Family Law

The firm has an office in Santa Rosa as well as Petaluma. We are exclusively devoted to the practice of Family Law. We practice in the areas of Divorce, Custody and Visitation Matters, Interstate Custody, Support issues, Post Judgment modifications, Paternity, Grandparent Rights, Guardianship, Custody Mediation, Pre-marital Agreements, Post-nuptial Agreements, Step-parent Adoptions, and Domestic Partnerships.

• Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Name Changes
• Restraining Orders
• Enforcement Actions

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

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

• Grandparent Rights

Divorce

The firm has an office in Santa Rosa as well as Petaluma. We are exclusively devoted to the practice of Family Law. We practice in the areas of Divorce, Custody and Visitation Matters, Interstate Custody, Support issues, Post Judgment modifications, Paternity, Grandparent Rights, Guardianship, Custody Mediation, Pre-marital Agreements, Post-nuptial Agreements, Step-parent Adoptions, and Domestic Partnerships.

• Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
• Annulment
• Child Support
• Custody/Visitation Rights
• Delinquent Support Payments
• Division of Property
• Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR)
• Restraining Orders
• Uncontested Divorce
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights

CA, Jun 1991
Bar Number: 153569

Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

California State Bar since 1991 and Certified Specialist since 1996.

California Bar and Sonoma County Bar Association.

I attend annual legal seminars focusing on family law. I also attend educational seminars regarding custody, visitation, and family dynamics. I exceed the required number of continuing education hours.

A case that comes to mind is a client who had been attempting a Collaborative Law approach. Our client, after 18 months, believed that the opposing party's unrealistic positions were delaying resolution of their custody and property division. We were able to assist the client in moving forward to complete resolution of the matter, negotiating what ultimately became a 50/50 child timeshare, as well as child support and property division without the necessity of a trial.

3

California

The firm's goal is to assist the client in resolving their family law matter in the most efficient manner possible. To accomplish this goal, information needs to flow between the client and the office. Our Santa Rosa and Petaluma offices are structured so that each client is assigned a paralegal to their case who assists the attorney by helping client's prepare the financial documents which are required by law. While the paralegal does not provide legal advice or guidance, the client is well served by the skilled paralegal tending to tasks that can be accomplished at a paralegal hourly rate. Custody matters are handled exclusively by the attorney.

The Tavis Firm was established in 1991. The only reason I attended law school was to practice family law. The focus for the firm has never changed. The goal has been and continues to be to assist people by providing them with choices as they begin a new chapter in their lives. Sometimes the new life chapter is desired, sometimes perceived by a client as overdue and at other times, unwanted. Family law is a challenging and stimulating area to practice because it incorporates not only the complexity of child custody, visitation, support and property issues, but also corporate law, business law, real property law, probate and bankruptcy. When the personal response to a dissolution is added to the mix, the practice of family law requires, along with legal competency, empathy and an ability to maintain and model boundaries.

It is our belief that a primary responsibility of the attorney is to provide the client with legal options to consider given the facts and circumstances of their divorce, custody, or post judgment matter. There are times when clients will never see the inside of a courtroom, resolving their matter through negotiation. There are cases which can only be resolved with the assistance of the Court. Often times the Court's assistance is needed because one party is unwilling to share information or holds an unrealistic settlement and/or custody perspective. When the children's best interests are disputed, custody mediation may prove helpful. No two cases are alike. The firm's collective years of family law experience gives the client the greatest number of choices available.

Appointments are scheduled either in our Santa Rosa or Petaluma office, depending on the client's need. The Petaluma office is convenient for our Marin County divorce and family law clients.

Prior to attending law school, I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I worked in various specialty areas as a Registered Nurse. I taught Clinical Nursing. I then obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I understand business and business practices from a financial perspective as well as a personal perspective. During law school, I clerked for the then Sonoma County presiding Family Law Judge and worked for the Sonoma County District Attorney's Child Support Division. The county child support is now managed through the California Department of Child Support Services, DCSS.

I have served as a Judge Pro Tem for Sonoma County and am a member of the Association of Certified Legal Specialists and the California State Bar (153569). I also participate in community education in the area of family law. All members of my firm assist the Court and volunteer for Pro Bono work.

Our firm administrator and senior paralegal is Monica Hardison.

(707) 578-1069

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

Our office is closed between noon and 1:00 p.m. each day and on all Court and Federal holidays.

No

Petaluma, CA
17 Keller Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 283-0525

We approach billing very traditionally. A base retainer is deposited into a client trust account at the commencement of our representation. Each month our clients receive a billing statement reflecting the work that has been billed in the case during the previous month. The balance owing on the statement is then deducted from the client's trust balance. A trust balance statement is also provided on a monthly basis. When the trust retainer is reduced by 50 percent, the trust retainer is replenished to its original level. Our fee agreement is very detailed as to the services which are offered and how they are billed.

The firm's hourly attorney rates are presently $225 for non-specialist associates and $350 for certified family law specialist associates.

Our initial retainer is billed at the interviewing attorney's hourly rate. The initial consultation lasts on an average an hour and a half. Appointments are scheduled in our Santa Rosa or Petaluma office depending on the client's needs. Marin County clients usually find the Petaluma office more convenient.

The base retainer depends on the attorney's hourly rate and falls between $5,000 and $10,000.