Walla Walla Divorce, Custody, Estate Planning, and Probate Attorneys

Rooted in Walla Walla, Serving Families Across Southeast Washington

Our Walla Walla office is located on South Palouse Street, kitty-corner from the YMCA and just blocks from the courthouse, in a community where family, land, and responsibility remain closely tied. Walla Walla is a place where people build lives meant to last—often across generations—and where legal decisions are rarely isolated from the relationships around them.

In communities where Friday nights, harvest seasons, and local traditions still matter, legal decisions tend to ripple outward rather than disappear. In places where people run into each other at games, school events, and community gatherings, professionalism and discretion are not optional—they are expected.

Families here often have deep roots. Some never leave. Others return after building careers elsewhere, bringing new questions about parenting, property, and legacy back home. We serve families throughout Walla Walla County and the surrounding region, including Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin Counties, with an approach grounded in respect for both the law and the communities our clients live in.

We offer both in-person and remote meetings to accommodate distance, schedules, and seasonal demands—while remaining closely connected to how these courts operate and how these communities function.

Courts That Will Shape Your Case

Family law and probate outcomes are shaped not just by statutes, but by local judges, clerks, and courtroom practice. Knowing how these courts function day-to-day matters.

Walla Walla County Superior Court

Walla Walla County Superior Court is staffed by two judges and a part-time commissioner, with dedicated family law, protection order, and paternity dockets. Remote appearances by WebEx are permitted for many hearings, but the court enforces strict identification, decorum, and punctuality requirements. In-person appearances remain the expectation for trials and certain contested matters.

We practice regularly in this courthouse and are familiar with how hearings are scheduled, how bench copies are handled, and what preparation judges expect before matters are called.

Columbia, Asotin, and Garfield Counties 

Columbia, Asotin, and Garfield Counties share a single Superior Court judge who rotates between county seats. While each county maintains its own clerk and courthouse procedures, the judicial approach remains consistent across the district. While filings may occur in different courthouses, the judicial expectations are consistent across all three jurisdictions. That continuity matters.

In these counties, success depends less on volume or motion practice and more on understanding what the court expects to see, how matters are presented, and when discretion is exercised. Probate, adoption, and family law matters often involve rural families spread across long distances, making strategic planning around calendars, travel, and remote appearances especially important.

We regularly practice in these courts and help clients plan filings, hearings, and appearances based on how the judge actually runs the docket—not assumptions based on larger jurisdictions.

How We Help Families Protect What Matters Most

At Pacific Northwest Family Law, we do not approach family matters as isolated legal problems. We help families make intentional decisions with long-term consequences in mind—protecting children, preserving livelihoods, and strengthening what can still be saved.

Our work is not about reacting to the crisis of the moment. It is about building a plan, setting a direction, and guiding families toward outcomes that serve them not just today, but years from now.

Divorce and Family Law: Creating Structure When Families Change

Divorce and separation are often the most disruptive moments a family will face. Emotions run high, communication breaks down, and decisions made too quickly can create lasting damage. Our role is to bring structure, clarity, and foresight to that process.

We represent clients in divorce and broader family law matters involving children, property, and long-term financial security. Rather than chasing short-term wins, we focus on outcomes that protect stability, preserve parental roles, and reduce future conflict whenever possible.

This includes thoughtful planning around parenting arrangements, financial support, and property division—especially where businesses, professional careers, or inherited assets are involved.

➡ Learn more about Divorce and Family Law in Washington State

Child Custody and Parenting Plans That Support Children

Parenting plans shape a child’s daily life. They determine where children live, how decisions are made, and how conflict is handled when parents disagree. Plans that look fine on paper but fail in practice often lead families back to court.

We help parents create parenting plans that reflect real life—school schedules, work demands, seasonal employment, and the realities of raising children in close-knit communities. Our goal is to protect meaningful parent-child relationships while giving children consistency and security.

We represent both mothers and fathers, always with an eye toward building plans that endure rather than unravel.

➡ Learn more about Child Custody and Father’s Rights in Washington State

Unmarried Couples and Committed Intimate Relationships

Many families in Southeast Washington build long-term lives together without marrying. When those relationships end, questions about property, debt, and parenting can become legally complex very quickly.

Washington law recognizes committed intimate relationships, but outcomes depend heavily on timing, documentation, and preparation. We help clients understand where they stand, protect their contributions, and avoid costly missteps when relationships change.

➡ Learn more about Unmarried Couples: Committed Intimate Relationships (CIRs) in Washington State

Probate: Guiding Families Through Responsibility and Loss

Probate is not just a legal process—it is a responsibility carried by families at an already difficult time. Whether an estate is simple or contested, the process requires careful attention to court rules, deadlines, and family dynamics.

We help personal representatives, heirs, and beneficiaries navigate probate with clarity and steadiness. Our goal is to honor the intent of the person who has passed while helping families move forward with as little conflict and confusion as possible.

➡ Learn more about Probate in Washington State

Estate Planning: Protecting Legacies, Land, and Livelihoods

In Walla Walla and the surrounding region, estate planning often involves more than personal assets. Farms, vineyards, family businesses, and land passed down through generations bring unique challenges around liquidity, succession, and fairness.We approach agricultural and business succession planning as both a legal and relational process, recognizing that fairness and continuity are not always the same thing.

We help families plan for the future with wills and trusts designed to protect children, preserve working assets, and reduce the risk of conflict between generations. Estate planning is not about paperwork—it is about ensuring that what you have built can continue to support the people you care about.

➡ Learn more about Estate Planning in Washington State

Decisions That Shape Families for Generations

Families do not become stronger by accident. They become stronger when someone is willing to step forward, take responsibility, and make difficult decisions with care and intention.

Most people come to us at a moment they did not choose. A marriage has changed. Parenting arrangements feel uncertain. A loved one has passed away. Long-held plans no longer fit reality. In those moments, delay creates risk.

We use the law as a tool to protect families. Divorce creates structure when relationships change. Estate planning safeguards people and values. Probate allows families to honor those who came before them while moving forward with clarity.

If you are facing a turning point, the next step is to act. Complete the form below to begin a new client interview and start building a plan that protects your family and its future.

216 S Palouse St
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 524-8488