Relocation out of state has become very common in the ever-changing socio-economic conditions of our world. Relocation becomes a legal action when a custodial parent wishes to relocate a child away, and the non-custodial parent objects. Washington State Family Law strictly requires that any custodial parent must provide notice to the non-custodial parent about the move prior to actually moving. Usually, the notice must specify the date and place of relocation. This notification also provides the other parent with a chance to answer and prevent the relocation if the move is not in the child’s best interest.
Generally, Washington State Family Law on relocation is entangled with other complex issues. Although the custodial parent has the ‘Presumptive Right’ to change the child’s residence, it is really only that parent’s right as an adult to move him or herself. The right to move a child depends upon what is in that child’s best interest, and a court will block a move if the evidence shows that the move is not in the child’s best interest. If the child has a relationship with the non-residential parent that is very involved in that child’s life, and moving the child would cause resulting harm, the court might block the move. The custodial parent should try to prove to the court that the proposed move-away shall not hamper the child’s interest with regard to stability and continuity in the custodial arrangement.
However, the moving parent need not prove that the move is necessary under Washington State Family Law. In fact, the non-custodial parent has the initial burden of proving that the proposed relocation of the child’s home would cause harm to the child, and that an investigation of the child’s best interests is needed. Given these complex and critical rules under Washington State Family Law, many parents (moving and non-moving) seek the professional services of a qualified family lawyer.
At McKinley Irvin, an established family law firm, we offer a panel of qualified and renowned Washington State Family Law attorneys with extensive experience in relocation cases. With scores of relocation actions under our belts, McKinley Irvin lawyers are uniquely qualified to provide counsel on proceeding with relocation or blocking relocation. The attorneys at McKinley Irvin are further experienced in all areas of Washington State Family Law, giving our clients a strong foundation for relocation actions.
McKinley Irvin Washington State family law attorneys offer full relocation services, residential schedule modification, and defense strategies for relocation actions. They have tested strategies based on the factors the court will consider under Washington State family law. If you anticipate being on either side of a relocation action, contact our Washington State family law attorneys today. You’ll be glad you did.


Washington State Child Support
During a family law action involving children such as divorce or legal separation, the court will determine which parent with whom the children shall primarily live and will order child support to be paid by the other parent. Both parents are obligated to support their children financially under Washington State child support law, both the residential and non-residential parent. A child support order which orders the non-residential parent to pay support to the residential parent reflects the non-residential parent’s portion of the total support. Since the residential parent pays the child’s support on a daily basis, there is no need to order that parent to pay the other parent.
Even when the court names one parent as the primary residential parent and receives support payments from the other parent, the residential and parenting rights of the non-residential parent remain intact under Washington state child support law. Under Washington State child support law, except in cases of abuse or unfitness, the non-residential parent is entitled to substantial visitation with the children. Knowing the rights of both the residential and non-residential parents in a family law dispute is one important role that a competent Washington state child support attorney can serve.
Besides basic necessities like food, school supplies, and shelter, which are included in the child support transfer payment, other expenses such as education and uninsured medical costs, are some other expenses that should be shared by the non-residential parent. Under Washington state child support law, these expenses can be drafted into a final child support order. Your Washington State child support attorney can explain the process and can look out for your interests in negotiating the terms of your child support determination.


The Washington State Child Custody Attorney Who Makes a Difference
Divorce is a major turning point for families, and it is a reality that they have come to terms with. Everyone dreams of living a perfect family life, but it does not always work out as such. Unfortunately, it is often the children in a divorce who bear the brunt of the emotional trauma during divorce. While adults get involved in why they can’t stand their marital partner, children don’t understand alienating one of their parents. Child custody is thus perhaps the most sensitive and important issue in any divorce. A court of law might have to decide the fate of your children during divorce when divorcing parents cannot agree about who shall have custody of the child. Therefore, it is important to choose a Washington State child custody attorney that will help you achieve what is best for the child. The Washington State Child Custody lawyers at McKinley Irvin have a good deal of experience in this important and touchy area of law.
The rules and regulations governing child custody differ from one state to the next. So, it is very important for a child custody attorney to understand where your custody action should take place and what are the important legal issues given the circumstances of each case. The Washington State Child Custody attorneys at McKinley Irvin do just this. They have the collective experience of 100 years in litigating Washington state child custody laws and in explaining to their clients just what is legally at stake.
McKinley Irvin Washington state child custody lawyers are familiar with custody laws in other states, and have expert knowledge of the law of Washington State. Often, other factors being equal, mothers are granted the outright legal custody of children and designated to be the primary residential parent. However, the law treats each parent equally, and the child custody attorney can argue on the possibility of granting the custody in favor of the father. At McKinley Irvin, our Washington State Child Custody attorneys represent mothers and fathers, and like the law, we treat all clients with dignity and respect.