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

Mark K. Baumann
Mark is an experienced family law litigator, counselor, mediator, educator and professional speaker; he has practiced law in Washington’s greater Puget Sound area since 1988. Mark is well versed in a variety of legal matters and now practices family law exclusively.
Mark provides sound advice in all areas of family law, including divorce, parenting, custody, visitation, child support, modifications, relocation, grandparent and third party visitation, property division, retirements, spousal support (alimony), trial and pre-trial litigation, pre-divorce counseling, and mediation.
Attachment Parenting
Our office utilizes principals from attachment science to help our clients achieve their parenting and relationship goals.
Attachment-Based Parenting involves using concepts of attachment science and theory to guide parenting. The science of attachment is a little complicated, but we’ll show you how to make applying it to parenting a snap.

Customized Care
Our office provides services to match most legal needs and/or financial budgets.
An initial meeting with Mark will help determine what are your legal needs and budget are.
This meeting will also identify the ways you would best benefit from our services.
Testimonials
- 5
Mark has strong skills in communication and conflict resolution. I came to him with a bad situation, he listened, was able to assess the situation and advise a solution. The solution was one that I would not have selected as my first choice on my own, but later I discovered, turned out to be the best choice I could have made for all involved. He helped me to realize my real priorities, pointed me in the direction of resources to accomplish my goals and gave guidance where needed. Through Mark’s council and mediation, and with time and patience on my part, my situation improved not only better than I expected, but better than I thought possible. As a family lawyer you can trust that Mark is conscientious about and will help you to do what is best for your children.
Bad Situation Turned Good
James - 5
This law firm not only delivers results but does so in a professional manner; all of the staff are extremely helpful and responsive to questions, concerns, etc. If you have an issue that this law firm can handle, you won't find a better one.
The Best Choice for an Attorney
Steve - 5
Mark Baumann and his legal team helped me through an emotionally and financially turbulent separation and divorce with excellent advice, fast service, flexibility, compassion and hard work. With Mark's help, backed up by Vanessa and Amanda, I felt respected, protected and guided out of a toxic and volatile situation with a minimum of stress, and a hard earned but fair settlement -- avoiding what would have been a very costly trial. Mark, Vanessa and Amanda are not only experienced, technically proficient to the letter, they also genuinely care. Going through this divorce is one of the worst things I have ever done, but I am grateful to have gone through it with some of the best people I have ever met. I can't recommend Mark and his team highly enough!
Outstanding Legal Service!
Gail - 5
Mark Baumann and the staff at his office are incredibly insightful, supportive, and professional people. I was looking specifically for an attorney adept at dealing with sociopathic personalities, and having no idea what to expect, when I stumbled across their genius. Mark explained to me his involvement with the High Conflict Institute, and stated they'd work with me to, "untangle the web of lies," that was my current case file. Those were some of the most relieving words I've ever heard. It was a time consuming process but one well worth the effort. The declaration they wrote on my behalf did untangle that web of lies, but not only that, it was tactful, to the point, and strictly factual. There was no exaggeration or unnecessary adjectives, there was no finger pointing; just a strategic dissection of what had been said, how it contradicted itself, and what actually occurred. It was really empowering to not engage in the game. (more…)
More Than Just a Law Office
Anonymous - 5
Mark not only was my lawyer but also an excellent teacher. My case is what the courts would consider "high conflict", and mark powered through the waves with me. With his guidance and assistance, I was awarded custody of my son. Now 3 years later I am preparing to hire him again to finish what we had started. My case is a unique one, changing every year. I know I can trust mark and his associates to help me see it through and finish. He was and is an excellent mentor, teaching me to think strategically as opposed to emotionally which is something we can all be guilty of. I learned alot during our time together and will be utilizing him again in the near future.
My Hero
Grace
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

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
October is Attachment Parenting month
Attachment Parenting International is celebrating Attachment Parenting month with daily tips on their blog. My attachment parenting page provides a … [Read More...] about October is Attachment Parenting month
The information provided on this site is general rather than legal advice. Legal advice is always case-specific so nothing on this website is meant to offer legal advice. Any information provided on this website, or information you may provide us by email, will not create an attorney-client relationship.