Karen Quail, the developer of the Peace Discipline parenting model, is hosting a 2-session interactive talk on understanding the gifts and challenges … [Read More...] about Training: High sensitivity and autism in families and schools
Protecting What Matters To You Most
“My job is to achieve my client’s goals. Often times, clients need help defining their goals. Listening to the client and understanding their needs and interests, working through the options and setting attainable goals is typically the first step in fashioning a strategy in which to proceed”
-Mark Baumann
Domestic Violence
“It’s all your fault.” “Now look what you made me do!”
“You’ll never see the children again!”
“I’ll ruin you financially!” “No one else will ever love you!"
If you are a DV victim, think you are, or are in a relationship where emotions just get quickly out of control, having a plan for what to do can be the best form of protection for everyone involved.
Read more about DV safety plans here
Child Custody
Custody cases are always emotionally challenging. The initial hearings in any case are very important, because it can be difficult to change court rulings later on.
“Even if it is likely that you and your spouse will be able to cooperate and get along on custody issues, it’s still best to speak to a lawyer who can help you achieve this goal. All too often, separating parents start out with the best of intentions, but something goes wrong along the way and cases become difficult, or worse, spin out of control. Steps can be taken right away to increase the likelihood of preventing escalating conflict.” -Mark Baumann
Property Division
Dividing property in a divorce action can be straightforward, or complex.
Generally speaking, all property and debts acquired during a marriage are considered community property, although there are important exceptions.
Often, to get the best settlement for any individual client, all of the factors in the divorce need to be carefully considered in the larger picture.
Difficult Cases, Harmful Co-Parenting
Cases are more complex when one parent engages in a parenting style that impairs or causes harm to the children’s psychological and emotional development. These cases require both structure from court orders, and client self-help.
The court system can only go so far to solve the problem.
Our goal is to help clients gain a clearer picture of the challenges they face, so they can make effective decisions about how to move forward and best protect themselves and their children.
Read more about harmful co-parenting here
Parenting Information, News, and Resources
True heart, true grace, true grit
Olympic sized challenges sometimes offer Olympic sized stories of the human spirit. These three stories from the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, … [Read More...] about True heart, true grace, true grit
Defining Best Interest of the Child (BIOTC) in Washington
Washington law defines the Best Interest of the Child, and parenting functions in a collection of laws. This page collects them in one place. These … [Read More...] about Defining Best Interest of the Child (BIOTC) in Washington
Domestic violence and coercive control
Mediation services
Mark Baumann provides mediation services in family law cases, and in a few other types of cases. He is a family law expert with over 30 years experience. As mediator, Mark serves as a neutral third party who helps couples find an effective resolution their personal and legal issues. Mark cannot give legal advice while […]
True heart, true grace, true grit
Lessons from 2022 Olympians Eileen Gu, Shaun White and Mikaela Shiffrin
Rejection Begets Aggression, beware
Use the RBA rule to avoid aggression when delivering rejection
Recent News From Our Office
Regressive behaviors by children exposed to domestic violence and coercive control
Regressive behaviors and harm-indicators are often seen in children whose parent is harmful, abusive, coercively controlling, or very unfocused on … [Read More...] about Regressive behaviors by children exposed to domestic violence and coercive control
Meaning of the Child – attachment training
Training on using the Meaning of the Child interview (MotC), a DMM-attachment assessment is available in June and July 2022. The 5-part series begins … [Read More...] about Meaning of the Child – attachment training
Minor guardianship under Washington’s Uniform Guardianship Act
“Third party custody,” or nonparental custody, was changed to minor guardianship in 2021. To gain custody of someone else’s child in Washington, you … [Read More...] about Minor guardianship under Washington’s Uniform Guardianship Act