Divorce is difficult not just for adults, but also for the children who are involved. However, your Washington state divorce can be easier and polite if you and your spouse are open for the communication and retain control over the decision making process rather than leaving everything on the trial judge.
When divorcing couple agree on most of the terms of their divorce, they can opt for uncontested divorce. This kind of divorce is beneficial in many ways. Along with retaining your peace of mind, you can still have cool relationship with your spouse and children will also not get affected too far. The cost of this divorce is lower as compared to the one that is taken to the trial court.
A general idea of uncontested divorce in Washington State
Uncontested divorce is much less expensive than contested ones, no matter whether you have children or not. These divorces are usually referred as divorces by agreement in Washington because the couple agrees to most of the terms of divorce. The couple must also agree on child custody and child support issues if child is involved.
If you disagree on any of the issues related to divorce, your divorce will be a contested one. This means that you will have to go to the trial judge to sort out of the details of your divorce. Issues on which couples should agree when opting for uncontested divorce are:
- Child support and insurance coverage
- Child custody and visitation agreements
- Spousal support or alimony, if needed
- Division of property and debts
- Solution on any other issue related to your marriage
How to initiate Washington state divorce
To opt for uncontested divorce in Washington State you should meet the follow criteria:
- You or your spouse must be residing in Washington state currently
- You must know the current address of your spouse
- You and your spouse agree on all the issues of divorce
If you meet the above criteria, you can proceed with filing for uncontested divorce. The one who files the initial paperwork is called the petitioner and he or she has to inform the respondent about the initial process.
The main eligibility criterion for filing for divorce in Washington State is that you should be residing in the state at the time of filing for divorce. Unlike other states you do not need to be residing in the state for a specific period of time.
You are also allowed to file for divorce without the assistance of a divorce attorney. In this case you will be responsible for filing for divorce in the right court. Naturally, you will file the divorce paperwork in the county where you live in or in the county where your spouse lives in.
Preparing and submitting the divorce forms
If you are filing for uncontested divorce in Washington State, you can complete the form that is available online or get a hard copy from the local courthouse. The required paperwork varies from county to county. So, check with your local court to find whether you need additional files or not.