Bellevue Family Law Attorney

Divorce, Custody & Complex Asset Division for Eastside Professionals

Alpine Family Law (formerly O’Brian & Associates) serves clients in Bellevue and across the Greater Eastside in divorce, child custody, property division, spousal support, fathers’ rights, and protection order matters. Managing attorney Kristofer D. Leavitt leads a team whose Washington-licensed attorneys have been practicing family law in this state since 2003. Our attorneys are familiar with the financial realities common among Bellevue professionals: RSU vesting schedules, stock options, deferred compensation, closely held businesses, and high-value real estate. We handle those matters directly, with individualized attention from your attorney rather than a rotating cast of staff.

Our clients include engineers, executives, physicians, CPAs, business owners, and other professionals whose cases require careful analysis of compensation structures and assets. We offer both mediation and litigation, and we choose between them based on your situation, not a default preference. Consultations are confidential. You can reach us by phone, text, or online contact form, and virtual appointments are available for clients managing demanding Eastside schedules.

We handle the full range of family law matters, including:

• Divorce
• Child custody and parenting plans
• Child support
• Property division, including RSUs, stock options, and business interests
• Spousal support and alimony
• Fathers’ rights
• Protection orders
• High-net-worth divorce and complex asset division

Call us today at (425) 276-7677 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation with a Bellevue family law attorney.

How Divorce Works in Washington State

Washington is a no-fault divorce state, which means neither spouse needs to prove wrongdoing to file. Stating that the marriage is irretrievably broken is sufficient. To file, at least one spouse must be a Washington resident, or either spouse must be a member of the armed forces stationed here. After the petition is filed and served, Washington imposes a mandatory 90-day waiting period before the divorce can be finalized.

During that time, the parties address asset and debt division, child custody, spousal maintenance, and related matters. Many clients have questions long before they decide to file. We can walk you through practical pre-filing steps: gathering financial records, evaluating whether temporary orders are needed in King County, and thinking through parenting plan terms before the process formally begins. Starting organized can help you approach the process more efficiently.

We represent clients in King County Superior Court for Bellevue-area divorce proceedings. If you want to understand how Washington family law applies to your specific situation before filing, contact us for a confidential consultation.

How Child Custody Is Determined in Washington

For divorcing or separating parents, custody is often the most consequential issue in the case. Washington courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child, and depending on the factors the court weighs, it may award joint or sole legal and physical custody. The arrangement is formalized in a parenting plan that sets out where the child will live, how major decisions will be made, and how holidays and school breaks will be shared.

Factors Washington Courts Consider

When evaluating custody, the court examines a range of circumstances related to each parent and the child. Factors courts weigh include:

• Each parent’s relationship with the child
• Each parent’s past and future performance of parenting functions
• Any history of domestic violence or abuse
• The child’s emotional needs and developmental level
• The child’s ties to siblings, other significant adults, school, and community
• The child’s own wishes, if age-appropriate

How We Help Bellevue Families Build Workable Parenting Plans

Bellevue families often face additional complexity: demanding professional schedules, long commute times, and competitive school and activity calendars that don’t leave much room for improvisation. We help clients think through transportation logistics, communication protocols between households, and dispute-resolution provisions so the parenting plan works in practice, not just on paper.

We handle both negotiated custody agreements and contested hearings before King County Superior Court. When an agreement is reachable, mediation can help move the process forward without the cost and stress of litigation. When it isn’t, we prepare fully for court.

Property Division Under Washington Community Property Law

Property and debt division is often one of the most confusing parts of a divorce, especially in a community property state like Washington. Rather than focusing on who earned or purchased a particular asset, the court looks at whether it is community property acquired during the marriage or separate property owned beforehand or received as a gift or inheritance. That framework carries particular weight for families in Bellevue and the Greater Eastside, where retirement accounts, stock options, and real estate values can represent a significant portion of the marital estate.

Identifying & Characterizing Your Assets

When we review your situation, we help you identify what you own, what you owe, and how those items are likely to be characterized under Washington law. This can include homes or condominiums in Bellevue or Redmond, interests in closely held businesses, investment accounts, and personal property. We also address complex assets such as restricted stock units, bonuses, and deferred compensation so any final agreement or court order is practical to implement.

Division Structures, QDROs, & Settlement Considerations

Many clients also need to understand how the court approaches one spouse keeping the family home, dividing retirement accounts without unnecessary tax consequences, and allocating responsibility for debts. Dividing retirement accounts typically requires a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO), a separate legal document that instructs the plan administrator how to split the account. We talk through different settlement structures, including buyouts and offsets, and explain how a parenting plan and support obligations may interact with the overall financial picture.

Working with Our Team Through Your Case

When you first contact our office, we discuss your situation, your priorities, and any existing deadlines or court dates. From there, we explain how Washington law applies and outline your options, including mediation, negotiation, and litigation in King County Superior Court. The goal of that first conversation is to give you a clear picture of what to expect so you can make informed decisions at every stage.

As your case moves forward, we keep you informed about deadlines, required filings, and upcoming hearings, and we explain each step in plain terms. We help you weigh settlement offers, prepare for mediation sessions, and decide when bringing a disputed issue before a commissioner or judge may be appropriate. Our attorneys are familiar with King County Superior Court filing expectations and scheduling practices, which lets us anticipate procedural issues rather than react to them.

Virtual appointments are available for clients who can’t easily step away from work during business hours. You can reach us by phone, text, or online contact form at any point.

Why Clients Choose Alpine Family Law for Bellevue Family Law

Our Washington-licensed attorneys have been practicing family law in this state since 2003, bringing depth that matters on cases where characterizing a stock award or valuing a closely held business can significantly affect the issues in dispute. Our team holds credentials reflecting consistent peer and institutional recognition.

Attorney Recognition & Credentials

Managing Attorney Kristofer D. Leavitt
Named a Washington Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2019/2020 and again in 2021/2022. Recognized as a Top 10 Attorney Under 40 by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys in 2019, and named a Top 10 Attorney by both Attorney and Practice Magazine and Best of the Best Attorneys that same year.

Attorney Shana Pavithran
Received the Women in Law 2018 Award from Lawyer Monthly Magazine and was nominated for Lawyers of Distinction in 2018.

Attorney Larry Lofgren
King County Bar Association member since 2008, with a Washington license dating to 2003.

Our Approach to Complex & High-Net-Worth Matters

We’ve guided clients through RSU and stock option division, business ownership interests, significant real estate holdings, and more straightforward family law matters. Our work is focused on divorce and family law in Washington, which keeps our knowledge of King County court practices current rather than divided across multiple practice areas.

We offer both mediation and litigation because not every case follows the same path. When a negotiated resolution is achievable, we work toward it. When it isn’t, we’re prepared for court. Consultations are confidential, and there’s no pressure to commit to anything at that first conversation.

Call us today at (425) 276-7677 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our Bellevue family law attorneys.