South Bend Family Lawyers

I have practiced family law since 2010. I was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 2007 and have operated my solo practice since 2013 in Tacoma, WA. I have worked hard to develop litigation skills as well as skills in alternative dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration) and in other services that support families that are involved in legal matters. Compassion working together with experience is a great approach for resolving conflicts.

After earning two master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Administration, Janice Langbehn started her career as a social worker for the State of Washington. Upon retiring from social work, Janice became an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, seeking equal rights and treatment for families regarding hospital visitations. In 2011 her work as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community was recognized by President Barack Obama who awarded her the second highest civilian honor in the country: the Presidential Citizen's Medal. That same year, she was presented with the National Liberty Award for securing hospital visitation for same-sex couples...

Christina Sherman, J.D. is dedicating her law practice, Christina T. Sherman, PLLC, to helping families grow through Adoption, IVF and Surrogacy. Christina is licensed to practice law in Washington, and has been practicing law for over 20 years. Christina represents adoptive families and birth parents both locally and in interstate adoptions in all aspects of adoption. Christina has been honored to represent hundreds of clients in their adoption cases; and has been named an Academy Fellow in the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). The Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) is a credentialed, non-profit...

I enjoy helping people out, and my career as a divorce, custody, and personal injury attorney allows me to do just that. Clients need someone who they are comfortable around and who they can trust. I understand that family matters are deeply personal and that you are a real life person and not just another case.

I am the owner and lead attorney at Seacoma Law, PLLC with offices in Tacoma and Seattle. If you are looking for compassionate, candid, and personalized advice, you have come to the right place.

I have represented hundreds of clients...

Kelly LeBlanc has been practicing law for over 33 years (21 in Washington). She has been admitted to practice in 5 jurisdictions and appeared on behalf of litigants at the state and federal level. She served as an Administrative Health Law Judge with the Department of Health and worked as a Guardian ad Litem in Pierce County many years before joining Envision Family Law Group as Senior Counsel. When the Court was faced with particularly difficult cases, Kelly was often designated to investigate and provide recommendations on how best to protect the interests of the child(ren) involved.

As a GAL, Kelly...

I represent individuals and small business owners in Oregon and SW Washington. I specialize in complex and business related dissolution actions. My cases are typically in Washington, Multnomah or Clackamas Counties in Oregon and Clark, Cowlitz or Skamania Counties in Washington. I also handle cases other counties throughout Oregon and Washington, including Clatsop County, Lane County, Linn County, Marion County, Columbia County, and Grant County. Each county has different local rules that apply to family law cases. I am committed to making sure that I keep up to date on changes to rules of practice for each county I...

Mark works as a separation and divorce mediator to help his clients reach solid agreements by working together. He helps his clients create reality-based agreements that are consistent with their needs, values, and goals, without engaging in the dynamics of the adversarial court system. Mark is particularly experienced and skilled in cases involving businesses and complex property issues, including professional practices, and complex parenting (custody/visitation) matters. He is also certified as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst(R).

Attorney Heather Forrler is the Managing Attorney at Compass Legal Services, P.S., a Kitsap County based law firm located in Silverdale and serving all of the county’s local communities, including Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale, Seabeck, Kingston, Hansville, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island and surrounding areas. She provides legal advice, consulting and full legal representation as an Estate Planning Attorney, Family Law Attorney, Divorce Lawyer as well as supporting new business startup and incorporation, including serving as Registered Agent for domestic corporations registered with the Secretary of State in Washington State.
Attorney Forrler started in the legal field as a legal assistant in...

Rick is a founder and Managing Partner of Goldberg Jones. He continues to provide a level of “hands on” support that is invaluable to each office. His personal integrity and professional ethic largely influence who we hire and how we practice law. One can certainly see Rick’s stamp on nearly every aspect of Goldberg Jones.

Brian began practicing law as a Deputy District Attorney. After leaving the DA’s office, he worked in civil firms where he handled personal injury, criminal defense, civil litigation, and family law cases. Brian’s diverse background provides a unique perspective on the often-divisive issues present in domestic cases. Since joining Modern Family Law, he has dedicated his practice to family law and criminal cases. Brian’s time in the District Attorney’s office influenced how he works his cases in family law – he doesn’t ‘handle’ them, he ‘prosecutes’ them. He is a zealous advocate for his clients and constantly seeks the best possible...

Brien Galbraith is an associate attorney with Integrative Family Law. Brien accomplishes his clients’ goals by way of positive communication. By speaking with his clients regularly and in detail, Brien is able to understand their goals and set out on a path to achieve them. Brien is experienced in a number of different areas of family law, including custody, support, divorce, relocation, LGBT family law, and more.

For four decades, Attorney Julie A. Twyford has dedicated herself to the pursuit of justice and fairness through the law. Regarded as a prominent trial lawyer in Spokane, WA and surroundig citiies, she focuses exclusively on family law and criminal defense. In the realm of family law, Ms. Twyford's extensive experience and leadership ensure her clients receive unparalleled representation. Her expertise encompasses contested divorces, intricate child custody disputes, and complex business divorces. As a distinguished Spokane divorce attorney, she has consistently secured favorable outcomes, infusing her wealth of experience into each case she handles. Beyond family law, Ms. Twyford's impact in criminal...

Devoted. Prepared. Accessible. Compassionate. Michelle Dellino is the managing attorney at Dellino Family Law Group. At Dellino Family Law Group our practice is results oriented and heavily focused on client communication. We excel at providing aggressive representation when needed or solutions borne of a cooperative approach when appropriate. We provide non-judgmental and efficient representation with an emphasis on achieving client goals through immediate problem solving. The firm was founded by Michelle and on her belief that there is, very simply, a solution to every problem. Her personal practice focuses on complex family law matters including high conflict cases, domestic...

I worked as a civil trial lawyer prior to focusing exclusively on family law. I have extensive experience negotiating contentious and emotional cases.

Outside the office, I enjoy gardening, hiking, and spending time with my wife and our two daughters.

www.nwokikelawoffice.com

https://www.nwokikelawoffice.com/

Elizabeth is an experienced litigator and practitioner in the areas of juvenile law, family law, business law and criminal defense. Within the area of family law, she has represented clients in parenting and child support, parentage, nonparental custody, dissolution, modification, and adoption cases. Within juvenile law, Elizabeth has experience with Becca Bill cases (Truancy, At Risk Youth, and Children In Need of Services), representation of youth in juvenile dependency proceedings, and juvenile offender matters. She has successfully resolved many criminal matters including domestic violence cases, assault, DUI, MIP (minor in possession), violations of the Vancouver Municipal Code, unlawful camping, trespass,...

We are a dedicated team of legal professionals who are here to help you in your time of need and crisis. Our Washington State lawyers have the resources, the knowledge, and the experience to assist you with your legal matter in our practice areas.

Jason Benjamin has spent the past 23 years immersing himself in the intricacies of Family Law and particularly Child Custody cases. He has personally handled more than 1000 cases where child custody is at issue. He particularly welcomes families who have emergency custody, domestic violence or restraining order issues, as he can typically obtain appropriate orders within hours to protect you and the children. From the beginning of his legal career, Jason has aggressively advocated on behalf of victims of domestic violence (even when domestic violence was not treated seriously by the courts). He understands the complexities of...

After being admitted to the Washington State Bar Association, Ms. Ramirez practiced law in the private sector with emphasis on family law, bankruptcy, estate planning and elder law matters. Ms. Ramirez compassionately advocates on behalf of her clients while she assists them in successfully resolving difficult disputes and navigating through litigation and complex legal issues.

Professional Memberships/Organizations
Ms. Ramirez is licensed to practice in the State of Washington and the United States District Court. She is also a member of the following professional associations:
Washington State Bar Association, Member
King County Bar Association, Member
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, Member

Education
Seattle University School of Law,...

Since starting my practice in 2003, I have emphasized the provision of competent legal services at a cost which is adjusted for the client's particular situation. Hiring a lawyer is expensive for many reasons, but to the extent possible, I have tried to right size the fees we charge the client with the client's household income.

I focus my practice primarily in the family law area and have a great deal of experience in divorces, annulments, legal separations, child support modifications, parenting plan modifications and non parental custody cases.

A brief bit about me...

I am the first person in my...

I practice primarily in the areas of family law and criminal defense. I believe in client-centered lawyering. I attempt to form a strong bond and relationship with each client. I believe that cases are a team effort between the firm and the client, where the client is the captain of the ship. I make sure each client is steered in the proper direction to obtain his/her goals. Each case and client is different, and with our help each client can achieve their goals, even in the most difficult of cases.


I earned my J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College...

Since the day that she became an attorney, Danielle LaBelle has focused her career on family law. Today, her goal is simple: to help families dealing in critical legal circumstances get the patient, caring, and professional guidance that they need. “I want my clients to feel like their voice was heard and their interests were well-represented,” she said.

David Starks is a partner at McKinley Irvin and practices out of the firm’s Kirkland office. David is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as well as the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has been designated to the list of “Top 100 Attorneys in Washington State,” Washington Super Lawyers®, rated 10/10 “Superb” on Avvo, and was chosen as "Lawyer of the Year" in the field of Family Law by Best Lawyers two times. David is driven by a passion for his client’s success and always fights to protect their best interests.

Troy was born and raised in Seattle. He has a large extended family living throughout the Puget Sound region and Washington state. Mr. Courage graduated from Seattle University cum laude, majoring in liberal studies, and earing two minors, psychology, and French. Mr. Courage studied in Grenoble, France, in an immersive French program during his senior year at Seattle University. After working for several years in the field of sales, Mr. Courage attended law school. After graduating from law school Mr. Courage volunteered with the King County Bar Association’s Family Law Mentorship program. The family law mentorship program is where Mr....

Nick Lovelace-Andrews specializes exclusively in family law, demonstrating a genuine dedication to assisting individuals navigating various aspects of family legal matters. His practice covers a broad spectrum, including divorce, child custody, LGBTQ family law, and prenuptial agreements. Notably, Nick played a significant role in co-authoring the Marital Agreements chapter in the Washington Family Law Deskbook (3rd ed. 2022), collaborating with Stella Pitts. Before joining Envision Family Law, Nick served as an associate attorney at S.L. Pitts PC for 3 1/2 years and previously contributed as a volunteer attorney with the Housing Justice Project. He obtained his law degree from Seattle University...

Natalie Roberts has spent the entirety of her legal career mastering her skills in family law. She is well distinguished in the legal community and known for her persistent, intelligent and strategic litigation – both in the court room and in negotiations. When hand-crafting her legal arguments for the court room, Natalie keeps her client’s quality of life and financial stability at the forefront. She understands that every decision/request throughout a case can have major life impacts on her clients such as transporting your children to and from exchanges, ensuring you have enough spousal maintenance to pay your monthly...

Erica has dedicated her practice exclusively to the area of family law, handling divorce, separation, support, custody, and relocation matters with sincerity and confidence. Erica is knowledgeable and professional in her advocacy and she is passionate about helping individuals and parents through difficult times.

Erica graduated from Rhodes College in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a minor in English. Prior to earning her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2012, Erica spent a year in private practice litigating employment disputes and ERISA matters on behalf of employers, plan fiduciaries, and...

Welcome. My goal is to listen to clients and deliver effective and cost efficient high quality legal services, focusing on maximizing results either through negotiation or litigation, whichever is appropriate for the circumstance. Many cases can be resolved amicably through settlement. This office offers a free initial telephone with a lawyer to discuss your legal issue: (253) 272-1434. With over 20 years of experience in Tacoma in Pierce County, Washington, I represent clients in many other cities and states who are civilians, military servicemembers, and veterans. Because there is often so much...

There are two things that are more important than anything to Assistant Managing Attorney Jonathan Moffitt, his faith and his family. Because of these values and his belief that every parent has a right to be intimately involved in the lives and upbringing of their children, Jonathan chooses to practice family law as a primary component of his practice. As a husband and father of four, Jonathan understands the bond between a parent and child. This is a bond that should not be interfered with lightly and one that should be fought for vigorously. Additionally, there are two characteristics that Jonathan values...

Over the course of his career, Mark Arend has filled the shoes of a businessman, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, and an attorney. Using his diverse vocational background, he helps clients facing high-tension, complex, and adversarial family law matters. Some of his practice areas include child custody, domestic violence, child support, relocation, high net worth divorce, and military family law.

Mark’s approach to family law is based on common sense, strong ethical standards, and the highest level of professionalism. His goal is simple: to “do better” for his clients than any other legal representative would do. Mark is...

Attorney Cheryl Van Ackeren is passionate about protecting the rights of service members and ensuring that veterans get the benefits they deserve.
Long before graduating from Seattle University’s School of Law, Cheryl knew she wanted to be a lawyer. Cheryl enlisted in the Army at 18 to achieve her goal and hoped to take advantage of the “green to gold” program to become an officer, and eventually, a Judge Advocate General. Cheryl’s military career began in the signal corps with the 1st Calvary Division, Fort Hood, Tx. Her enlistment included a 15 month deployment to Iraq during the early days of...

Kelsey Morfitt is a former United States Air Force attorney and hails from Enumclaw, Washington.

Kelsey graduated magna cum laude from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington and majored in Spanish and Political Science. She graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington while serving as a member of Gonzaga Law Review and interning for the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, Washington State Attorney General’s Office Social and Health Services Division, Washington State Senate Committee Services, and the Chambers of Judge Robert Whaley in federal district court. Kelsey also completed service projects in Honduras with...

Attorney Moses has been defending juvenile and Family Law Clients in the courtroom since 1999. Whether your case is a divorce, legal separation, child custody and support, spousal support, domestic violence, or guardianship, he has the experience and resources necessary to achieve a successful outcome of your case. He has a strong background in defending the rights of individuals, and is competent to handle your case from beginning to end, with thoughtful attention to detail, whether it be at the negotiating table or in the courtroom.

Having been admitted to the bar in 2010, Meredith Gerhart has dedicated her legal career to various aspects of family law, with expertise in divorce, legal separation, modifications to parenting plans, adjustments to child support, paternity issues, and relocations. Beyond her private practice, Meredith assumes the role of Guardian ad Litem on the Thurston County Title 26 Guardian ad Litem registry. Court appointments frequently entrust her with the advocacy for young individuals in dependency proceedings initiated by the State of Washington. Differing from many of her colleagues, Meredith entered law school with a specific goal of becoming a family law practitioner. Her...

Deanna Rusch is a highly respected family law and divorce attorney in Vancouver, WA known for her intellect, humor, and straightforward yet kind approach to solving her clients’ challenges. Her practice includes all areas of family law, with an emphasis on complex divorce, relocation, inter-state, and UCCJEA issues. She is particularly skilled in assisting divorce clients who own businesses or other complex financial assets. She has been ranked a Rising Star by Washington Super Lawyers every year since 2010 and has been named a “Washington Outstanding Young Lawyer” by Seattle Met magazine. While the legal complexities of family law can...

Brent Bohan is a family law and divorce attorney with high energy and a powerful drive to obtain the best possible outcomes for his clients. While running a private practice, Brent discovered his talent for family law. He loves helping people solve problems, and family law provided a challenging and rewarding way to do so. Brent now focuses his practice on family law and divorce, including high asset divorce and LGBT family law. Known for being a tough litigator, Brent combines a talent in the courtroom with his ability to develop productive and friendly relationships with the...

Elizabeth A. Hoffman-Graff is an Senior Attorney at McKinley Irvin’s Kirkland office. She practices in all areas of family law, including divorce, domestic violence, unmarried couples, LGBT family law, and more. Elizabeth has been distinguished as a Super Lawyer by Washington Super Lawyers due to her experience, reputation, and consistently exceptional client service.

Kim Schnuelle is a Senior Attorney at McKinley Irvin, one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier divorce and family law firms. Kim has a 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.com and has also been selected for the honor of Washington Super Lawyers®. Kim has a reputation for putting her clients’ needs first and protecting what matters most to them.