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Sheila O. Snow
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Sheila O. Snow
Law and Mediation Offices of Sheila O'Brien Snow
21 E. Canon Perdido
Suite 211
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 963-6802 | Fax: (805) 963-6802
Providing Sensible Solutions for your family law needs.
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
I specialize in Sensible Solutions--resolving my clients' legal matters efficiently and cost-effectively. I have handled all types of Family Law issues: divorce, legal separations, custody and support matters, pension and property division, domestic partnerships and premarital agreements, child advocacy, etc. Currently my practice focuses on helping individuals resolve their legal issues and help them craft their own settlements. It is my experience that clients are happier with negotiated settlements than with decisions of the Court.
Sub-Categories
Family Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Name Changes
- Restraining Orders
- Domestic Violence
- Elder Abuse
- Adoptions
- Child Support
- Custody
- Paternity
- Visitation
- Civil Unions
- Common Law Marriage
- Domestic Partnerships
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender Rights
- Living Together/Cohabitation
- Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
- Individualized Education Plans
- Guardianships & Conservatorships
- Powers of Attorney
- Medicaid & Medicare Planning
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
I specialize in Sensible Solutions--resolving my clients' legal matters efficiently and cost-effectively. I have handled all types of Family Law issues: divorce, legal separations, custody and support matters, pension and property division, domestic partnerships and premarital agreements, child advocacy, etc. Currently my practice focuses on helping individuals resolve their legal issues and help them craft their own settlements. It is my experience that clients are happier with negotiated settlements than with decisions of the Court.
Sub-Categories
Divorce
- Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
- Annulment
Bar Admissions
CA, Feb 1993
Bar Number: 163767
Specialty Certifications
Family Law & Mediation and Estate Law.
Other Court Admissions
Santa Barbara Superior Court Family Law Settlement Master.
Association Memberships
Santa Barbara Bar Association (served on the Board of Directors)and CA Bar Association.
Continuing Education
I teach classes on Family Law through Adult Ed and I attend monthly legal education seminars on Family Law topics. I also take I teach several classes yearly on Tax, Business and Estate Law planning and issues. I also attend an annual Family Law seminar to keep up on the recent changes in Family Law.
Papers and Publications
I have published articles in the Santa Barbara New Press about Mediation. "Mediation: the Customized Divorce"; written and submitted an article on Collaborative Family Law.
Example Cases
I specialize in helping individuals and families find Sensible Solutions to their legal needs without unnecessary expense. I have an extensive background in Family Law: custody, support, business division, retirement plan division, tax aspects of divorce and premarital planning. My practice now focuses on settling family law cases efficiently and effectively through Mediation and Collaborative Law and I also do estate planning for my clients after divorce. I have conducted thousands of mediations over the years in hundreds of cases, from the simple to the highly complex. I am dedicated to providing individuals and families in transition with the highest quality legal and mediation services in a caring environment.
Education
Degree:
Graduate Certificate Irish History & Culture
School:
Trinity College
City:
Dublin, Ireland
State:
Information coming soon.
Year:
1972
Focus and Accomplishments:
Georgian Society, as Curator of Castletown House, Cellbridge, County Kildare, Ireland; Castle Ward house, National Trust for Historic Preservation, County Down, Northern Ireland.
Degree:
Juris Doctor (JD)
School:
Santa Barbara College of Law
City:
Santa Barbara
State:
CA
Year:
1992
Focus and Accomplishments:
Top of class in Family Law.
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
School:
University of California
City:
Santa Barbara
State:
CA
Year:
1971
Honors:
Graduated with Honors
Focus and Accomplishments:
Modern European Intellectual History & Art History.
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
I founded my office in 1993. Prior to that I assisted a Family Law Mediator researching legal issues and conducting mediations. For several years my practice focused on Child Issues: Custody and Visitation as well as Mediation of Family disputes and the tax aspects of divorce. Through this work I learned that litigation only aggravated my clients' issues and did not solve their problems. I preferred helping my clients find sensible solutions to their disputes and problems rather than wasting their money creating court "battle plans". In 2003, when I qualified as a Family Law Settlement Master for the Superior Court, I began to accept only cases where I could focus on solving my clients' family law problems through negotiation and mediation.
Previous Employment Summary
Legal Career: Prior to establishing my own practice I assisted a Family Law Mediator researching legal and tax issues. During law school I interned in the Enviromental Protection Unit of the Santa Barbara District Attorney's office and handled land use cases. Prior to my legal career, I worked as an UCSB Arts Administrator (Arts & Lectures-- Assistant in charge of publicity and student staff , and the UCSB Affiliates-- as Manager).
Activities and Awards
I am a teacher at SB City College's Adult Education Program since 1996. I teach two classes each semester on legal issues: The "Divorce Survival Guide" and "Death Marriage Taxes".
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I believe that an informed decision is a wise decision. I encourage clients to educate themselves on their legal issues. I always seek to inform my clients in a clear concise manner about the legal issues involved in their case.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I will review documents prepared by clients for my hourly rate. I will also prepare the documents for clients. I am an extremely effective legal writer. I also will "trouble shoot" a client's case for issues that may be overlooked so they can be resolved before becoming a problem for the client.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I actively support clients who want to represent themselves and will coach them to present their cases effectively. I will advise them and help stratagize their case.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I initially contemplated attending Law School after I graduated from UCSB in 1971. However I instead decided to follow my interest in the arts and pursued a career in the Arts both in Ireland and Santa Barbara (where I grew up). I became an Arts administrator at UCSB and then, after I married and had my daughter, I became a homemaker. Once my daughter entered school I decided to attend the local law school at night. It was a wise decision. I enjoyed studying the law and, after my marriage ended in divorce, I was able to pursue a career in law and help support our daughter through school. While in law school I took my first Mediation course and I knew immediately that Mediation was my vocation. I it was also the wave of the future. Mediation has been the focus of my practice. My former Husband and I used a Mediator to negotiate the terms of our divorce settlement. We knew that above all else we were concerned for the well being of our daughter and that it was in her best interst for us to keep conflict to a minimun. As a result, we have always been able to effectively co-parent and as a result, our daughter is now a lovely well-adjusted young adult, confident and secure in the love of her family on both sides.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
All of my life to date has informed my practice. I feel empathy and compassion for my clients because I too have gone through a divorce. I appreciate and respect each client's experience and process through what is often a troubled time because I, too, have had to face the fear and financial uncertainty associated with divorce and starting over again. Therefore I always try to work as efficiently and cost effectively on my clients' behalf.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
Family Law was personally interesting to me probably because my marriage broke up while I was in law school.
What do you like best about your career?
I enjoy so many aspects of my career: the interesting people that I meet, both clients and colleagues; the continuous learning process of the law; the flexibility of having my own practice; the ability to share my knowledge and expertise with others; and mostly I enjoy being able to help others transition into a new productive life. But most of all I love the excitement and creativity involved in finding sensible solutions to my clients' problems.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a sole practitioner so I am able to give personal attention to each of my clients. I am accessible and down to earth and try to provide a comfortable environment for my clients. I can accommodate the working schedules of my clients and am able to schedule ate afternoon/early evening appointments when necessary.
What are your strengths and style?
I am intelligent but not arrogant or distant. I am casual yet structured. My office is professional yet relaxed. I try to understand the issues before me, yet I also try to see the "big picture" so I can help my clients get on with their lives. Above all I am practical which is why "Sensible Solutions" is my motto.
Personal Interests:
I have remarried and my husband, Kevin, and I live in Mission Canyon with our adolescent Airedale puppy, Derry Aire, whom we treasure. We have both been long active in local hiking and riding Trails groups (Montecito Trails Foundation Board and we are 1st District appointees to the County Riding and Hiking Trails Advisory Commitee to the Board of Supervisors). We have two horses, my little pink spotted painthorse, Spook, and Chief, a big goofie Quarterhorse, both of whom love running with the Santa Ynez Valley Hounds group. We keep the "boys" over the hill at Rancho Oso and enjoy riding the backcountry trails. We love to travel when we can. Kevin is fluent in French and Spanish so we love to go where he can practice his language skills. France is a favorite. I also love gardening and am trying to create a permaculture garden (self sustaining) with native plants, succulents and cactus. It is a challenge but the wild birds love it.
Office Manager/Assistant
No
Fax
(805) 963-6802
Office Hours
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. or by appointment.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
French & Spanish
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Will negotiate if appropriate.
Hourly Rates
$225 - $250 an hour.
Free Initial Consultation?
I offer a one-half hour free initial consultation.
Typical Retainer
I usually work on an hourly basis which is usually more cost effective for my clients. If I represent a client in a Collaborative Law case with children I ask for a $3,500 retainer.
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