How Will a Spokane Divorce Lawyer Help You Separate?

If you’re living in Spokane County and plan to divorce, how would a Spokane divorce lawyer go about your case?

A basic outline of the steps and documents involved when filing for divorce in Spokane. You can do this on your own, but having a divorce lawyer working with you can help you manage the process easier.

Whether you have a lawyer or not, you will have to file for divorce at the Spokane County Superior Court Clerk's office, with the proper forms and fees. Once you have filed, you will get a case number that you (or your lawyer) must stamp on every document.

After your case is entered, you get 2 forms back. They are the Domestic Case Assignment Order, and the Automatic Temporary Restraining Order. The first document will have the name of the judge and commissioner who will be presiding over your case, and it also has the date of the status conference. Don't lose that date because you must attend the meeting, even if you are being represented by a lawyer.

The second document sounds imposing, but is intended to simply ensure peace between the two parties involved. It puts safeguards in place so that no one can take advantage of the other during this process. It does not prevent the parties from seeing each other or any of their children.

After you receive these documents, you have to deliver them to the other party, unless you have a divorce lawyer who can do so. If you don't, then you need to arrange a 3rd party (over the age of 18) to serve the papers for you. The Sheriff's Office can arrange to perform this for you, for a fee. Once the documents have been served, you have to file proof of service with the clerk's office. You can also mail some of the documents to your spouse as long as you get proof of mailing each and every time.

Your next step is to complete the "Sharing the Children" class. You will have to file proof that you have taken it within 60 days of your original filing date.

There is a 90-day waiting period from the date you file for divorce. You cannot legally get remarried during those 90 days. Also during those 90 days, you can request a temporary order if any issues arise between you and your spouse (such as safety concerns). You can do a motion and declaration for temporary orders but you must include all the facts that you want the court to consider with that motion. Anything that you leave out cannot be mentioned during oral testimony. You should consult with a Spokane divorce lawyer before making any motions to the court.