Kathleen Jane Marshall

Kathleen Jane Marshall

4.7
Rating: 8.4

Licensed for 25 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at Bellingham, WA
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Child Custody, Family ... +3 more

119 N. Commercial, Suite 310, Bellingham, WA

About Kathleen

Practice Areas

6

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 45%

Includes Spousal Maintenance

45%
Child Custody 20%

Includes Child Support

20%
Family 15%

Includes third-party custody cases

15%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Washington for 25 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2000

Administrative Suspension

No misconduct found

Location

Kathleen J. Marshall, PLLC

119 N. Commercial, Suite 310, Bellingham, WA, 98225-4452

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Kathleen Jane Marshall's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.7 /5.0

13 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (13) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 13 reviews

Posted by Catherine | July 21, 2022 | Child Abuse

Genuine, Honest, Straight-Forward, and Knowledgeable

Kathleen offered invaluable advice and direction that helped me help a friend who was in dire circumstances and trying to protect her son from alleged abuse and mistreatment from her son’s father, and advice and referral for helping my friend protect herself from her son’s father’s violence toward he...r personally. Consultation with Kathleen gave my friend hope that her legal situation could be resolved in the best way for her and her son! Thank you Kathleen!

Posted by anonymous | November 19, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Look some where else!

I hired Kathleen to handle my divorce which included child custody. She gave me very bad information during the time I was separated which ultimately cost me my right to move. She is very unprofessional, (completely forgot about a scheduled meeting), and not "all there". Her assistant apparently w...as frustrated with her and quit so Kathleen was then charging me more for every little thing. I eventually fired her and used someone else after 3 months. When it came time for her to forward my paperwork to my new attorney, she was a baby about it and mishandled that too by having NO discretion. She should not be practicing!

Kathleen Marshall

Replied last November 19, 2020

It is very difficult to respond to a review posted by someone who does not give their name. Without more information, I don't know who this is. To put things in perspective: I have NEVER had an assistant quit. I fired one assistant in 2011. I was caught up in a very messy case since July 2017, and had to reduce my caseload to that ONE client. Therefore, whoever wrote this review -- if it is accurate -- was a client sometime prior to July 2017. Because of that ONE time-consuming case, I have not sent bills out in far-too-long. The only thing attorneys have to sell is their expertise and their time. If I do "lawyer work," I bill at lawyer rate quoted in my fee agreement, which was signed by the client.. If I have a paralegal, my paralegal bills for his/her time at the paralegal rate quoted in the fee agreement. If I do "paralegal work," I bill at the same paralegal rate. I have only had two clients who asked me to forward documents to their new attorneys. In both instances, I hand-delivered the files to the new attorney. If there is money left in the client's trust account, I included a check drawn on my Trust Account for the balance and forward that to the new attorney, too. One of those attorneys told my former client that he never received my check. I forwarded a copy of the cancelled check to my former client. He then fired that attorney for lying. Based on the allegations made in the review, I suspect this review was written an opposing party who did not fare well against me in court.

Posted by Sara | October 08, 2020

Very helpful and professional highly recommended

Kathy has helped me with information regarding my case even though she wasn’t taking cases when I contacted her. She advised me onwhat questions to ask when I interview other lawyers, and gave me ‘buzz words’ to catch their attention. She is moving her office, so her phone number has been disconnecte...d. The best way to reach her is to send her an email via AVVO.com. I highly recommend her services as she's very professional and straight forward. Thank you Kathy

Posted by anonymous | August 29, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Top-tier advocate and human being in general.

This is literally years overdue - Kathy, I hope you'll accept "better late than never?" as a plea here - however when her picture popped up while I was on this site to ask a question on a completely unrelated manner to the one she helped me with I realized I'd neglected to write her the stellar revie...w she deserved for her help in my child custody case. But even with all the extra time (case was in 2014) I have still yet to acquire a vocabulary capable of giving Kathy her fair due here; I could write a hundred pages worth and still wouldn't feel like I'd done her justice. She is one of the most wonderful people I've ever had the pleasure of working with in this or any other capacity. I consider her a friend and a confidant; the dedication and tenacity applied to my case was on display in every single moment and every possible interaction and was light-years beyond any reasonable expectation I could have conceivably held from the outset; even thinking about it now years later I am not simply humbled, I am fractured by her kindness and care and attention. You cannot do yourself a better service than to get her on your side immediately, if not sooner, she is worth every penny ten times over and I cannot obviously recommend her highly enough. Thank you, Kathy. For everything you've done. Please forgive this late review and I wish you all the best.

Posted by Bean | February 12, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Wow!!!

Honestly I didnt know what too think of the southern style charm and subtle demeanor during our first consultation. But let me tell you, if you are lucky enough too get her too take you on as a client you have just hired a lion, not lioness. I have had the pleasure of seeing her writing and see h...er in court and she is bar none the best I have seen. Jesus she can dismantle another person or lawyer with very little movement. She knows the laws, lawyers and the ins and outs of the judges. I have used two other lawyers in my custody battle sense and have never seen the like. I moved on thinking I could find better and found out unfortunately I had had the best. Now unfortunately I have too play cards with a second fiddle lawyer as she wasn't accepting new clients at the time. Word too the wise, if she tells you to do something do it, shut your mouth and do it. She has years of experience and directs you with said experience even if you dont understand, cause I didn't. It wasnt till 90k later with other lawyers that I understood what kind of a orchestra conductor she was. My bad... smh. Some lessons are worth their weight in gold!!!

See All Client Reviews

Kathleen Jane Marshall's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Kathleen
Jamia Burns headshot
Jamia Burns

Family lawyer | Oct 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Kathy Marshall for all family law matters. She is an experienced attorney and a compassionate person."

Nicholas B Berning headshot
Nicholas Berning

Family lawyer | Jan 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Kathy Marshall has an excellent understanding of the law and a great reputation in the legal community. She is an excellent resource for her clients."

Emily Rose headshot
Emily Rose

Family lawyer | Jun 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I enthusiastically recommend and refer Kathy for family law matters of all kinds. She is compassionate, smart, caring, and just good at what she does."

Lee Grochmal headshot
Lee Grochmal

Family lawyer | Jun 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Kathy is a caring advocate for her clients and respected by her peers in the legal community. I would not hesitate to recommend Kathy to a friend or family member looking for a lawyer."

Robert A. Wolle headshot
Robert Wolle

Family lawyer | May 06

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Kathleen Marshall is always willing to share her thoughts and experience when I have questions. Her answers always help to get straight to practical solutions. She is also a solid representative for her clients. I would strongly recommend her."

Jae H So headshot
Jae So

Unknown lawyer | Aug 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Roy N Martin headshot
Roy Martin

Divorce and separation lawyer | Mar 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Kathy Marshall is an attorney who works hard to represent clients with skill, integrity and compassion. She is conscientious and professional, with her focus on resolving cases in a manner that most benefits her clients. By this, I mean she pays attention to both getting the best possible result and doing so in a manner that doesn't waste the client's resources. It is always a pleasure to cross paths with Ms. Marshall and, for all of these reasons, I am pleased to endorse her."

Kevin W. Conner headshot
Kevin Conner

Family lawyer | Jun 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Smart as a whip and personable. I simply always enjoy being around her. Kathy is knowledgeable and dedicated to serving her clients. Our profession simply needs more "professional" attorneys like Kathy!"

Christina Elaine King headshot
Christina King

Family lawyer | Sep 23

Relationship: Co-worker

"It is an honor and privilege to work with Kathy Marshall. Ms. Marshall advocates for her clients from start to finish with knowledgeable and sound legal representation. She is caring yet assertive and has garnered the respect of the attorneys and the local judiciary. I highly endorse Ms. Marshall’s work. ."

Joel Daniel Matteson headshot
Joel Matteson

Family lawyer | Aug 11

Relationship: Co-worker

"A capable and dedicated advocate, Kathy is truly passionate about helping her clients successfully navigate a wide variety of legal issues in the areas of family and criminal law. Kathy's clients benefit from her committed, conscientious approach to advocacy. If you need an excellent family law or criminal attorney, I strongly recommend Kathy Marshall."

Shawn B Alexander headshot
Shawn Alexander

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 29

Relationship: Friend

"I endorse this lawyer's work because she really cares about people and helps them with their troubles"

View All Endorsements
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Patricia Woodall

Family lawyer

Emily Rose headshot
Emily Rose

Business lawyer

Lee Grochmal headshot
Lee Grochmal

Criminal defense lawyer

Robert A. Wolle headshot
Robert Wolle

Family lawyer

Roy N Martin headshot
Roy Martin

Family lawyer

Paula L McCandlis headshot
Paula McCandlis

Divorce and separation lawyer

Robert J. Och headshot
Robert Och

Family lawyer

Joel Daniel Matteson headshot
Joel Matteson

Personal injury lawyer

Stephen A. Brandli headshot
Stephen Brandli

Criminal defense lawyer

Shawn B Alexander headshot
Shawn Alexander

Real estate lawyer

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Sara Beigh

Government lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.4 (Excellent)

Honors

1999

Award for Pretrial Advocacy,

1999

Award for Advanced Legal Writing,

Work Experience

2011 - Present

Owner/Attorney, Kathleen J. Marshall, L.L.C.

Associations

2009 - Present

Whatcom County Bar Association

Attorney Member

2005 - Present

Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

2003 - Present

Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals

Admitted

2000 - Present

Washington State Bar Association

Member

2000 - Present

United States Court, Western Disrict of Washington

Admitted

2000 - Present

United States Court, Eastern District of Washington

Admitted

2007 - 2009

Washington Defender Association

Education

1999

Seattle University School of Law

Juris Doctor

1994

University of Washington

Bachelor of Arts

1983

Texas A&M University

Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2008

San Juan County Family Law Night

Initiating your pro se dissolution

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