Barbara Knorr of Everett learned firsthand how emotional divorce can be when after 12 years of marriage she and her husband decided to go their separate ways. Knorr went to sign her divorce papers. She sat and sobbed.
Because she and her husband were heading into the most simple of endings with no arguments over who got what, Knorr had turned to an Everett business called Peaceful Separations instead of a divorce lawyer to help get papers filed and the divorce completed.
Peaceful Separations, which owner Gail Goetz is quick to point out is not a funeral business, has been in Everett since 2001. Paralegal Goetz and lawyer Jody Studdard had worked at a law firm, where they saw many people in their office who wanted help through the legal system but who didn’t have the money to pay lawyer fees.
Thinking that there must be a way to help, Goetz and Studdard opened Peaceful Separations and began preparing the legal documents for divorces, wills and other issues, with low-cost results and a touch of compassion.
“We decided to take the big leap and go for it,” Goetz said.
The difference between Peaceful Separations and other paralegal services is that Studdard is on hand to review papers and guide clients, giving direction and advice should things get complicated.
“He can step in and represent the petitioner,” Goetz said. “We as paralegals cannot do that.”
Goetz worked hard with the bar association so that they would be in agreement with opening the business. She and her staff prepare all documents for clients and calculate waiting periods. They also take care of filing papers at the courthouse. All clients have to do is wait for a call telling them where to go and what to expect.
“It can be a scary process going to court,” Goetz said. “We try and take the scare out of it for them.”
When it comes to divorce Goetz has firsthand experience of how clients can be struck with emotion at a time when life is already difficult. She sees the raw moments in her office.
Knorr’s experience with Goetz made going through an emotional time less painful.
“I think when you go to see someone about ending a marriage it’s nice to know that there is a little bit of compassion out there,” Knorr said. “She was one of the nicest people I had ever dealt with.”
Divorce is never fun. It is a stressful, sad and depressing business, the final chapter to a previously loving relationship and a life of togetherness. The process of ending a marriage can be long and very expensive when paying a divorce lawyer.
“Remember that an attorney’s job is to get the best possible for the client,” Goetz said. “People fighting a lot will run up their bill.”
Although Peaceful Separations can only handle the simplest of divorces, the cost is a key factor for many clients. Including court filing fees, a divorce where no children are involved can cost $500, with $100 of that going to Peaceful Separations. The rest is court fees. If children are involved, the process can cost less than $700, with $250 of that going to the business.
Goetz and her staff do a lot of work by mail. They provide divorce and other services for clients throughout Washington state and the world. Requests from Germany, Iraq and Egypt have come to the Everett company.
It depends on the time of year as to whether Peaceful Separations staff is busy with divorces. Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and graduation are all slow times.
“All attorneys take vacation then,” Goetz said.
The business is “super busy” at the beginning of the year and during December. August is another popular time. Clients can file and wait the 90 days required in Washington state before dissolutions are signed by the court and still be done by the end of the year.
“One day of the year for many divorce filings is Feb. 14,” Goetz said.
Other clients want their divorces filed on an anniversary or their soon-to-be-ex’s birthday.
“Most people are doing it as a gentle jab and not fighting,” Goetz said.
Staff at Peaceful Separations has the worksheets and clients just fill in the blanks. The forms are also available online. People sit down with their spouses and fill out the forms covering parenting plans, child support and other issues. Goetz goes through all the paperwork to make sure it’s all there and Studdard reviews it. Clients come in to sign the paperwork, then the business files the papers at the courthouse.
“People call and say “It can’t be this easy”,” Goetz said. “As long as everybody is getting along it can be that simple.”
Christina Harper is a Snohomish County freelance writer. She can be reached at harper@heraldnet.com.
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