Samuel Ciapanna

I have been practicing law since 1982. Born and raised in Southern New Jersey, I became my legal career as a judicial clerk in Cumberland County, NJ. Upon completion of my clerkship, I was an associate attorney for a law firm in Woodbury, NJ for approximately 4 years concenstrating on family law, personal injury, and criminal defense. In 1987, I became a partner in a law firm in Williamstown, NJ and also began working as a township prosecutor. In 1991, I relocated to Washington state and took a year off to explore my new surrondings. After passing the WA bar, I established my own law firm concentrating on family law and estate planning, particularly as these impacted non-tradiitonal families. 

In the Spring of 2016, I changed the location and nature of my practice. I have no staff and no longer accept contested family law cases, although I still handle adoptions and representation in mediations. I now concentrate my efforts on estate planning, probate, and guardianship issues. I am happy to meet with my clients at their homes or my home office in Bellevue while maintaining a post office address in nearby Newcastle.

I have three Jack Russell terrier "rescues" with me in my office and, in addition to practicing law, I also teach Italian cooking. I recently had my Italian citizenship recognized and have been focusing on expanding my ability to read, write, speak, and hear Italian both here and in Italy.