Washington Recent Legal Answers from Lawyers

The court will not reverse a perfectly good decision. You should have asked the court to order him to refinance. Given that you didn't, You can either go back now and ask the court to amend the decree, giving you the house (and mortgage) and giving him his share of the equity through the period during which he paid on the mortgage or to the date of the motion to amend.You can also just put the house on the market and divide the equity.... Read More

You both seem to be in a world of make belief. Child support is the right of the child and there is no reason he should not pay it. All you have to do is either go to court to establish it or be truthful with DSHS and the state will establish child support to pay itself (the tax payer) back for any public benefits the child receives. If he wants to see the child, he needs to establish his legal paternity either in the action to establish child support (parentage petition) or if that is established first, in a petition to establish a parenting plan. There is no reason for you to not follow the appropriate legal process as this is detrimental to both you and more importantly, to the child.... Read More

If you both got a car for your son, presumably now that it is paid off, you will both transfer title to the son.If it was purchased during the marriage, it doesn't matter who paid, the payment was community property. The refund should be split, but may be so minimal (it usually is) that it hardly matters. The significant issue is ownership of the car. You didn't say to whom the car was assigned in the divorce or who was ordered to pay the remaining debt on it in the divorce. That's what counts.... Read More

You don't say what the source of your income is, but it's not enough in most places to live on your own. Given that you are a minor, the best way to leave legally is to talk to a school counselor or another adult you trust and who is knowledgeable about what resources are available in your area. Of course, if it's really extreme you can call CPS and ask for help. Otherwise, wait until you're 18 and then leave.... Read More

It depends. For starters there likely won't be much child support from the minor father. The father of the older children may end up going back to court to get primary care of the older children based on the mother's inappropriate conduct/mental health etc. At a minimum, if that father goes to court, a parenting plan investigation would likely ensue and a mental health evaluation of the mother may be ordered. Or nothing may happen since you provide no information about the father of the older children and the mother may just be stuck with a very immature father for the new baby.... Read More