For Moms

Understanding the issues moms face in divorce

The bond you have with your child is like no other. We understand the issues facing moms in divorce and can help you navigate the process to put your children first. It is crucial to work with a legal team that understands your priorities and will work with you to make sure your objectives remain focused on the wellbeing of your family through the divorce and parenting plan processes.

 

Washington law follows the “best interests of the child” principle. This means residential schedules, child support, etc., are all governed by assessing what is in the child’s best interests. Our skilled family law attorneys will advocate for you in mediation, collaboration, or court as your situation warrants. 

PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Child Support

 

Child support is not a punishment for either party or a payment to the other parent; it is meant to support your child. It is an opportunity to help ensure that your child has their basic needs met as they grow. One of our experienced child support attorneys can answer any questions about paying or receiving child support and provide guidance if you seek a modification.

For Moms

ESTABLISHING SEPARATE LIVES

Co-Parenting

 

When one home becomes two, there are adjustments, hiccups, challenges to overcome. It takes practice, compassion, and commitment. Tackling the role of Co-CEO of Team Child may not be the parenting role you imagined, but with the proper support, you can do this.

 

8 Ways to Make Co-Parenting Better

 

  1. Never use child support or visitation as a bargaining chip
  2. Allow yourself to have friends, interests, and support. You may very well be “Superwoman,” but it is important to have a life
  3. Help your child spend time with your ex
  4. Cooperate with your ex when it is in the best interest of your child
  5. Let the other parent know what is going on in your child’s life
  6. Share the everyday life experiences with your kids, do not get lost in trying to be the fun parent
  7. Allow your child to process the emotions they may have about divorce or separation. If you handle the situation well, they will develop some great coping strategies they can use for the rest of their life
  8. Be appropriately honest with your child about experiences they have had 

STAYING INVOLVED

Parallel Parenting

 
If you are in a relationship where you need to minimize your contact or communication with the other parent as much as possible, parallel parenting may be a parenting style to explore. When ongoing conflict cannot be stemmed and is putting your kids in harm’s way, sometimes a parallel approach works best. 
 
In parallel parenting, both parties remain active in their children’s lives while minimizing interactions and involvement with the other parent. If you are interested in connecting with our team to discuss which parenting style might work best for your family, we would be happy to set up a consultation.

A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Working & Stay-at-Home Parents

 

When one parent has stayed home for a significant period of time or taken on more of the parenting responsibilities, divorce can be a significant transition. Whether you have been staying at home or supporting your spouse in their parenting role, our experienced divorce attorneys can help you make a plan for the future to put your family’s economic security on track. 

 

Even when both parents are working, you may have questions about what that will mean and how to juggle your parenting and financial responsibilities. We are here to help answer your questions, educate you about your options, and provide you the resources you need to plan for that next step. 

For Moms

EASING THE BURDEN

Estate Planning


No one is ever ready to lose their mom. Thinking about a day when you will no longer be there to help your “baby” navigate through life can be overwhelming. 


The investment you make in comprehensive estate planning will allow your child the time to grieve when the time comes. A good estate plan will articulate your wishes about your healthcare, wealth, and remains. 


Our team of professional estate planning attorneys can help create and maintain an estate plan that gives you peace of mind.

STAY UP TO DATE

Subscribe to our newsletters

 
Subscribe to one or more of our newsletters, delivering meaningful insight on topics that matter to you and your family.
ebl home subscribe image

FURTHER READING

Blog Posts

Family law and estate planning often intersect. This is particularly true when contemplating divorce, remarriage, or blending families.

At some point during your divorce case, friends and family members whose own marriages ended in divorce probably told you that it gets better, and it does. Of course, from your perspective, getting out of a bad marriage might be…

Co-parenting over a long distance when you are a non-residential parent does not have to equate to sacrificing involvement in your children’s lives. But it likely does mean you will have to make tweaks in your communication and parenting style to accommodate the new living arrangement.

When parents go through a divorce, child custody can be one of the hardest issues to deal with. But increasingly in American households, pets are part of the family, and separating can create similar concerns over who gets the family pet.

In today’s world of fast-paced decision-making and on-demand solutions, such as DIY divorces, it is not surprising that many couples contemplate divorce the moment they find themselves unhappily married. Our culture’s fickle mentality often seems to advocate for the idea…

In the wake of divorce or separation, co-parenting can feel stressful. Not only have you just gone through an emotional experience, but you are also now trying to figure out how both you and your co-parent can spend time with…

Far too many families end up fighting, or at least experiencing tension, over a family inheritance, but it does not have to be that way. Having counseled families for years, we offer the following advice to help your family avoid fighting over your property — while you are here and after you die.

Establishing paternity and parentage is important for many families and parents. Regardless of why you want to establish paternity and parentage, the process has the potential to be confusing, especially if you are unfamiliar with the terms and rules for…

As a mom of four (now adult) kids, I remember well the flood of emotions that came each time they went to my ex’s, especially during the early days of my separation and eventually after my divorce. Not only was…

In Washington state, if you are involved in a custody dispute, which involves difficult questions related to specific needs for your children or serious parenting deficits (such as mental health, substance abuse, or domestic violence), an evaluation service may be…

Divorce can be an emotionally grueling process, especially when you have children. In addition to coming to terms with how your own day-to-day is going to evolve, your children, too, will have to get used to seeing their lives change,…

For parents, divorce often raises many questions surrounding extracurricular activities. These questions usually include whether the children will get to participate in the extracurricular activities (sports, performing arts classes, music lessons, art classes, etc.) they did before the divorce, expanded…

Becoming a single parent, especially after being married and having a partner to share in the physical and emotional labor, can be a challenging transition. The role of single parent, even for those in a healthy co-parenting relationship with their…

The expression “in sickness and in health” is common in wedding ceremonies of all faiths. So when most people recite these words, it is probably safe to assume that they envision themselves married at a time when the unthinkable may…

Until 1987, Washington, like most states, awarded “custody” of the children to one of the parents at the conclusion of a divorce or separation case. This changed with the passage of the Parenting Act. Today, instead of ordering child custody,…