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Maureen Toomey practices law in Whatcom County, specializing in  Family Law,  Mediation/Settlement, and Adoption.. Maureen Toomey was born and raised on the East Coast and has lived in four countries and five states.  She is very excited to call Washington her final destination.  Maureen had several careers before law: managing homes for the developmentally disabled, consulting and mediation services, and owning a water filtration business.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Writing, and a Master's degree in Counseling and Mediation.. Maureen was an Editor on the Law Review for the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. She graduated in 2012.  Maureen worked for the federal government in land use, the Utah state government in employment law and land use, and for Coconino County (civil) in Flagstaff, Arizona.  During school, she participated in the Family Law Clinic and worked in several family law firms.   Lastly, she became the Acting Director for the Colorado Independent  Ethics Commission, investigating complaints about public officials and providing legal analysis.. Maureen returned to family law after working in domestic violence agencies in both Colorado and Washington.  She realized how difficult it was for victims to obtain divorces and/or parenting plans due to the dynamics of domestic violence and the prohibitive cost of hiring attorneys.  She spent a year volunteering for Law Advocates in Bellingham, Washington.  Access to legal services is the foundation of a just society.. Maureen is licensed to practice law in Utah, Colorado, and Washington. Currently, she is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the Family Law and Solo Practice sections, Washington Women Lawyers and the Whatcom County Bar Association.

Without getting overly philosophical, the law is the foundation for a civil society. But it can be a complicated beast. Unfortunately, people often find themselves entwined in our labyrinthine legal system for a variety of reasons: injuries; domestic disputes; liability issues; contract and business disagreements; and criminal charges, to name a few.  In such situations, the assistance of a knowledgeable, empathetic, and committed lawyer is invaluable.. I have dedicated my career to representing people in their times of need. I know that being involved in any legal matter can be scary, but it doesn't have to be. You need guidance; you need advice; and you need competent and tenatious representation. Understanding this, I am devoted to my clients' causes and strive to achieve the best possible results in any given circumstance.. Simply put, I help people with their legal problems. I can help you with yours.

When it's time to make tough decisions, I am dedicated to helping you make them with dignity. If you are getting divorced or having a custody dispute with your ex-spouse, if you want to plan or prepare for the future by executing important documents that provide guidance through difficult times, I can provide personal service to every client with passion, respect and integrity.. Collaborative Law:  If you have legal issues but do not want to go to court, I can provide Collaborative Law representation. Collaborative Law is a no-court process that uses a team approach to reach mutually acceptable settlements. See for more information.. I became a lawyer because of my desire to seek justice for those who need it. I have lived in Bellingham, Washington since 1995. In 1997 graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. degree in Anthropology. After college, I spent many years working and volunteering as a community advocate for the disadvantaged. This work inspired my decision to attend the University of Washington School of Law and I received a Juris Doctor degree in 2003. I worked for the Whatcom County Public Defender before going into private practice.

Nobody wants to have to hire a lawyer, but when you do, do it well. Money spent now on high quality legal help may prevent lots of heart ache later.

When serious matters arise, you want to be able to say, "No matter what the outcome, I gave it everything I had to give."

Call our office for a free consultation. Willie Williams will greet you and direct your call. We are here to serve your needs.. I have always fought for the underdog.  I fight for good people who are accused of having done something wrong.  I don't judge my clients, I listen to what they have to tell me.. I keep my clients informed and explain what I am doing.  I work hard to find the weaknesses in the government's position and to present the strengths in ours.  We don't always win, nobody does, but my clients know that they fought hard with top quality advocacy from a dedicated professional.. I also represent innocent victims of negligence.  I have secured monetary settlements and jury awards for the victims of police shootings, school negligence, and governmental abuse.  I represent people against insurance companies.  I stand with those who feel they don't have a chance against governments and companies that think they call all the shots.

People come to me in a high state of stress. Often times they have been struggling for years to pay their debts. I take great care in explaining the entire bankruptcy process; from the pre-filing stage to the meeting of creditors. The upfront costs are explained which include attorney fees, filing fees and the counseling course fees. When meeting with a potential new client, my focus is to determine what is in their best interest. Sometimes there is no doubt filing for bankrutpcy protection is the right course of action. In other situations, filing a bankruptcy isn't really appropriate. The initial meeting with new clients usually lasts about an hour and by the end of that hour clients will often express a great sense of stress relief. This is why I enjoy the work I do.

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.

Matthew Taylor is an experienced attorney at McKinley Irvin. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a civil defense litigator at a leading law firm in Seattle before choosing to focus his practice solely on family law.. Mr. Taylor makes it his priority to help clients avoid needless escalation of the divorce process by offering compassionate yet frank counsel on financial, custody, and other matters. He takes his role as his clients’ advocate very seriously and strives to look for the best solutions possible to the issues his clients face: “My clients will know I exhausted every possible legal avenue with maximum effort on their behalf.”. Mr. Taylor represents clients in King County in a wide variety of family law cases. He is also experienced in LGBT family law, appellate law, and Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) cases. He recently co-authored the Lexis Family Law Practice Handbook section on spousal maintenance.. Outside of the firm, Mr. Taylor is a dedicated family man and enjoys spending time with his two children.

Prior to getting licensed as a lawyer in Washington State, I spent many years as a policy analyst and advocate for non-profit organizations in St. Louis and Washington DC. My main areas of focus were child abuse and neglect laws, domestic violence, working with congressional staff on the Violence Against Women Act, substance abuse and mental health issues as well as related family law issues.  As part of this work, I have published several reports for the different organizations for which I worked.. I have provided written testimony, and testified in front of state and national congressional committees on matters related to my areas of focus above.  This experience allowed me to further develop my strong public speaking skills which results in clear, concise and cogent oral arguments on the family law motions calendar and in trials.. My experience in DC, both helping to craft legislation and lobbying for reauthorization of laws and appropriations is critical to my understanding the importance and specificity of statutory language, legislative intent and other issues that are often part of my family law practice now.  I have local, state and national resources to use when seeking additional information regarding family law and domestic violence.  I understand the psychological issues resulting from domestic violence and the intensity of family law issues. Being aware of the psychological and legal issues involved in these cases allows me to be a strong advocate for my clients who are going through what is one of the most difficult times of their lives.

My practice area is 100% Family Law (not sure when the updates/edits I've attempted will show on this site):  Dissolution, Legal Separation, Paternity, Parenting Plans, Child Support, Modifications, Stepparent Adoption, Enforcement, Contempt, Domestic Violence--all with an attempt to resolve matters amicably, but with a detailed, comprehensive approach to litigation when needed.

Kate focuses her practice exclusively on family law, delivering pragmatic, compassionate help during challenging times. Kate is an experienced trial attorney, with nine years of litigation experience including complex custody agreements, high-asset divorces, abuse issues, and military divorces.

Michael Savage joined Luminosity Law (formerly Baugher Law Firm) in 2008. Starting out at the front desk, he eventually worked his way up, excelling in all aspects of both paralegal and firm operations. Enjoying his work and helping clients in need, he decided to further his legal education and on-the-job experience by entering Washington State’s APR 6 Law Clerk program. While studying under Patricia Baugher as both his tutor and mentor (and mom), he gained a wellspring of valuable real-life, hands-on experience not available in law school. After soundly passing the bar exam on his first attempt, he was admitted to the practice of law in 2022.. Having well over fourteen (14) years of legal experience prior to becoming an attorney, Michael understands just how difficult and challenging divorce and custody issues can be. Using his major in psychology from the University of Washington, he takes both a holistic and quasi-therapeutic approach for his clients. Over 90% of family law cases end in a settlement between the parties. In order to achieve his client’s goals, Michael will take every opportunity to try to mend broken bridges with the other party to find amicable solutions that are in the best interests of the child(ren) and all parties involved. Michael believes the best outcomes are when the parties can find a way to work cooperatively, especially when children are involved. However, he does not hesitate to take appropriate court action if it is or becomes clear that any attempts to negotiate will be unsuccessful.. Michael will assist you with your family law issues with compassion and expertise well beyond what is reflected by his bar number and is ready to embark with you on your journey to resolve your family law issues.

My practice is currently 100% family law. My experience includes probate, civil rights, bankruptcy, consumer law and civil litigation but now I concentrate on family law only. I have practiced in several Washington state counties and now I primarily reprsent people in King and Snohoimish counties. I am fluent in Spanish. Though emotions run high in family law, I enjoy guding people through a stressful process and obtaining an optimal result,

I was drawn to the law after going through a divorce myself, so I understand how the legal system feels very intimidating to clients. I prioritize approaching cases in a common-sense manner, based not just on law, but on experience.. I have a degree in economics as well as the law, and served as a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army. When I'm not in the office or working on a case, I am active outdoors (climbing, skiing, etc.), fixing something under one of my aging vehicles, or spending time with family.