Carolyn Goodman

Attorney At Law

DC Divorce: Who Gets the Dog?

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Pet CUstody During Separation or Divorce

Often pets become an issue when you separate.

We all love our pets and we consider them part of our family. This can be a difficult issue when you separate from your spouse.

  • Who will keep the dog?
  • Who will be responsible for daily walks, feeding, vet bills, making health decisions, etc.?
  • Will I be able to see my dog if my spouse has the family dog?

These are all important questions and can become a source of additional stress when you separate.  A Marital Settlement Agreement can include financial terms and other agreements related to the care of a pet after separation and divorce and whether or not the person who is not caring for the family pet on a daily basis still has visitation rights. You may want to consider who will be responsible for making health care decisions for your dog and whether the vet bills and dog-walking or boarding costs will be shared.

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DC Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer: Do I Need A Prenuptial Agreement?

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It is not unusual to feel some stress in bringing up the idea of a Prenuptial Agreement with your partner. However, if you approach a Prenuptial Agreement as a way to discuss your future financial life with your soon to be spouse this can help you start your married life with some basic agreements about your finances. 

The process of discussing the contents of a Prenuptial Agreement will help you to discuss issues you may not have thought about, which can lead to less friction over finances throughout your marriage.

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Uncontested Divorce in DC

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I am contacted often and asked how to file for an Uncontested Divorce in DC. It is important to first decide whether your divorce is truly uncontested.

Even though you and your spouse may be friendly and everything is amicable, if you have any assets that accumulated during your marriage, even if you have kept most or all of your finances separately titled, you may still need to have a Separation and Property Settlement Agreement (Marital Settlement Agreement) to be sure you are protected in the future.

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Filing for An Uncontested Divorce in DC

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An Uncontested Divorce is one in which you and your spouse have resolved all issues in your marriage, for example, a division of your property, child support and custody or a parenting plan, division of retirement plans, etc. If you have worked out the various issues, it is important to have a written Agreement drafted that indicates how everything will be settled.  All potential issues, such as property ownership, debt division, tax issues, child support, and custody, etc. are then resolved prior to filing for divorce.

If you do not have a written Agreement, you may not be able to proceed with a simple uncontested divorce. In order to file for an Uncontested Divorce and attend a simple hearing, you must be able to show that all property and other rights are settled.

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DC Divorce and DC Prenuptial Agreements

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Enjoy listening to a recent radio interview in which I speak about a variety of family law issues such as DC Divorce and DC Prenuptial Agreements.

I touch on topics such as DC Uncontested Divorce, DC Contested Divorce, DC Prenuptial Agreements, and an assortment of other issues, including information about documents to have in place before you marry.  There is also a discussion about negotiating settlements rather than spending a great deal of family funds on going to court where you may lose control of the outcome of your situation.

There is also a discussion about having a Prenuptial Agreement in place so you can work out how you will deal with your family finances once you are married.  In addition, the interviewer suggested that it is best to speak with a family lawyer/divorce attorney so you know what your rights are and what documents you should have.

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DC Cohabitation Agreements

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When you decide to live with someone, it is important to think about the issues that may come up if you decide to end your relationship. In the District of Columbia, when you live with someone, your relationship can become a common law marriage and you can be considered legally married, even if you do not intend to enter into a marriage.  A Cohabitation Agreement can specifically state that you do not intend that your relationship be considered a marriage with all the rights that go along with a marriage, such as support, etc. In addition, you may own property separately or purchase property together with your partner and if you decide that your living situation is not working out, this can lead to disputes that can be difficult and costly to settle.

A Cohabitation Agreement or a Living Together Agreement is a contract that sets guidelines for how your property will be divided if you separate. It defines your rights as a couple. It can also expressly state that you have no intention of marrying or if you decide to marry that you will sign a Prenuptial Agreement or just void your Cohabitation Agreement.   A Cohabitation Agreement can protect your separate property and income and can protect you from your partner’s debts.

A Cohabitation Agreement can also deal with the basics of how you will manage your household, for example, who will pay which bills, whether you will have a joint bank account, how much you will each contribute to monthly household expenses, etc.

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What Happens To Retirement In Divorce?

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How will your retirement be divided in your divorce?

My clients are often surprised when I tell them that their retirement assets may be considered marital property. If you accumulated the funds during your marriage, they may be divided  as part of your divorce. However, you may have other marital assets to divide as well.  All of your marital property will be taken into account when deciding how to deal with your retirement plans.

It is important to understand your options so you can make an educated decision about what is best in your situation.

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Divorce and Separation Agreements

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When you and your spouse make the decision to separate and/or divorce, if you have children, their welfare is one of your major concerns.

If you choose to resolve things amicably, hopefully this will lead to a negotiated Separation Agreement.  You can tailor specific provisions in your Agreement to determine custody and separate access schedules so that both you and your spouse will have regular access/visitation time with your children.  

Moving forward and getting beyond the difficulties and resentments between you and your spouse so you can focus on the best interests of your children can be very emotionally challenging.

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Divorce and Child Support in DC

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As part of many divorce cases in DC, child support is an issue of concern for many people. I am asked often, “Will I be able to pay my own bills along with paying child support?” 

In the District of Columbia, child support is determined by applying a child support guideline that takes a number of factors into account when determining the appropriate amount of child support that should be paid.

The guideline was designed so that both parents share the responsibility for the support of their child or children.

DC Child Support Guidelines

The gross income of both parents forms the basis for determining child support.

This can include salary, overtime and tips, commissions, bonuses, unemployment compensation, interest or dividends, etc. The child support guideline also takes into account the cost of health insurance for the child or children along with medical expenses above $250 per year per child, such as co-pays, deductibles, orthodontic treatment, dental care, etc. Childcare expenses are also taken into account if childcare is necessary for either parent in order to work or go to school.

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Questions And Answers

Your current situation has probably generated many questions. Here are some short answers to questions you may have about Divorce, Separation Agreements, Property Division, Child Custody and more.

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