McKinley Irvin Blogs from April 2020

• Alternatives to Trial for Divorces During COVID-19

  Apr 23, 2020
  Coronavirus is causing the courts to limit and postpone family law trials, as well as pretrial hearings. However, this does not mean your divorce case needs to be put on hold or be delayed. There are other ways to proceed with your divorce or family law matter. In fact, there are many advantages to trial alternatives including settlement, mediation, and arbitration, which now more than ever, can all be achieved through virtual means. During the COVID-19 “stay at home” order, many lawyers, mediators, and arbitrators are ...
  Posted By McKinley Irvin
  Continue reading >>

• Filling the Void: Help for Domestic Violence Victims During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Apr 17, 2020
  The COVID-19 Pandemic is a particularly dangerous and difficult time for victims of domestic violence. Many victims are in close quarters with their abusers and domestic abuse calls to police have increased. At the same time, it’s become more difficult to navigate the filing process and obtain access to legal aid as a result of the stay-at-home order. To help fill the void, Seattle University School of Law is opening a virtual pop-up legal clinic to serve domestic violence victims in King County. Led by Professor Deirdre ...
  Posted By McKinley Irvin
  Continue reading >>

• How Domestic Violence Survivors Can Get Help During Coronavirus Shutdown

  Apr 16, 2020
  By Courtney Bellio, McKinley Irvin family law attorney As shelter in place orders take effect across the country, the reality is that staying home isn’t safe for everyone. Many may find themselves forced to stay in close proximity with their abusers. Survivors of domestic violence may now find their abusers using the pandemic as a tool to gain more control. Examples of this may include withholding necessary items such as disinfectants, spreading misinformation about the pandemic to control or frighten the survivor, ...
  Posted By Courtney Bellio
  Continue reading >>

• Understanding Health Insurance in a Washington Divorce Settlement

  Apr 15, 2020
  If you and your spouse are preparing for a divorce, or if you are in the beginning stages of your divorce, you need to think about how this division could affect some of the more practical aspects of your life. In the beginning stages of your separation, you are far more likely to focus on the immediate implications, such as the emotional hurt that comes with ending a relationship, and the hard task of informing your families and your children. However, once the initial shock has worn off and you’re able to start thinking ...
  Posted By McKinley Irvin
  Continue reading >>

• How Do I Cope With the Stress of Divorce During the Coronavirus Quarantine?

  Apr 10, 2020
  The stress of the current health pandemic can make divorce and separation more complicated. Whether you have already decided to get divorced, or you are in the initial stages of separation, dealing with divorce during quarantine may be difficult—especially if you still live with your spouse. Here are some tips that might help you cope during the COVID-19 quarantine. Give Yourself a Break Whether you’re in quarantine with or without your spouse, going through a divorce is overwhelming. For such reasons, it’s important to give ...
  Posted By McKinley Irvin
  Continue reading >>

• Coronavirus Stimulus Checks and the Effect on Divorce

  Apr 6, 2020
  By Jayde Logan, McKinley Irvin family law attorney On March 30, 2020 the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced the distribution of stimulus package payments to account for the coronavirus pandemic. Payments are intended for taxpayers only, therefore, most qualifying recipients must have a social security number. There may be a minimal exception for members of the military. Qualifying single adults who have an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less will receive $1,200. Married couples with no ...
  Posted By Jayde Logan
  Continue reading >>

• How to Handle Child Custody and Visitation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Apr 1, 2020
  As people are being asked to stay home and limit exposure to others during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been receiving important questions from divorced parents feeling conflicted about how to adhere to these guidelines and stay healthy when their children are supposed to be dividing time between two households. To help ease these concerns, we have put together the following guide about child custody during the COVID-19 pandemic: How does Washington’s “Stay Home” order affect child custody for divorced parents? Whenever ...
  Posted By McKinley Irvin
  Continue reading >>