Wyse Kadish helps individuals, couples, and families navigate challenging family law issues. We bring not only deep expertise, but also patience and empathy to these trying situations. We help clients resolve a range of family law issues, including divorce, custody disputes, paternity suits, prenuptial and domestic partnership agreements, and other matters. Our approaches include litigation, negotiation, mediation, and collaborative services.
Litigation Services
Alternatives to Litigation
Domestic Agreements
Wyse Kadish offers traditional litigation services as a means of resolving domestic disputes. Most litigated cases follow a standard series of steps.
After a case is filed, there may be a preliminary hearing to establish temporary support, custody and/or parenting time until the case is finally resolved. Alternatively, the parties may agree on these issues, in which case a hearing is not necessary.
Next, we compile all information about the family that is relevant to the resolution of the case. The parties produce financial records, so that there is a complete understanding of the family’s economic situation. When necessary and appropriate, experts may be brought in. Accountants, appraisers, actuaries, or financial planners help the attorney and the parties understand the financial issues in the case; psychologists and vocational therapists can help clarify issues around children and work. Often, a deposition is taken of each party, so that the attorneys can develop an understanding of how the opposing party views the case and how he or she will testify at trial.
During the course of this case preparation, we will attempt to settle some or all issues by engaging in negotiation with the other party. We may be assisted by a neutral, third-party mediator, or the negotiation may take place between attorneys or between attorneys and clients. If the case cannot be resolved, it is finally tried before a judge.
We have many years of experience in counseling clients through this litigation process. For a more detailed description of how we will handle your case, please contact us for a consultation.
Many of our clients wish to avoid litigation and seek more amicable, cooperative approaches to their family law matters. Wyse Kadish offers alternative methods of dispute resolution.
We offer consultation services for clients who wish to negotiate their own cases. For example, where two parties are resolving their divorce themselves through the assistance of a mediator, it can be helpful to also have a consulting attorney. That attorney does not attend mediation with you, but is available to counsel you during the process and to review drafted agreements before you sign. Because we are not offering full litigation services in this context, we enter into limited consulting arrangements with clients to provide this type of service. This is an excellent way to keep attorney fees down, but still enjoy the support and insight of an experienced attorney.
Wyse Kadish also offers collaborative law services. Collaborative law is a relatively new legal approach in which both parties and their attorneys sign a contract agreeing that the attorneys will not litigate the case. This focuses all of the attorneys’ efforts on settling the case, because the only way to succeed is to settle; the parties are not allowed to go to court. If the case is not resolved, the attorneys must resign and the clients must hire new attorneys to litigate the matter.
Wyse Kadish offers assistance in negotiating and drafting domestic agreements, such as prenuptial, post-nuptial and domestic partnership contracts. To learn more about the benefits of these types of agreements, please contact us for a consultation.
Attorneys who practice Family Law: David Bean, Meagan Robbins, & Chelsea Hickok
Wyse Kadish partner David Bean volunteered through the Multnomah Bar Association’s YLS Service to the Public Committee to assemble winter care kits to be delivered to Blanchet House. Blanchet House is a local non-profit organization that provides food, clothing and housing to people living homeless in Portland.
Wyse Kadish attorneys and staff participated in the Multnomah Bar Association’s 19th Annual WinterSmash bowling event. The Winter Smash is a fundraiser for the Multnomah Bar Foundation and it’s Court Care, Court Support and Court Connect programs.
Wyse Kadish is proud to rank among Portland’s most diverse law firms. Our diverse and dynamic group of professionals cultivates the exchange of unique perspectives and creative solutions to client issues.