From Our Attorneys
Practical legal information from our Tacoma attorneys on family law, criminal defense, and protecting your rights in Washington State.
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP A CPS founded finding Washington determination means Child Protective Services has decided, by a...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP When Child Protective Services removes a child from their home, Washington State law requires the...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP When Child Protective Services removes your child in Washington State, you have the legal right to...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Understanding what TPR means is essential because Termination of Parental Rights in Washington...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP When Child Protective Services in Washington State accuses you of "failure to protect" after a...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP CPS cases in Washington often begin when Child Protective Services suspects substance abuse and...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP A CPS dependency case Washington occurs when the Department of Children, Youth and Families files a...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Getting your children back from CPS in Washington State requires completing court-ordered ISSP...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Yes, Child Protective Services can interview your child without your permission in Washington...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP When CPS investigates a family in Washington State, the agency typically contacts parents within 24...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP No, you don't have to let CPS in your home without a warrant or court order in Washington State....
Read More
y Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP A shelter care hearing is the court hearing that happens within 72 hours after CPS removes your...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Annie and Abram Thigpen spent five years trying to have a baby. Two miscarriages. Fertility...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Washington State has no dollar amount that turns unpaid child support into a felony. Criminal...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP A Class B felony in Washington State carries up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine, covering...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Yes, Washington State allows child support obligations to continue past age 18 for adults with...
Read More By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Parental divorce affects a child's social development and behavior in a few measurable ways:...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Winning a child custody battle with a narcissistic co-parent comes down to documentation, strategy,...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP A domestic violence apology letter can destroy your criminal case if you write it before talking to...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Divorcing a narcissistic spouse means preparing for a legal battle where your ex will lie,...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP No, you cannot get a DUI on a bicycle in Washington State. I've been defending DUI cases in Tacoma...
Read More By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Getting married doesn't automatically change your child support obligations in Washington State....
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Yes, getting a job with a domestic violence charge in Washington State is possible, but it requires...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP The hardest years of marriage typically hit during years 1-2, 7, and 15-20, when life transitions...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP A family law case in Washington moves through five distinct phases over 12 to 18 months, from...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP When your husband wants a divorce, he rarely announces it clearly. Instead, you'll notice emotional...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP A sexless marriage doesn't just kill physical intimacy; it destroys emotional connection, breeds...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP The most telling signs your wife wants a divorce include emotional disconnect, refusal to resolve...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP When splitting up your life, you need to request marital property, child custody arrangements,...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP The tiny house divorce rate is higher than traditional homeowners. After handling family law cases...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP In Washington State, the type of affair doesn't determine if you get divorced, but it does affect...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Lawyers get traffic tickets dismissed in Washington by challenging radar calibration records,...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Yes, you can still teach in Washington State after a DUI conviction, but you must report it to OSPI...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Your wife cannot legally stop you from getting a divorce in Washington State, even if she refuses...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Yes, you can divorce a disabled spouse in Washington State, and the law protects both parties...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP No, you cannot get a DUI on a horse in Washington State because horses are not considered motor...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Between 60-75% of marriages survive infidelity when couples get professional help, but only 15%...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP When your ex does not comply a court order from your divorce decree, you can file a motion for...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Prayer for domestic violence victims brings comfort when you're hurting and scared, but it works...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP The biggest signs of divorce I see after 20 years practicing family law? Lost emotional connection,...
Read More By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP If your spouse is suddenly hiding bank statements, documenting everything you do wrong, or meeting...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Washington State child custody laws treat unmarried parents very differently than married couples,...
Read More
By Chris Torrone, Founding Attorney, Melvin & Torrone, PLLP Domestic violence by proxy happens when your abuser weaponizes other people and systems to control...
Read More