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11 Oct, 2024 by Kevin noah
Straightforward, helpful, did the necessary research to help me with my case. Always nice to have peace of mind. I’ve got a law firm in my back pocket if I ever need help again
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19 Jun, 2024 by Elizabeth turnbow
Torrone has worked with us and brought their best to the table. We really appreciate their ability and thoughtfulness. We are grateful we have them to present our case. They listen, understand and bring their A game everytime.
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28 Mar, 2024 by T w
Absolutely amazing law firm!!! The care and love they showed toward my family and I was unsurpassed. Chris was very responsive and was very straight forward and got things settled very quickly. He and his staff are very knowledgeable and personal when it comes to your case!!
If you need a law firm for CPS or family matters, THIS IS THE PLACE!
-Tarek Williams and Family
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19 Sep, 2024 by Paul peterhans
When I think of my time with Cindy Wysocki, Esq., tears of deep gratitude literally come to my eyes as I recall her strength and gentleness, her humor and sharp critical thinking, her willingness to get into the ultimate fighting cage we call the judicial system and her reluctance to throw a punch, and her commitment to fairness and open-hearted compassion. To the lawyer or firm across the virtual table, Cindy must seem formidable and relentless. To me as her client-friend, she was comforting, encouraging, and grounding. I never had to yield my voice or stuff down my questions. AND, Cindy held my concerns and fears, my heightened emotions and (sometimes) clear intuitive insights respectfully while guiding them in positive, productive ways. And best of all, Cindy knew me well enough at the end of a grueling process to be able to then assist and guide me in my needs to safeguard my estate and financial assets to be sure to leave them secure for the ones I love the most. Above all, I am forever grateful to Cindy for accompanying me as a caring fellow human being during one of the most devastating times of my personal life journey. She stayed by my side through unprecedented conditions, with unconditional care and concern, as one of the few who did in my life. Cindy is a legal Bodhisattva!!
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13 Sep, 2024 by Meg gluckman
I love sending my clients to Cindy! I know she cares deeply about helping them navigate divorce in a way that will leave everyone feeling whole and hopeful about the future. Her focus on creating durable parenting plans that center kids, while appreciating the uniqueness of the each family, makes referring her to parents a no-brainer for me.
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31 Aug, 2024 by Juliana schroeder
Cheryl helped me with a military divorce issue.
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19 Sep, 2024 by Paul peterhans
When I think of my time with Cindy Wysocki, Esq., tears of deep gratitude literally come to my eyes as I recall her strength and gentleness, her humor and sharp critical thinking, her willingness to get into the ultimate fighting cage we call the judicial system and her reluctance to throw a punch, and her commitment to fairness and open-hearted compassion. To the lawyer or firm across the virtual table, Cindy must seem formidable and relentless. To me as her client-friend, she was comforting, encouraging, and grounding. I never had to yield my voice or stuff down my questions. AND, Cindy held my concerns and fears, my heightened emotions and (sometimes) clear intuitive insights respectfully while guiding them in positive, productive ways. And best of all, Cindy knew me well enough at the end of a grueling process to be able to then assist and guide me in my needs to safeguard my estate and financial assets to be sure to leave them secure for the ones I love the most. Above all, I am forever grateful to Cindy for accompanying me as a caring fellow human being during one of the most devastating times of my personal life journey. She stayed by my side through unprecedented conditions, with unconditional care and concern, as one of the few who did in my life. Cindy is a legal Bodhisattva!!
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13 Sep, 2024 by Meg gluckman
I love sending my clients to Cindy! I know she cares deeply about helping them navigate divorce in a way that will leave everyone feeling whole and hopeful about the future. Her focus on creating durable parenting plans that center kids, while appreciating the uniqueness of the each family, makes referring her to parents a no-brainer for me.
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31 Aug, 2024 by Juliana schroeder
Cheryl helped me with a military divorce issue.
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07 Jan, 2023 by Brian
I hired Mark in the summer of 2019 to work my case after firing another law firm in Port Orchard. With the other firm, the lawyers were just in it for the fees. They admitted they had no expectation that I would be successful in court and were simply pushing to go to mediation. They and their paralegals, being polite, were subpar. I fired them for either negligence or incompetence, hard to tell what the situation was.
When I was interviewing for a new lawyer, I talked to several other Kitsap County and Seattle lawyers, but as soon as I started talking to Mark, I knew he got it. Without going into details, my case was fairly complicated both in storyline and legally. I had really gotten myself into a pickle, but Mark got it immediately, understood what had happened and knew what needed to be done.
In the first few months, I was actually worried that I was getting played with used car salesman skills because he seemed to agree with and understand everything I was trying to convey, but once I saw the first artifacts he drafted outlining the case, I realized he really understood and was truly advocating for me.
Then COVID hit, and I am not going to lie, there were many times in 2020 and 2021 that I was getting very frustrated with the pace. COVID obviously delayed things in an unprecedented manner, but there were also other cases that Mark was waiting on that were being litigated at the same time that he wanted to see the decision on before proceeding with mine. This period was painful mainly because of the portion of my income that I was not paying as alimony left me essentially penny-less at the end of every month. These changes in circumstance were part of the reason for the court case to being with, but Mark recommended I make sure I pay 100% if I could.
Once we got into court proceedings, Mark continued to be a superior advocate for me, while at the same time being the aggressive lawyer that I needed him to be against my ex-spouse and her attorney. Mark was able to take my situation and explain it in terms that the judge clearly understood the deceptions executed by my ex-spouse and her lawyer.
In the end, the judge ruled very favorably in early 2022, overturning “lifetime” maintenance and granting that it would only continue for 3 additional years at very reduced terms. One of the things the judge noted in my favor was that I had made every required payment and more, taking the children into account, despite sometimes having negative cash flow for months in a row. Mark’s early intuition on this matter proved critical.
My case involved active duty military considerations, military retirement considerations, older minor children, college age children, dependent parents and revolved around termination of deceptively worded lifetime spousal support at $4000/m that was cleverly inserted in the divorce decree contrary to verbal agreement and understanding. There is quite a bit of additional nuance, but regardless, Mark was able to overturn essentially the entire decree.
So here’s the bottom line. If you are looking for a lawyer that will listen, understand, and advocate for your story (not just mechanically process your situation), then I have not found anyone better than Mark. And this is after having talked to at least a dozen lawyers, some free consultations but mostly in paid consultations. He is not afraid to be unconventional when required and not afraid of a hard fight. I don’t want to speak about all family law matters, because I think that is a very broad field and I don’t want to over-project my experience, but in matters of divorce-related litigation, I recommend Mark over any other lawyer.
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23 May, 2021 by Anonymous
Terrible attorney who lacks communication skills and due diligence, waste of & buyer beware, cost me time with my child…
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22 Oct, 2019 by Anonymous
I reached out to Mark to inquire about my options for a legal issue in my family’s life. He was very understanding and caring in his thoughts and recommendations for us. He took the time to talk to me the moment I called and helped me to understand what my next steps should be. He also followed up with a kind email to remind me of my options, offer his sympathy towards my situation, and offer his service if ever needed in the future. I highly recommend Mark for your legal needs.
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25 Jan, 2023 by Bryan
To tell you a little of my case, I was going through a case involving CPS as my new born son was born positive for methamphetamines. My wife and mother of my new born son at the time was also positive prior to birth and at birth without my knowledge of. My wife feared I might take "our" son away because I did not do drugs and could because I was honest and had a full time job with no run ins with the law. My intention was never to do that to my wife at the time, I was more than willing to work it out with her in an attempt to repair our marriage and do what CPS was requesting as well as keep our son safe. During the first few weeks of involvement after the birth, my wife failed a UA and in turn knowing that CPS can take the baby away put all allegations on me, one being domestic violence. I hired Nicole for that incident, of which she proved that I was innocent and the case was dismissed later. During this incident my wife filed rape charges on me a month after this last allegation of DV. I found out by a police officer calling me, I asked Nicole if she could talk with them and represent me for that as well. Nicole had a good team working with Zach Myers whom not only represented me but I felt confident having someone not only law savvy but confident when they talked before the judge. I feel that those two things are critical in having great representation. That case also got dismissed proving my innocence. While Nicole did not have any part of my CPS case, helping me with those two allegations and proving my innocence protected me from incarceration, and the ability to divorce and get full custody of my son today. I am very pleased with her work as I have learned through this process of what to look for in choosing a good lawyer for a case that is needed. The other thing I found out to be great about Nicole is that she is compassionate, patient and understanding though the process from start to finish. She always had time to take my call or respond in a timely matter.
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14 Dec, 2021 by Mike
Nichole was the attorney assigned to my case when my attorney from puget law group (Nick) was unavailable for the hearing. She handled an anti harassment order filed against me filled with lies and Nichole was ferocious from the start. She kept me updated and talked me through the whole process. She showed no mercy and got the case dismissed. She speaks with confidence and you can tell she cared about my outcome. Nichole and this firm care about their clients. Thank you Nichole.
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18 Jun, 2021 by Anonymous
Nichole is more worried about climbing the ladder then people's money or criminal record. She sucked day 1. I told her I wanted my money back after our first hearing. She dragged me on never filing one motion on false charges, She made huge mistakes in my case, used up all the continuance. Then when I comain about her to Dan, he withdraws from the case. Doesn't refund any money to this point, none of my files or disks returned. She is the Worst attorney I've ever known. She more if an infractions attorney. Which hello public, that means might as well have a public defender . Puget Law Group as a whe is basically a DUI lawfir.. They can't handle complicated cases, shoot they can't handle misdemeanor cases. If your in real hot water, stay clear.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Domestic Violence Lawyer Can Do for You
A domestic violence lawyer provides legal assistance to individuals involved in cases of domestic abuse, whether you are a victim seeking protection or someone accused of domestic violence defending against the charges. These lawyers help with obtaining restraining orders (protective orders), representing clients in criminal court, and handling related family law issues such as child custody, divorce, and visitation rights.
If you are dealing with domestic violence, a lawyer can help protect your rights and navigate the legal system to ensure your safety or defend you if you’re falsely accused.
When Should I Hire a Domestic Violence Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a domestic violence lawyer if you are:
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A Victim of Domestic Violence:
- Filing for a protective order (restraining order): If you need immediate protection from an abuser, a lawyer can help you file for a protective order, which legally requires the abuser to stay away from you and refrain from contacting you.
- Divorce or separation due to abuse: If domestic violence is a factor in your relationship, a lawyer can help you pursue a divorce or legal separation and ensure that you are protected throughout the process.
- Child custody and visitation issues: A lawyer can help you secure custody of your children and limit or restrict the abuser’s visitation rights to protect the safety of your children.
- Filing criminal charges: If you are pursuing criminal charges against the abuser, a domestic violence lawyer can work with law enforcement and prosecutors to ensure the case is handled properly.
- Assistance with safety planning: A lawyer can advise on the legal steps to create a safety plan, including securing temporary housing, and taking steps to protect you and your family.
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Accused of Domestic Violence:
- Defending against criminal charges: If you’ve been accused of domestic violence, a lawyer can defend your case, challenge the evidence, and represent you in court. If possible, the lawyer can help get charges reduced or dismissed.
- Challenging a restraining order: If someone has obtained a protective order against you, a lawyer can help you contest the order to prevent it from negatively impacting your life, including your employment and child custody rights.
- Dealing with family law issues: Domestic violence allegations can affect child custody, divorce, and property division. A lawyer can represent your interests in family court and ensure that your parental rights are protected.
- Avoiding criminal record implications: A lawyer can work to minimize the impact of the allegations on your record, which can affect your employment, housing, and future legal matters.
Hiring a lawyer at the earliest stages can help ensure your rights are protected and the case is handled effectively, whether you are seeking protection or defending against accusations.
What Does a Domestic Violence Lawyer Do?
A domestic violence lawyer provides various legal services depending on the specifics of your case. These responsibilities often include:
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For Victims:
- Filing for protective orders: A lawyer can help victims of domestic violence obtain temporary or permanent restraining orders, which provide legal protection by restricting the abuser’s access to you and your children.
- Representing you in divorce and child custody matters: Domestic violence often leads to divorce or separation, and a lawyer can represent you in family court to protect your assets, secure custody of your children, and arrange spousal and child support.
- Criminal representation: Lawyers work with law enforcement and prosecutors to pursue criminal charges against the abuser, ensuring that you are informed and supported throughout the legal process.
- Safety planning and legal advice: Lawyers provide advice on how to stay safe legally and can assist in securing temporary housing, providing guidance on how to leave abusive situations safely.
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For the Accused:
- Defending against charges: A lawyer will build a defense by investigating the case, gathering evidence, and challenging the claims made against you. If necessary, the lawyer can negotiate with prosecutors to reduce charges or penalties.
- Challenging protective orders: If a restraining order has been placed against you, a lawyer can contest the order and present evidence to defend against it, aiming to minimize its impact on your life and reputation.
- Handling related family law issues: Lawyers help defend against domestic violence allegations in divorce, child custody, and visitation disputes, working to protect your parental rights and reputation.
- Preventing long-term consequences: A lawyer will work to protect you from the long-term consequences of a domestic violence conviction, such as a criminal record that could affect employment, housing, and more.
How Are Domestic Violence Lawyers Paid?
Domestic violence lawyers generally charge for their services in different ways depending on the case's complexity and the type of legal work involved. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rate: Many domestic violence lawyers charge by the hour, with rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location. Hourly rates are common for both criminal defense and family law matters.
- Flat fee: For specific tasks, such as filing a restraining order or defending against a straightforward domestic violence charge, some lawyers offer a flat fee that covers all legal work related to that service.
- Retainer: In complex cases, such as those involving criminal charges, divorce, and custody disputes, a lawyer may require a retainer fee, which is an upfront payment that covers future legal services.
- Pro bono or reduced fees: Some domestic violence lawyers provide pro bono (free) or reduced-fee services to victims of domestic abuse who cannot afford legal representation.
It’s important to discuss fees during your consultation to ensure you understand how much your case will cost and what payment options may be available.
How Much Does a Domestic Violence Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a domestic violence lawyer depends on the complexity of your case, the lawyer’s experience, and the type of legal work required. General cost estimates include:
- Restraining orders: The legal fees for filing a protective or restraining order typically range from $500 to $2,500, depending on whether the case requires a hearing.
- Criminal defense: If you’re defending against domestic violence charges, legal fees may range from $2,500 to $15,000 or more, depending on whether the case goes to trial and the severity of the charges.
- Family law issues: Legal fees for divorce, child custody, and other family law issues related to domestic violence can range from $3,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case.
- Hourly rates: Domestic violence lawyers typically charge between $150 and $500 per hour for their services, with more experienced lawyers charging higher rates.
Always ask for a detailed cost estimate during your consultation to understand the total cost of legal services.
Top Questions to Ask a Domestic Violence Lawyer
Before hiring a domestic violence lawyer, it’s important to ask key questions to ensure they have the right experience and approach for your case. Key questions to ask include:
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What experience do you have with domestic violence cases?
Ensure that the lawyer has handled domestic violence cases similar to yours, whether you’re a victim or the accused. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, flat fees, or a retainer, and ask for a detailed cost estimate. -
What is the likely outcome of my case?
Ask the lawyer for an honest assessment of your case, including potential challenges and expected outcomes. -
How long will the process take?
Domestic violence cases vary in length, so ask the lawyer how long they expect the process to last and what might cause delays. -
Will I need to appear in court?
Ask if your participation in court is required, and how the lawyer plans to represent you during hearings or trials. -
What steps should I take to protect myself or my rights?
Whether you’re a victim seeking protection or defending against allegations, ask the lawyer how they will help you navigate the situation.
How to Check the Credibility of a Domestic Violence Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable domestic violence lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and track record:
- Check their bar status: Verify with your state bar association that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing with no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for domestic violence experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in domestic violence cases and have successfully handled cases like yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients say about their experience with the lawyer.
- Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have been involved in domestic violence cases.
- Check for memberships in relevant organizations: Look for certifications or memberships in family law or domestic violence advocacy groups, such as the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with a domestic violence lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
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For Victims:
- Details of the abuse: Prepare a detailed account of the abuse, including dates, locations, and descriptions of any injuries or threats.
- Police reports and medical records: Bring copies of any police reports, medical records, or photographs that document the abuse.
- Legal filings: If you have already filed for a restraining order or been involved in any legal proceedings, bring copies of those documents.
- Questions about your safety and legal options: Be ready to ask about the best steps to protect yourself and your family, as well as what legal actions you should pursue.
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For the Accused:
- Details of the allegations: Prepare a detailed account of the incident or allegations against you, including any evidence or witnesses that support your defense.
- Legal documents: Bring any legal documents you have received, such as a restraining order, criminal charges, or child custody filings.
- Questions about your defense: Prepare questions about the legal process, possible penalties, and how the lawyer plans to defend your case.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation and provide the best possible legal advice.
