Mediating Conflict,
Embracing Peace
On a recent episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, we sat down with a former client of ours, Jason. If you are dealing with child custody, this episode is for you. There will be times during the process when you may feel alone, angry, or uncertain about the future. Jason...
The court may appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) during a divorce or family law case. This trained person typically investigates high-conflict situations and reports their findings and recommendations to the court about what is in the best interests of the child (or...
You need a plan to rebuild your life after a divorce. If you share custody with your ex, which is common in Washington, there will be more limitations on your options than there would be without children. The two of you will need to see each other frequently, and you...
When you get a divorce as a parent, you probably anticipate at least a few parenting issues to arise in the wake of your divorce. Many parents expect their kids to cry often or act out in frustration. While it is wise to expect a few problems as your children adjust,...
One big step toward finalizing your divorce (or creating a final parenting plan) is figuring out custody of your children for the holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas or Winter Break. As a reminder, legal custody pertains to the ability to make decisions for the...
When domestic violence is suspected as a part of a relationship, the court must be cautious about custody arrangements. That being said, Washington doesn’t automatically restrict a parent accused of abuse from having custody of their child. Domestic violence is...
Unfortunately, some child custody cases fall through the cracks of our family law system here in Everett and other parts of Washington. Although it does not happen often, a court may mistakenly grant custody to a parent that is dangerous to a child. When a parent...
It’s that time of year again: Separated and divorced parents everywhere need to start negotiating the holiday custody schedule for the kids. Whether you’ve recently separated from your co-parent, or you’ve been divorced for some time, the holiday season can be filled...
Anyone who thinks that divorce is easier for parents of kids in their teens than for parents of younger children likely doesn’t have a teen. While they may better understand what’s happening than a child would, that doesn’t mean that parental divorce won’t have a...
Children under sixteen must have a passport to visit another country. A minor’s parents must generally physically appear and show proof of parentage to request the passport. It gets complicated when parents are divorced. You risk having a judge deprive you of child...