Top best Family Lawyers Near me in ZIP 98004

Sara Morgan was born in Nis, Serbia and moved to Cleveland, Ohio during their early years. They relocated to Washington at the end of 2024 and have been in love with exploring and experiencing everything that Washington State has to offer.. Sara’s passion for law and family law in particular began from an early age as they witnessed their own family struggling trying to figure out the legal system. Sara understands the immense weight of going through a family law case and aims to give each of their clients the thorough and compassionate advocacy are looking for. Their own insight and experience allows them to approach each client and case with empathy and compassion.. Sara began working in family law during law school and has been practicing family law ever since. Sara is extremely passionate about advocating for and representing LGBTQ+, particularly transgender, clients and families. Since high school they have been advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and in law school they began representing queer and transgender clients as a legal intern. They believe that every person has the right to work with an attorney who understands their experience and will approach them and their situation with that empathy and understanding. Sara believes in lifelong learning and has a fierce commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for all.. Sara’s StrategySara’s first priority is understanding what your ultimate goal and ideal outcome is. They prioritize working with each client to develop broad a ‘game plan’ of sorts to help ease any anxiety and set expectations going forward. Sara believes in a compassion forward approach which involves cooperation and negotiation when possible but also fierce advocacy when necessary. Their ultimate goal is to provide each client with an understanding of the legal system and their case in particular so they feel empowered to make decisions and feel confident in the outcome of their case.. Their EducationSara Morgan’s educational journey is marked by a passion for learning and community involvement. As an undergraduate student at the Cleveland State University, Sara double majored in political science and economics. They were a member of the jack, joseph, and mandel honors college and graduated summa cum laude during the peak of covid and lockdown in 2020. During this time, they had no solid direction and decided to apply for AmeriCorps as a College Guide for adult learners. This experience is what ultimately led them to applying for law school in looking for a way to make a deeper and more meaningful impact on the lives of others.. Continuing at their alma mater, Sara decided to attend the Cleveland State University College of Law and graduated cum laude class of May 2024. They were the president of OUTlaw, their school’s LGBTQ+ advocacy group for two years and received the pro bono award for community service. During law school they gained a vast variety of experiences including at Equality Ohio, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, Trans Ohio, Cleveland Municipal Court and multiple private law firms, which ultimate led them to the decision to continue practicing family law as a licensed attorney.. Award/Memberships• Licensed Attorney by the Supreme Court of Ohio and Washington State Bar Association• National LGBTQ+ Bar Association• National Trans Bar Association• Washington State Bar Association- Family Law Group. Community InvolvementSara regularly fosters kittens and cats in their free time. They also volunteer for virtual name and gender marker change clinics through Trans Ohio.

Rhea has seven children:  two biological children, four step-children, and an adopted child, along with eleven grand-children, three great grandchildren, and two dogs.  Her beautiful daughter Rebecca is a senior paralegal at Gilson-Moreau & Associates, P.S.  She enjoys Blues, camping, writing and playing music, singing, knitting, crocheting, making costumes, reading, and spending time with her family.

Ray's compassion and extensive experience helping families in crisis during a separation or divorce is evident during the first meeting. He served as a Guardian ad Litem for children (Title 26 and Title 13) and understands the intensity and frustration of your circumstances. With his ability to quickly assess the situation and knowledge of Washington divorce and family law, he can provide the answers to your legal questions during this emotional time.

My primary goal is to help my clients move forward in their lives. Divorce is a major event and I provide effective and efficient assistance.  I am as comfortable in the courtroom as I am in a conference room.  Family law is not limited to divorce alone, and my experience is as broad, including custody disputes, child support issues, final order enforcement, protection and restraining orders and domestic violence.

My practice focuses on family law and divorce.  I worked as a prosecutor for a major metropolitan area in southern California before working as a prosecutor in King County Washington.  I have experience with accounting and businesses practices, having prosecuted many financial fraud cases.   I have years of courtroom experience trying complicated high profile criminal cases.  This trial experience and background with complicated financial cases compliment and benefit my family law practice.  My 25 years of experience, combined with my knowledge of family law means you will get the best representation possible.. My criminal background is also provides clients an advantage in  family law matters where there are allegations of domestic violence, criminal behavior or a protection order is being requested.. Although I am more than qualified and competent to present your case in court, I know the value of settling cases out of court.   I have settled hundreds of cases directly with the other party, the other attorney or through the use of mediators and try to reach fair settlements wherever possible.  If we cannot reach a fair agreement or settlement and a court appearance or trial is necessary, my courtroom experience is invaluable.

My clients and their lives are not a "game" to play in court - I will never treat them as such.  I provide competent, compassionate representation. My personal experiences with domestic violence and family law proceedings give me deep insights into how a practice can help people. I am dedicated to providing competent representation, tailored to an individual’s specific needs.  My experience as a pro tem court commissioner has allowed my skills as an attorney to flourish, all to the benefit of my clients.

Monique Gilson-Moreau has been practicing law for over 30 years, primarily in private practice.  Monique has been a litigator, mediator, and guardian ad litem for the courts. She currently focuses her practice on family law, with particular experience in relocation and interstate custody issues (“UCCJEA” Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act ) and the Indian Child Welfare Act “ICWA.”  Monique has dealt with various tribal courts in this and other states and has appeared and/or been admitted to practice in various local tribal courts. Early in her career Monique gained experience in various areas of law as indicated in her Professional Experience below.. Attorney.   Monique was born in Verviers, Belgium and immigrated to the United States with her parents at a young age.  Monique earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now known as Seattle University School of Law) in 1985.  She continued her legal training through McGeorge University School of Law at their Salzburg, Austria Campus, earning a Diploma in Transnational Legal Practice.  She then moved to Paris, France where she completed an internship with an international French law firm.  She was sworn in as an Attorney licensed to practice in Washington State at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.  She remained in Paris for over 2 years where she continued to work for various private French law firms and eventually met and married her husband.  Monique returned to Seattle, WA with her husband in December of 1987.  Monique and her husband, Frederic, are the proud parents of three grown daughters, two of whom work with Monique as her paralegals.  Upon her return to Washington, Monique did contract work for various Seattle law firms until she began her private solo practice, which included immigration and family law.  Because Monique speaks French fluently, she has received referrals for Immigration, Adoption and Family Law cases from the French Consulate in San Francisco as well as the Honorary French Consulate in Seattle.  Monique successfully obtained asylum for a client who fled persecution in Zaire and adjusted the status of several French Nationals enabling them to work or become permanent residents of the United States.   Her empathy and compassion for others led her to volunteer to represent a financially disadvantaged victim of domestic violence through the Family Law Mentor program.  This and similar experiences eventually led her to focus her practice on domestic law, child support, custody, including interstate UCCJEA cases, adoptions, Guardian ad litem and mediation.  She particularly enjoys using her family law experience to help parties resolve their disputes.  Finally, she has supported our U.S. military by volunteering her time to provide Washington Family Law training to the JAGs at the Whidbey Island Naval Base.. Guardian ad Litem.  Monique has been appointed by the King County Superior Court as a guardian ad litem in Title ll cases.  She later completed training as a Title 26 guardian ad litem for children in family law cases.. Tribal Courts and the Indian Child Welfare Act.   Monique has represented clients in matters that either were brought in Tribal Court or in which a party invoked the Indian Child Welfare Act in Washington Tribes and as far away as South Dakota. Monique is currently admitted to practice in the Lummi Tribal Court.. Mediator.  Monique has successfully mediated settlement conferences between private parties as well as parties represented by attorneys in compliance with the settlement conference requirements mandated in several Washington Counties.. About Monique.  Monique met and married her husband, Frederic, in Paris, France in 1986.  They moved to Seattle at the end of 1987 and had three beautiful daughters, who are now young adults and on their own.  Monique is bi-lingual, French being her first language.  She enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, spending time in the outdoors and at their property in Chelan, WA.  Monique loves animals and passed on to her children that love and compassion for animals.  Monique and her husband currently share their home with 3 dogs and 3 cats.  Sometimes she brings her Maltese “Tucker” to the office to hang out.

Laura Fitzgibbon is the owner and managing attorney of Malone Legal, PLLC. Originally born in Ireland, Laura has grown up in the Seattle area and considers herself a Seattleite. She received her bachelor's degree in political science and philosophy from Gonzaga University and her law degree from Seattle University School of Law.. Laura has a background in litigation and has spent the majority of her career directly in the courtroom. After graduating from law school, she became a public defender in Island County before switching sides to prosecution. Laura practiced as a criminal prosecutor for several years, which provided her extensive trial and motions experience. During her time as a prosecutor, she was responsible for conducting trainings for law enforcement, conducting trials, making charging decisions, drafting warrants, and representing the public in the courtroom on a daily basis.. In seeking a new challenge, Laura began working in family law in 2019. She gained invaluable experience at Goldberg & Jones as well as Wakefield Legal before hanging her own shingle. Laura has conducted many family law trials and typically appears on family law motions calendars on a weekly basis.. Throughout her career, Laura has appeared in front of countless judges and commissioners to effectively advocate and sharpen her trial skills. By litigating before many judicial officers, she has gained invaluable insight into the judicial decision-making process, which is helpful in developing individual case strategies for clients. Laura has a strong reputation for success and is known amongst her peers for her diligent advoacy and her exemplary work product.. What sets Laura apart from other attorneys is her dedication and compassion for her clients. Laura is a recent mother to a very active toddler, so she understands the significance of child custody disputes. Laura is very communicative and strives to respond to emails and phone call within 24 business hours. Unlike many other practitioners, Laura limits her caseload in order to ensure optimal representation. She is currently accepting clients.

Jacqueline is licensed in both Washington state and the province of Ontario in Canada. She started practicing in Ontario in 1996. After moving to the US, and taking time to raise her three children, she returned to law as a paralegal in Washington state in 2011 when her own marriage ended. While working full-time in a busy family law firm, she earned her LLM from Seattle University in 2020, and became a member of the Washington State Bar in 2021.. In Canada, Jacqueline practiced family law for over 7 years, specializing in high net worth, highly contentious cases for division of assets including family businesses, litigating the enforceability of pre-nuptial and settlement agreements, and appearing in front of the BC Court of Appeals on a Hague Convention child abduction case. She was part of a team that took a child custody matter up to the Supreme Court of Canada. She has written and presented papers on various aspects of family law including finding hidden assets.. In the US, Jacqueline took time off to raise her 3 (now mostly adult) children, volunteering in their classrooms, and leading two girl scout troops. After seeing “the other side of the desk” and experiencing her own divorce in Washington state, she went back to school: first, to be trained as a life coach; and second, to obtain an LLM for Foreign Attorneys from Seattle University.. Jacqueline is passionate about helping clients understand and navigate the divorce process including parenting plans, custody, child support, division of assets, spousal maintenance and makes every endeavor to keep the process as amicable as possible. Whether it is explaining the intricacies of the law to those looking to divorce, assisting clients in mediation, or representing their interests in motions court or trial, she strives to find creative solutions that are unique to each client and their family.As a trained life coach and attorney, she is an excellent listener. She understands most parents want to minimize the impact of their separation on their children and to resolve their disputes privately and cost-effectively. Her training as a life coach assists her in understanding the family dynamics, keeping the resolution process as amicable as possible, and assisting her clients through both the legal and emotional hurdles of divorce.. When she is not working, she can be found “throwing rocks” at the local curling club; she was honored to represent Washington State at the Mixed Nationals in Denver, Colorado in 2019! She also enjoys spending time with her children and her two Havanese dogs, skiing, reading, and exploring restaurants around town.

I started the practice of law in California in 1977 (where I am still licensed), moving to the State of Washington in 1980. My practice has been centered on family law for 25 years.. My office prides itself on providing quality legal work for our clients, while at the same time caring about who we represent during a very stressful and disruptive time in their lives.  We strive to keep our clients involved in their proceedings and apprised of what is going on as we progress through the process.. While I am very comfortable in the courtroom, I have a keen awareness that as a practical matter the court process is often the most expensive and least efficient way to resolve any dispute.  This means that we use negotation, agreement and mediation whenever possible.. We will provide you with the knowledge, experience and understanding that you need at what is often one of the most difficult times in your life.

I am an experienced, aggressive advocate with over nineteen years of experience.  My goal is to provide high quality legal services at reasonable rates.  My practice focuses exclusively on family law including, but not limited to, divorce, parenting plan and child support modifications, paternity matters, and mediations/arbitrations.   I primarily practice in King County and Snohomish County.  I am the current chair of the East King County Bar Association Family Law Section and I serve as a Commissioner Pro Tempore with the King County Superior Court.  In my spare time, I volunteer as a mediator with the King County Volunteer Family Law Settlement Conference Program and with the Eastside Legal Assistance Program.  I offer a free initial consultation.  If you have questions or concerns regarding a family law issues, please do not hesitate to call.

I am a compassionate yet zealous advocate for individuals and businesses experiencing legal concerns in a variety of areas. The areas of law I represent my clients in include family law, immigration, special education, bankruptcy, debt defense, real estate, estate planning, employment, and general civil litigation. I also assist small businesses in legal entity formation and litigation. I particularly enjoy helping those impacted by disabilities, whether in the education, employment, or estate planning arena. I am licensed in both Washington state and British Columbia, B.C., and I speak Spanish and some Portuguese and Hindi.

Divorce is an incredibly difficult process to go through for individuals, their children, their friends and their families.  Trying to figure out the court system while going throught this process can overwhelm almost anyone.  My goal as your attorney is to help you navigate the complexities of divorce while not losing sight of your ultimate goal, whether it be to get custody of your children, protect your assets, or overcome the lies that seem to be coming at you from every direction.  I will agressively pursue your interests to make sure that the court sees the truth of your case, and get you the results you deserve.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Bellevue and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Bellevue and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Bellevue and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Bellevue and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Bellevue and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Bellevue and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Bellevue and surrounding areas.