details of your case and walk you through a plan for moving forward. If you decide you’d like to work with us, we’ll then send over an agreement for you to sign and get started on your case right away. 

First, you should make sure you’re eligible to file for divorce in Washington. Residency in Washington state means at least one party needs to reside in the state and the children need to have resided in the state for at least a full 6 months prior to the petition being filed.

It’s important to note that all divorces are different, but the following scenario outlines a typical process. Once you’ve determined you’re eligible, the first step is to hire an experienced attorney to help you through the often complicated divorce process. The attorney will help you file a petition for divorce (which, in Washington, is called a “petition for dissolution of marriage”) and any other additionally required documents. The next step is for a process server to serve your spouse (the “opposing party” in your case) with divorce papers. From there, the divorce proceedings can begin, which will vary depending on the type of divorce you’re seeking, your relationship with your spouse and the asset division involved, among a number of other factors.

To file an uncontested divorce action, both parties will either need to sign the Petition for Divorce, or one party will need to file a “Joinder.” If you choose the second option, once filed, the Joinder will indicate to the court that both parties agree to all provisions in the petition.

As Washington is a no-fault divorce state (meaning you cannot file for any reason outside of the marriage is irretrievably broken, it’s possible to go through the divorce process without using an attorney. However, divorces are legally and emotionally complex. Divorce lawyers know all the state laws and local rules and are there to guide you through the process. Your attorney will make sure you know all your rights and obligations. They can advise you on what you should and shouldn’t do before and after filing for divorce to minimize conflict. They’ll also make sure that the paperwork is done correctly and completely. Also, if you don’t have a lawyer but your spouse does, you could be at a big disadvantage. The final divorce agreement could be biased and one-sided and you may not even realize what you potentially are giving up or have a right to.

Additionally, if you have children, debt, shared property, or individual assets that you would like to protect, it’s always advisable to work with a lawyer that has an understanding of the court system and is experienced in protecting their clients’ best interests.

Washington does allow for spousal support. The courts grant spousal support based on the need of the receiving spouse for additional financial help and the paying spouse’s ability to reasonably provide said support. There are additional statutory factors the court must consider when deciding on spousal support. If the judge rules that spousal support is appropriate, they have full discretion over the maintenance award, method and frequency of maintenance payments. When it comes to nuanced issues like spousal support, it often helps to work with an experienced attorney that can help increase your chances of an equitable settlement. 

Attorneys in Washington must be admitted to the state bar in Washington. Attorneys at Marble in Washington also must have a clean record with no history of disciplinary action taken against them.