Top Best Family Lawyers | 17767 Available

Ability to see the big picture and get past the conflict.. Michelle is a compassionate and solution-focused attorney that is able to represent you in all of your family law matters, including divorce, separation, custody, parenting time, and paternity. She recognizes that divorce is a time of crisis, but it doesn't have to be a time of trauma. Michelle draws on her experience as a Rule 114 qualified Mediator, Social Early Neutral Evaluator, and Financial Early Neutral Evaluator to help people reach a resolution that fits their individual definition of what is fair and equitable. Additionally, Michelle is a memebr of the Collaborative Law Institute of MN and is a certified Collaborative Law Attorney. Michelle offices in Edina and serves clients in Dakota, Scott, Washington, Hennepin, and Ramsey Counties.

My practice is entirely dedicated to working with families whether it is a divorce, custody/paternity, child support or pre/post marital agreement matter.  I provide guidance through the legal system and advocate for my client.  While settling a case can be beneficial to a client I also have a lot of experience trying cases when I can't get the case settled.  I listen to my client's goals and help them work towards those goals.  In addition to representing and advocating clients I also offer services as a mediator, early neutral evaluator, parenting time expeditor and parenting consultant.  If you have a family law matter give me a call to see how we might be able to work together.

With more than 21 years of legal experience, attorney Crista M. Branch has the necessary litigation, mediation and negotiation skills to help you overcome issues concerning custody, paternity and termination, child protective service cases, estate planning, probate, and adoption cases. We honestly and precisely communicate with our clients about the pros and cons of their case, and we guide them through their options to help them make the decisions that optimize their chances for success. Practicing civil litigation since 1998 and family law since 2002, Ms. Branch established her firm in 2004 to focus on family law. Your family is important to you, as it is to us, which is why we personally help you through disputes with sensitivity, speed and assurance.  Branch Law Firm has 3 attorneys and a full staff to help with all aspects of a case.. With recognitions from respected rankings and publications such as Scene in San Antonio Magazine's "San Antonio Best Lawyers In Family Law" and Texas Monthly Magazine's "Texas Rising Star", you can have confidence that from start to finish a seasoned attorney is working hard on your case.

Melinda R. Owens is a Board Certified Famiily Law Attorneuy by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Her primary practice is in Hood County, Texas. Melinda focuses her practice on compassionate advocacy for her clients. Her practice is not a traditional law firm but rather an innovative firm that is focused on her clients needs.. Melinda was born and raised in Austin, Texas. After graduating McNeil High School in 2001, she attended Texas Christian University where she received her Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance in 2004. Melinda worked as a senior accountant for a distribution company until graduating from Texas Wesleyan School of Law in 2009.. Melinda began her legal career in 2011 and quickly focused on her passion for family law. In 2018, she earned her board certification in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Shortly thereafter she opened her solo practice in the Fall of 2018.. Melinda is married to Jim Owens and they have two daughters, Aubrey and Addison.

My practice consists exclusively of Family Law cases, representing a wide range of individuals with a great variety of Family Law issues. I enjoy the satisfaction of helping my clients attain their goals through negotiations and mediation or, when necessary to obtain a just result, through court. I handle cases at the trial court and appellate level.

Attorney Heather E. Forrler, began practicing law in 2002 after working as a Legal Assistant in Kitsap County for six years. In 2008, she began to focus her practice as a Divorce Lawyer and Family Law Attorney.. Attorney Forrler launched Compass Legal Services, P.S. in January of 2014 to serve as an accessible, client focused resource for Family Law, Divorce, Estate Planning and Business Incorporation in Kitsap County, Washington including our extensive military community. She has helped thousands of Kitsap residents and military service members successfully navigate the legal system in Divorce and Family Law matters including trials, settlement negotiations and non-litigation support.. Heather approaches legal practice from a place of experience, calm logic and pragmatism. This approach allows the strategic use of litigation while minimizing or avoiding entirely the consequences of flippant and unnecessary legal actions. Heather is a highly skilled negotiator, arbiter and trained mediator, training she utilizes in service to her clients daily. She brings the same methodical and thorough approach to Estate Planning clients and those clients starting new businesses and in need of assistance forming a solid legal structure.

I enjoy practicing in the area of family law very much.  I get to engage with my client's and really put myself alonside them in the trenches.  I can empathize with my client's and I can also lay out a strategy for which we will be taking on some of these obstacles in the family court proceedings.  I want to make my client's comfortable with what is going on and I will give everybody the respect they deserve.  This is a stressful time, you do not need a lawyer who will patronize you but one that gets you.  The more you can understand the process, the better you will be able to prioritize all of your goals. I look forward to talking with you.

graduate of the University of Illinois - BS 1989. graduate of Loyola University of Chicago School of Law - JD 1992. Worked in the Edgar County State's Attorney's Office from 1992 to 1997.  Worked in the Lake County State's Attorney's Office from 1997 to 2007.  Went into private practice focusing in family law, criminal defense, juvenile and appellate law in 1997.  Joined the firm of Noonan, Perillo & Polenzani in 1997.  Became partner in the firm Fox, Lunardi, Zeit & Polenzani in 2013.  As a partner I continue to focus in the areas of family, criminal defense, juvenile and appellate law.. I have been married to my Husband since 1992.  We have two beautiful daughters and two wonderful son-in-laws.

I was born and raised in Cookeville. One of the perks to being a hometown girl is that I have the opportunity to help those in my community. I have a background in mediation, where I assisted families in finding successful ways to co-parent, despite the fact that their relationships with one another had deteriorated. I continue to conduct mediations, and I practice family law, as well as criminal and other areas of civil law. My office serves the entire Upper Cumberland region. I offer free initial consultations, and I welcome any questions that you may have.

All of my life experiences prepared me to be a lawyer and help people.   I grew up in a family with an extremely high work ethic, which led to my own personal conviction to strive for excellence in all I do.   In high school, I volunteered at a nursing home, where the values I already knew from my family and faith, those of having a deep sense of care and compassion for people, was reinforced.. In college, I continued volunteer work in mental health centers as I pursued my major in Psychology.  It was at the mental health centers that I gained an understanding and empathy for those who suffer from mental health and addictions issues, as well as the impact it has on the entire family.. Also in college, I served as President of our Senior Class and Vice-President of our Junior Class, which helped develop confidence and leadership skills that make a difference in the type of attorney that I am today.  Serving as a Resident Assistant in the dorms also helped strengthen my leadership abilities and my abilities to be responsible for many things at once.. Surprisingly, and having no idea of what the future would hold, the experiences that probably most prepared me for the courtroom was serving in lead roles in two college theatrical productions and one college musical production.  In addition, writing several articles that were published in the College Literary Arts Magazine allowed me to learn and utilize writing skills that would also help me to be the best attorney that I could be.. After college, I worked in a community mental health center, first in an addictions recovery program, and then doing initial assessments of patients in the intake unit.  There, I learned the skills of questioning, listening, assessing, demonstrating empathy, and problem-solving, all helpful skills to have as a lawyer. Additionally, my core belief in the worth and value of every person was reinforced, as was my belief in showing compassion to hurting people.. Although many of my experiences demonstrate the number one reason I do what I do, which is to HELP people, these experiences in and of themselves are not the only things that formed me into the lawyer that I am.  It is true that I have a compassionate heart, but I also have the intellect and the relational abilities that combine and complement one another.   I have been blessed with a work ethic wherein I strive for excellence in all I do.  Additionally, I have been blessed with the intellectual ability that helps me serve others, graduating magna cum laude and scoring in the top 4% in the country on the Law School Admission Test.. Before going into private practice, I worked in a local small firm, and then for 8 years as the Attorney for the Elkhart County Department of Child Services.   The experiences and knowledge that I took from that job alone could fill a book!  Suffice it to say that the experience of working in the area of child abuse and neglect was yet another life experience that had a huge impact on me and the type of lawyer I am today.. Now in private practice, I have been blessed to work with the most awesome “team” of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff, who share my belief in the value of people and in the belief that our purpose is to help those who need our help with their legal matters.  That is why we are here, and that is why we do what we do.  Together, we have strength and synergy to help people in a way that none of us could do alone.

I am dedicated to solving problems for clients in the most effective and efficient manner possible.  I take a creative approach to each case based on the facts and unique needs of each client.  I am a strong negotiator and am well repected by the courts and colleagues alike.  I make every effort to solve problems for clients before involving the courts in order to reduce the costs of litigation.  When court is necessary I perform well in the courtroom and under pressure.  I provide my clients with an honest assessment of their case, even if that means telling them something that they may not want to hear.  I am accustomed to delivering successful results for my clients.