Found an issue on this page? Let us know and we will look into it as soon as possible.
Is spouse/respondent's signature absolutely necessary on FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, and DECREE OF DISSOLUTION?
Anonymous4 views3 answers
The uncontested PETITION will be filed in King County and will be presented as EX PARTE. The spouse/respondent has signed a separate document JOINDER which indicates "I waive notice of entry of the decree." The spouse/respondent lives in a different state.
No. But it is wise to get the signatures on the final documents which must reflect the original Petition -- you are not allowed to change anything that was in the original Petition, nor are you allowed to add or detract from the original Petition without his written consent.
I would have to defer to the opinion of my colleague who answered who is a WA attorney, but will merely point out something that was not addressed in the answer: the document that you describe as "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decree of Dissolution" sounds to me to be a Final Judgment, which is something that a judge enters. Unless the laws of WA differ than the other states, a Final Judgment or a Final Decree of Dissolution does not require the signature of the other party, as it is a judicial document, not merely an agreement between the parties.
It is best practice to have the final orders (findings of fact and conclusions of law and decree of dissolution) signed. If signed, there can be no argument later that you changed terms in the final orders that did not appear in the petition the respondent joined.
