How Does a Divorce Affect Your L&I Claim?

Written By:

l&i lawyer chris sharpe Christopher Sharpe
Home L&I How Does a Divorce Affect Your L&I Claim?

How Does a Divorce Affect Your L&I Claim?

Divorce, reduced to its simplest terms, is about ending the marriage, taking care of the children, and splitting the assets and liabilities. Divorce in Washington State is called dissolution of marriage. Often times it is a family tragedy.

An L&I claim is about money, medical, and disability benefits following a job injury. Usually it is a tragedy for the injured worker and the family.

The information supplied here consists of general rules and principles, not legal advice. Your facts will change the results. So only the lawyers looking at your facts can give accurate legal advice. Get your legal advice about a divorce from your divorce lawyer. Get legal advice about your workers’ compensation claim from your workers’ compensation lawyers.

L&I is not interested in the divorce.

  • Except the custodial parent gets the 2% per child allotment in time loss claims.
  • Except some pensioner’s payments may increase after a divorce.

The dissolution proceeding will care about and consider the L&I injury and the L&I benefits.

  • The injury affects the ability of the injured spouse to earn wages, support children, or maintain a spouse.
  • L&I benefits are separate assets, belonging to the injured worker, unless comingled.

Legal advice

Divorce lawyers, not L&I lawyers, are the experts about how a divorce affects the L&I claim. Get your legal advice about this from a divorce lawyer. You can show your divorce lawyer this page.

This information is for persons in Washington State. It applies to State of Washington L&I claims, and divorces in Washington State. Every state is different. Get your advice from a lawyer in your state.

Because divorce and L&I claims are each unpredictable, there is no way to predict with accuracy how a divorce will affect an L&I claim. However, certain principles hold true.

If you have dependent kids:

  • The welfare of the kids is very important.
  • One or both persons will get custody.
  • One divorcing parent may pay child support to the other.
  • Child support and parenting plans may be modified at a later date. Child support may be adjusted annually or bi-annually or at any time if a substantial change of “circumstance” has occurred, but parenting plan will not be modified absent a substantial change of circumstance.

Assets and liabilities are divided in divorce proceedings.

  • Assets in Washington State are community property or separate property.
  • Liabilities (debts) are community or separate.
  • An asset can change character. For example if you put a separate asset such as time loss money into a community bank account, that time loss money may then be comingled and if so it becomes a community asset, unless you can clearly and convincingly trace the source.
  • As a general rule, community assets (and liabilities) are split fairly in the divorce.
  • As a general rule, separate assets (and liabilities) are kept by the person who brought them to the marriage.
  • Judges have discretion. Washington is a community property state. As a general rule, judges granting a dissolution in Washington split the community property and community debts, and award to each party their own separate property and debts. However the judge granting a dissolution does not have to do this. Judges have authority to affect both community and separate property, unless there is a binding and enforceable prenup protecting the property brought to marriage.
  • L&I benefits are separate property.
    • Time loss benefits are a semi-weekly wage replacement. They are not guaranteed, nor vested, rather the worker needs to be qualified each day they receive this benefit. Time loss not yet paid is future compensation which makes it separate property.
    • Medical treatment for the effects of the job injury or occupational disease are paid directly to the medical provider.
    • Vocational benefits include assessment and sometimes training and/or money.
    • Settlement benefits are either:
      • PPD – Permanent partial disability. This is a money payment made at the end of a claim for loss of a physical or mental functioning.
      • Pension benefits are a lifetime payment stream made to a worker who is totally and permanently disabled and unable to return to any job in the work force. L&I pension payments are future compensation which makes this separate property.

More information on dissolutions is available from your divorce lawyer or this link.

Meet Our L&I Attorneys

The Walthew Law Firm

The Walthew Law Firm specializes in workers’ compensation. With over 90 years of combined experience, our dedicated attorneys help individuals navigate injury claims and secure the compensation they deserve quickly. We prioritize our clients over businesses and insurers, fiercely advocating for injured workers’ rights and best interests.

Read More About The Walthew Law Firm

How to Get A

Free Consultation & Case Evaluation

Consultation Form

Complete the free case evaluation form below.

Get Started

Phone Call

Available:
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Email

Send an email message through our contact form.

Send A Message

Schedule an Online Meeting

Schedule a free 30 minute consultation online.

Free Case Evaluation Form

The information you provide to us is private and confidential information. It will not be disclosed to anyone.

Name(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Where Did The Injury Occur?(Required)
Tell us about your injuries, your job, and how you were hurt. Tell us about what is on your mind. What can we do for you??
After submitting this form, we will reply to you today or by the next business day.

The Smart Way to Find Out If You Have a Good L&I Case.

Get a free consultation from a lawyer: Tell us about your concerns, and let us show you smart choices you can make for your claim. At the end of the call, you will have fresh ideas and an action plan, no matter what you decide. You will know that you have taken essential steps to get your claim moving in the right direction. Protect yourself and your L&I claim with a free case consultation.

Don't Guess

Don't guess about the value of your claim. Don't compare your claim to someone else's. YOU are unique. Your facts and your injuries make your case unique. Get an expert opinion about your claim from an experienced L&I lawyer. Expertise counts, so use it to your advantage. Consultations are free. This free strategy session will help you understand what is happening and what to do.

Are Attorney Consultations Really Free?

Yes, they are free. Because both you and the attorney want to know if your case is any good. A free phone consultation or email gets that figured out quickly. Questions are answered for free, and no time is wasted. Call or email or fill out our free Case Evaluation form for legal assistance to determine what is going on with your claim and what you should do. A free consultation is going to help.