McKinley Irvin Blogs from May 2020

• COVID-19 Does Not Mean You Need to Delay Your Family Law Matter

  May 28, 2020
  By Theresa Lorella, McKinley Irvin Senior Attorney When the word came out in March 2020 that attorneys were going to be working from home, I was worried about my clients. I know that interpersonal crises do not slow down even in the face of global pandemic and imminent recession. The legal system can be very slow to adapt to times, and I was worried about how my clients would be able to move their lives forward as everything around them closed down. Writing this in May 2020, I am pleased to say that we found ways to ...
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• Two Unique Issues in a Same-Sex Divorce

  May 22, 2020
  Although the basics of the divorce process are essentially the same for heterosexual and same-sex couples, there are a few unique challenges the latter may face and the former may not. As the path to marriage and parenthood for same-sex couples has evolved over time, there are laws and stipulations that make obtaining a divorce a bit more complex than it might be for hetero couples. Thankfully, if you know what these potential problems are, you can be better prepared to face them when they arise. If you and your spouse are ...
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• Timing a Divorce During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  May 21, 2020
  By Casey Sanders, McKinley Irvin family law attorney The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing government orders have slowed but not stopped divorce proceedings. Much like society as a whole, divorce proceedings are cautiously beginning to move forward in the new normal created by social distancing and increased reliance on phone and video conferencing. Many people find themselves wondering if now is the best time to file for divorce. The decision to proceed with a divorce is a complex one in the best of times. Like many major life ...
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• Tips for Long-Distance Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  May 14, 2020
  Divorced and separated parents are adjusting to life under quarantine as government officials continue to advise people stay in their homes and practice social distancing measures. McKinley Irvin lawyers have been getting questions from clients regarding how to deal with long-distance parenting issues during the coronavirus pandemic. Here are a few things we suggest you consider if you have a long-distance parenting plan with your ex: Stick to Your Parenting Agreement As of now, social distancing and shelter in place orders ...
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• Practicing Patience: Family Law Matters in Times of Uncertainty

  May 12, 2020
  Practicing Patience: Family Law Matters in Times of Uncertainty By Casey Sanders, McKinley Irvin family law attorney What do the coronavirus and a family law case have in common? This is not a new lawyer joke, but a legitimate conundrum facing many Americans today. The short answer is the “new normal” we all face: uncertainty. The uncertainty of coronavirus is unfolding every day: new policies are instituted and discarded, projections and timelines are revised upwards or downwards with alarming speed, and major surveys have ...
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• Co-Parenting When COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders Are Lifted

  May 8, 2020
  As Washington begins to reopen, it is important for co-parents to think about how disagreements about children’s activities and whereabouts are going to be handled during the phasing in of normal life. The current situation in the state of Washington has led to uncertainty when navigating custody arrangements. Lifting the restrictions of the stay-at-home order is likely to bring more uncertainty as parents navigate through the state’s phases of reopening. Taking a practical approach to handling custody disputes is especially ...
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• Child Support: Paying and Receiving When the Economy is Suffering

  May 6, 2020
  By Theresa Lorella, Senior Attorney at McKinley Irvin Without a doubt, this is a hard time economically for everyone. Those who are able to work may be facing cuts, loss of benefits, or the anxiety of worrying about the sustainability of their job if this lasts for months into the future. Others are spending whole days trying to obtain the federal and state benefits they may be entitled to as relief. If you are the person paying child support, you are worrying about your ability to do so; if you are the person receiving ...
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• Proceeding with Family Law Matters During the Covid-19 Pandemic

  May 1, 2020
  By Cameron Fleury, Partner at McKinley Irvin Necessity is the Mother of Invention As the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, the Country, the States, Counties, and Municipal governments were forced to try to promptly come up with ways to balance protecting people’s health with protecting people’s rights. Access to justice was not immune to this dilemma. Over the course of March and April, the Washington Supreme Court and the various lesser courts issued multiple emergency orders regarding accessing the courts under the Stay at ...
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