If you're going through a divorce in the Seattle area, I want to help.
I'm Leanne Ozaine, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst with 20 years of experience. I'm based in Spokane and work with Seattle clients virtually via Zoom.
I know how overwhelming this feels. You don't need to have everything figured out before you reach out.
Two-thirds of divorce is about money
Your attorney handles the legal side. They negotiate terms, file motions, represent you in court. That's what they're trained for. But they're not building financial models. They're not calculating whether you can actually afford the house you're fighting for, or tracing 20 years of retirement contributions to separate what's marital from what's not.
That's what I do. I help you gather your financial information, understand your numbers, and know the right questions to ask. I can help draft settlement proposals that reflect reality, not just what sounds fair on paper. And I work cooperatively with your attorney so the legal strategy and the financial analysis support each other.
A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst handles the part your attorney isn't trained for. That's me.
Seattle money usually comes in layers
The Seattle area is millions of people doing every kind of work: healthcare, aerospace, construction, education, government, maritime, small business, and yes, tech. What Seattle divorces have in common isn't an industry. It's that the money tends to come in layers. A house worth far more than anyone paid for it. Retirement accounts from two or three employers. A pension. A business or professional practice. Sometimes stock compensation on a vesting schedule.
Each layer has its own tax treatment, its own liquidity, and its own rules about what portion is marital. At Seattle home prices, the equity in the house is often the biggest number on the sheet and the hardest question, because keeping it on one income is a serious math problem. A pension and a 401(k) with the same balance behave completely differently for the next thirty years. And when there are RSUs or stock options in the mix, which is common at the region's big employers, what they're actually worth after taxes and what portion belongs to the marriage takes real analysis.
My job is translating every layer into numbers that you, your attorney, and a judge can understand. What is it actually worth? What portion is marital? And what does it mean for the life you're building next?
What Washington law means for your finances
Washington is one of nine community property states. Here's what that means for you:
- All income earned and assets acquired during marriage are community property (owned 50/50)
- Property owned before marriage, inheritances, and gifts are considered separate property
- Separate property can become community property through commingling (mixing it with marital funds)
- The court aims for a "just and equitable" division, which doesn't always mean exactly 50/50
- Retirement accounts, pensions, stock options, and RSUs acquired during marriage are divisible
- The family home's equity is community property even if only one name is on the deed
"Just and equitable" requires someone who can calculate what equitable actually means in dollars. That's my job.
Want the full picture of how community property works statewide? See my guide to divorce financial planning in Washington State.
How to get started
All sessions are available via Zoom. There's no single right way to begin. It depends on where you are in the process.
The Private Sessions $97
This might be right for you if you're early in the process and want to educate yourself before making any moves. Eight audio episodes and a workbook where I walk you through the financial side of divorce, what to gather, what to watch for, and how to think about your settlement. The first three episodes are free.
Listen to Leanne's thoughts on where to startTalk with Leanne
This is the right step if you want help with your specific situation. You tell me where you are, I tell you what I see, and together we figure out what your case needs. Whether that's a few meetings or me in your corner for the whole process, it starts with a conversation. Not a pitch, a conversation.
Tell me about your situationCurious what working together looks like, from the first call to the final signature? See how I work with clients →
I'm here when you're ready
Whether you're ready to start listening, ready to get on a call, or just need to talk to someone who understands the financial side, I'm here.
Also serving
Bellevue, WA
Virtual
Tacoma, WA
Virtual
Olympia, WA
Virtual
Everett, WA
Virtual
In-person sessions available in Spokane. · Nationwide via Zoom.