Family Law

My preference is to work with clients who are willing to pursue a course of action in their divorce or parenting-related case that is the least destructive to their children, the other party, or themselves.

• Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

• Child Support
• Custody
• Paternity
• Visitation

• Marriage
• Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements

Divorce

My preference is to work with clients who are willing to pursue a course of action in their divorce or parenting-related case that is the least destructive to their children, the other party, or themselves.

• Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support

WA, Nov 1992
Bar Number: 22276

Washington State Courts

Washington State Bar Association; Tacoma/Pierce County Bar Association; American Bar Association

Although 45 continuing education hours are required by the WSBA over every three year period, I have completed over 125 hours of continuing education in collaborative law and mediation/conflict resolution related trainings since 2005.

I am not an author or editor. However, I have developed trainings, workshops and continuing education presentations pertaining to collaborative law and for mediation skills for collaborative professionals.

I recently completed a collaborative divorce involving parties that were married 25 years, with a net marital estate of several million dollars including several complicated financial assets. This was combined with parenting issues for two teenage children and involved long-term spousal support.

I also recently completed a collaborative divorce involving parties after a 12 year marriage, where the parties had two young children with whom they each wanted to have significant involvement, and where limited assets and incomes posed a challenge to obtain financial security for both parties living separately.

2

Washington

My firm's focus has always been to provide client-centered representation that not only educates the client about the legal and financial aspects of their divorce, but also seeks to address their emotional needs and psychological well-being by making the appropriate referrals to qualified allied professionals and providing a supporting, empathetic, and respectful environment for them through the hard work of their transition. Furthermore, I have always emphasized conflict reduction and resolution in my practice as opposed to protracted litigation and avoid methods which tend to escalate conflict between parties.

Prior to expanding my firm in 2003 to include associate attorneys, I have been either a solo practitioner or an associate member of a law firm practicing solely in the area of family law since 1992.

Since 2005, I have been a partner, trainer, and developer of course materials for the Institute for Advanced Dispute Resolution, a Boulder, Colorado based, mediation focused academic institute. I have also given numerous presentations on all aspects of family law to adult continuing education classes, as well has provided trainings and workshops to family attorneys involved in collaborative law.

Thomas Gross, Business Manager

(253) 853-7943

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Yes

None

I do not have fixed-price fees.

My hourly rate is $225.

Initial consultations are charged at the normal hourly rate for the time spent due to the wealth of information that is usually provided during these consultations.

Retainer varies depending on the nature and complexity of the case. The minimum is generally $1,500 for a very simple case with no children, up to $5,000 for a case involving complex financial issues.