Orcas Family Lawyers

Tough cases and just cases. No matter your legal problem, I will work tirelessly to insure a successful outcome for you. My motivation is to put my experience and training to work for my clients. I have over a decade’s experience representing families in custody and divorce cases, and in suits against corporations, insurance companies, banks and landlords. The vast majority of lawyers have never tried a case before judge and a jury. I have tried and co-counseled more than a dozen jury trials, resulting in hundreds-of-millions in settlement and verdicts for my clients.

Steve is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, where he received High Honors, graduating in the top 5% of his class. Some history: Steve served two years for the San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney as a criminal Deputy Prosecutor. Prior to that, Steve helped provide public defense for The Tulalip Tribes. In an externship, Steve has served as a law clerk for the State of Washington Court of Appeals in Tacoma and for the honorable Judge James K. Singleton of the Federal District Court of Alaska. He also worked for a summer at Holland...

As a founder and principle of the Schwarz~Garrison Law Firm I am committed to providing the highest quality representation to our clients. We listen to our clients and we pursue their goals tenaciously. Recent Verdicts: State v. Gipson: Assault Charge: Not Guilty, Self Defense: $256,000 in fees and costs reimbursed to client by the court following verdict. Dunakin v. Ronngren: Dog Bite: $229,015.73 jury verdict for plaintiff. Rollins and Hendershot v. King County Metro: Assault on Metro Bus: $250,000 Jury Verdict for plaintiffs, On appeal, plaintiffs were able...

Roy Martin is a divorce and family law attorney in Bellingham, Washington. His practice is devoted to domestic relations issues such as divorce; legal separation; paternity; child custody, including the establishment and modification of parenting plans; relocation; non-parental custody; child support; spousal maintenance, prenuptial, postnuptial and cohabitation agreements; domestic partnerships; protective orders and the rights of grandparents. Mr. Martin believes his job is to thoroughly address legal issues in the most efficient manner possible. For this reason, he is committed to alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as Mediation and Collaborative Divorce, with their emphasis on negotiated resolutions. These approaches can lead...

Joshua (Josh) Bruner, a dedicated Family Law Attorney, is renowned for his unwavering commitment to advocating for his clients and achieving exceptional results. With a formidable skill set encompassing client relations, negotiation, and litigation, Mr. Bruner consistently delivers favorable outcomes through effective communication and meticulous case strategies. A masterful negotiator beyond the courtroom and a formidable advocate within it, Josh relentlessly champions his clients' causes. He draws upon his unique background, extensive experience, strategic acumen, and exceptional skills to secure outstanding results while always upholding the dignity and respect his clients deserve. Josh's journey to law was preceded by a career as...

My job is to achieve my client’s goals. Often times, clients need help defining their goals. Listening to the client and understanding their needs and interests, working through the options and setting attainable goals is typically the first step in fashioning a strategy in which to proceed with the case. I am a litigator, counselor, mediator, judge pro tem, educator, and professional speaker, now working primarily in the area of family law, domestic violence and high conflict cases. I provide service for all areas of family law, including divorce, parenting, custody, visitation, parental alienation, child support, modifications, relocation, grandparent...

Breanne W. Martin is a graduate of Seattle University’s joint degree program in which she obtained a Law Degree and a Master of Business Administration. In recognition of her scholastic achievements, Breanne received Dean’s List honors and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for legal writing. Breanne served as a contributing writer and editor for the Seattle Journal for Social Justice and was an active member of the Student Bar Association, Graduate Student Council, and Women in Business Association. Prior to attending Seattle University, Breanne graduated cum laude from Portland State University earning a Bachelor of Science in...

I will work with you to get the best result possible for your situation. I begin all my work with an intake which I do at reduced rate to assess your situation. I start by seeing what you would like to resolve and work to bring a result as close to this as possible. I am a creative, out of the box thinker and am often able to obtain the solution my clients are looking for quickly and simply. I have worked on smaller simpler cases, as well as those that impact policy on local, state and federal levels. While...

Christon Skinner is the founding member of the Law Offices of Christon C. Skinner, P.S. The firm was established in 1996, when Mr. Skinner opened his own office after being a partner in the law office of Zylstra, Beeksma, Waller & Skinner, which he joined in 1979. Chris expanded his practice to San Juan County when he acquired John Linde’s law office in Friday Harbor in January of 2008. Chris has been actively engaged in the practice of law in Island, Skagit and San Juan Counties for over 32 years with a primary emphasis on business,...

A Lawyer Who Listens to You. Focus on Personal Injury, Collaborative Divorce, and Family Law. Trials, Appeals, and Settlements. I live and practice in Mount Vernon, WA, and I will take the time to sit down, listen to you, and understand your needs and goals.

Please visit my website for further information: https://www.legalstateofmind.com/

Jennifer Brainard graduated from University of Washington School of Law and was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1980. After practicing in the Seattle area for over 20 years she returned to Oak Harbor, Washington, where she grew up. She practices law with an emphasis in these areas: Estate Planning, Family Law, Business, Bankruptcy, and Real Estate. She is President of the Island County Bar Association, sits as a Pro Tem Judge in Island County District Court and volunteers at the Volunteer Lawyer Program. She speaks to groups on Family Law and Bankruptcy and is an advisor for small...

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.

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.

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...

Mr. Lewis has been litigating family and Indian law matters since 2003. He tries up to six cases per year and represents three times that many at settlement conferences and meditations. He has been appointed a special master and sometimes conducts meditations. He also handles appeals. Mr. Lewis appears regularly in King County Superior Court and less frequently in other counties throughout the State. He is a member of the bar of most of the tribal courts in the State of Washington. He also practices in the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts. He is also a...

Behind Jennifer Payseno’s calm and deliberate demeanor are the intellect and ability of one of Seattle’s finest family law attorneys. Affiliated with McKinley Irvin since 1999, Jennifer is highly regarded throughout the legal community for her integrity, courtroom skills, and unwavering commitment to every family she serves.

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.

Laura is a Family Law Mediator. She has over 20 years of experience helping family law clients resolve their cases through litigation and negotiation. She is an accomplished lawyer, leader, mediator and mentor. Laura is dedicated to assisting clients and their attorneys resolve family law disputes with creativity and respect.

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...

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...

Leavitt Legal Group is a full-service law firm founded to accomplish a single goal: deliver unmatched results to our clients regardless of their legal needs. At Leavitt Legal Group we understand that when our clients come to us with their legal problems they are trusting us to help them navigate a complex and often confusing legal system. For this reason, Leavitt Legal Group focuses on providing straightforward, common-sense counsel to our clients in order to help them understand their legal options as well as more fully understand the legal process they are facing. Counseling with our...

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 and Washington, 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 defense is...