Trusted Divorce Lawyer In Tacoma WA
Going through a divorce? We understand this isn’t where you thought you’d be. Whether you’ve been thinking about this for months or you just realized your marriage can’t be saved, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed. That’s completely normal. At Schroader Law, we’re here to help you navigate this process and find your way to a better future.
As a divorce lawyer serving Tacoma and Pierce County, we’ve walked alongside families during some of their darkest moments. Our job isn’t just about paperwork and court dates. It’s about helping you protect what matters most, whether that’s time with your children, your financial security, or simply your peace of mind as you move forward.
What Divorce Means In Washington
If you’re thinking about divorce, you’re probably juggling fear, stress, and about a hundred questions at once. We understand how overwhelming this can feel. Divorce in Washington is called a dissolution of marriage, and it’s the legal process that ends your marriage, divides your property and debts, and addresses your children and financial support.
Washington is a no fault state, which means the court doesn’t require you or your spouse to prove wrongdoing. It’s enough to say that the marriage is irretrievably broken. What does that mean for you? Simple. You don’t have to dig up proof of affairs, cruelty, or abandonment. The focus shifts to what really matters, how your property gets divided, where your children will live, and what your financial life will look like after the divorce is final.
Here’s the thing. Even though Washington makes it easier to file for divorce without assigning blame, the process itself can still feel overwhelming. There are financial disclosures to complete, parenting plans to negotiate, and decisions that will affect your life for years to come. That’s where having an experienced Tacoma divorce attorney makes all the difference. In some situations, you might also want to consider whether legal separation is a better fit for your circumstances before committing to a full dissolution.
Grounds For Divorce In Washington State
Washington State only has one ground for divorce, and that’s an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Sounds simple, right? It is. You don’t need to prove your spouse did anything wrong. You don’t need evidence of cheating, abuse, or abandonment (though those things can matter for other issues like child custody & visitation and property division).
All you or your spouse needs to say is that the marriage is broken beyond repair. One person’s word is enough. Even if your spouse doesn’t want the divorce, they can’t stop it by refusing to agree. The court will grant the dissolution as long as the legal requirements are met.
There are just a few basic requirements. You or your spouse must be a resident of Washington State, or stationed here in the military. If you’re active duty or married to a service member, military divorce involves special federal rules you need to understand. That’s it. No waiting periods before you can file, no need to be separated first, no fault to prove.
This no fault system is designed to make divorce less hostile and more focused on practical issues. Instead of fighting about who’s to blame, you can focus your energy on reaching fair agreements about property, children, and support.
Property Division Alimony And Financial Support
When you get divorced in Washington, the court has to divide everything you and your spouse accumulated during the marriage. And we mean everything. Your house, cars, bank accounts, retirement funds, businesses, debts, credit cards, all of it. If you have significant assets, complex investments, or business interests, you’ll want to understand how high-asset divorce cases are handled differently.
Community Property vs Separate Property
Washington is a community property state. That means anything acquired during the marriage generally belongs to both of you, regardless of whose name is on the title or account. But property you owned before the marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance, is usually considered separate property and stays with you.
The court aims for a fair and just division, which doesn’t always mean a perfect fifty fifty split. The court looks at factors like how long you were married, each person’s economic circumstances, and what’s needed to care for children. At Schroader Law, we help clients navigate these complex property division and debt division decisions with clarity and confidence.
Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)
Spousal maintenance / alimony, what some people still call alimony, isn’t automatic in Washington. The court only awards it when one spouse needs financial support and the other spouse has the ability to pay.
The court considers things like how long you were married, your standard of living during the marriage, each person’s age and health, education and work history, and the ability to become self-supporting. Maintenance can be temporary (to help someone get back on their feet) or long term (in cases involving long marriages with significant income differences).
Not every divorce involves spousal maintenance / alimony. But when it does, getting it right matters because it affects your financial stability for months or years to come. We work with you to present a clear picture of your financial needs and circumstances.
Child Support
If you have children, child support is almost always part of the equation. As of January 1, 2026, Washington has implemented significant changes to its child support laws through Engrossed House Bill 1014. The Economic Table has been expanded to include combined monthly net incomes up to $50,000, providing greater clarity for higher-income families.
The new guidelines also increased the self-support reserve for low-income households and allowed new deductions from gross income. Child support continues until your children turn 18 or graduate from high school, whichever comes later, and it can be modified if circumstances change significantly through modifications to court orders.
Key Steps In The Tacoma Divorce Process
Divorce has a reputation for being chaotic, but there’s actually a basic structure to the process in Washington. When you know what to expect, it’s easier to breathe and focus on the decisions that actually matter. We understand that you need clarity during this uncertain time.
Let us walk you through how a divorce usually moves forward in Tacoma and Pierce County.
Filing the Petition
One spouse files a petition for dissolution and related documents with the Pierce County Superior Court. This petition formally starts the divorce process and outlines what the filing spouse is asking for regarding property, children, and support. There’s a filing fee, and fee waivers are sometimes available if you qualify.
Service and Response
The other spouse gets served with the divorce papers and has a set time to respond, usually 20 days if they’re served in Washington, or 60 days if they’re out of state. They can agree with some requests, disagree with others, or file their own requests.
Temporary Orders
Early in the case, the court may enter temporary orders about children, support, and use of property while the divorce is pending. These orders provide structure and protection until final orders are in place. Think of them as the rules everyone has to follow while the divorce is being worked out.
Financial Disclosure
Both sides exchange information and documents, including financial records, pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and property details. Full financial disclosure is required by law, and it’s the foundation for fair property division and support calculations. Hiding assets or lying about income can create serious consequences with the court.
Negotiation and Mediation
Many cases go through negotiation or mediation / alternative dispute resolution to try to reach agreement on parenting, property, and support. Mediation can save time and money compared to a trial, and it gives you more control over the outcome instead of leaving everything up to a judge. In Pierce County, mediation / alternative dispute resolution is often required before you can go to trial on parenting issues.
Settlement or Trial
If you reach an agreement, final orders are prepared and submitted to the court for approval. Most divorces settle. If you can’t agree, the case moves toward trial, and a judge makes the final decisions after hearing evidence and testimony from both sides. Trials are expensive and stressful, but sometimes they’re necessary. High-conflict divorce cases often require different strategies and stronger advocacy to protect your interests.
Final Decree
Once the court signs the final decree of dissolution, your marriage is legally over. The decree includes all orders about property, parenting, and support, and both parties are legally required to follow those orders. If the other party later fails to follow the orders, you may need help with enforcement of court orders to hold them accountable.
The 90 Day Rule
In Washington, there’s a mandatory waiting period of at least 90 days from the date the other spouse is served or joins in the petition before the court can enter final divorce orders. This is a minimum, not a deadline, so more complex or contested cases often take several months or longer.
Sounds complicated? It can be. But you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Why Choose Schroader Law For Your Divorce
When you’re facing a divorce in Tacoma or Pierce County, you need attorneys who take the time to get the details right. At Schroader Law, we focus on practical, results-driven guidance that helps you make informed decisions during this difficult time.
Here’s how we approach divorce cases:
Detailed Financial Review – We review assets, debts, income, and expenses carefully to build an accurate picture of your financial situation. This foundation is necessary for fair property division and support calculations.
Clear Explanations – We explain Washington family law and your options in straightforward language. You’ll know what to expect at each stage of the process and why certain steps are necessary.
Focused Negotiation – When settlement makes sense, we work to reach fair agreements that protect your interests. When trial is necessary, we prepare your case thoroughly and present it clearly to the court.
Client-Centered Approach – We listen to what matters most to you, whether that’s time with your children, protecting certain assets, or reaching resolution efficiently. Your priorities shape how we handle your case.
Throughout the process, we stay focused on helping you move forward with clarity about your rights, your options, and the path ahead.
FAQs About Divorce In Tacoma And Pierce County
- How long does a divorce take in Washington
A. The fastest a divorce can be completed in Washington is 90 days from the date your spouse is served, but most cases take longer. If there are children, property to divide, or serious disagreements, it can take several months or more, especially if a trial becomes necessary. Simple uncontested divorces may wrap up in a few months, while high-conflict divorce cases can take a year or longer.
- Do I have to go to court
A. Not every divorce ends in a trial. Many cases resolve through negotiation or mediation / alternative dispute resolution, and the final paperwork gets submitted to the court without a full hearing. If the issues are contested and you cannot reach agreement, then a judge will need to hear the case and make decisions, and you will likely need to appear and testify.
- How does Washington divide property
A. Washington is a community property state, which means the court looks at what was acquired during the marriage and what each person brought in before the marriage or received as a gift or inheritance. The court aims for a fair and just division through property division and debt division, which is not always a strict fifty fifty split, and may consider factors like the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income, and who is caring for children.
- Will I have to pay or receive spousal maintenance
A. Spousal maintenance / alimony, sometimes called alimony, is not automatic. The court looks at whether one spouse needs support and whether the other has the ability to pay, considering the length of the marriage, the standard of living, each person’s earning ability, age, health, and education. Maintenance can be short term or longer term, and not every divorce includes it.
- What happens with our children during a divorce
A. Washington uses parenting plans instead of traditional custody labels. These plans set out where the children live, how much time they spend with each parent, and how major decisions get made. The court focuses on the best interests of the children and considers their relationships with each parent, their needs, their routines, and any safety concerns such as domestic violence or substance abuse. Understanding child custody & visitation rights is essential to protecting your relationship with your children.
- How is child support handled in a divorce
A. As of 2026, child support in Washington is based on an updated statewide schedule that considers both parents’ incomes, the number of children, and certain expenses like health insurance and daycare. The new Economic Table extends to combined monthly net incomes up to $50,000, providing clearer guidelines for higher-income families. The court calculates a support amount and can adjust it in special situations. Support usually continues until a child turns 18 or finishes high school. If you need to modify your support order later due to changed circumstances through modifications to court orders, there are legal processes available to help.
- How much does a divorce cost
A. Costs vary widely. The court filing fee is roughly a few hundred dollars, and attorney fees depend on how complex your case is and whether you can settle or need to go to trial. Uncontested divorces cost less, while contested divorces with custody disputes, significant assets, or repeated hearings cost more. During a consultation, we can provide a clearer estimate based on your specific situation.
- What if one parent wants to move away with the children
A. If you or your spouse wants to relocate with the children after divorce, Washington has specific rules about parental relocation that require notice and sometimes court approval. The relocating parent must provide advance notice, and the other parent can object if they believe the move isn’t in the children’s best interests.
Talk With A Tacoma Divorce Lawyer Today
You don’t have to go through divorce alone, and you don’t have to guess about your rights or your options. The decisions you make now about property, children, and support will affect your life for years to come. We know how difficult this time is for you and your family, and we’re here to help you navigate this process with confidence.
At Schroader Law, we offer straightforward guidance, clear answers to your questions, and a plan for what comes next so you can start moving toward a more stable future.
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We’ll talk about your situation, explain your options, and help you see the road ahead more clearly.
Don’t wait until things get worse. Reach out to Schroader Law today and let us help you move forward.