“I came in with a stack of envelopes and no idea which one mattered. By the end of the hour I had three dates written down and a plan for the week.”
Bryn T.Divorce
Family law in Eugene, Oregon
The ground has shifted. Start with what's in front of you.
When a marriage ends or a parenting plan stops working, everything moves at once. Pick the line that sounds most like this week, and I'll show you what comes first.
Where are you right now?
- We're separating, or thinking about itDivorce, the house, money
- I've been served with papersWhat they say and the dates that matter
- We need a plan for the kidsParenting time, custody, child support
- An order no longer fitsA schedule or support figure to change
- I'm not safe at homeProtective orders and leaving safely
Before anything else
What comes up first
Alders are the first trees back on ground that has been flooded, burned or cleared. Their roots feed the soil for everything that grows after. A family in the middle of a separation needs the same few things before it can plan anything else.
A place to live, for now
Who stays in the house, who pays which bill, and how everyone gets through the next few weeks. Temporary arrangements can often be set up early, before the big questions are settled.
Divorce and the householdA schedule the kids can count on
School days, weekends, holidays and handoffs, written down. A plan that names the small things holds up better than one that leaves them to be argued about.
Parenting plansMoney that covers the month
Honest numbers for two households, and child or spousal support worked out from them, not guessed at.
Support and moneySafety, if you need it
A protective order, a plan for leaving and a button at the top of this site that takes you somewhere else in one click.
Safety ordersThe papers, in plain words
What was served, what it asks of you and which dates cannot be missed, explained before you decide anything.
How it worksOne lawyer who calls back
Every message and every call goes to me, not to a front desk. Same person from the first meeting to the last signature.
About Willa
Why alder
The tree that gets out of the way
A red alder grows where the ground has been disturbed. It puts nitrogen back in the soil, shades the seedlings that follow and, in time, gives way to the taller trees it made room for.
That is how I try to work. I want to be the first steady thing in the room: reading the papers with you, getting the urgent pieces in place, then helping you write something that doesn't need me.
Many of the people who come in aren't looking for a fight. They are in the hardest year they have had and want someone to say, in order, what happens next.
One lawyer, from the first call to the last signature
Agreements written in plain language
Mediation where it is safe, court where it is not
What grew back
“Willa wrote our parenting plan down to the Wednesday pickups. We haven't had to go back to court about it.”
Haruka M.Parenting plan
“She told me what a judge could and couldn't do. It was the first honest thing anyone had said to me in weeks.”
Joss R.Protective order
Sample reviews. Each client's case is different, and what happened for one family doesn't predict what will happen for yours.
Before you call
Questions from the clearing
Do I have to decide everything on the first call?
No. The first meeting is for reading what you have, hearing what you're facing and saying what comes first. Most people leave with one or two things to do this week, not a decision about the whole case.
What if we agree on most things?
Then we should say so on paper and keep it simple. Agreements can often be written up and filed without a contested hearing. I'll tell you plainly where each of you should have your own lawyer.
Will we end up in court?
Often not in a courtroom. Many cases settle through negotiation or mediation, and the court mostly signs what the two of you have worked out. Some need a judge, especially where safety is a worry.
What will it cost?
You'll get the fee structure and an estimate in writing at the first meeting, so the range is clear before you decide to go ahead.
I'm worried about my safety. Where do I start?
Start with the safety orders page, and use the Leave quickly button at the top of any page if you need to close this site fast. If you're in danger now, call 911.
You don't have to plant anything yet.
One conversation to see what's there. Bring the papers you have, or none, and we'll start with what's in front of you.
Please keep confidential details, such as account numbers or what happened at home, out of the contact form.