SERVICES

First thing’s first:
CONSULTATION

If you would like to schedule a consultation to discuss your family law matter, please visit the “CONTACT” page here on my website to fill out a brief, confidential questionnaire about your matter/circumstance. I will be notified of your completed questionnaire, at which point I will send you an email to either:
        1) Send you more information about the consultation process, or
        2) Provide you with an excellent referral to another LLLT or attorney (if I am unable to take on your case at the time).



The following are family law matters that I am able to help advice and assist you with. (Please note: I AM CURRENTLY ONLY ACCEPTING CASES FILED IN PIERCE COUNTY. If you are outside of Pierce County, I am happy to refer you to an LLLT or attorney in your area.)

Legal Separation
Some married couples choose to pursue a Legal Separation instead of a Divorce. This tends to be a decision made for myriad reasons, including (but not limited to): remaining on a spouse’s health insurance policy, religious purposes, etc.
Divorce
The decision to end a marriage is difficult, regardless of who initiated it in the first place. It is helpful to have an experienced legal professional by your side to help with dividing real property, assets, and liabilities, ascertaining spousal maintenance, and other issues that come up along the way. Divorces can be contested or uncontested. I can help with both!
Establishment of a Child Support Order
For unmarried parents, establishing a Child Support Order is imperative (and required!) in Washington State. Child support in WA is determined by each party’s income. It can get very complicated very easily, so having someone proficient in both state and local court rules, as well as procedures and processes can make this action as painless as possible.
Establishing a Parenting Plan
Unmarried with kids and can’t seem to find a harmonious schedule between you and the other parent? A parenting plan is the key in insuring children’s schedule is crafted with their absolute best interest in mind. A parenting plan can be a complicated legal document; having someone to assist you in drafting this can be a drink of cold water on a hot day.
Spousal Maintenance
Also known as “spousal support” (or the more archaic “alimony”), some divorce or legal separation parties may qualify to receive spousal support from their spouse depending on several factors per state law.
Contempt
Just as things don’t always go according to plan, some people just do not know how to follow instructions. If a party in a family law action violates a signed court order (doesn’t follow the parenting plan schedule, isn’t paying the child support they were ordered to pay, for example), the other party could consider filing a contempt action if applicable. Talking to a legal professional about this is very important to determine whether or not a contemptuous act (or acts) have occurred.
Domestic Violence and Other Protection Orders
Obtaining protection orders is within my scope of authorized practice. However, if you are in need of one immediately, please contact your local superior court for instructions as soon as possible. Some counties even offer an online option to file for a protection order.
Committed Intimate Relationship (CIR)
I am authorized to advise and assist on CIR matters only as they pertain to parenting and support issues. If there is property involved, I am unable to assist but would be happy to refer you to a family law attorney for this purpose.
Non-Parental Custody
I am authorized to advise and assist in adequate cause hearings for Non-Parental Custody matters–however, I am not authorized to offer any further legal services following that hearing. If your case went past the adequate cause hearing, I would refer you to a qualified attorney to assist moving forward.
Legal Advice
Sometimes, you just want to know your rights in a family law matter. I am happy to discuss yours with you.
Temporary Family Law Order (TFLO)
Recently filed your matter and want to establish certain, temporary terms with the other party? Filing a Motion for Temporary Family Law Order, attending the hearing, and having a Temporary Family Law Order in place can help ease any anxiety or fear regarding the other party and/or any involved children.
Minor Guardianships
If the minor guardianship matter is agreed or defaulted, I can help! If it is contested, you would need to seek legal services from an attorney.

LEGAL TECH vs. PARALEGAL

  • LEGAL ADVICE. The biggest difference between a paralegal and a legal technician is that paralegals are not authorized to give any legal advice–even something that might be construed as legal advice is a very big no-no for paralegals. Legal technicians are authorized to give legal advice to our clients.
  • DRAFT DOCUMENTS. Yep, we can both do that! The only difference is that a traditional paralegal is typically under the direct supervision of an attorney, while the legal technician drafts and calls the shots (within reason, of course).
  • FILE/SERVE. Both positions can and do. E-filing literacy is absolutely essential for both positions. This includes an advanced working knowledge of local and state court rules and provisions around filing and service.
  • EXPLAIN LEGAL STUFF. Of course! Again, paralegals cannot provide legal advice: period. They can, however, explain basic legal procedure
  • Prepare discovery or review and respond to discovery in a case.
  • Walk you through procedure from start to finish on handling your case and developing a game plan.
  • Prepare and present final orders to the Court.

LLLTs cannot render legal services for the following matters:

– De facto parentage actions
– Any matter involving bankruptcy, unless the bankruptcy has been dismissed
– Dividing real property with an owner equity of $250,000 or more
– Preparation of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)
– Any domestic relations matter involving the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) or the Unified Child Custody Jurisdiction Emergency Act (UCCJEA)
– The division of formal business entities or commercial property
– Property issues in Committed Intimate Relationships (CIRs)
– Major parenting plan modifications and nonparental custody actions beyond the adequate cause hearing
– Objections or responses in contested relocation actions
– Final revised parenting plans in relocation actions except in the event of default or where the terms have been agreed to by the parties