Lauren M. Barnhart

PRO

Lauren M. Barnhart

4.8
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 12 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at Portland, OR
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Family, Estate Planning ... +2 more

333 SW Taylor St,, Suite 400, Portland, OR

Virtual Consultation Available

About Lauren

Biography

I approach my practice with integrity and empathy, and believe wholeheartedly that family law matters are best resolved outside the courtroom. Sometimes litigation is unavoidable and I will aggressively litigate your case, but I will try first to preserve relationships and craft creative solutions.

Going through a divorce will likely be one of the toughest things you will ever go through. It's important you find an attorney that will listen to you, advocate for you, and provide you with information and guidance to get you through to the other side as equitably and efficiently as possible.

A thorough estate plan is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your loved ones. Not only can you rest assured that your wishes will be carried out when you pass, your loved ones aren't going to be required to guess or speculate what you would have wanted.

When dealing with the loss of a loved one, the last thing you want to is have to start undertaking the arduous task of probating their estate. Let me take some of this burden and we'll get through this process together.

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 30%

13 years

30%
Family 25%

13 years

25%
Estate Planning 15%

13 years

15%
Mediation 15%

7 years

15%
Probate 15%

13 years

15%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 405-415 per hour

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2016

Licenses

Licensed in Oregon for 12 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 2013

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Barnhart Legal LLC

333 SW Taylor St,, Suite 400, Portland, OR, 97204

barnhartlawfirm.com

Lauren M. Barnhart's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

23 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Punctuality

Posted by anonymous | August 25, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Not everyone needs a creative solution

I hired Lauren for modification to custody. Lauren and I seemed to have a common understanding of our legal strategy when I hired her. Her legal firm consulted me on the strategy to modify from joint to sole custody. However as the trial date approached she demanded to communicate with the other att...orney and changed the strategy on my case. She pushed me towards a settlement that I regret. I had to give up important safeguards in my parenting plan as part of the settlement that Lauren thought were “micromanaging”. It’s ironic that another attorney at her firm wrote my micromanaging parenting plan. Lauren often sympathized with the other side and made backhanded negative comments about myself. It is not Lauren‘s fault that my ex-wife negotiated a settlement in bad faith. However Laurens creative solutions left opportunities for a difficult coparent to exploit. I did not need creative solutions that she advocated, instead I needed custody. I had a strong case for custody and we simply compromised too much to negotiate the settlement. As the trial approached I felt Lauren was difficult to communicate with and did not try to understand my position. She allowed the other side to modify my parenting plan without track changes. She also was unavailable to review important documents under a deadline. I caught issues in the settlement language that were her responsibility to identify. She was generally outmaneuvered by the other attorney and the settlement was unresolved for over a month because she was out maneuvered. My ex-wife has failed to follow the settlement as I suspected. Lauren and assured me that I was better off with a settlement than a vindictive coparent. However I have a unhelpful settlement and a vindictive coparent and it was expensive. I am now in the position of seeking legal action once again only 2 months after the settlement. I regret hiring Lauren and was underwhelmed by her capabilities. If you have a difficult coparent who is not making decisions in your child’s best interest do not hire Lauren. Lauren seemed more intent on reaching any type of settlement instead of the actual resolution in a trial. I think Lauren is better suited to be a mediator than a trial lawyer.

See All Client Reviews

Lauren M. Barnhart's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Lauren
Erin K Morris headshot
Erin Morris

Family lawyer | Feb 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"If I were ever in need of a family law attorney, Lauren Barnhart would be my first call. She is an exceptional advocate—sharp, strategic, and deeply committed to her clients. Lauren has a rare ability to blend legal expertise with genuine compassion, making her not only a formidable attorney but also a trusted guide through the most difficult family law matters. I have had the privilege of seeing Lauren’s work firsthand, and I can confidently say she is one of the best in the field. She approaches every case with meticulous preparation and unwavering dedication, ensuring her clients feel supported and empowered every step of the way. I highly recommend Lauren to anyone in need of a skilled and compassionate family law attorney."

Matthew M. Cohen headshot
Matthew Cohen

Unknown lawyer | Jan 17

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer. Lauren is knowledgeable and well respected in the Portland legal community."

Joel Geelan headshot
Joel Geelan

Family lawyer | Aug 29

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I have personally observed Ms. Barnhart's strong work ethic and unwavering advocacy on behalf of herclients. Ms. Barnhart’s experience provides her with the skills necessary to address her clients' needs. A strong indicator of an attorney’s ability is whether his/her professional colleagues would entrust their personal affairs in the attorney’s hands. Not every attorney is capable of earning such respect and trust. I would trust Ms. Barnhart to handle my case, and that is why I eagerly endorse her."

Katherine H. Denning headshot
Katherine Denning

Family lawyer | May 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Lewis Irwin Landerholm headshot
Lewis Landerholm

Family lawyer | Apr 25

Relationship: Co-worker

"Lauren has one of the most compassionate hearts I've seen in the legal field. She truly cares about her client and you will not find a better advocate to represent you and help you create a better future."

William M Jones headshot
William Jones

Family lawyer | Apr 21

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Joanna L Posey headshot
Joanna Posey

Family lawyer | Apr 21

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jason Pierson headshot
Jason Pierson

Family lawyer | Apr 21

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Triston M Dallas headshot
Triston Dallas

Family lawyer | Apr 21

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Heather S Unger headshot
Heather Unger

Family lawyer | Apr 21

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jack G Dekovich headshot
Jack Dekovich

Family lawyer | Mar 25

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I have known Lauren both personally and professionally for many years. Her commitment to excellence in the field of Family Law is unmatched. She is a tough but fair opposing counsel, always willing to work toward an amicable resolution to every case."

View All Endorsements
Erin K Morris headshot
Erin Morris

Family lawyer

Cambell Boucher headshot
Cambell Boucher

Family lawyer

Heather S Unger headshot
Heather Unger

Family lawyer

Jason Pierson headshot
Jason Pierson

Family lawyer

Laura Fishman headshot
Laura Fishman

Family lawyer

Triston M Dallas headshot
Triston Dallas

Family lawyer

Lewis Irwin Landerholm headshot
Lewis Landerholm

Family lawyer

William M Jones headshot
William Jones

Family lawyer

Jack G Dekovich headshot
Jack Dekovich

Divorce and separation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2024

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2023

Rising Stars, Super Lawyers

2023

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2022

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2021

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2020

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2019

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2018

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

Work Experience

2024 - Present

Senior Associate, Morris Family Law

2019 - 2024

Senior Associate, Posey Legal, PC

2015 - 2019

Associate Attorney, Landerholm Family Law

2013 - 2015

Associate Attorney, Peterson Law Group

2010 - 2012

Editor, Willamette Law Review

Associations

2022 - 2023

Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

Co-Chair of New Lawyer Section

2017 - 2020

Portland Youth Philharmonic

Board Member

Education

2012

Willamette University College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2009

Willamette University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2018

Estate Administration from Start to Finish

Distribution and Closing of the Estate

2018

AFCC 13th Symposium on Child Custody

Step-Up Parenting Plans: Creative Tools to Build Lasting Transitional Plans

Publications

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution