Melanie Avril Maxwell, an attorney at Meridian Family Law, recently interviewed King County Superior Court Judge Andrea Darvis. Their talk covered her advice for fellow practitioners, focusing on specific areas, including proposed orders, motions practice, and trial preparation/practice.
Insight into family law
When speaking about the practice of family law, Judge Darvis identifies unique aspects of this complex process. Narrative statements and other materials should be sufficient to ensure families make the best decisions for both soon-to-be ex-spouses, their children, and loved ones affected by the dissolution. The same applies to revision motions that cite mistakes in the process.
Detailed spreadsheets are of paramount importance when it comes to assets and liabilities to reduce confusion. The process takes a significant amount of time. Focusing on priorities instead of arguing over the property with limited value should be spent on more valuable assets that take precedence.
The end of a marriage is an emotionally-charged process where spouses may not be at their best when making important decisions. Help from an attorney may not take away the “sting” of marital dissolution, but it can create a roadmap to a new chapter in life.