Top Best Family Lawyers | 13972 Available

Family law is never just about legal issues — it’s about people, relationships, and some of the most difficult moments they’ll face. That’s why I approach every case with empathy, honesty, and a commitment to doing what’s right.. I founded Waeni Bacon Law Advocates with the mission of providing compassionate and integrity-driven representation to families. I understand how overwhelming it can feel when your future, your children, or your stability is at stake. My role is to guide you through the legal process with clarity and care, while fiercely advocating for your interests.. Whether you’re going through a divorce, navigating a custody dispute, or seeking protection for yourself or your children, I’m here to listen, to support, and to fight for you. You deserve an attorney who not only understands the law but also understands you.

My current work is almost exclusively defending parents involved in dependency and termination proceedings.  Our office also does family law, and is full of knowledgeable and caring people.  If you are are looking for someone to represent you in those areas, please do not hesitate to call us.

I am a fierce advocate for my clients and will always give you my honest opinion of your case.

David W. Jones is a specialist in family law. Family law has been a major focus throughout his 21 years of practice. In the last 14 years, he has worked exclusively in family law in Port Orchard. He has extensive trial experience and in-depth knowledge of how best to tailor his argument to the individual judges in the county. His knowledge and experience in every aspect of family law make him an excellent choice if you have a family law legal issue you fear may have to go to trial.David W. Jones is in front of a judge an average of three days a week; in more than 90% of his cases, he helps people work out their differences and get on with their lives. He sees each case as unique and works to craft agreements that fit each distinctive family and individual situation.Whether it is necessary to litigate the case or if negotiated settlements are possible, David W. Jones has the ability to educate his clients on the law and coach them through crisis by assisting them in making reasoned decisions in difficult times.He has worked on some of the most difficult child custody issues in the county, including several trials on relocation of children. He is married with two children and uses his own family as a touchstone when helping people through the child custody process.David is an active member in the Port Orchard community. He is a member of the South Kitsap Rotary and he was named Rotarian of the Year in 2013-2014.David is well-regarded in the legal community. He was voted best attorney in South Kitsap in 2011 and was runner up in 2012. He currently assists other attorneys to gain family law knowledge by teaching continuing legal education seminars in Kitsap County..

Dedication, professionalism, and quality work is what I strive for with all my clients.. In 2007, I joined the law firm of Woods & Brangwin, PLLC.  I became partner in 2013.  In 2019, the firm's name was changed to Woods, Brangwin, & Bratton.  My practice areas consist primarily of Family Law, Personal Injury, and assisting injured workers on their L&I claims.. You may notice my percentages on my profile are broken down into percentages that equal 100%.  My four practice areas encompass a lot of different legal issues.  For example, one of my main practice areas is family law.  However, I handle a lot of different types of family law matters.  These matters can range from handling a divorce, legal separation, addressing any parenting plan issues, child support issues, contempt issues, restraining orders, etc.. In each case that I have, there is always something at stake for my clients.  My job as a legal counselor is to take some stress off my clients and to provide them with a powerful and effective representation.  I know the court systems here in North Central Washington and I think that is a huge advantage to my clients.. In my free time, I enjoy spending time out doors and traveling with my family.

I am a dedicated and focused attorney ready to get results. Call .

I am dedicated to helping you solve your dispute/issue in the most cost efficient and effective way possible. I have over 20 years of experience in the court room with litigation and negotiated settlements.. If you'd like to try to resolve your case short of the hostility that often results from a lengthy and expensive court action, I can also assist people who want to try resolving their disputes  by providing a structured environment for people in conflict to try to resolve their their disputes.  Disputes that go to mediation most often result in an agreement that the parties create that makes for a better result in the long run.. You can contact me at Olson & Zabriskie, Inc. or  .  I look forward to meeting you!

Forrest Wagner grew up in Aberdeen, WA and got his undergraduate degree at Whitman College, where he graduated Cum Laude in 1983.  For his legal education, he went back east to historic Lexington Virginia where he attended Washington and Lee University, eventually becoming class president and Moot Court semi-finalist and team qualifier.. He has been practicing in Olympia for the past 32 years, emphasizing family law but also remaining active in the area of criminal defense. Forrest has presented at several CLE seminars and has written on family law subjects, including "The ABC's of Child Support" presented as part of a CLE seminar and "Defending Your Family Law Client Against Allegations of Sexual Abuse", presented as part of the 1995 Family Law Midyear.  He has finished a book, "Winning the Divorce Game in Washington", which is not yet published but which will be available soon online.. For several years Forrest also taught Family Law and Business Law at South Puget Sound Community College.. Forrest has been a mentor at the Thurston County Volunteer Legal Clinic for the last two years and occasionally presents CLE's at the Volunteer Legal Clinic.

Having been admitted to the bar in 2010, Meredith Gerhart has dedicated her legal career to various aspects of family law, specializing in divorce, legal separation, modifications to parenting plans, adjustments to child support, paternity matters, and relocations.. Beyond her private practice, Meredith serves as a Guardian ad Litem on the Thurston County Title 26 Guardian ad Litem registry. She frequently receives court appointments to advocate for young individuals in dependency proceedings initiated by the State of Washington.In contrast to many of her peers, Meredith entered law school with a specific goal of becoming a family law practitioner. Her motivation stems from a steadfast commitment to minimizing potential harm to children involved in court proceedings, whether directly or indirectly. She actively engages in child-centered and trauma-focused representation on a daily basis, striving to protect the well-being of the most vulnerable members of the community.. Meredith's academic journey includes earning a cum laude Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Vanderbilt University, followed by obtaining her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law. During her tenure at Gonzaga, she distinguished herself as the Staff Editor of the Gonzaga Law Review.

Derek G. Medina, attorney at law, received his law degree (Juris Doctorate) from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2000 and his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado with a double major in Political Science and International Affairs (with distinction), Phi Beta Kappa.. He is active in his community and has participated in the University of Colorado Legal Aid and Defender Program as well as the King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinic (East Side).  In 2001, he participated in the Washington State Bar Association's Law Day working with young students at a local Bellevue school.. Derek was born in Trinidad, Colorado and moved to Washington state for the first time in 1983.  He fell in love with the area and its people.  After moving back to Colorado during his high school and college years, he has returned and taken up residence in Port Angeles.

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 was a newspaper reporter before attending law school, and in my practice I still like to write and meet a wide variety of people the way I did when I reported.. My motto for my family law cases is, "Putting the Children Before the Conflict."  By this I mean that I work to get people divorced with minimal damage to children.  Therefore I best serve divorcing clients who are not petty or hateful, but who want to get through this inevitably painful process as reasonably as possible.. Sometimes aggressiveness is appropriate in family proceedings, and then I will be aggressive.  But far more often I've gotten the best result for clients in family cases by trying to be a peacemaker instead of attempting to demean or hurt the opposing party.  This is crucial when children are involved -- children want, and need, to love both of their parents.  A good family law attorney always keeps that in mind.  My own experience as a father who went through a divorce always informs this attitude.