Crouse Erickson | Spokane
Crouse Erickson | Spokane
Your co-parent just ignored another court order. Your child came home repeating things they should not know about the divorce. Every text exchange turns into a fight, and it feels like the legal process is being used against you instead of protecting your family.
A Spokane high conflict family law attorney at Crouse Erickson can step in quickly to stabilize your case and protect both you and your children. We focus on one area of law — family law — to provide you with the legal dedication, experience, and results you need.
Our team of five attorneys and four legal assistants has handled contested divorces and custody battles in Spokane County Superior Court for nearly 30 years.
If your situation feels more intense, more volatile, or more complicated than a typical divorce, you are likely dealing with a high conflict case. Call (509) 624-1380 or contact us online for a confidential consultation.
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Choosing the right attorney for a high conflict case is one of the most important decisions you can make during a divorce or custody dispute. Several things set our firm apart.
Crouse Erickson does not handle personal injury, criminal defense, or business disputes. Family law is all we do. That singular focus means every attorney on our team works high conflict cases regularly.
Our attorneys have earned the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award, an Avvo 10.0 Top Attorney rating, and selection to America’s Most Honored Professionals. Founding partner David Crouse authored Divorce in Washington, published by Addicus Publishing.
High conflict cases often need outside professionals. We work closely with business valuation experts, property appraisers, and mental health counselors who support family law cases in Spokane. These relationships help us move quickly when expert input is needed.
We prepare every case as if it is going to trial. Organized facts, credible evidence, and clear presentation matter in front of Spokane County judges and commissioners. That level of preparation often leads to better outcomes, even without a trial.
| What We Handle | What It Means for You |
| High conflict divorce | Strategic protection of assets, income, and parental rights in contested dissolutions |
| Contested child custody | Detailed parenting plans, GAL coordination, and trial-ready advocacy |
| Parenting plan modifications | Evidence-based motions when circumstances change or the other parent’s behavior worsens |
| Protection orders | Same-day filings when safety is at risk, with follow-through on full hearings |
| Enforcement of court orders | Contempt motions and documented records of violations |
If your co-parent’s behavior is making your family law case feel unmanageable, our team can help you take back control of the process.
High conflict family law cases go beyond normal disagreement. These cases involve patterns of behavior that make negotiation difficult or unsafe.
A high conflict case in Spokane often looks like one or more of these patterns:
These behaviors affect cases heard every week at the Spokane County courthouse on West Broadway Avenue. If any of these patterns sound familiar, a standard approach to divorce or custody is unlikely to work.
High conflict family law cases demand more preparation, faster response times, and tighter documentation than a typical dissolution. A cooperative approach only works when both parties are willing to cooperate.
When one parent weaponizes the legal process itself, your attorney needs to be ready to act quickly in Spokane County Superior Court. That may mean seeking temporary orders the same week or requesting a guardian ad litem (a court-appointed person who evaluates what is best for your child). It also means building a record of the other parent’s behavior over time.
Washington law allows the court to issue temporary protection orders that take effect within days. In situations involving threats or domestic violence, a temporary order can be granted the same day the petition is filed. Your family law attorney can also request emergency changes to a parenting plan when a child’s safety is in immediate danger.
A vague parenting plan is a weapon in a high conflict case. Broad language about “reasonable visitation” or “mutual agreement” gives an uncooperative co-parent room to create chaos. We draft parenting plans with specific pickup times, defined communication methods, and clear rules for holidays, school events, and travel.
High conflict cases often stretch over months or years. Every violation of a court order, every instance of interference with parenting time, and every false allegation needs to be documented. We build a detailed litigation record so the court can see the full pattern of behavior when making decisions about your children.
Washington strengthened protections for families in high conflict situations when House Bill 1620 took effect in July 2025. The updated law added “abusive use of conflict” as a standalone reason for the court to limit a parent’s residential time and decision-making authority.
Abusive use of conflict means a parent’s behavior creates serious risk of psychological harm to the child. That includes repeated bad-faith violations of court orders and using the child as a tool in the dispute. It also covers filing abusive litigation to harass the other parent.
| Behavior | How the Court May Respond |
| Repeated violations of court orders | Contempt proceedings, modified parenting plan, restricted residential time |
| Using a child to spy on or send messages to the other parent | Parenting plan restrictions, possible appointment of a guardian ad litem |
| Filing repeated bad-faith motions to harass the other party | Abusive litigation finding, sanctions, restrictions on future filings |
| Blocking the other parent’s court-ordered parenting time | Make-up time, modified residential schedule, contempt |
| Making false abuse allegations to gain custody advantage | Credibility findings that affect future custody decisions |
The law also now presumes that supervised visitation should be handled by a professional supervisor rather than a family member. This change protects children in situations where a parent has a history of domestic violence or abusive behavior.
A: You may need a high-conflict family law attorney if your co-parent refuses to follow court orders, makes false allegations, or uses the children as leverage. These cases require faster response times and more aggressive courtroom strategies than a standard divorce.
A: A temporary protection order in Spokane can sometimes be granted the same day you file. The Spokane County courthouse handles these petitions, and a full hearing is scheduled within 14 days.
A: Yes, a Spokane County judge can restrict a parent’s residential time for repeated violations. Washington law allows parenting plan modifications when a parent’s behavior creates a risk of harm to the child.
A: A guardian ad litem (GAL) acts as the child’s independent voice. The GAL interviews both parents, reviews records, and recommends a custody arrangement to the judge. Spokane County GALs come from a court-approved registry.
Call (509) 624-1380 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation.
A high conflict custody dispute in Spokane County typically moves through several stages. The timeline largely depends on the other parent’s level of cooperation.
The court can set temporary parenting arrangements early in the case. These orders establish who lives where, when each parent has time with the children, and who makes major decisions. In high conflict cases, we push for these orders as early as possible.
Spokane County Superior Court maintains a registry of approved guardians ad litem (GALs). A GAL interviews both parents, talks to the children, reviews records, and reports to the court. In high conflict cases, a GAL’s findings carry significant weight.
Some high conflict cases resolve through negotiation once the other party sees strong evidence and a credible litigation strategy. Others go to trial. Either way, intense preparation separates a case that protects your rights from one that falls short.
Parental alienation happens when one parent systematically works to damage the child’s relationship with the other parent. Research published in Current Psychology has linked childhood alienation to long-term mental health effects including anxiety, depression, and difficulty forming healthy relationships.
Washington courts take alienation seriously. The 2025 updates to the parenting plan statute give judges clearer authority to restrict a parent’s time and decision-making power when conflict harms the child.
We help clients dealing with alienation by:
How that evidence is organized and presented to the court affects the outcome of your case.
High conflict family law cases in Spokane typically cost more than uncontested divorces because they involve more court appearances and longer timelines. We discuss fees openly during your initial consultation, so you have a clear picture before committing to representation.
Generally, the sooner you speak with an attorney, the better your position will be. Early legal guidance helps protect assets, establish parenting routines, and avoid mistakes that are hard to undo later. You do not have to wait for the other party to file first.
Yes, text messages and emails can be used as evidence in family court proceedings. Messages that show threats, harassment, parental alienation, or violations of court orders can be especially important. Your attorney can advise you on how to preserve this information properly.
A parenting coordinator helps parents resolve day-to-day disputes about the parenting plan without going back to court. A guardian ad litem evaluates the family situation and makes a recommendation to the judge about what arrangement serves the child’s best interests. Both may be involved in a high conflict case, but they serve different roles.
It depends on the complexity of the issues and the other party’s behavior. Some cases resolve within a few months through strong negotiation. Others take a year or longer if they go to trial. Washington requires a minimum 90-day waiting period after a divorce petition is filed before the court can finalize anything.
Save anything that shows a pattern, not just one bad exchange. Helpful evidence may include text messages, emails, missed exchange records, school notices, medical records, call logs, app messages, and a written parenting-time journal. Keep records organized by date so your attorney can show the court what happened and when.
Yes, screenshots can help if they show threats, harassment, denied parenting time, manipulation, or repeated violations of a court order. Do not edit or crop messages in a misleading way. Save the full conversation when possible, including dates, phone numbers, and surrounding context.
Write down what your child said, when they said it, and what happened before and after the conversation. Avoid pressuring your child for details or speaking badly about the other parent in return. Your attorney may use texts, emails, witness statements, school records, or a guardian ad litem to help show the court what is happening.
Court orders lose their power if violations go unchallenged. Children carry the effects of ongoing conflict long after the case ends. Every week that passes without legal action gives an uncooperative co-parent more room to violate orders, manipulate your children, and control the process. You do not have to keep managing this alone.
At Crouse Erickson, we know the challenges, the courts, and the process. We also know how to build a case that positions you for the results you need. Call us today to schedule a confidential consultation. Tell us what is happening, and we will explain your options and plan the best way forward.
Crouse Erickson | Spokane’s Largest Family Law Firm | 601 W. Main Ave, Suite 1100, Spokane, WA 99201 | (509) 624-1380 | Schedule a Confidential Consultation | Read Client Reviews
