by Allen Browning | May 15, 2023 | Kitsap County Attorney
If I had a magical megaphone that could transmit across the lower 48 states and I could climb to the top of Mount Rainier to broadcast, I would share an important message with every young woman in Washington state, and perhaps the entire U.S.: “Before you have a child with him, or before you make significant financial commitments like buying property or investing with him… please make sure he marries you.” I want to emphasize that this advice is not driven by any Christian Right ideology about sexual purity or the risks of “living in sin,” although I do carry the emotional remnants of a Christian upbringing from my time in the deep South (Atlanta). Instead, this advice stems from a secular perspective, influenced by the principles of the post-Enlightenment era and the concerns expressed by Susan B. Anthony. It’s about ensuring that women are protected by the legal safeguards provided by marriage, so that they don’t face unfavorable outcomes in the event of divorce or separation. Let me explain the two ways in which women face disadvantages when they are not married: the absence of a community property presumption and the inability for an economically disadvantaged woman to obtain financial assistance for legal representation. In the state of Washington, when a woman is married, and a divorce is filed, there is a legal concept known as the community property presumption. This means that all property acquired during the marriage is presumed to be jointly owned. The only exceptions are property acquired prior to the marriage, gifts, or inheritances. Typically, community property is divided equally between the spouses. However,...
by tory | Apr 11, 2023 | Getting a Divorce
It’s heart-wrenching to think about, but I personally experienced the turmoil of a challenging divorce in the past. During that time, I felt neglected and undervalued in terms of the parenting plan and support that I was entitled to under the law. That’s why I am dedicated to being a resource for fathers who are currently navigating a similar situation. Additionally, given the high volume of military families in our area, many of whom require ongoing support even after they have moved away, I am confident that my practice is meeting a genuine need in our community. I am committed to this work and eager to provide assistance to those who need it. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to learn more. Allen Browning, Attorney Browning Law 360-535-3541 Port Orchard, WA...
by Allen Browning | Jun 1, 2016 | Getting a Divorce
Why Settlement is often a better option than trial in divorce Early in a divorce, people are often terribly angry and they think they want to go to trial. But this is usually a bad idea, and it’s better to settle. It’s also less ruinous financially for people who would better spend the money for a trial on their children. At the beginning of a divorce… The notion of a trial likely has visceral appeal for people — at least initially — because they have been excited by movies and television shows that glamorize trials. These programs tend to frame trial lawyers as elegant, eloquent single combat warriors in smartly tailored suits. Gregory Peck looked great in To Kill a Mockingbird. And for people who like to read, historic trials grip the imagination – the trial of Socrates, the Scopes “monkey trial” debating evolution in the 1920s, the trial of Joan of Arc (such as it was.) They’re exciting; they’re showdowns about great issues. But real trials are often quiet, plodding affairs. There will be hours of testimony that can be dull. The lawyers do not orate and intone; they sometimes mumble and fumble through their papers. The courtroom are often empty and the ambient noise is deadening. And the lawyers are almost never as good looking as Gregory Peck or Sandra Bullock. The reality of divorce trials and settlement…. And our legal system actually definitely doesn’t favor everyone going to trial. If everyone went to trial, the court system would clog up and people would have trials scheduled five or ten years out. This would not comport with...
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