Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

how to prepare?

My husband of 16 months lied to me and ended up being a completely different man the moment we got married. He's had mental problems and even had a restraining order against him from his ex once against his 3 other kids. His income potential is huge, and so I quit my career to raise a family, we have a 6 month old daughter. I can't go back to that career - it doesn't make enough to support us on our own. His income last year was just 56k but will likely double this year. Should I stick around for alimony or will it not matter? Should I get a job (I can do office work just fine) before we divorce so I can show I can take care of my little girl myself - I want to try for full custody, he currently has CPS against him that may take his visitation down to 3hrs supervised a month due to being a danger to his kids. But it seems like a double edge sword because that would impact child support calculation. Also daycare is on the calculation but I wont have to pay that until I get a job. How do I prepare for this? Should I wait (which I dont know is worth it) or what should I do to prepare to leave soon (like by May)? He is online dating and writing to prison inmates and doesn't know I know. Not a lot of assets either.


Asked on 2/08/08, 9:56 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Steuart IT Forensics, Inc.

Re: how to prepare?

Residential time does not affect child support. Spousal Maintenance for short term marriages is to assist transitions. How you prepare is a truly personal question dependent on the resources available to you. As to "full custody" I am never quite sure what people mean by that, and they all seem to have different idea of what it means. When you file for divorce you can simultaneously file a motion for temporary orders that would be heard in about two weeks, you could even get an immediate order, but only to the effect of a restraining order and order to not waste assets, some counties will issue a boiler plate temporary anti-wasting order out of the clerks office at filing.

Read more
Answered on 2/12/08, 6:33 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption questions and answers in Washington