Domestic Partnership Dissolution

Seattle Family Law Attorneys

People who live together as domestic partners in the state of Washington are often surprised to find out that they may have to divide property purchased during the time of cohabitation. Cohabitation relationships are called meretricious relationships. Amanda DuBois and Monica Kaup Cary often represent gay and lesbian clients who are either asserting or defending meretricious relationship claims. We also represent straight clients who lived together without being married.

In Washington, individuals in meretricious relationships may have their property divided as though it were community property subject to Washington community property laws. Whether you are the same sex as your partner or a different sex, the law may treat you if you were married for purposes of property division and parenting plans if one of the parties moves out.

The same laws that apply to divorce in the state of Washington usually apply to domestic partnership dissolution with two exceptions:

• The court can't award attorney's fees to one of the parties.
• There is no alimony or spousal support.

Otherwise, all property accumulated while the two partners lived together may be up for division, including retirement. If there are children, the two parties will need to develop a parenting plan just as married couples with children would do in a divorce.

If you have questions, please contact attorney Amanda DuBois or a member of our legal team. Our waterfront office is located on the north end of Lake Union in Seattle, Washington.