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Douglas Paul Becker

Divorce and separation Attorney at Seattle, WA

2.6   5 reviews
  • Licensed for 38 years
    State WA
    Acquired 1984
    Status
    Voluntarily Resigned No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Douglas

Learn Douglas’s areas of practice.

3
Practice areas
  1. Divorce and separation
    70%
    Divorce, modifications

    39 years, 1,000 cases

  2. Child custody
    20%
    Custody, modifications and relocations.

    39 years, 600 cases

  3. Mediation
    10%
    Divorce, relocations, modifications, custody, support enforcement

    27 years, 750 cases

Served in Vietnam wth  U.S. Marines 1968-70.

Contact Douglas

Similar lawyers nearby

Wechsler Becker, LLP
Suite 4550 Columbia Center (45th Floor)
701 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA, 98104-7088

Reviews

2.6 / 5.0
  5 customer reviews
5 Star
 
40%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
0%
1 Star
 
60%
Posted by anonymous | October 3, 2011
To the point and willing to go the extra mile
Doug handled my contentious divorce about three years ago and was my saving grace. He was not only knowledgeable; he was able to push me to seperate the emotional from the details of the divorce. Doug gave me great advice and was always quick to respond to my calls and emails. He sat with me through twelve hours of mediation and supported me through the process which ended in a more then fair outcome. I am very thankful for having him on my side. I would and have recommended him to the community.
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Posted by Pita | May 2, 2011
Dissolution of long-term marriage
I used Doug to represent me in my divorce from a long-term, highly abusive marriage. I found him well versed in family law, matter of fact regarding my options, professional and compassionate. Doug was thorough in his explanation regarding my rights, how the process would look as well as providing a 'reality-check' regarding division of property. Doug kept me out of the court system for which I am truly grateful. And, he provided me with the feeling that I was being treated fairly in a very trying time of my life. I have been able to move forward in my life without feelings of regret or recriminations for which I believe Doug played a part. If you are looking for an attorney who will treat you respectfully while providing you with realistic expectations around property division, child support, etc. than Doug is the lawyer for you. He will make it very clear that his goal is to expedite the proceedings, not drag them out or make it more acrimonious in order to get a greater percentage of the retainer. I found him highly ethical and very reasonable.
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Posted by anonymous | February 26, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Not a capable divorce attorney
Mr. Becker came recommended as one of the best divorce attorneys in Seattle, so I retained him for 3 months and unfortunately, I found that accolade to be in the distant past in my opinion. Mr. Becker had numerous documented difficulties communicating with me and opposing counsel. He maintained two separate email accounts which caused confusion for both me and for opposing counsel, as stated by both of us numerous times. I became aware of all of Mr. Becker’s missed requests and his not keeping me, the client, informed when I attended a deposition after 2 months and I was told by opposing counsel of a missed request in person. I requested his assistant to forward me all email correspondence and I found that, in particular, Mr. Becker failed to respond to opposing counsel who had requested my credit card statements from him for some time and he even appeared totally unaware to me. Opposing counsel threatened a motion to compel so he then committed to providing the statements to her in one week's time. I provided all the required statements to him on time but then he simply did not provide them to opposing counsel, resulting in the motion against me and a fine. As a result of my bringing him my concerns about his communication, he terminated our retainer agreement improperly, then billed additionally. I now had to defend against a motion to compel and intransigence because Mr. Becker’s failures were blamed on me. I had to retain and ramp up another attorney on short notice costing me thousands more, plus the prejudice to my case due to intransigence. Comments from the court and my next attorney indicated to me that Mr. Becker was at fault. Mr. Becker then took the stubborn position that I owed approximately $10,000 for his services and referred me to collections, despite harming my case and causing me even higher damages. Most attorneys have said this is bad practice, but not Doug. I have counterclaimed. He eventually settled for $3000 of that amount after wasting more attorney’s fees. Overall, I found him to be arrogant and not accepting of his mistakes nor showing any care or empathy for his clients in their difficult times, and I would not even recommend him for small claims. He should retire in my humble opinion.
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Posted by anonymous | December 12, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
warning to others
He and Showrai drop the ball, hard to reach, do not return calls timely, doesn't file paperwork. not sure if this has to do with gender, but for sure the following - if you are a woman going through a divorce, i recommend not hiring him. He will dismiss your very real concerns with evidence back concerns and rather fight for your soon to be former husband. he seems to be biased against women for some reason and it is frightening actually. he is not your advocate if you are a woman. but even if not, reviews seem to share a common theme of incompetence. bad actors. very bad.
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Posted by Ali | January 25, 2009
bad lawyer
I hired mr.Becker to represent me,he was so late to file my paper on my behalf,so I've to file it by myself,he didn't prepared me for my deposition,he made an agreement with my opponent and signed it without informing me,the judge gave me fifty fifty and he signed 60-40 with my opponent.

Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 375-375 per hour
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Senior Partner
  • Wechsler Becker, LLP
  • 1998 - Present

Education

  • University of Puget Sound School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1980
  • University of Iowa
  • BS - Bachelor of Science
  • 1977

Associations

  • Domestic Relations Forms Committee
  • Member
  • 1999 - Present
  • King County Bar Association, Family Law Section
  • Member
  • 1987 - Present
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1984 - Present
  • Washington State Trial Lawyers Association
  • Chairman
  • 1992 - 1994
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2012
  • Special Achievement Award
  • WSBA Family Law Section
  • 2002
  • Attorney of the Year
  • WSBA Family Law Section
  • 1992

Publications

  • Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section Newsletter
  • Family Law QuickCites
  • 2017
  • Washington State Bar Association Family Law Deskbook
  • Chapter Author
  • 2012

Speaking Engagements

  • Family Law Changes 2015
  • Relocation - Changing Case Law and New Strategies
  • 2015
  • Failure to Equitably Distribute Assets
  • Common Mistakes in Dividing Assets
  • 2014
  • WSBA Family Law Section Mid-year CLE
  • Relocation Case Preparation
  • 2013
  • KCBA Dissolution from A-Z
  • The Disposition of Property and Liabilies
  • 2013
  • WSBA Family Law Section Midyear CLE
  • When To Choose the Legal Process Rather Than the Collaborative Process
  • 2012
  • WSBA Family Law Section Midyear CLE
  • Tracing Separate Property
  • 2005
  • WSBA Family Law Section Midyear CLE
  • Support For Post-Majority Children
  • 2002
  • UW Law School special class 1996, 2000 & 2001
  • Community Property In Washington
  • 2001
  • WSBA Family Law Section Midyear CLE
  • Relocation 2000
  • 2000
  • WSBA Family Law Section Midyear CLE
  • Relocation Cases and Legislative Proposals 1998
  • 1998
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (12)
Given (13)
Endorse Douglas
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 04
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I know Doug, both as an excellent opposing counsel, and as one of the best family law attorneys in Seattle. He has devoted his career to the betterment of the family law practice and is well respected."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jul 31
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I highly endorse this lawyer. I litigated cases with and against him over many years, and he always exhibited the highest ethics and knowledge together with a very pragmatic approach to problem solving. He is an expert on family law and fellow attorneys often seek his advise on the law."
Mediation Attorney | Jan 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jan 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Doug is an extremely knowledgeable and personable attorney. He is also pragmatic and focused on solving problems. I am happy to endorse him."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Dec 31
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Doug is an excellent and hard-working attorney. He is well-respected for his knowledge of the law, the good work he does for his clients, and his efforts for the overall betterment of the courts and the family law bar."
Family Attorney | Oct 09
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Doug brings unmatched knowledge and experience to every case. His advocacy is dynamic, yet practical. Each case will get his scrupulous attention and the best possible outcome."
Family Attorney | Jan 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. The lawyer lawyers go to to ask legal questions. Highly recommended."
Family Attorney | Jul 15
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Doug Becker is one of the best lawyers I know. I have had him as an opposing counsel and also have used him as a mediator on numerous occasions. He is practical, extremely knowledgeable, and hard working. If you need to settle a difficult case, use Doug as your mediator."
Family Attorney | Jun 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Doug is one of the hardest working men I know. He is extremely bright, quick witted and able to make good decisions for his clients. He also works hard for other lawyers in this business, chairs the Section's web site and has been a member of the Family Law Executive Board. You can't ask for a finer lawyer Larry Couture"
Family Attorney | May 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Doug Becker is the #1 family law attorney in the State of Washington and has been for many years. His firm is the best family law firm in the state. He is known and respected by the judges and commissioners. If you have Doug on your side, you have the best. Don't be fooled by his AVVO rating; he's been too busy to do anything to raise his AVVO rating, and he doesn't need to do anything to get any new clients; he already has more than enough. Doug is an excellent choice for any family law client."
Family Attorney | Aug 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Doug Becker has not only the respect, but the undying appreciation of virtually all attorneys who are members of the state bar's family law section. That's because Doug has provided an invaluable research resource for family law attorneys for a number of years. Doug is highly regarded by judges and knowledgeable attorneys throughout the state. He is one of the top nominees when mediators/arbitrators are chosen, and has been instrumental in major legislation affecting anyone in family law. All Washington family law attorneys are indebted to him."
View more endorsements
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