FAQ.

Questions are inevitable in family law. We always do our best to provide as much information as we can to help you understand the steps involved in your matter.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Marggraf Law’s sole focus is family law. With that said, this is an area of the law with many, many aspects.
Anne has been barred since 2020.
No matter what you need, the process is essentially the same. Step one, we hear from you and set up a consult, either in person, on the phone, or via zoom. Next, we request (quite a lot) of information and we begin the process of setting up the matter and drafting documents. Once we have a case established, or we have responded to a case on your behalf, we work on getting temporary orders entered. After that, we focus on the steps required to finalize a matter, and then execute all remaining steps to close the case and set you on the path toward closure.
Marggraf Law does not provide flat-fee services, and as such, cannot estimate how much any given case might cost, and further, there really is no such thing as a “standard” case of any kind involving family law. However, we can provide you with some general information which may prove useful. The average cost of a divorce in Washington State is between $12,000-$14,000 if you’re getting along with your spouse and there are no children. Add kids to the mix and you can expect to stack several thousand on top of that first figure, and you can add even more if you’re not getting along and you have kids in common. There are many things you can do to minimize the impact of your legal fees and we’re happy to discuss those with you when you reach out.

This question requires more information than an issue. If you are considering a divorce, the bare minimum time frame is ninety days after service on the other party. That’s with everyone getting along and the process moving with perfect speed.
If you believe your former partner is no longer capable of caring for your child in common, you are looking at months, if not years, of litigation, as major modifications of parenting plans are complex and lengthy proceedings.
Hopefully not. Trial is the last and worst outcome, as it is costly and the impact on clients’ mental health is significant.
Trial is quite unusual, in fact. The usual figures for trial hover around 3%—meaning the vast majority of all matters settle (or in some cases, the parties reconcile).
Matters usually progress to trial in the face of serious allegations, such as child endangerment, sexual abuse, or domestic violence in the home. If you believe there is a chance your matter may lead to trial, let us know when you reach out. The only matter we cannot address is one we do not know about.
We are available via email Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Depending on the circumstances, we may also be available outside normal office hours as well.
We check in with you at every step of the process. Our team strives to provide you with as much information as possible regarding your matter, and we keep you in the loop on all communications between our office and the other side.

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