Mediation is a way to resolve disputes with the help of a neutral third party, called a mediator. Instead of going to court, mediation allows people to sit down, talk through their issues, and work together to find a solution that works for everyone. The mediator doesn't take sides or make decisions—they're there to guide the conversation and keep things on track. Mediation focuses on collaboration and open communication, empowering participants to maintain control over the outcomes of their conflicts.

Key Features of Mediation:

• Neutral Mediator: A trained professional facilitates discussions without taking sides.

• Confidentiality: All discussions during mediation remain private, fostering honest communication.

• Voluntary Participation: Both parties willingly engage in the process to work toward a solution.

• Cost-Effective: Mediation is often less expensive and time-consuming than litigation.

• Custom Solutions: Agreements are tailored to the unique needs of the parties involved.

Yes! We offer mediation services with flexibility to meet your needs. Our offices are conveniently located in Washington and Idaho, providing in-person support for local clients. For added convenience, we also offer mediation sessions via Zoom, so you can participate from anywhere.

Whether you prefer face-to-face meetings or the ease of online sessions, we’re here to help you resolve your disputes with professional, accessible, and effective mediation services. Contact us today to find the option that works best for you!

Mediation in divorce or family law is a collaborative process where a neutral mediator helps both parties work through disputes, such as child custody, property division, and spousal support, in a less stressful and more cost-effective way than going to court. It’s designed to encourage open communication, foster compromise, and create personalized solutions that work for everyone involved. Whether you’re navigating a high-conflict situation or simply looking for a peaceful resolution, mediation empowers you to maintain control over the outcomes. With options for in-person sessions at our Washington and Idaho offices or virtual meetings via Zoom, mediation offers the flexibility to meet your needs wherever you are.

Yes, mediation is an effective option for resolving high-asset divorces. It provides a private and collaborative setting to address complex financial matters, such as property division, business valuations, retirement accounts, and investments. A skilled mediator can guide the discussion, ensuring both parties have a fair opportunity to address their concerns while working toward mutually beneficial solutions. With mediation, you maintain control over the process and the outcome, avoiding the lengthy and costly litigation often associated with high-asset divorces.

Estate planning is all about making sure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are taken care of, both during your life and after you’re gone. It’s the process of organizing things like your finances, property, and healthcare decisions by creating documents like wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.

By planning ahead, you can make things easier for your family, avoid unnecessary stress or legal complications, and have peace of mind knowing everything is in place. Whether your estate is simple or more complex, estate planning is a thoughtful way to protect what matters most to you.

A trust is a personalized, legal strategy to manage and protect your assets, ensuring they're distributed according to your wishes after you pass away. Trusts help minimize taxes, avoid probate, protect your family's financial future, and give you more control over asset distribution. The best time to create a trust is now, especially after major life events like marriage, having children, or purchasing significant assets.

Start by asking for recommendations from trusted friends. Look for attorneys who specialize in your specific legal needs, offer clear communication, and have experience handling cases similar to yours. Most local bar associations also provide referral services that can match you with qualified family law attorneys in your area.

Administrative Orders through the Department of Child Support (DCS) cannot authorize certain things such as who is able to have the child tax credit or claim the children for the tax year. DCS also does not have the authority to deal with post-secondary child support issues. Administrative Law is the lower law court or tribunal. The Superior Court is the higher court that has authority to deal with other laws that a state agency may not. Also, when DCS establishes the child support order there is no interest on back child support owed. In the Superior court you may file a motion for contempt regarding child support if the other party is not paying. If the contempt is granted by the Superior court, there will be a judgment entered and interest is also calculated on back child support is added.

Judges and commissioners usually ignore who is named the “petitioner” – the party who filed the divorce. Washington is a no-fault state, meaning Washington courts are not allowed to consider who brought about the divorce when making most decisions.

One exception is if you make a claim about an emergency that conflicts with being the respondent, the party responding to the divorce. For example, the court might question your credibility if you are the respondent and claim the other side recently molested the children. Most rational parents would rush to the courthouse to protect his or her children from a child molester. This sort of emergency rarely arises in the real world. Generally, the court assumes the respondent was slower to file for divorce because he or she was trying harder to make the marriage work. In that sense, the respondent might actually be more likable from the court’s perspective.

The other small advantage to being the petitioner applies at trial. At the end of trial, the court permits the petitioner to make closing arguments first, followed by the respondent, and ending with a brief rebuttal from the petitioner. That is, the petitioner gets the first and last word on closing arguments. Research shows you want the first or last word if trying to persuade a listener, and the petitioner gets both.

Only about 5% of cases proceed to closing arguments, making this positional advantage minimal.

Many petitioners do gain a significant advantage over respondents however. This happens when the parties need temporary orders. The party who files the initial motion for temporary orders gains a significant procedural advantage, and the petitioner gets first crack at it.