Yakima Law

04/22/2026

🌟 Happy Administrative Professional Day! 🌟

Today we're celebrating our incredible Office Manager, Allyssa Villanueva Guillen. She keeps everyone on the same page, manages the back end of our office with precision, and genuinely takes care of everything that makes our firm run smoothly.

We honestly don't know what we'd do without her. Thank you, Allyssa, for all you do! 💙

02/27/2026

Does your parenting schedule impact your child support? 🏠⚖️

Child Support 101: Part 5------ Today we’re talking about Residential Deviations. If you spend a significant amount of time with your children, you may qualify for a reduction in your monthly support transfer.

The "90-Night" Rule: To be considered for this deviation, the parent seeking the request usually needs to spend at least 90 or more overnights per year with the child. The specific language in the law says "significant time" with the parent paying support.

How the Court Decides:
The judge isn’t just looking at the calendar; they are looking at the wallet. They consider:

Increased costs for the parent with significant time (extra groceries, utilities, etc.).

Decreased costs for the primary household while the child is with you.

⚠️ Important Exceptions:
The court cannot reduce support if:

The reduction would leave the primary household without enough money to meet the child’s basic needs.

The child is currently receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Every schedule is different. Let’s see if yours qualifies for an adjustment. Stay curious and read RVW 26.19.075.

02/25/2026

Child Support 101: Part 4--Is your child support calculation considering all your children? 👶⚖️

Let’s talk about Deviations. A "deviation" is simply a legal adjustment that can reduce your monthly child support payment. Today, we’re focusing on the Whole Family Deviation.

The court believes child support shouldn't be "first come, first served." Every child you are legally responsible for deserves support. You may qualify for this reduction if:

You have biological or adopted children from another relationship.

You have step-children (you must be legally married to their parent).

Note: Living together isn’t enough; a legal obligation (like marriage or adoption) must exist.

The Catch: You must prove you are actually providing financial support. If there’s a court order for another child but you aren’t paying it, the court won't count that toward a deviation.

Calculating this involves looking at everyone’s income—including new spouses or partners in the house. It’s a complex math problem, but you don’t have to solve it alone.
Learn more at RCW 26.19.075

02/23/2026

⚠️ Why Including Childcare in Your Worksheets Could Cost You Thousands!

Welcome back to Child Support 101: Part 3. Today, we’re talking about a common mistake that can lead to massive debt later on: Work-Related Childcare.

The Big Secret: Don’t put it on the worksheet! 🚫
Wait... why? Because childcare costs fluctuate. If you "lock" a childcare price into your official worksheets, those numbers stay the same even if the kids stop going to daycare.

The "Five-Year" Nightmare (Real-Life Example):

2019: A Child Support Order is signed. Father’s payment is increased because childcare is included in the worksheet.

2020: The child stops attending childcare.

2024: Five years later, the Father realizes he’s been overpaying.

The Result: Under RCW 26.19.080, the Mother is ordered to reimburse thousands of dollars. A judgment is entered against her, and interest starts piling up. 💸

There is a Better Way! ✅
Instead of putting a fixed dollar amount in the worksheet, address it in the Child Support Order.

The Pro Move:
Set it up so each parent pays their Proportional Share of the actual cost in the Child Support Order. This percentage is found on Line 6 of your worksheets. This way, if the cost goes up, down or stops, the child(ren) receive appropriate support. No overpayments, no surprise judgments.

02/20/2026

We are officially blushing! 😊

A huge thank you to Lisa A. for sharing these kind words about her loved ones experience with our team. Helping families stay together and start their next chapter in the U.S. is exactly why we do what we do.

Navigating the immigration system is a journey, and we are so honored you chose us to walk it with you.

Thank you for trusting Yakima Law! ⚖️🏠

02/19/2026

Child Support 101: Part 2 – The Deductions 📉

When calculating child support, we don't just look at what you make—we look at what is allowed to be deducted. Here is the breakdown of what counts toward your "Net Income":

1. The "No Limit" Deductions 🔓

Some costs are deducted in full:
Dues: Mandatory professional or union dues.
Mandatory Pensions: If your employer requires it, there is no cap.
State Taxes: Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) and Long-Term Disability deductions.
Federal Taxes
Social Security and Medicare

2. The "Voluntary" Cap 🛑
Planning for the future? Keep in mind that Voluntary Retirement (like a 401k) has a limit for child support math.

The Max: $5,000 per year (or $416.67 per month).

3. Health Insurance for the Kids 🏥
Don't forget to include premiums for Health, Dental, and Vision!
While not specifically in the deductions from gross income section. This information is calculated in the worksheets.

Pro-Tip: Ask your HR for a breakdown that shows exactly what you pay for the children's portion of the insurance.

⚠️ Common Mistake: Do NOT include work-related childcare on the support worksheet itself. We will cover this in a separate post, as it is handled specifically in the Child Support Order.

02/16/2026

Child Support 101: How is it actually calculated? ⚖️

Did you know that child support is the legal right of the child to be supported by both parents? If you're looking at your paystub and wondering what counts, here is the breakdown:

1. Everything Counts! 💰
The court looks at your Gross Income—that’s your total pay before taxes or retirement. This includes:

Regular wages

Bonuses (even if they aren't guaranteed!)

Overtime (even if it's inconsistent)

Side gigs & commissions

RCW 26.19.071

2. The "Gross" Trick 🤢
An easy way to remember "Gross Wages"? It’s "gross" to see how much money you would have had before all those deductions disappeared!

3. Accuracy Over "Ballparks" 📉
While some people guess on taxes, being accurate is better for everyone. To find your monthly average:

If using a Year-End stub: Divide the Year-To-Date (YTD) totals by 12.

If mid-year: Use a date calculator to find exactly how many weeks have passed, divide your YTD by those weeks, and multiply by 4.3.

Pro-Tip: For the child support worksheet, add your Social Security and Medicare together as one line item!

Stay tuned for our next post where we dive deep into Net Income (your actual take-home pay).

02/16/2026

Today, we join the country in celebrating Presidents' Day. 🏛️

Our team is taking the day off to recharge and reflect on the legacy of the American presidency. We will be closed today and will reopen tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m..

We find ourselves reflecting on this quote by Ronald Reagan today: "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction." It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of civic engagement and vigilance.

See you all on Tuesday!

02/12/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You to YPD 🐾
We wanted to share a quick story that warmed our hearts during this recent cold snap.

Last week, a sweet dog was found outside our office, appearing abandoned and shivering in the freezing temperatures. We weren't sure what to do, so we reached out for help.

A huge thank you goes out to the Yakima Police Department for their quick response. One of Yakima’s finest, Officer Evaritt, stepped up to get this pup out of the cold and safely transported to a warm place. It’s a great reminder of the many ways our local officers serve the community every day!

🏠 What’s Next for This Good Boy?
He is currently in the wonderful hands of the Yakima Humane Society, where he’s getting the food, warmth, and attention he needs while he waits for his forever home.

If you’re looking to add a new member to your family, or if you’d like to support the work they do for animals in our community, please check them out:

👉 https://yakimahumane.org/adopt/dogs/detail.html?id=60173284

Stay warm out there, Yakima!

The Yakima Humane Society seeks to inspire more advocacy, pet adoption, education on proper pet ownership, donations & volunteer work.

01/19/2026

Today, Yakima Law joins the nation in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his tireless work for civil rights. As legal advocates, we are inspired by his vision of a more equitable world and remain committed to upholding justice in our daily practice.

Our office is closed today. We will respond to all inquiries as soon as we return tomorrow.