Divorce Law
Divorce is the legal end of a marriage, but for most people it's really about what comes next: the house, the kids, the business, the years ahead. We represent people through divorce across the Pacific Northwest, from the first hard conversation to the final decree, with the same attorney who can see the whole picture, not just the filing.
Talk to an attorneyFounded
1965
Attorneys
11
AV-rated
Martindale-Hubbell
Office
Bellevue, WA
Founded
1965
Attorneys
2
AV-rated
Martindale-Hubbell
Office
Bellevue, WA
Divorce attorneys for Bellevue and Seattle families
Washington is a no-fault divorce state, which means a marriage ends when one spouse says it's over, and the legal work is about dividing what the couple built and arranging what comes after. We handle the full dissolution: the petition, temporary orders, the division of property and debt, spousal maintenance, and the parenting plan and child support when there are children. Some divorces settle quietly through negotiation or mediation; others need a courtroom. We've done both, and we tell clients honestly which path their case is on. What sets the firm apart is continuity: often we already know the family business or the trust that's now part of the dividing, because we drafted it.
A divorce moves through predictable stages, even when it doesn't feel predictable. We file or respond to the petition and get temporary orders in place; we identify and value everything the couple owns and owes; we work out spousal maintenance and, where there are children, the parenting plan and support; we push for settlement through negotiation or mediation; and we try the case in superior court when settlement isn't possible.
Filing, responding, and temporary orders
Washington divorces start with a petition for dissolution under RCW 26.09, and the law is no-fault: the only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. There's a mandatory 90-day waiting period from filing and service before a decree can be entered, and the early weeks often need temporary orders that settle who stays in the house, how the bills get paid, and where the children sleep while the case is pending. We file or respond, get sensible temporary orders in place, and set the case up to move.
Dividing property and debt
Washington is a community-property state, so most of what a couple acquires during the marriage belongs to both of them, while separate property (owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance) generally stays with the spouse who owns it. But the court divides all property, community and separate, in whatever way is "just and equitable" under RCW 26.09.080, which is not always a 50/50 split. The hard cases involve a business, a professional practice, real estate, retirement accounts, or a trust, where valuation and characterization decide the outcome. This is where the firm's business and estate-planning work pays off: we often already understand the asset, because we helped build it.
Spousal maintenance and child support
Maintenance (what other states call alimony) isn't automatic in Washington. A court weighs the factors in RCW 26.09.090: the length of the marriage, each spouse's finances, the standard of living, and how long support should last. There's no fixed formula. Child support, by contrast, runs on Washington's statutory schedule under RCW 26.19, based on both parents' incomes, with adjustments for the real costs of raising the children. We make sure the numbers reflect the actual financial picture, not a rough guess.
The parenting plan
When there are children, the parenting plan is usually what matters most. It sets the residential schedule, decision-making authority, and how disputes get resolved, under RCW 26.09.181 through .187, and the standard throughout is the children's best interests. Where there's a history of abuse, neglect, or other serious problems, RCW 26.09.191 limits a parent's time and authority. We help parents build a plan that works for the children and holds up over the years, and we hold the line where a child's safety requires it. For ongoing custody and support questions, see Child Support & Custody.
Settlement, mediation, or trial
Most divorces don't go to trial, and most shouldn't. We push hard for a negotiated or mediated resolution when it serves the client, because it's faster, cheaper, and easier on the family, especially when children share the future. But some cases involve a spouse who won't deal honestly, hidden assets, or a genuine dispute that only a judge can resolve, and there we try the case in superior court with the firm's trial discipline. We tell clients which path their case is realistically on, and why. For the hardest of these, see High-Conflict Divorce.
Sixty years representing Pacific Northwest families, often the same families whose businesses, trusts, and estates the firm already handles. When a divorce touches a company or a trust, you're not starting over with a stranger.
Continuity, not a hand-off.
Many family-law clients are already firm clients. The attorney handling your divorce may be the one who set up the business or the trust now in question, which means less time spent explaining and fewer surprises.
Settlement-minded, trial-ready.
We resolve most divorces without a trial, because it's better for the family and the budget. But when a case has to be tried, the firm's litigators are ready, and the other side knows it.
Straight about what's ahead.
Divorce is hard enough without a lawyer overselling. We give you a clear map of the next 6 to 12 months, tell you what a case is realistically worth fighting over, and what isn't.
The attorneys behindthe work.
Our business and corporate attorneys handle this work alongside our litigation team, so you have coverage whether your matter stays transactional or becomes something more.
What clientsask us first.
How long does a divorce take in Washington?
At least 90 days, and usually longer. Washington law requires a 90-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed and served before a court can finalize a divorce, even when both spouses agree on everything. An uncontested divorce may wrap up not long after that window; a contested one with a business, real estate, or a custody dispute can take a year or more. We give you a realistic timeline for your situation early on.
Does it matter who's at fault?
Generally, no. Washington is a no-fault state, so a divorce is granted simply because the marriage is "irretrievably broken," and you don't have to prove wrongdoing. Fault usually doesn't affect property division or maintenance either. It can matter indirectly, for example when one spouse's conduct affects the children or when marital money was wasted, but the divorce itself doesn't turn on blame.
How is our property divided?
Washington is a community-property state, so property acquired during the marriage is generally owned by both spouses, and separate property (owned before the marriage or inherited) generally stays separate. But the court divides everything in a way that's "just and equitable," which doesn't always mean equal. Businesses, retirement accounts, real estate, and trusts are where division gets complicated, and where careful valuation matters most.
Will I get, or pay, spousal maintenance?
It depends. Maintenance isn't automatic in Washington and there's no set formula. A court looks at the length of the marriage, each spouse's financial situation and earning capacity, the standard of living during the marriage, and how long support is needed. Longer marriages and bigger income gaps make maintenance more likely. We can give you a realistic read on whether it's in play, and roughly how much, for your situation.
Do we have to go to court?
Usually not for the whole thing. Most Washington divorces settle through negotiation or mediation, and many couples never see the inside of a courtroom except to finalize. We push for a negotiated resolution when it serves you, because it's faster and less costly. But if the other side won't deal fairly or there's a real dispute a judge has to decide, we're ready to try the case.
Recentarticles.
Tell us what's happening, whether you're just considering a divorce or already served with papers. A family law attorney will follow up within one business day, and the first conversation is confidential.
Oseran Hahn P.S. · 11225 SE 6th St, Suite 100 · Bellevue, WA 98004
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