Debra J Venhaus

Debra J Venhaus

5.0
Rating: 8.2

Licensed for 32 years

Social Security & Disability Lawyer at Mill Creek, WA
Practice Areas: Social Security, Bankruptcy & Debt

P.O. Box 12488, Mill Creek, WA

This attorney is currently not accepting new clients.
Reason: Not Practicing

About Debra

Biography

Practice Areas

2

Practice Areas

Social Security & Disability 70%

Social Security Disability and SSI. You've paid into Social Security as you worked hard for years. Now you need help and cannot get it. Call Debra Venhaus and get the help you need to navigate the system and get the benefits you've been denied.

33 years

70%
Bankruptcy and Debt 30%

Don’t continue with constant worry and avoiding creditor calls. We will work together to collect your financial information, file the paperwork the right way, and get your debts discharged quickly so you can move on. Call Debra Venhaus for help now.

12 years

30%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 45 minutes

Contingency

20%-25%

Retainer

Sometimes


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Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 23 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2003

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Florida for 32 years

State: Florida

Acquired: 1994

Member in Good Standing

No misconduct found

Licensed in District of Columbia for 23 years

State: District of Columbia

Acquired: 2002

Inactive

No misconduct found

Licensed in Illinois for 29 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 1996

Retired

No misconduct found

Location

Law Office of Debra J. Venhaus

P.O. Box 12488, Mill Creek, WA, 98082

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Debra J Venhaus's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

6 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (6) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews

Posted by Mary | October 11, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Helped through a very tough time

I contacted Debra when I knew my only option was to go through bankruptcy after my divorce. She answered all my questions and kept me calm through this whole procedure, She made this process as smooth as possible. She is very knowledgeable and made sure everything was done perfectly . As going throug...h a bankruptcy is a huge stress, it helped having her by my side.

Posted by Ruth | November 18, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Social Security Disability

Great Attorney for Social Security Disability cases

Ms. Venhaus is a very compassionate lawyer. She fought a long and difficult fight for me and won on my social security disability case. Ms. Venhaus has a wealth of knowledgeable about social security disability. Very professional and had always returned my calls and emails in a timely manner. I h...ighly recommend Ms. Venhaus.

Posted by Elizabeth | April 30, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Social Security Disability

helpful, informative, ethical

My husband had been disabled for awhile and several lawyers told us he was too young, or find him a job he could do even under the extreme circumstances of his disability. Debra truly listened, gave us clear explanations for what was happening, was extremely helpful, informative, and took our case. I... believe we would still be fighting for rights without her assistance.

Posted by Lynn | March 01, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Social Security Disability

Very Ethical

Debra helped me successfully appeal a SSDI claim this past spring. She was referred by the National MS Society as someone who had helped people with MS win claims. My claim was won fairly quickly with the first appeal. She understands the law and information that needs to be on the forms. Debra k...ept me informed and helped me feel comfortable through the entire process. In addition to having solid knowledge and skills, she is also very ethical. I was surprised when she called to tell me that my charge would only be a fraction of what I had been quoted. I am very glad I retained Debra and wish I had done so earlier in the process. Could have saved me a lot of stress.

Posted by Karen | July 20, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Social Security Disability

Helped when others would not

I have a rare bone disease and needed help with my Social Security Disability. I had called multiply Lawyers and none were interested in my case as they had not heard of my disease and didn’t think they could win. Then I called Debra Venhaus, she was difference. She listened, asked questions and sa...id she would help me. Debra returned calls and emails from me in a quick manner. By the time of my court date, she had read all my doctor records and understood my problems. She is very professional, knowledgeable and won my case. I would highly recommend Debra Vanhaus.

See All Client Reviews

Debra J Venhaus's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Debra
Max Jeffrey Meyers headshot
Max Meyers

Social Security & Disability lawyer | Apr 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Douglas MacMillan Borthwick headshot
Douglas Borthwick

Social Security & Disability lawyer | Nov 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Breckan Scott headshot
Breckan Scott

Social Security & Disability lawyer | Jan 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

David J. McCormick headshot
David McCormick

Social Security & Disability lawyer | Jan 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Social security is not for dabblers, and her answers on AVVO show her vast experience in this sometimes complex area of the law. I endorse this lawyer."

Craig Edwin Coombs headshot
Craig Coombs

Social Security & Disability lawyer | Jan 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Debra is an experienced Social Security Disability attorney with a proven track record. I endorse her."

Dorothy G Bunce headshot
Dorothy Bunce

Social Security & Disability lawyer | Nov 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Details are the only thing that matter in the complex field of Social Security claims and Debra J Venhaus clearly knows this field inside and out. I am happy to endorse Ms Venhaus & welcome her to the Avvo community."

Lyle Morrison Clark Jr headshot
Lyle Clark

Social Security & Disability lawyer | Jul 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have know Debra Venhaus professionally for many years and consider her to be a superior Social Security attorney.."

Keith Mitchell Kinzebach headshot
Keith Kinzebach

Social Security & Disability lawyer | Jul 14

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Ms. Venhaus has worked in the area of Social Security Disability for 20 years. Her knowledge, expertise, and results are exceptional in the area of disability law. With that being said, what really separates Ms. Venhaus apart is her tremendous professionalism and compassion for her clients, which is evidenced by her willingness to take on all cases and clients and treat each one with the upmost care. In short, Ms. Venhaus is a great disability lawyer."

Ann Williams Cook headshot
Ann Cook

Administrative law lawyer | Jun 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work. I have heard from Judges that she does a good job in hearings and from former clients."

View All Endorsements
Denise S. Kuhlman headshot
Denise Kuhlman

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Rosemary B. Schurman headshot
Rosemary Schurman

Social Security & Disability lawyer

David J. McCormick headshot
David McCormick

Unknown lawyer

Craig Edwin Coombs headshot
Craig Coombs

Unknown lawyer

Breckan Scott headshot
Breckan Scott

Unknown lawyer

Dorothy G Bunce headshot
Dorothy Bunce

Bankruptcy and debt lawyer

Keith Mitchell Kinzebach headshot
Keith Kinzebach

Social Security & Disability lawyer

Lyle Morrison Clark Jr headshot
Lyle Clark

Social Security & Disability lawyer

Ann Williams Cook headshot
Ann Cook

Administrative law lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.2 (Excellent)

Honors

2015

Pro Bono Service Commendation, Washington State Bar Association

2010

Pro Bono Service Commendation, Washington State Bar Association

Work Experience

2002 - Present

Owner, Law Office of Debra J. Venhaus, PLLC

2000 - 2002

Associate Attorney, Law Office of Robert A. Friedman

1997 - 2000

Associate Attorney, Lloyd, Hoskins & Pierce

1995 - 1997

Attorney, Shaw Group

1994 - 1995

Attorney, The Shaw Group

1993 - 1994

Legal Consultant, Balek Consulting

Associations

2017 - Present

National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

Member

2003 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Licensed Atty

2002 - Present

District of Columbia Bar

Licensed Atty

1996 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Member

1995 - Present

National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives

Sustaining Member

1994 - Present

The Florida Bar

Licensed Atty

Sample of Legal Cases

Henry v. Apfel (11th Cir. 1998)

Favorable/win

Holmes v. Apfel (11th Cir. 1997)

Favorable/win

Heldebrand v. Colvin (7th Cir. 1996)

Favorable/win

See More Legal Cases

Education

1993

Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad Law Center

Juris Doctorate

1989

Nova University

Bachelor of Science, with Distinction (Magna Cum Laude)

Speaking Engagements

2014

Social Security Disability from Start to Finish Effective Hearing Tactics

2013

Veterans Benefits Information luncheon

Veterans Compensation and Pension

2013

Circuit 9 Conference

Contributer to Ethics presentation regarding Subpoenas in Social Security hearings

N/A

Women's Historical Society

Women's Convoy to Central America

N/A

Speaker: Social Security Disability

Filing for Social Security Disability with Parkinson's Disease

Publications

1994

Medical Trial Technique Quarterly AIDS Dementia Complex: A New and Necessary Insanity Defense

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