If your case is not an "Agreed" or uncontested divorce, or it involves quite a number
of factors and complicated circumstances it is best to purchase what I call a family
law "Diagnosis" for $185.00. To get started go to the
Order page and make the purchase.
Please note that some cases
may result in me telling you that I need at least 1-2 hours with you PLUS some research or discussion
with some of my colleagues regarding, for example, they have brought a particular motion
or had a similar case. In which case you may have to pay hourly at my normal rate following
the first hour. Divorce and family law is usually not laid out in crystal clear fashion in the statutes
or case law because by it's very nature it gives
broad latitude to lower court decision-makers.
The result is that day-to-day patterns may govern your issue with certainty, but only the attorneys
actually down in the Courthouse see it as it is not encapsulated in an objectively stipulated form.
You should not have to pay a $3000.00 retainer prior to finding out if you truly
need an attorney in the first place. I understand that and offer a reduced
hourly rate for the first hour or so to determine what is truly going on in your
case and what your options are. I recommend a diagnosis in all cases period.
Unless you have an uncontested divorce and both of you agree, you should find out
what your situation is.
If you are only at the planning stage (or are doing the case yourself after it has started)
I offer a
strategic divorce litigation
workup and roadmap for $300-600.00You obtain this by purchasing a certain number
of hours (at $225 per) of
Legal Research at the Order Page. Usually you
should first purchase the $185.00 diagnosis prior to a divorce strategy workup because I need
to discuss your case with you and see what it is going to entail. Do you have 3 kids, one adopted,
and the grandparents have filed 3rd party custody from out of state and the spouse
disputes the value of the business? Or are we simply dealing with how to split up the $50k equity
in your home when you have only been married 4 years? It can meaan the difference between
$175 and $700 in legal research/hourly fees.
During that first hour or so you gain the benefit of over 300-400 divorce LITIGATION hearings
and trials that I have personally handled in Washington Family law Courts in various counties (but
primarily King, Snoho. and Pierce). BUT THAT DOES NOT even count the time I sit in the back of the
courtroom watching other family law cases or talking shop with other attorney colleagues.
I will give you the 100% honest truth about the situation you are facing,
and what the solutions and choices are.
On the other hand, if you have an uncontested
case, often times the questionairres themselves will help answer your questions and you can start by purchasing
either the case with children or without. Also, I've done 200-300 uncontested or "agreed" divorces and have seen
5-10% of those "come apart" after partial starts at an agreement. After 12 years and focussed legal experience, I get
a kick out of cutting through myriad different fact patterns and considering how best to handle novel situations.
Having pat answers to obvious stuff is no fun. Bring me something I haven't seen and I'll tell you the likely possible
branches in the road the Court will consider and what the different possible results will be given differeing
judicial philosophies and political values where questions have no clearly analogous controllling precedent for decision
on issues that have presented themself, or may present themselves, in your case.
To get started go to the
Order page and make the purchase.
Then give me a call and we will get started.