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Raquel M. Silva

Raquel M. Silva

Law Office of Raquel M. Silva
1667 Oak Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
Map

Phone: (530) 758-0500  |  Fax: (530) 758-0616
http://www.silva-familylaw.com

Contact Raquel M. Silva

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Representation with Care and Integrity

Legal Topic

Family Law

Preferred New Clients

Step-parent and second parent adoptions, petitions to terminate parental rights, and guardianships.

Sub-Topics

Abuse

  • Domestic Violence

Children

  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Children's Rights
  • Paternity
  • Visitation

Couples

  • Civil Unions
  • Domestic Partnerships
  • Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender Rights
  • Living Together/Cohabitation
  • Marriage
  • Power of Attorney

Enforcement Actions

Name Changes

Legal Topic

Divorce

Preferred New Clients

All aspects of family law, including divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, and the like.

Sub-Topics

Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support

Annulment

Child Support

Custody/Visitation Rights

Delinquent Support Payments

Division of Property

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights

Restraining Orders

Uncontested Divorce

Bar Admissions

CA, Nov 2005
Bar Number: 237983

Other Court Admissions

• California
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California

Association Memberships

• California State Bar - Family Law Section
• Yolo County Bar Association
• Yolo County Family Law Bar Association
• American Bar Association - Family Law Section

Continuing Education

I exceed the required number of continuing education hours and attend over 30 hours of continuing education seminars each year in the areas of family law and estate planning.

Example Cases

I recently prevailed in a child custody trial in Yolo County Superior Court where my client regained his equal parenting time with two minor school-aged children. I was also recently successful in a child support trial where the opposing party had continually misrepresented his self-employment income and resources, including obtaining a large attorney fee award for my client.

Education 

School:

UC Davis School of Law - King Hall

Degree:

Juris Doctorate

City:

Davis

State:

CA

Year:

2005

Honors:

Yes

Focus and Accomplishments:

Dean's Honor List; Witkin Award For Academic Excellence; King Hall Public Service Law Program

 

School:

UC Davis

Degree:

Bachelor of Arts

City:

Davis

State:

CA

Year:

2001

Honors:

Pi Sigma Alpha - National Political Science Honor Society; Dean's Honor List

Focus and Accomplishments:

Emphasis in Political Philosophy

Number of Attorneys

1

State Licensed In

California

Firm Focus and History

My firm focuses on providing practical and effective legal representation to individuals and families in Yolo County. My firm was established in November 2005. Prior to that time, I was the office manager and paralegal to attorney Yasmin Spiegel with whom I now share office space.

Previous Employment Summary

Prior to becoming an attorney, I was a paralegal for 16 years in Encino, Santa Barbara, Portland, Oregon and Davis. I worked on many different cases in the areas of civil and business litigation, personal injury, accounting malpractice, real estate title litigation, corporate law, probate, and family law.

Activities and Awards

I am currently on the approved Minor's Counsel list for Yolo County Superior Court. I also volunteer my time one afternoon each month as a Pro Tem Family Law Settlement Judge in Yolo County Superior Court.

What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

I highly recommend that clients educate themselves about the legal process and about the legal issues they are facing. The more that my client knows about their own situation and legal issues, the better able I am to advise and strategize with them about possible settlement options or, if necessary, litigation and trial.

Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I am happy to review and assist in the revision of documents prepared by clients who wish to represent themselves. I am also happy to review documents for clients who are going through the mediation process to ensure that the agreements they are making in mediation are in their best interests.

Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

I am happy to assist individuals who wish to represent themselves, including drafting and editing court forms and legal documents. I also routinely meet with self-represented clients to discuss what to expect in court and/or in the child custody mediation process.

Why did you decide to be a lawyer?

I had been a paralegal since I was 20 years old (since 1989). After spending the majority of my adult life working in law firms, I realized that practicing law was what I was meant to do career-wise. I then decided it was time to complete law school and become an attorney.

What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?

I believe that my prior experience as a paralegal, working in many areas of the law, better enables me to handle the wide-range of issues that arise in family law and estate planning. I enjoy working with people to resolve their issues. I also believe that my own personal experience of going through divorce allows me to more fully understand and empathize with the experiences of my clients.

Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?

After working in many other types of law, I realized that the areas of family law and estate planning allow me to work directly with my clients to resolve their legal issues in a personalized and pragmatic way.

What do you like best about your career?

I find great satisfaction in helping my clients through the legal process in the most caring and efficient way possible.

Tell us about your law firm:

I am a sole practitioner so I deal directly with all of my clients. I have a very experienced and knowledgeable paralegal, Julie Barrow, who assists me with all aspects of my case management and initial drafting of documents, disclosures and the like. My legal assistant and billing clerk, Angie Harmon, is attentive to my client's immediate needs and is an invaluable asset to my firm.

What are your strengths and style?

I try to resolve a majority of my cases through the negotiation process whenever possible and I believe that my ability to problem-solve in creative ways allows me greater success in the negotiations. I am also a zealous advocate for my clients in the court process when negotiation fails or is not a viable option.

Personal Interests:

I am a dual citizen of the U.S. and Portugal (my grandparents immigrated to the United States after WWII) and I enjoy traveling in Europe and learning European history and culture. I am a strong believer in Waldorf education and I have two children who attend local Waldorf schools. In my spare time, I enjoy yoga, skiing, snowboarding and ceramic tile mosaic.

Office Manager/Assistant

Angie Harmon, Legal Assistant

Fax

(530) 758-0616

Office Hours

Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Fridays
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Emergency After Hours

No

Foreign Languages

Spanish speaking interpreter available for an additional fee of $30 per hour.

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

Uncontested dissolution: $2,500 plus actual court costs.

Name change petition: $500 plus actual court and publication costs.

Complete trust and estate planning packages from $1,500 to $2,000, plus actual recording fees.

Hourly Rates

$250.

Free Initial Consultation?

No free consultations.

Typical Retainer

$5,000 for pre-judgment matters; $3,000 for most post-judgment matters.

Understanding Fees

Nolo's Licensing Check

Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers upon joining the directory.

Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any state licensing agency.