Sarah Elizabeth Hovland

Sarah Elizabeth Hovland

4.8
Rating: 9.4

Licensed for 15 years

Family Lawyer at Seattle, WA
Practice Areas: Family

601 Union Street, Suite 3030, Seattle, WA

About Sarah

Biography

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Family 100%

Divorce, Legal Separation, Domestic Violence, LGBTQIA+ Family Law, Divorce/Separation, Parenting Plan, Child Support, Establishment/Disestablishment of Parentage, Modification of Parenting Plans/ Child Support, Relocation.

15 years

100%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 15 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2010

Active

No misconduct found

Location

McKinley Irvin

601 Union Street, Suite 3030, Seattle, WA, 98101

McKinley Irvin

10220 NE Points Drive, Suite 330, Kirkland, WA, 98033

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Sarah Elizabeth Hovland's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

51 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (51) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 16 reviews | General Knowledge

Posted by Braden | February 12, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

An impressive team leader. Motivated, organized, experienced. Above & beyond professional.

My attorney, Sarah Hovland, is deeply experienced and motivated in the work she does and leads an incredible team of professionals in an impressively organized way. Everyone on attorney Hovland's team also brings years of experience and knowledge and they all work together as a team at a very fast pa...ce. It is clear that they handle complicated matters regularly and that they are all very proficient in knowing how things can and will go with every step of the process as long as they have the information and any documentation they request from you. I knew right away that I was in the best hands with Attorney Sarah Hovland and her team. They did an amazing job with my case and brought it to a very favorable outcome for me as quickly as possible through the court process. I will definitely hire them again if another need arises at any point in the future.

Posted by Stephen | March 19, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

With much appreciation

I am very grateful for Sarah Hovland’s counsel and support during a difficult time in my life. From our first consultation, she demonstrated not only deep legal expertise, but also compassion and understanding. Sarah guided me through every step of the divorce process, ensuring I was informed and ...confident in my decisions. She was always responsive, answering my questions promptly and providing thoughtful advice tailored to my situation. Her negotiation skills ultimately helped me achieve a fair outcome. I would recommend her to anyone in need of a skilled and compassionate family law attorney as I can’t imagine getting through the difficult and stressful process without her. Thank you Sarah.

Posted by Ricky | April 29, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Exceptional Divorce Lawyer - Highly Recommended!

I cannot express enough gratitude for the outstanding legal representation provided by Sarah Hovland. From the initial consultation to the final judgment, her responsiveness, knowledge, and professionalism were exceptional. Sarah not only set realistic expectations but also ensured that I underst...ood every step of the process. Her expertise in mediation was evident as she navigated negotiations with finesse, always advocating for my best interests. What truly sets Sarah apart is her ability to push during mediation in the right ways, striving for fair and equitable outcomes. Thanks to her diligence and dedication, I received a judgment that exceeded my expectations. Without hesitation, I highly recommend Sarah to anyone seeking a divorce lawyer who is not only competent but also compassionate and committed to achieving the best possible results for her clients.

Sarah Hovland

Replied last April 30, 2024

Thank you, Ricky. It was a pleasure working with you.

Posted by Mark | February 29, 2024 | Hired Attorney

Amazing attorney

Sara was amazing and her staff members Maria and Linda were professional, patient and kind while they assisted me in understanding my situation. Sara took the time to evaluate and find me a solution even when I did not think I had one, and explained the courts perspective on the situation. Her pri...ces were reasonable and worth every cent If I ever need help again I will absolutely hire her again.

Sarah Hovland

Replied last March 04, 2024

Thank you, Mark, it was our pleasure to help.

Posted by anonymous | February 27, 2023 | Child Custody

Wouldn’t listen

I had a consultation with Sarah but will be going with someone else. She wouldn’t listen when I talked and wouldn’t offer any advice. She repeatedly offered no opinion and said what I can tell you is the retainer fee is 6000. Helpful. Maybe she’s more supportive over male custody rights. I will obvio...usly be going with someone that is more sympathetic and has a better attitude.

Sarah Hovland

Replied last February 28, 2023

My apologies if you believe I didn't listen to you. During these free ten minute case evaluations, we only have enough time for me to get an idea of the issues in a potential client's case and to give them an idea of potential cost. It is my goal to provide realistic explanations to potential clients in the short amount of time I have to talk to each one. This sometimes means that I have to provide information, opinions, or answers that a potential client may not like or that may not be the outcome for which they were hoping. Because I cannot possibly get to know the entirety of a potential client's situation during initial ten-minute conversations, I do not give legal advice. We do provide one hour paid consultations, during which we will go into more detail about a potential client's situation. When you first called in, these two consultation options should have been explained to you. I apologize if the differences between our ten-minute free consultations and our paid one-hour consultations were not made clear when you set your appointment. This can be an expensive process, both financially and emotionally. It is important in every family law case to understand what the court's perspective will likely be in order to avoid unnecessary litigation and expense. It is also important to explain what the potential financial cost to a client will be, that is why during our consultations I provide information on what the initial retainer will be. I do hope that you find an attorney that will be a better fit for you. I wish you the best of luck. Thank you.

See All Client Reviews

Sarah Elizabeth Hovland's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Sarah
Catherine Laura Lee Case headshot
Catherine Case

Family lawyer | Jun 28

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Sarah was a great opposing counsel. She was very reasonable but firm, always strongly advocated for her client, always prepared and prompt."

Timothy James Arnold headshot
Timothy Arnold

Family lawyer | May 10

Relationship: Co-worker

"I absolutely endorse Sarah. She is always prepared, always attentive to her client's needs, and she puts in the extra effort that doesn't go unnoticed by those fortunate enough to have her represent them."

Jason Scott Newcombe headshot
Jason Newcombe

Family lawyer | May 01

Relationship: Supervised lawyer

"Sarah is phenomenal lawyer who truly cares about her clients. She's a fighter. It is clear that she prides herself on not only achieving the best possible results for her clients but doing so in the most cost-effective way. It would be impossible for me to give her a stronger endorsement."

Rooein Roshandel headshot
Rooein Roshandel

Family lawyer | Feb 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Sarah is very knowledgeable in the area of family law, and dedicated to provide the best representation to her clients. I endorse this lawyer."

Lani Jeanne Sockle headshot
Lani Sockle

Divorce and separation lawyer | Oct 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Sarah is a skilled family law attorney."

Frank Edward Morris headshot
Frank Morris

Divorce and separation lawyer | Oct 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Sarah is a good lawyer and a great person. She is the right fit for anyone going through a divorce"

Jennifer Renee Smith headshot
Jennifer Smith

Family lawyer | Aug 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

""Exceptional!" That is how I would describe Sarah. I cannot count the number of times I have heard Sarah argue in open court and I am repetitively impressed by her poise, dictation, knowledge of the law and advocacy for her clients. If you are looking for strong, dedicated legal representation you will not be disappointed working with Ms. Hovland."

Laurie Gail Robertson headshot
Laurie Robertson

Family lawyer | Aug 14

Relationship: Supervised lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer. Sarah is a brilliant and hard working attorney. She shows great care and consideration for her clients. Sarah has excellent insight into the law and is a strong advocate for her clients."

Deborah Lynn Gordon headshot
Deborah Gordon

Family lawyer | Aug 14

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Catherine Laura Lee Case headshot
Catherine Case

Family lawyer

Timothy James Arnold headshot
Timothy Arnold

Criminal defense lawyer

Rooein Roshandel headshot
Rooein Roshandel

Family lawyer

Paul Christian Posadas headshot
Paul Posadas

Family lawyer

Frank Edward Morris headshot
Frank Morris

Family lawyer

Lani Jeanne Sockle headshot
Lani Sockle

Family lawyer

Laurie Gail Robertson headshot
Laurie Robertson

Family lawyer

Jennifer Renee Smith headshot
Jennifer Smith

Family lawyer

Deborah Lynn Gordon headshot
Deborah Gordon

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.4 (Superb)

Honors

2013

Pro Bono Award, Washington State Bar Association

2012

Pro Bono Award, Washington State Bar Association

2011

Outstanding Volunteer, Unemployment Law Project

2009

Graduated with Distinction, University of Warwick School of Law

2008

Dean's Academic Honor List, Gonzaga University School of Law

Work Experience

2025 - Present

Senior Attorney, Mckinley Irvin, PLLC

2024 - Present

Commissioner Pro Tempore, King County Superior Court

2014 - 2025

Attorney, Washington Family Law Group, PLLC

2011 - 2014

Attorney, The Redford Law Firm

2010 - 2011

Attorney, Unemployment Law Project

2007 - 2007

Legal Intern, Irish Business and Employers Confederation

2006 - 2008

Legal Intern, University Legal Assistance

Associations

2014 - Present

King County Bar Association

Member

2014 - Present

United States District Court, Western District of Washington

Member

2011 - Present

Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association

Member

2010 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

Domestic Relations Attorneys of Washington (DRAW)

Member

Education

2009

University of Warwick School of Law

LL.M - Master of Laws

2008

Gonzaga University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2002

University of Washington

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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