Bruce Clement’s Answers

On the RO issue, I would talk to the DV advocates at the King County Courthouse. On the immigration issue, make an appointment for a free 1/2 hour consultation with an immigration attorney.

Yes. In theory, pre-marital debts remain the sole responsibility of the original debtor. In addition, child support is normally the sole debt of the obligor after marriage. However, I have seen courts and agencies make mistakes. The best option is to execute a pre-nuptial agreement that adresses these issues.

Books are written on this issue. In general, an appeal is "on the record"; the appellate court looks at the trial court file and the transcript of the testimony. Deference is usually given to the trial court on all factual questions. You have limited time to file an appeal. If you are interested in doing so, see an appellate attorney ASAP.

Technically, yes, as long as you both agree. If your spouse disagrees, you have no choice but to file int the county of residence. It’s always best to consult with a good family law attorney to discuss the details before you act. See my AVVO Legal Guides on divorce for more information about the legal issues raised by your inquiry. Click on my photo. On my AVVO home page click on "View Contributions" or scroll down further and click on "Legal Guides." Scroll down the list of my 29 Legal Guides...

Different methods are used in different situations by different judges. Yours is one of the thories that is sometimes adopted by the court. It would be best to consult with a good family law attorney, who would want to explore additional details. See my AVVO Legal Guides on divorce and property division for more information about the legal issues raised by your inquiry. Click on my photo. On my AVVO home page click on "View Contributions" or scroll down further and click on "Legal Guides."...

The cost is very unpredictable. If the parties are in agreement on all issues, they should be able to fill out the mandatory forms on www.courts.wa/gov/forms. The filing fee varies from county to county, but is in the $200 - 300 range. Minor disagreements can often be resolved by going to a mediation service like the Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution, which accepts mediations for parties in other counties.

Your attorney is in a better position to answer this question. On the one hand, your wife supports you. On the other hand, technically an Assault 4 includes just about any violent physical act. The prosecution can proceed even if your wife wants the charges dismissed. Disorderly conduct might be better than a substantial risk of conviction after a trial.

You say that you were "arrested" and later "charged". You don't lose your rights unless you were "convicted" (after a trial, or after entering a guilty plea). If you were convicted, you lost your rights. However, you might be able to get your rights restored by filing a motion asking fir a court order restoring them. Also, if you were actually innocent and pled guilty out of fear from your boyfriend or his family, you might be able to vacate the conviction.

Normally, after a child reaches the age of majority she must file her own personal injury claim. You should help your daughter find a good medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

It depends on the details of the accident, and the fine print in the insurance policy. It may be worthwhile to have the policy reviewed by an attorney experienced in insurance law or personal injury cases.