Financial separation in WA state

[Don Ket Hotey]

What is the name of your state? Washington

My wife and I would like to obtain a financial separation. We will remain married.
The situation is completely amicable and there are no financial issues in dispute -- everything split 50/50.

My question is this: Does a lawyer or mediator even need to be involved in this? Or is it simply a question of us filing paperwork without having to hire anybody?

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[Bali Hai Again]

What is the name of your state? Washington

My wife and I would like to obtain a financial separation. We will remain married.
The situation is completely amicable and there are no financial issues in dispute -- everything split 50/50.
Hopefully it stays amicable.
My question is this: Does a lawyer or mediator even need to be involved in this? Or is it simply a question of us filing paperwork without having to hire anybody?

Thanks in advance for your input!

You need a legal separation.

https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.contribute&formID=25

 

[Don Ket Hotey]

You need a legal separation.

https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.contribute&formID=25

OK, thanks for the link! I will look into that.

 

[Don Ket Hotey]

Can this paper work be filed without hiring an attorney or mediator? Or is that required? I don't want to assume that no attorney is required based only on the signature line for an attorney, which has in parentheses "if any."

https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/documents/FL Divorce 203 Petition for Legal Separation_06_2024.pdf

 

[Zigner]

You don't need an attorney to file for a separation, but you do need to know the proper court procedures. The following page with forms will help: https://www.courts.wa.gov/forms/?fa=forms.contribute&formID=25 (I understand this was shared above as well.)

This page gives instructions/information for a separation in from King County. It will give you a general idea, but your county (if not King County) likely has similar instructions that you can find online.
https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/courts/superior-court/docs/family/family-law-instructions/01-04-how-to-ask-for-a-legal-separation-agreed-pdf.ashx?la=en

 

[adjusterjack]

We will remain married.

Why?

The situation is completely amicable

Forgive my cynicism but there is no such thing.

there are no financial issues in dispute -- everything split 50/50.

Until your idea of 50/50 doesn't jive with her idea of 50/50.

 

[zddoodah]

My wife and I would like to obtain a financial separation. We will remain married.

What do you mean by "financial separation"?

Does a lawyer or mediator even need to be involved in this? Or is it simply a question of us filing paperwork without having to hire anybody?

Impossible to say without knowing what you mean by "financial separation" or what paperwork you're talking about. Whether, as a matter of fact, you can separate your finances depends on the details of your finances, which we don't know. However, if all you want to do is separate your finances (to the extent possible), that's not a legal issue.

You could seek a legal separation in lieu of divorce. However, it may not be necessary. Also, if you have a mortgage or other loans or other legal obligations for which you are jointly liable, you won't be able to achieve a true separation of all finances without paying off the loans.

Can this paper work be filed without hiring an attorney or mediator? Or is that required?

A mediator is a person who assists in the resolution of disputes. An individual is never required to be represented by a lawyer in a legal matter. However, there's an old adage: He who acts as his own attorney has a fool for a client.