Experienced Family Law Counsel
At Amaya Family Law, we understand you may be experiencing a challenging part of your life and we are here to help. We represent people going through very real and difficult issues. We promise to work with you so you are prepared to handle all that can come with a litigious family law case.
You are our top priority and we promise to provide you with individual attention, utilizing a client-centered approach to meet your legal needs. Being a client-centered law firm means we see every interaction with you as critical to your journey. We believe that a successful attorney-client relationship requires we listen to your concerns and show empathy while also remaining a trusted voice of reason who can offer solid legal advice.
We provide the unyielding legal advocacy that you need. We are experienced in navigating dissolution cases involving substantial estates and complex parenting issues.
If this is the kind of representation you are looking for, contact us today. We represent clients in King and Snohomish Counties.
AFL Mission Statement
Compassion: We see our clients as nuanced individuals, not numbers. Taking care of our clients is our top priority. We use a client-centered approach to provide every client with the individual attention needed to navigate these challenging times in their lives.
Honesty: We believe in being honest with each other and with our clients at all times. We will never “tell you what you want to hear” simply to make a difficult situation more comfortable. We are dedicated to giving our clients honest legal advice so that they are fully informed and able to proceed in the best direction possible. We believe that tackling a challenge starts first with honesty and understanding.
Humility: We believe humility is a virtue and one often overlooked in the area of law. We define humility as seeing ourselves honestly and accurately; being transparent (when appropriate); being open to new ideas, approaches, and feedback; and valuing everyone’s contribution as essential to a successful team.
Family: We are a family law firm, which means families are our business. Family law impacts the core of society. We want to leave a positive legacy for generations to come with each family we assist. Family is the most personal and important aspect of many people’s lives. Internally, we view every team member as a part of the AFL family. We take care of each other, support each other, trust each other, and recognize that a success for one of us means a success for all of us.
Balance: We believe in working hard and living our best lives. We know that a balanced life means being present where we are. At work, we embrace our responsibilities day in and day out advocating for our clients and our team. Away from the office, we take time to prioritize our personal values and relationships.
Areas of Practice
+ DIVORCE
The uncoupling of a relationship is difficult. There are many issues which need to be addressed, including division of assets, debts, parenting of minor children, spousal and child support. You want the best divorce attorney on your side who will clearly explain the steps to resolving your issues. At Amaya Family Law, we have experience with high conflict custody cases and high asset divorces.
+ CHILD CUSTODY
At Amaya Family Law, we work hard to ensure that all parties remember the real focus in any custody dispute and that is the child. Nothing is more heartbreaking than a child in the middle of a custody battle. RCW 26.09.187 outlines the criteria for establishing a permanent parenting plan. There are many elements to the determination of the "child's best interest" and you need experienced counsel to help you resolve the issues. We are experienced in requesting relief in court in the form of temporary orders and appointing parenting experts. We have litigated these issues in trial.
+ RELOCATION
Moving away is a complex decision filled with important legal ramifications. If the other parent objects or disagrees with your relocation, you may face a legal battle. The court considers facts such as the age of the child, the noncustodial parent’s involvement with the child, and the ultimate best interest of the child before allowing a parent to move. RCW 26.09.520 outlines the eleven (11) factors a court considers in these matters. Relocation starts by providing proper notice to the noncustodial parent. A review of your parenting plan will outline the process.
+ PATERNITY
It is important to note that parents who were never married to each other have the same rights as parents who are divorcing or separating in regards to custody of a child. Our firm helps parents establish paternity so that they can then request visitation.
+ CHILD SUPPORT AND MODIFICATIONS
Child support is mandated by Washington State law and must be included in any divorce settlement or decree. Many issues must be resolved to calculate child support. These issues include, but are not limited to, determining the income of the parents, what are necessary and reasonable special expenses for the child(ren), and college support.
In the scope of family law, few court orders cannot be amended. When appropriate, you may seek a child support modification. A job loss or serious illness may form a basis to modify your child support order. A modification of child support must be distinguished from a child support adjustment. An adjustment is a much more expedited process that seeks to update income calculations for the parties.
+ THIRD PARTY CUSTODY AND VISITATION
There are moments in life when a person, who did not expect to be caring for a child, has to make the difficult decision to challenge a biological parent for custody or visitation. The bar is extremely high for any demand for custody or visitation. The biological parent(s) have the U.S. Constitution on their side. It is critical that you retain an attorney who has experience in this area of family law. The prospect of having to litigate against your child is hard enough, you do not want to jeopordize the outcome with inexperienced counsel.
+ PARENTING PLAN MODIFICATIONS
On some ocassions, a parenting plan which was intended to outline the care of a child until their 18th birthday may fail. RCW 26.09.260 outlines the factors a court must consider. There are many reasons which may lead to a request to modify the parenting plan. A parenting plan modification can be a "major modification" or a "minor modification." The type of modification you are seeking will depend on whether you are wanting to modify the residential schedule or other terms in your parenting plan.
“Araceli Amaya helped protect my son. She advocated for my family from day one. She is personable, professional, and powerful. Araceli is an attorney that is there to empower and provide justice for her clients. With her help, I found my voice during the darkest of times.”
Let us help.
Use the form below to contact us regarding your legal inquiry and we will respond promptly.