Laura A McDermott

Laura A McDermott

4.9
Rating: 9.0

Licensed for 26 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at Florence, AZ
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Child Custody, Child Support ... +2 more

355 N. Main St, Florence, AZ

About Laura

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 45%

Negotiate financial and family matters in divorce or legal separation, including a fair division of community assets and debt.

45%
Child Custody 35%

Child custody matters in Arizona involve legal decision-making (legal decisions regarding healthcare, education, religion and personal care) and a schedule for shared parenting time (visitation).

35%
Child Support 10%

Negotiate and calculate child support, either by agreement or in court, by objectively determining the most appropriate amount of child support for your situation.

10%
Trusts 5%

A living trust allows you to manage your property while you are alive, to direct who will manage your property if you become incapable of doing so, and to direct disposition of your estate upon your death.

5%
Wills and Living Wills 5%

A written will lets you decide what happens to your money and property after you die, while a living will lets you decide whether or not you wish to be placed on a medical life support system if you become incapacitated.

5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Hourly Rates

$ 350-400 per hour


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Arizona for 26 years

State: Arizona

Acquired: 1999

Active

No misconduct found

Location

McDermott Law Firm, PLLC

355 N. Main St, Florence, AZ, 85132

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Laura A McDermott's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

18 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (18) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Compassion

Posted by anonymous | October 16, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Family

A+ Family Law Attorney

Laura McDermott is an amazing lawyer. She helped me at a time in need when I did not know how to be my own voice. From the beginning, Laura had my my best interest at heart. Laura will not sugar coat things and tell you what you want to hear, instead Laura will tell you how the law works, the trut...h about your case, give you options, and will work her hardest for you in ever aspect. Laura is extremely detail oriented and unlike most lawyers, Laura not only represents you but also does her own paralegal work which means she is in tune with your case the entire way. I felt so confident having Laura by my side knowing she will work her hardest for me and have my best interest at hand. Laura thank you for all that you do and for what you did for my family. I am beyond grateful to have met you.

Posted by anonymous | October 27, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Breath of Fresh Air

I have had an extremely difficult experience with serious criminal charges that have completely rocked my world and showed me a side of the judicial system I would have preferred to remain ignorant of. Laura was the one of the very few individuals throughout this ordeal that treated me and made me f...eel like a human being again, rather than a monster. Very supportive, honest, upfront and communicative. She was outspoken and to the point, yet polite in court. I am confident that without her local connections and timely communication with those involved in my case, the final results would not have been as positive. I have unfortunately spoken to and worked with more than one attorney during this ordeal and always walked away feeling worse about my situation. My experience with 'Laura' was more like having a friend help me out than hiring an attorney.

Posted by Mr. Pink | October 15, 2014 | Drug Crime

Wow! A Lawyer that I actually trust and connected with! Who'da thunk it?

I was charged with a petty marijuana possession the late summer of 2013. The statute of limitation for a marijuana possession in AZ is 12 months. Much to my dismay (and thinking I had gotten away with it), they filed the charges after 11 months and about 15 days. Naturally, I wanted to do anything I ...could to prevent this bad boy from becoming a felony (AZ law states a marijuana possession is a felony, charming for a state with medical marijuana). So I hired Laura McDermott, of McDermott Law Firm, PLLC. First of all, I really liked that I was working with the lawyer who owned the firm. Second, I liked that she was a woman. Maybe that's sexist against men, but female lawyers simply work harder, in my opinion, and Ms. McDermott was definitely not an exception to that trend. Laura (first name basis, which I also liked), was very personable, helpful, and most of all, available. I never imagined that in the world of professional law, that my lawyer would not only answer all of my calls (and give me her cell phone number), but also told me that I could text message her with any questions I had about the case! That, right there, was such a nice option, I literally never once felt like I was even somewhat uninformed about my case. When she needed something from me, she would just call me, even if it was like 11 p.m. Some people may not like that, but for me, I literally couldn't have asked for anything more in the communication department. Next, the case itself. So I was given 2 charges, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia (joint-rolling papers). I live more than 1000 miles from where this happened, so I was really freaking out, and thinking that I was going to have to go back to AZ, miss a bunch of stuff, have it be really embarrassing and all that, but Laura went to my pre-trial hearing for me, which was to be expected, but still very nice because I didn't have to miss work. She applied for a "diversion" agreement for me, which means that I could get the charges dismissed if I did "some things". That freaked me out too, because there was no telling what the prosecutor could have made me do, but I was willing to do anything to get is dismissed. Large consequences if not. This is getting pretty long so I'll wrap up. Due to both Laura's personal relationship with the prosecutor, and my academic and worldliness (college, cool job, some volunteering), the case was dismissed, my only reprimands being a $100 fine, and I can't break any laws for 12 months. Laura says that I can get that down to 6 months too. If I had to hold my breath while I tried to think of something that could have gone better with Laura McDermott and my case, I surely would suffocate. If you want a lawyer that actually cares, about you, as a person, who made a mistake, and will actually help you get through some hard times, choose Laura McDermott.

See All Client Reviews

Laura A McDermott's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Laura
Joshua R Wallace headshot
Joshua Wallace

Family lawyer | Jan 21

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I came to know Laura by practicing against her over 12 years ago. She is highly intelligent, extremely skilled and always prepared. No one will out work her. If I, a close family member or personal friend had a family law matter, I would not hesitate to engage her services, especially if the case involved high stakes custody issues or the division and preservation of significant assets. Laura is also a go to when your family law case involves peripheral criminal allegations because she was a prosecutor for a number of years."

Eugene E Chastain II headshot
Eugene Chastain

Family lawyer | Dec 01

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Laura was very professional and courteous in the handling of a family law matter as opposing counsel. She was easy to contact and discuss the issues to reach a settlement that was in both parties interest."

Robert W Precht headshot
Robert Precht

Criminal defense lawyer | Apr 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Laura knows how to help her clients and will aggressively defend her case. She is a lawyer to have on your side."

Peter John Marek headshot
Peter Marek

Speeding and traffic ticket lawyer | Jul 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Laura. Excellent local endorsements and contributions. Reviews tell volumes. If you are in or near Chandler do yourself a favor and schedule a consultation."

Robert Francis Gruler Jr. headshot
Robert Gruler

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Having seen many of Laura's answers to complicated questions I can attest to her extensive knowledge of criminal issues here in Arizona. I would definitely recommend her."

Saam Seyed Ghiaasiaan headshot
Saam Ghiaasiaan

Unknown lawyer | Jul 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. An incredible reputation with peers and clients alike"

Jeremiah Justin Denslow headshot
Jeremiah Denslow

DUI and DWI lawyer | Jun 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Laura is a tremendous advocate for her clients. I give her my highest endorsement in the field of criminal and DUI defense."

A.J. Arias headshot
A.J. Arias

Criminal defense lawyer | May 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I personally endorse Attorney McDermott for being an outstanding member of her profession and for bringing quality legal work to her clients."

Stephanie A Willison headshot
Stephanie Willison

Criminal defense lawyer | May 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Laura is hardworking and compassionate and is a well-respected member of the legal community."

Richard Todd Rosenstein headshot
Richard Rosenstein

Unknown lawyer | May 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. McDermott is a skilled and respected member of the legal community."

John M O'Brien headshot
John O'Brien

Child custody lawyer | May 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. A brilliant and highly respected attorney in the legal community."

View All Endorsements
Eugene E Chastain II headshot
Eugene Chastain

Family lawyer

Robert W Precht headshot
Robert Precht

Criminal defense lawyer

Robert Francis Gruler Jr. headshot
Robert Gruler

Criminal defense lawyer

Jeremiah Justin Denslow headshot
Jeremiah Denslow

Criminal defense lawyer

A.J. Arias headshot
A.J. Arias

Unknown lawyer

Richard Todd Rosenstein headshot
Richard Rosenstein

Personal injury lawyer

Cary L Lackey headshot
Cary Lackey

Criminal defense lawyer

Stephanie A Willison headshot
Stephanie Willison

Criminal defense lawyer

James L Heard III headshot
James Heard

Criminal defense lawyer

John M O'Brien headshot
John O'Brien

Personal injury lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Best Family Law Attorney in Florence, Arizona, Quality Business Awards

Work Experience

2013 - Present

Attorney/Owner, McDermott Law Firm, PLLC

2008 - 2013

Deputy County Attorney, Pinal County Attorney's Office

1999 - 2008

Deputy County Attorney, Maricopa County Attorney's Office

1998 - 1998

Family Law Clinic Student Attorney, Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic

1996 - 1996

Law Clerk Intern for Chief Tribal Judge, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court

Associations

2018 - Present

Better Business Bureau A+ Rating

Member

2018 - Present

Florence Chamber of Commerce

Member

2008 - 2009

DNA People's Legal Services, Inc

Former Board Member

2008 - 2025

Pinal County Bar Association

Member

2005 - 2006

Arizona State Bar Criminal Rules & Procedures Committee

Former Committee Member

Education

1998

University of Maine School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1994

University of Maine

BA - Bachelor of Arts

N/A

University of Maine

AS - Associate of Science

Speaking Engagements

2013

In-House Training Session - Pinal County Attorney's Office

Arizona Felony Prosecution Charging and Grand Jury Procedures in Pinal County

2012

Presented to Casa Grande District DPS Officers- Department of Public Safety

DUI Case Submittal and Charging Guidelines For Pinal County

2012

Pinal County COJET Conference (Committee on Judicial Education and Training)

Criminal Case Charging and Case Flow Process in Pinal County

2011

Police Officer Recruit Training Session - Central Arizona College (CARLOTA)

Property Crimes in Arizona - Title 13, Chapters 15 (Criminal Trespass & Burglary), 16 (Criminal Damage and Criminal Littering), 17 (Arson & Reckless Burning) and 18 (Theft, Shoplifting, Bad Checks, Vehicle Theft)

2011

Pinal County COJET Conference (Committee on Judicial Education and Training)

Criminal Case Charging and Case Flow Process in Pinal County

2011

Gila River Police Department Training Session

Criminal Case Charging Timelines and Procedure in Pinal County

2010

Presented to Casa Grande District DPS Officers- Department of Public Safety

DUI Case Submittal and Charging Guidelines For Pinal County

2010

Police Recruit Training - Central Arizona College (CARLOTA)

Property Crimes in Arizona - Title 13, Chapters 15 (Criminal Trespass & Burglary), 16 (Criminal Damage and Criminal Littering), 17 (Arson & Reckless Burning) and 18 (Theft, Shoplifting, Bad Checks, Vehicle Theft)

2009

Police Officer Recruit Training Session - Central Arizona College (CARLOTA)

Property Crimes in Arizona - Title 13, Chapters 15 (Criminal Trespass & Burglary), 16 (Criminal Damage and Criminal Littering), 17 (Arson & Reckless Burning) and 18 (Theft, Shoplifting, Bad Checks, Vehicle Theft)

Languages

English

Activity

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