Bellingham Divorce Mediation Basics
Bellingham divorce mediation can be an alternative to lengthy, public court battles. A divorce mediator can assist with a settlement agreement on issues like property division, alimony (known as “spousal support” in Washington), child support and child custody, and more. In Bellingham, couples can then file the settlement with the court as an uncontested divorce, simplifying the procedures and costs associated with filing for divorce. In Washington State, this is also called “divorce by agreement.”
An uncontested divorce or “dissolution of marriage” in Bellingham is fairly straightforward, and the residency requirements are minimal; you only have to reside in the state on the day you file paperwork. Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.030 (2021).
You can save time and money by first working with a mediator to resolve your disputes and then file an uncontested divorce in WA. Official divorce forms are available from Washington State Courts, as well as a DIY divorce packet at the Washington Law Help website.
For more information on Bellingham divorce mediation, visit DivorceNet’s page on divorce in Washington State
Divorce mediation offers a number of advantages, including:
- lower cost,
- freedom to make informed decisions,
- control, and
- communication.
You and your spouse control the outcome of divorce mediation, not the courts.
For divorce mediation to be successful, it’s important that both spouses engage in good faith. Mediation will likely not be successful if one spouse is more interested in harming the other spouse than resolving disputes over property or child custody arrangements. If both spouses engage in good faith, though, mediation can save significant time and money for both spouses.