Law Firm Overview

We are a four-attorney law firm, specializing in Family Law. Our practice consists primarily of:

• Dissolution of Marriage or Legal Separation
• Modifications (child support/ parenting/ spousal maintenance [previously known as “alimony”])
• Custody/ Parenting Plans
• Child Support Adjustments
• Adoptions
• Living together situations (otherwise known as a “meretricious relationship” or “palimony” in other states. There is no “common law” marriage in Washington State)

Our hourly rate is $180/hour. We are able to retain this low hourly rate because we own our own building and because we are most interested in client selection. Keeping our fee at this level affords us the opportunity to serve more individuals, at less cost.

We service only King County, Snohomish County and, occasionally, Island County.

Our clients have been many and varied as you may imagine. Mr. Anderson has been practicing law since 1966 and Mr. Fields since 1974. Mrs. McIlwain has been practicing law for 10 years. Mr. Dermody has been practicing law for 8 years.

The law firm has been in existence since 1977. We have represented individuals and professionals from all walks of life, including homemakers, doctors, attorneys, Judges, dog walkers, professional athletes, CEOs, pilots, fishermen, engineers and, frankly, someone from every walk of life.

Our representation mix between men and women clients varies from time to time but, generally speaking, we probably have an equal amount of male and female clients.

As you can read in the attorneys biographies, our attorneys have the highest legal rating possible, have lectured at seminars, have authored books and are extremely knowledgeable (see Anderson and Fields bios).

Our initial conferences have a one-time fee of $100 for a one-hour meeting and serve to advise you of the legal ramifications of your case. The conference also provides you with an opportunity to assess the attorney to determine if you and he/she feel comfortable with each other.

We are easily located near the shores of Lake Union. You will not be charged for parking. (Click here for driving directions)

We are a firm located by word of mouth and have never advertised ourselves in newspapers, magazines, radio or TV. We have not sold our good name or paid a fee to have ourselves bogusly classified or represented in specialty magazines.

Mr. Anderson and Mr. Fields have written a book for the layman, “Divorce in Washington” which generally details the law on various subjects from property division, custody, child support, maintenance, what the legal proceeding is all about, etc. The book, which spans some 140 pages, was written to better inform our clients and additionally provides you with a model parenting plan. Click here to send a request to order it through our office for $30.

Areas of Practice

• Adoption
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Child Support 20%
• Custody & Visitation 20%
• Divorce 60%
• Family Law
• Spousal Maintenance

West Practice Categories

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Family Law, Adoption, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce