Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Accessing or reading this material does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Law Office of Jeff E. Jared PLLC. Laws change rapidly and vary significantly based on unique facts; therefore, you should not act or rely on any information from this page without seeking personalized counsel from a licensed attorney.
It is a formula that is set by statute (formal, written law). Washington state calculates child support using the Income Shares Model, which estimates the amount of support parents would have provided if they lived together.
The easiest way to get an estimate is to use the state's official Quick Child Support Estimator.
While Washington State doesn’t use a fixed mathematical formula to calculate spousal support (also known as "spousal maintenance"), judges have broad discretion to determine both the amount and duration based on what is fair.
The court will consider financial resources, standard of living, duration of the marriage, earning capacity, age, health, and ability to pay.
Unmarried parents have the same rights regarding child custody, support, and visitation as married parents.
Parents are encouraged to work together to create a parenting plan that serves their child's needs. If they cannot agree, the court will determine custody based on the best interests of the child, considering factors such as the child's relationship with each parent, each parent's home environment, and the historical division of parenting responsibilities.
Divorce permanently dissolves the marriage, while a legal separation leaves you legally married.
Apart from the final marital status, both options are handled almost identically under Washington family law. Both processes resolve critical issues such as property division, debt allocation, spousal maintenance, child custody, and child support.
Some couples choose legal separation for several reasons, including maintaining health insurance coverage, honoring religious or moral beliefs, preserving certain financial considerations, and creating a structured period of separation while leaving open the possibility of reconciliation.
Washington law requires a mandatory 90-day "cooling-off" period. The clock starts ticking the day the divorce is filed, and the paperwork is officially served to your spouse.
Washington is a "no-fault" divorce state. This means you do not need to prove your spouse did anything wrong.
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