QA4

How long does a divorce take?

In the state of Washington there is a mandatory 90 day waiting period between when the divorce is started and the time when it can be finalized, in order to give the parties a chance to change their minds. The divorce is considered final when the court signs the Decree of Dissolution.

If the parties are able to reach agreement on all issues, the divorce may be finalized as soon after the 90 day waiting period as they are able to present the final orders to the court. If they are not able to reach agreement within the 90 days, they will need to wait until they have reached agreement or have gone through a trial.

If the parties need a trial, the time wait varies from county to county, but a wait of a year is not uncommon. In some counties a trial date is assigned when the case is filed, while in other counties it is not assigned until the court is requested to do so.

Attorneys | Services | Contact | Directions | Links | QA | Home
_________________________________
SEATTLE DIVORCE SERVICES
Michael V. Fancher, Attorney at Law
Mark Alexander, Attorney at Law
Patricia E. Kahn, Attorney at Law
Mimi S. Buescher, Attorney at Law
2317 NW Market Street
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone: 206-784-3049 or 206-LISTENS
Email: Mike@SeattleDivorceServices.com
_________________________________ The information contained on this website is intended for informational purposes only, and is not legal advice.
Nothing in this website extablishes an attorney-client relationship between us.
Different facts can radically alter a legal opinion.
You should consult an attorney for legal advice that pertains to your own personal situation.
To make an appointment to discuss your situation with one of our attorneys, call us at 206-784-3049.

Do I need an attorney?

While Washington State does not require you to use the services of an attorney in a dissolution case, you must use specific forms, and you and your spouse must follow a case schedule issued by the court.

When you hire an attorney, he or she functions as an advocate for your interests during this difficult time. An attorney knows your legal rights, knows the process to follow, and knows which papers need to be filed.

What if I cannot afford an attorney to represent me?

If you cannot afford to hire an attorney to represent you, you may still be able to afford to have an attorney assist you in representing yourself.

This allows you to purchase just the help you can afford. This may consist of drafting the necessary legal documents for you, explaining the legal system and the steps you will need to take, advising you on arguing your case, explaining how to get your papers served on the other party, or performing legal research for you.

You can also hire any attorney to represent you for a single part of your case. This is called a "limited appearance". You might, for instance, hire the attorney just to appear at a single hearing to help explain your case to the court.

In King County you can get the names of attorneys offering these services by calling the King County Bar Association Lawyer Referral line at 206-267-7010.