Sarah Elizabeth Hovland

I hired Sarah for what I thought would be a fairly simple straightforward divorce. It turned out to be not so simple, but Sarah helped me navigate the process. She was kind, knowledgeable and helpful. I always felt like she had my back. I hope I don't need another lawyer again, anytime soon, but if I... do, I'll be calling Sarah Hovland.

I retained Sarah in October of 2017, to deal with a lengthy case that spanned over 8 years. She came highly recommended from my previous attorney who left Family Law. My case included all areas of Sarah's expertise (Family, Child Support and Domestic Violence). It was complicated. It was lengthy (a ...judge mentioned there were over 400 motions over the years). It was contentious. It demanded timely responses. It required a finesse that only Sarah, I am convinced, could navigate so professionally. I was nervous with a new attorney coming in to such a situation. My son is my world, and my ex was savvy and relentless. The stakes were very high. Sarah was able to calm my nerves, speak to me in a way that was clearly understood (despite the law lingo that can feel utterly overwhelming), minimize my emotional reactions with guided and effective responses, and meet me where I was at every step of the way. I knew exactly what I needed to do and when. I knew what to expect (both positive and potential negative). I knew I had a fighter sitting next to me that was there for me, but MOST importantly, for my son. This is who you want at the table with you during the difficult time of divorce. This is who you want at the table during mediation (if offered). This is who you want at the table at trial. Sarah GETS IT. She knows the law inside and out, up and down, front to back. Sarah's knowledge and presence gave me confidence time and time again. She never wavered, nor was rattled, nor thrown off course by sudden filings or unexpected challenges. She is consistent. Thorough. Effective. She fights for her client like nobody I had seen in all the years I had been pulled into legal battle after legal battle with my ex-husband. Sarah brought resolution to my case that was above and beyond what either of us expected. The outcome of the 2 plus years we had together was a gift I could NEVER have envisioned. Sarah was able to convey all that I had experienced over the years to a judge who listened intently and showed respect right back to her. The judge, in turn, put a parenting plan in to place that was nearly exactly what we were seeking. It had strong structure with accountability, safety protections for me and my son, language that reflected the severity of all the abuses, and partial legal fees were even ordered to be paid by the other party. As TOUGH as this time in my life was, I would NEVER have wanted to do it without Sarah. If you are seeking an attorney that will prioritize your family, will respect you as a client, will be honest and straightforward, even when it's hard, will guide you every step of the way, will communicate in a timely manner, and will exhaust all avenues to maintain the best interest of her clients and their family, then hire Sarah. Attorneys like Sarah deserve credit. Family Law is not easy, and she is-hands down-meant for Family Law, and guiding and fighting for those who find themselves within the often chaotic and highly emotional time of separation and divorce.

Sarah was clearly familiar with the process, was thorough in doing her research, was well prepared and prepared us also in our fight to prevent renewal of an order of protection. Her advice and education for us were invaluable. She helped us understand and focus on the purpose of the upcoming hearin...g, allowing us to provide her with effective information. On the day of the hearing, she did more than act as legal counsel. She recognized our distress in waiting for proceedings to begin and appropriately engaged us in conversation, so we entered the hearing more relaxed. During the hearing, Sarah succinctly argued the many facets of our case, including referencing applicable case law. She readily rebutted each point made by our opponent. Ultimately the commissioner found in our favor. She clearly sees her role as more than just a job; her focus was not just the case but on us as her clients. Thank you so very much, Sarah.

Sarah has represented me on two separate occasions: post-secondary support for my daughter and a motion for change to our parenting plan. These were critical personal situations with significant financial and custody elements at stake. In both instances, Sarah proved to be a highly competent att...orney. She provided me with insightful counsel and collaborative support in helping me to draft appropriate responses. Her guidance was timely, accurate, and beneficial in developing effective defenses. Sarah demonstrated a solid understanding of case law and legal protocol. I felt confident that her grasp of Washington state law would give my cases solid footing in front of commissioners and protect me from unpleasant surprises. When in court, I felt comfortable with Sarah representing me. Given how critical the outcomes were to me, her ability to articulate the true situation, call out insufficient evidence, and provide a solid legal case for consideration were highly reassuring to me. She arrived in court well prepared and took her role of representation very seriously. One area that meant a lot to me personally was Sarah's willingness to give me the autonomy I sought in crafting strategies for these two cases. She listened intently to my personal philosophy and accommodated my desires while also ensuring that my defenses followed relevant case law. This allowed me to feel more in control of the process which was important to me. Having previously interviewed various attorneys, I quickly discovered that not all have ethical approaches. Many seek to drive billable hours for their own benefit rather than focusing on their client's needs or suitable compromises to bring matters to closure. In this regard, I felt that I could completely trust Sarah to proceed only with measures that would yield my desired results as her client. Her tracking of billable time was always honest and fair given the legal support she provided. I didn't have to worry about being taken advantage of in the middle of already emotionally draining legal situations. I would commend Sarah to anyone seeking a qualified and caring attorney to represent them in difficult matters of family law.

After having a really bad experience working with another lawyer on my child custody case, I was happy to have found Sarah. From our initial consultation, it was clear that she was knowledgeable, organized, and, most importantly, easy to talk to. It was also clear that she was an advocate for me an...d my child. She did an exceptional job helping me understand the entire process and was working hard to make my case as strong as possible, two things that my previous lawyer was not doing. Throughout the entire process, which took much longer than any of us anticipated, she remained positive yet realistic. I appreciated her honesty and counsel on difficult matters. In the event I need a lawyer in the future, I would without-a-doubt choose Sarah again.