Top Family Lawyers in SEATTLE | 188 available

Before practicing as a family law attorney, Leslie clerked for two trial court judges who handled only family cases, thereby gaining valuable insight and experience into how dissolution and custody issues are analyzed by the court. Prior to graduating from Seattle University School of Law, Leslie had a successful career as an award-winning investigative journalist for three separate newspapers and an international news organization.. Leslie understands the breakup of a family is a life-changing and stressful event. She knows how difficult that first call to an attorney can be. Her primary focus with new clients is to learn their unique issues, concerns and expectations and work with them to put together a practical and effective plan for achieving their goals.. “Leslie brings to any matter she works on an rare energy that serves her clients and the profession well. Her background in investigative journalism provides her with a perspective and a sense of where facts may be found which often prove persuasive for the court."— Mark Patterson, Probate Attorney. Leslie does not enter into litigation lightly, but should it become necessary, she uses the interview, writing, investigative and analytical skills she honed as a journalist and judicial clerk to tell her client’s story in a compelling and powerful way.. Leslie’s investigative, evidence-driven approach has consistently turned cases around even where the court had previously restricted a client’s access to their children. She has repeatedly ecured parenting plans which restored her clients’ full parental rights, and when necessary, obtained orders protecting her clients and their children from the other party.. Leslie has been on the referral list for multiple domestic violence victim agencies for the past 10 years, attends the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence Family Law Work Group Meetng and Volunteers at the New Beginnings Domestoc Violence Family Law Legal Clinic.

Attorney, Amanda DuBois. B.S.N., Nursing - Pacific Lutheran University. J.D. - University of Puget Sound (now Seattle University). About fifteen years ago, I started my own family law firm. I envisioned a place where individuals going through the de-coupling process could feel empowered though education and understanding. I am really proud to say that our office here on the water in Fremont is exactly what I had in mind all those years ago. Our firm practices exclusively in family law and estate planning and I have managed to find some amazing lawyers who all have backgrounds in either human services or finance. So, in addition to being smart strong advocates, the lawyers here are warm, compassionate, financially savvy, and most importantly, family focused. As the owner of a law firm, and a parent myself, I particularly enjoy working with business owners and busy professionals. I am continually amazed by my clients’ ability to keep up with the demands of their profession, while at the same time prioritizing their responsibilities as a mother or father. That kind of juggling act is almost incomprehensible within the context of a divorce. I fully understand the demands on the busy schedules of these individuals and work hard with my team to structure the legal process around our clients’ family and business obligations. Our time together must be efficient and packed with information. And after-hours availability is a must. All of my team and most of our experts are available long after five o’clock, and on weekends for check-in emails, texts, calls, or meetings when necessary.. As a strong believer in giving back to my community, I currently serve in several positions that help those in need. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about giving or would like to talk with me about your project.

Attorney Sherry Collier is an aggressive and knowledgeable attorney with over 16 years experience. Her Seattle practice is devoted to family law matters, serving clients throughout King and Pierce Counties.

Attorney Paige Haley says she was prepared since childhood to practice family law. Paige was adopted at birth and her mother remarried twice, giving Paige two stepfathers. "I don't view my history as negative," she says. "My family is very close, and I've experienced many of the situations my clients have experienced. Sometimes clients feel shame about what they are going through. I tell them, 'I've not only heard it before - I've lived it.'" Paige also chose family law because it reaches people on such a personal level. "This is about people's lives," she says simply.. Paige Haley handles divorce, child custody, child support, and related matters. Paige takes pride in offering sound, realistic advice so her clients enjoy the best possible outcome to their cases. When court action is needed, she offers a strong, vigorous presence in court, backed by a depth of knowledge and experience. In one recent, complex case, a mother with primary custody of the parties' child sought to relocate to another county in bad faith. Paige won primary custody for her client - after a yearlong battle - while objecting to the relocation. The client calls Paige "dynamic in court," praises her perseverance and determination, and thanks her for everything.. Paige earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she graduated cum laude. She keeps her skills sharp through myriad continuing legal education seminars. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Women's Studies from the University of Washington.

As an attorney, I like to operate off of the best information available. Sometimes the legal system is overly complicated and clients should understand all decisions they are making as they proceed in an amicable or contentious divorce. The vast majority of my cases involve domestic violence, custody, de facto parentage, legal and dissolution. I have experience working with clients who have complex matters that involve criminal matters, CPS, and concurrent civil cases.

As a trauma survivor, single parent, and former social worker, I decided to become an attorney because I personally understand the obstacles people face when dealing with the legal system. I have experience on both sides of the system and this experience provides me with insight and understanding that many attorneys may never experience. My goal has always been to break down barriers, help people involved in the legal system transition past their legal issues, and assist them to move on toward a brighter future.

As a mediator and attorney, I work closely with clients on a broad range of family law issues. I help people address serious concerns about the division of marital assets, the security of their relationship with their children, and the difficulty of meeting support obligations. I help clients achieve solutions that not only address their immediate problems but also look toward protecting their long-range interests.. Known for my straightforward communication style, I try to explain your rights and options in clear terms. As an advocate, my goal is to help you find creative solutions without increasing conflict.

As a litigator and a trial attorney, Hans brings a wide breadth of experience.  Hans has successfully litigated both simple and complex trust and estate disputes, real property suits, catastrophic injury claims, major private and public construction claims, and a wide variety of commercial lawsuits.  Hans excels at presenting complex legal issues to his clients in a way that allows them to make decisions that support their objectives.. Hans enjoys building relationships with his clients and working collaboratively to craft case strategies as if each matter is going to trial, while striving to reach sensible and creative solutions to avoid litigation at every step.  All things being equal, the better prepared party in litigation is going to achieve the better result.  If it is not possible to settle your case by agreement, Hans will tirelessly prepare your case and put you in a superior position to prevail at trial or arbitration, and present your case in the most compelling way possible to a judge, jury, or arbitrator.

As a family law attorney, I help couples and families work to reach a mutually agreeable resolution based on their interests and the best interests of their children. The interests of individuals, couples and families vary widely, but often include values such as financial well-being, acting in the best interest of children, maintaining privacy and dignity, and simply moving on in their lives. I work with clients to brainstorm how we can address their interests while meeting the demands of the legal process.. In our initial consultation, clients and I will often discuss the range of lawyer involvement available and what fits their needs.  We also pinpoint additional information that’s needed to help move the case forward. Typically, clients who are able to break the process into pieces find that can make an important difference between feeling consumed by their case and feeling that they can tackle the tasks they need to in order to complete the process.

Anne practices solely in family law. She earned her law degree from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. Anne started her legal career as a public defender, honing her trial skills, and eventually transitioning into private practice handling family law matters. Anne understands the value of close client-attorney relationships. She gets to know each client on a personal level in order to better represent them. As a highly knowledgeable attorney, she always provides each client with all the information they need to make decisions.

Amy is currently prioritizing new Guardian ad Litem cases and taking only a limited number of family law cases.  Please contact our office for further assistance.. “I strive to work with my clients to resolve their cases in a way that allows them to move forward with their lives in the best way possible.  No two cases are the same and I enjoy getting to know my clients and working together to address their individual goals and needs.”. Amy brings a compassionate approach to her clients in a time when they can be overwhelmed by the legal and emotional complexities of their cases.  She works with clients to resolve their cases through mediation, arbitration, and court action.  Her practice includes parenting issues, asset and debt division, spousal maintenance and child support, non-marital relationships, third party custody, and adoptions.. Amy  joined Wechsler Becker in 2010, having previously practiced family law with The Family Law Group. Amy has been a practicing attorney since 2004 and has been working with family law clients since 2002.  She also serves as a Title 26 Guardian ad Litem.  Amy previously worked for the Washington State Attorney General's Office and the Washington State Senate.

Amir John Showrai joined Wechsler Becker in 2017, but is by no means new to family law. Working since 2003, he is a seasoned attorney who brings a wealth of experience to cases in family law and real property law, which he also practices at Wechsler Becker. With a 12 year background in immigration law, focused on family based immigration and asylum, Amir John is also well versed in unique problems many immigrants face in both divorce and child custody related issues. Amir John is one of the few attorneys in Washington who handles cases involving international child abduction, which are litigated under The Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, also known as the Hague Convention on Child Abduction.. Since coming to Wechsler Becker, Amir John limits his practice to family law and real property law, including landlord tenant law, which dovetails with family law, given how many of his clients have real property issues that survive the family law case itself.. When representing parents in family law litigation, particularly those involving a child custody dispute, Amir John takes the disciplined and long view, focused on results that ensure his clients have life long relationships with their children. Too many attorneys focus only on the initial temporary orders or “winning” at trial, without consideration of the lifelong impacts on their clients and their children. Sophisticated clients appreciate the difference.. Amir John’s negotiating skills set him apart. He approaches every case differently, but with few exceptions, the same goals apply to most family law matters. Work things out by agreement that can be worked out first, to minimize litigation costs and relieve client stress over the unknown. If hearings or a trial are still needed for unresolved issues, Amir John plans a litigation strategy that takes into account a client’s financial position, goals of the litigation, and proceeds from there. That translates into lower fees and happier clients.. Sometimes, negotiating skills, no matter how good, are meaningless if the opposing party or their lawyer refuses to work on a solution. That’s when Amir John’s years of experience taking cases to trial come into play. If Amir John can’t negotiate a settlement of a case, then he will take it to trial. “Sometimes, despite wanting to settle, we really have no choice but to go to trial. The trick is to know when to modify our posture from one of negotiation to a trial posture, and when to simultaneously maintain both postures. With so much on the line for my clients, knowing how to approach each case is where I am of most help to them.”. Amir John further uses this skill set and experience when acting as a neutral mediator or arbitrator. He was appointed to be a King County family court commissioner pro tem in July 2018. Trained on all facets of mediation and arbitration at JAMS during a judicial externship while in law school, Amir John is known among colleagues who hire him time and again to help their clients resolve their cases, as someone with outside the box thinking, knowledge of how to structure complex financial and real property settlements, complex parenting plans (a/k/a/ custody orders), including those that deal with international custody disputes, and his ability to bring cases to a negotiated settlement.. Although most of his cases involve complex, high asset, or high income cases, including those involving real property disputes, business valuations, and the distribution of multi-million dollar estates, he also takes on cases with little financial complexity, but with difficult domestic violence or child custody issues. He represents a wide range of clients, including small business owners, executives, financial professionals, and business people.. Stylistically, Amir John counsels clients with compassionate but non-sugar coated advice. “With so much at stake, I do all I can to apprise clients of the need to have realistic expectations, given the unique facts we work with in each case. If we settle, before doing so, clients know I have exhausted every option in pursuit of their goals. That is the foundation of my style and method of practice.”. Among the traits clients and colleagues admire in Amir John, most appreciate his cordial demeanor especially in the most hotly contested cases. Clients appreciate his attention to detail, knowledge of court rules and procedure, and good faith dealing, all of which reduce costs and avoid unnecessary litigation.. Background. In what seems like another lifetime and before becoming a lawyer, Amir John was a commercial truck driver. “At the time, I needed an adventure, and I ended up getting some solid life lessons in what hard work really comes down to. I am forever grateful for the experience.” Outside of work, Amir John’s a lifelong avid auto enthusiast, with a “small” collection of eclectic classic cars, and hobby races with five friends, most of whom he’s known since high school.. Above all, Amir John is a proud husband and father of a wife and two children whom he adores and enjoys spending as much time with as possible.

Advocacy and legal representation in family law, elder law, child welfare and youth representation, and simple estate planning.

Adam is a passionate and skilled trial attorney who brings a great deal of energy, creativity and problem solving skills to his work as a legal advocate. Adam has represented hundreds of juveniles and adults in a wide variety of family and criminal law matters since his admission to the Washington State Bar in 1992.  Adam’s practice is primarily focused on Child Protection Services (CPS), family law issues including protection and restraining orders, dissolution (divorce), legal separation, parentage/paternity matters, custody, visitation, property division, child support, maintenance, parenting plan modifications, child support modifications, post decree enforcement issues and contempt of court.  Adam has unique expertise in administrative and family law proceedings involving Child Protective Services and the Department of Social and Health Services, including: dependency, At Risk Youth, and Child In Need of Services cases as well as Child Protective Service investigations and administrative proceedings involving allegations of abuse or neglect.  Adam enjoys working closely with his clients to reach successful results in difficult family law matters, and focuses on finding solutions rather than on finding more conflict in his cases.

A divorce is  one of the most difficult experiences a person may go through in their lifetime, much like a death.  Most people want to go through this transition privately and without creating more conflict. I want to help families navigate their divorce in a respectful and healthy way.  It is possible to minimize, if not eliminate, the impact a divorce has on one's children and Collaborative Law encourages this.  Preserving the co-parent relationships moving forward for the benefit of one's children is essential.  Even if one does not have children, Collaborative Law helps the healing process begin in a mutually respectful manner.. Further, most people would like to make their own decisions in their divorce as they know what is going to work best for their own family; Collaborative divorce supports this.. Even if Collaborative Law is not the perfect fit for your divorce or family law case, there are many other options rather than traditional litigation. I encourage people to explore all the alternatives to litigation with an experienced attorney and pick something that fits their individual family.. I do not do any litigation cases any longer, but usually the cases do not need to end up in litigation if there are skilled conflict resolution attorneys working on the case.

155+ successfully negotiated settlements have enabled Leslie’s clients to achieve their financial goals and strengthen parenting relationships.. 23 trial wins in complex trials of 5-18 days let Leslie’s clients know that they unfailingly have her best work.. Prevailing in five appeals confirms the equities Leslie’s clients achieved at trial.. For 18 years, Leslie has been motivated by the equity law offers for her clients. Her deep understanding of the law, its short-comings and its generosity, guides her work and pushes her to always look for more. In the courtroom, she is clear and determined. In settlement, she is reasoned, collaborative, and firm. She takes in stride the complexity of multi-million dollar trusts, businesses, and multi-country estates, while she remains focused on creating a path for the new lives her clients envision.. Leslie has received a Preeminent AV rating by Martindale Hubbell for legal ability and highest ethical standards. She is also named a 2019 Super Lawyer by SuperLawers of Thomson Reuters.. Leslie is chair of the Advisory Board of the U/W Bothell School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, where she works to support the global scholars program for first generation college students. She has served on the Executive Committee of Seattle Art Museum Supporters, and has judged mock trial and appellate advocacy competitions at U/W and Seattle U. She also cheers from afar her daughter, Corinne, who is pre-med at Wesleyan University. When she's not practicing law, you can find Leslie supporting her husband, Mark Olson, in his new adventure with his family farm.

"Divorce with Dignity"Divorce can be heart wrenching and difficult. However, it does not have to be if you contact Jim Saulsbury, an experienced divorce attorney whose office serves King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Jim Saulsbury helps his clients reduce the anxiety and stress of divorce. Jim guides men and women in dissolving a marital bond with respect and fairness using the cooperative process, mediation, arbitration or litigationA Skilled NegotiatorJim Saulsbury offers his clients a less combative way to divorce. There is no war and there are no court appearances. Instead, Jim Saulsbury works with respective clients and a possible team of a communications coach and a financial planner/CPA to negotiate and agree on child custody, visitation and the equitable division of their marital assets and debts.Jim Saulsbury uses his talents in the art of negotiation and communication as well as a great sense of humor and compassion to help couples divorce with their dignity intact. Jim Saulsbury addresses each client's concern over the small details and fine print in a divorce agreement with his extensive knowledge of family law. .Clients Have Choices Jim Saulsbury is a strong litigator who effectively articulates and argues for his clients' interests in contested divorce cases. However, more often the parties in a divorce are willing to use a cooperative process, mediation or arbitration because of all the benefits. Jim Saulsbury's clients certainly are presented with all the options.