Child Support is the money each spouse is required pay to support the children of the marriage. Men can get the short end of the stick when it comes to child support because even though the wife is often awarded custody, the husband still has to support his children financially. .

The term alimony means the same thing as spousal support. Washington has a temporary and permanent spousal support provision that determine who gets support, how much and for how long. If you work outside the home but your wife has not for some time, or if you make considerably more than your wife, you may face alimony payments until your wife can get back into the work force or transition into her new life, or even longer. The courts use guidelines to determine how much spousal support will be paid after the divorce. In Washington, certain factors are considered such as age, need, ability to pay, education, work history, health, length of marriage and marital assets to be divided. In most cases, the spousal support lasts for a certain period to give the receiving spouse a chance to get back on her feet. In the case of a long term marriage, or where one spouse is ill, Washington can establish a permanent spousal support arrangement, especially if it is created in conjunction with a divorce agreement. 

Child visitation law governs the rights of non-custodial parents to spend time with their child. This will often be the father. Visitation rights for Grandparents can also be established.