$ 300-450 per hour
Meredith McKell Graff
About Meredith
Biography
I started the law firm in 2003 in Vancouver, WA and offered legal services in the areas of family, elder, and eventually juvenile (dependency). I stopped taking contested family law matters in 2017 when I took a contract to represent parents as a defense attorney in CPS cases. In 2024, my law partner and spouse, Eugene Graff, and I moved to Texas. He now works for the State of Texas and my law practice is now limted to court appointed child welfare matters, representing parents, doing guardian ad litem work, and mediation. I take a few estate planning cases by word of mouth. I retired my WA and UT bar licenses when I got my TX bar license.
Since the beginning, I have felt every client that comes to me for legal services is there because I am meant to be his or her attorney. I have learned a lot from my clients and some became friends after the case was resolved. One was able to adopt her granddaughter out of a CPS case. Another was unjustly accused of assaulting his child by a vindictive former spouse. Another was a victim of DV but was able to have an negotiated divorce, rather than make the trauma worse with litigation. Another was deprived of his share of the marital property in a divorce because his attorney quit the last minute. With a new trial, it was made fair and equitable by the court. It is an honor to me to represent the people who come to me for legal help - even when the court appoints me and they didn't choose me. In particular, the work in child welfare is healing the world, one family at a time when people are willing to step up to do the things the court believes will help them be better parents. I don't believe a parent can be successful without people who care and believe in them. That is the mission for me. I understand not everyone is ready to be helped when the help is there. For those who are, it is a joyous experience for the parents, the children, and all the professionals who work with them to get them to the finish line.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Juvenile Law
70%
9 years | 319 cases
Estate Planning
20%
27 years | 624 cases
Mediation
10%
43 years | 960 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Texas for 1 year
State: Texas
Acquired: 2025
No misconduct found
Licensed in Washington for 24 years
State: Washington
Acquired: 2002
No misconduct found
Licensed in Utah for 26 years
State: Utah
Acquired: 1999
No misconduct found
Location
McKell Graff, PLLC
PO Box 50062, Amarillo, TX, 79159
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Meredith McKell Graff's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
17 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 16 - 17 of 17 reviews
Posted by Mike | January 29, 2010
Best of the Best
Looking for an ethical lawyer who knows her trade? Congratulations, you found her! Meredith McKell Graff is the best of the best. Meredith took over a case where the other side relied on deception and lies as their tactics. My ex-spouse was out for blood and the lawyer was out to drag the was...
Posted by anonymous | August 07, 2009
Fantastic person; fantastic lawyer
After wasting a few months in the legal system with lawyers that were out to drag my divorce process for as long as humanly possible, my ex and I hired Meredith. My ex and I do not get along at all and she was able to mediate our divorce in (2) two hour sessions and we got our divorce finalized wit...
Meredith McKell Graff's Lawyer Endorsements
"Meredith and I worked on a complex probate/trust matter together that had facts spanning many years. Meredith was great to work with. I endorse this lawyer."
"Meredith is knowledgable, thorough and a consummate professional. I have had the good fortune to learn from her by litigating cases against her and leaned on her as a resource when facing a novel legal question, in my practice. I endorse Meredith without hesitation."
"I am not exaggerating when I state that every single time I have called Meredith for advice on a tricky issue, she knows just how to handle it. Smart, thoughtful, ethical, and a real mensch."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"If I were faced with a divorce or family law issue in Washington State, Meredith McKell Graff is the first attorney I would think of, and the first call I would make! I cannot think of a better way to validate my endorsement of this lawyer!"
"I endorse this lawyer's work. Meredith is very professional and looks after the best interest of her clients. When I have had a conflict I have referred some clients on to Meredith. She is both a combination of being aggressive when necessary but always wishes to mediate, if appropriate and desired by her client."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. Meredith is very ethical while at the same time, a strong advocate for her clients. She is a problem solver which is extremely important in the area of family law. I find her to be extremely professional."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. She is honest, hard working and always available for questions. She volunteers in the community and mentors young lawyers. She is someone that is ethical, honest, and dependable."
"Meredith is tough when she needs to be, always empathic and very knowledgeable in her chosen field. When I closed down my practice, I did not hesitate to send cases her way. I knew that any client I sent her way would be well cared-for and satisfied with her service."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. I have known Meredith for several years as a fellow member of the George & Donald Simpson Inns of Court. Meredith strikes me as a person of great competence, caring, and integrity. She is also a leader in the area of collaborative divorce. I recommend her without reservation."
"Meredith is hard-working, smart, organized, and energetic."
Crystal Davieau
Criminal defense lawyer
Trent Kunz
Trusts lawyer
William Macke
Divorce and separation lawyer
Arin Dunn
Employment and labor lawyer
Emily Sheldrick
Employment and labor lawyer
Lisa Martin
Family lawyer
Josephine Townsend
Family lawyer
Linda Staples
Juvenile law lawyer
Therese Greenen
Elder law lawyer
Steven Turner
Land use and zoning lawyer
Rachel Mitchell
Juvenile law lawyer
Experience
Honors
2009
Certified Mediator/Family Law, Washington Mediation Association
2008
Professional of the Year, Cambridge Who's Who
2007
CV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation, Washington State Bar Association
2005
Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program
Work Experience
2003 - Present
Attorney/Mediator, McKell Graff, PLLC
2002 - 2003
Attorney/Mediator, Walstead Mertsching Attorneys at Law
1999 - 2002
Mediator/JD Paralegal, Steven Allen Smith, PC
Associations
2003 - Present
Clark County Bar AssociationMember
2002 - Present
Washington State Bar AssociationMember
1999 - Present
Utah State BarMember
1998 - Present
Association for Conflict ResolutionAdvanced Practitioner
2016 - 2023
Washington Mediation AssociationBoard Member, Certification Committee Chair
2009 - 2011
Clark County Superior CourtGuardian ad Litem
2009 - 2011
Clark County Association of MediatorsMember
2006 - 2010
International Academy of Collaborative ProfessionalsMember
2004 - 2009
American Inns of CourtBoard Member, Member
2003 - 2009
Washington Women LawyersBoard member
2003 - 2017
Clark County Bar Association/Family Law SectionBoard member, Member
2002 - 2005
Cowlitz County Bar AssociationBoard Member, Member
2002 - 2017
Clark County Bar AssociationMember
1995 - 2006
American Bar AssociationMember
Sample of Legal Cases
In re the Marriage of J.K. & J.K.
Successful--Client Got His Day in Court!
Estate Planning for J.W.J.
Completed estate planning for client before he died of terminal cancer
Ceesay & Ceesay
Client attained all her goals in the case.
In re the Parentage of A.S.
Success so far and more to come!
In re the Custody of G.K.D.
The non-parental custodian retained custody without visitation for the mother.
Education
1998
University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, SLC, UT
Juris Doctor
1990
Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
MA - Masters
1984
Loretto Heights College, Denver, CO
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1974
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
AA-Associate of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2011
Title 26 Guardian ad Litem Training
Cultural Competency for Guardians ad Litem
2011
Rocky Mountain Retreat
How Reiki Energy Can Change Your Life and Your Practice
2009
2nd Annual Statewide Collaborative Law Conference
Bring Peace to Your Life & Your Practice
2008
Lawyers Assistance Program Statewide Conference
Revitalizing Your Counseling Skills
2006
Family Law Seminar
Mediation and Collaboration
2005
Collaborative Basic Training
Ethics in Collaborative Practice
2005
2005 Collaborative Family Practice Training
Avoiding Conflict and Ethical Traps
Publications
2010
Divorce Source.com
Important Information for People Contemplating Divorce
2010
Divorce Source.com
Attorney-Supported Mediation in Family Law
2007
The Bencher
The Judge Said No
1999
University of Utah Press
Contested Landscape
Languages
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can adoption subsidy off-set child support obligation?
20 Aug 2012
Q&A
What is the affidavit used for in court?
23 Aug 2012
Q&A
What happens in the state of WA if a person cannot be found to serve divorce papers on?
23 Aug 2012
Legal Guides
Legal Guide
Reiki Energy Healing and Divorce
20 May 2011
Legal Guide
How to Waste Money in a Divorce!
10 May 2011
Legal Guide
What To Do If You Can't Afford a Lawyer to Represent You
02 Feb 2010