Areas We serve

Our seasoned Seattle divorce attorneys at Elise Buie Family Law provide compassionate, strategic support to guide you through every step of the divorce process, ensuring a smooth transition and a brighter future.

Key Takeaways:

• Our trusted firm handles all aspects of the divorce process, including child custody, property division, and support arrangements, ensuring your needs are met with clarity and confidence.

• Whether you’re seeking an uncontested divorce through mediation or collaborative divorce, we provide tailored strategies to help you preserve time, money, and emotional energy while reaching an agreement.

• If you’re gearing up for a high-conflict battle, our team brings decades of collective experience to the table, and will fight hard and smart to pursue the results you’re seeking in a contested divorce.

Divorce, even with its legal, financial, and emotional challenges, is sometimes best for everyone when a marriage cannot continue. It’s both an ending and a new beginning, which is why it’s critical that you have the information and guidance necessary to make smart, controlled, confident decisions about your future. 

At Elise Buie Family Law, we understand that divorce can be scary – there are a lot of unknowns! But whether you’re concerned about your kids and sharing custody, protecting your financial stability, or simply navigating the legal process without adding any more stress to your plate, our compassionate Seattle divorce attorneys are here for you every step of the way. 

With over 50 years of combined experience and a thorough knowledge of Washington law, our team will make sure that you’re in the best position to begin the next chapter with hope. Don’t wait to reach out for help, no matter how complicated things seem. Book your consultation today!

Step Into a Brighter Tomorrow: How Our Skilled Seattle Divorce Attorneys Guide You Through Divorce with Confidence

The Washington divorce process is one with a lot of moving parts, but our Seattle divorce attorneys can help you tackle one issue at a time with our signature brand of white-glove hospitality. We understand that everyone’s situation is different, so the way your marriage ends should reflect your unique needs and priorities. We’ll help you address:

• Child Custody and Visitation – If you have children, these matters are likely the most sensitive and important to you. In Washington, parenting plans include both physical (where the child lives and the time spent with each parent) and legal (the authority each parent has to make significant decisions about the child’s life) custody, which can be shared (joint) or allocated to one parent (sole legal custody, primary physical custody). 

It can feel impossibly hard to think about sharing time with your kids, but with the right support, it’s still possible to design a custody arrangement that gives them the stability they need to thrive as you all transition to a new chapter. 

• Property Division – Washington is a community property state, which means that marital property is typically divided equally upon divorce by default. However, you and your spouse still have the opportunity to reach your own agreement about how you’ll split things, and our Seattle divorce attorneys can put you in the best position for achieving the outcome you’re seeking.

• Child and Spousal Support – In Washington, child support is calculated using the Income Shares Model, which essentially means taking into account both parents’ combined net income and the number of children involved. On the other hand, there is no set formula for calculating spousal support (alimony), and it isn’t automatic in every divorce. The court will consider several factors in each individual case before determining whether alimony is necessary, how much should be paid, and for how long. 

Whether you are being asked to pay child/spousal support, or are requesting it, our strategic Seattle divorce attorneys will make sure the arrangements are fair and in line with Washington law. 

• Paperwork and Documentation – As you can imagine, there is a lot of paperwork involved with the divorce process. We’ll ensure all documents are accurately completed and filed on time so that you can focus on healing and moving forward!

• And More!

​​Creative, Tailored Strategies for Achieving Divorce Agreements

Not all divorces end up being contentious court battles. More and more couples are choosing to preserve their wealth, time, and emotional energy by seeking alternative methods by which they can resolve their disagreements. If you are able to reach your own agreement without asking the court to intervene, uncontested divorce is a favorable option – it’s cheaper, faster, and allows you to maintain control. 

For some couples who have been able to stay cordial or that have a less complicated situation, they may not need any additional support to work out their issues. For others that aren’t on the same page, but are still committed to staying out of court, mediation is a great tool for reaching agreements with the help of a neutral mediator (and it is typically required by the court, anyway). Our Seattle divorce attorneys can either coach you while you mediate directly with your spouse and the mediator, or we can fully represent you at mediation, depending on your needs and goals!

Furthermore, collaborative divorce is another method of alternative dispute resolution. Similar to mediation, it gives you and your spouse an equal voice in your divorce, and helps you maintain control over key decisions. However, rather than working with a neutral mediator, you and your spouse (and your respective attorneys) work with neutral experts like child psychologists and financial professionals to achieve a fair outcome.

Our team has extensive experience in both mediation and collaborative divorce, but if the time comes when court intervention is necessary, you can trust us to be your fierce advocates through the contested divorce process. 

Transform Your Life with the Support of Elise Buie Family Law: Moving Forward with Purpose After Divorce

With some of the toughest days of your life ahead, you need a partner and an ally – not just a facilitator. Our dedicated Seattle divorce attorneys make your family our first priority from start to finish, and you can contact us no matter what phase of the divorce process you’re in. As soon as you reach out, we won’t waste time jumping in to act on your behalf and get your case moving in the right direction! Book your consultation today to take the next step.