I hired Compass Legal Services in 2017 to help me with a legal separation. Because my case involved not only complex financial matters but also a complicated situation regarding medical insurance I depend on but stood to lose in a divorce, I experienced terrible anxiety about the whole process. Heather and the staff at Compass Legal Services became like family to me during the many months it took to settle my case. Heather was able to help me ensure that I would be able to keep my medical insurance and have the resources I need to start over after twenty four years of marriage. They have continued to help me wrap up loose ends and red tape issues. I hope I never have to go through a situation like this again in my life, but if I ever did I would not hesitate to reach out to Heather and her staff for help. Heather is a smart and methodical divorce lawyer and I can attest that her strategic ability is exceptional and I highly recommend Compass Legal Services to absolutely anyone in Kitsap County who needs a divorce lawyer.
Thank you,
Alina
You are a godsend, lady.
Better than that: thanks for spending years in law school, practicing and gaining the experience to keep me from effing this up.
Heather provides fair-minded proactive advice, guidance and services. Her integrity, temperance, forbearance and quick response makes her the best attorney in Silverdale that I know of. If you need help, check with her right away; she's honest about what she can do for you, follows through and is an amazing person.
Attorney Heather E. Forrler, began practicing law in 2002 after working as a Legal Assistant in Kitsap County for six years. In 2008, she began to focus her practice as a Divorce Lawyer and Family Law Attorney.
Attorney Forrler launched Compass Legal Services, P.S. in January of 2014 to serve as an accessible, client focused resource for Family Law, Divorce, Estate Planning and Business Incorporation in Kitsap County, Washington including our extensive military community. She has helped thousands of Kitsap residents and military service members successfully navigate the legal system in Divorce and Family Law matters including trials, settlement negotiations and non-litigation support.
Heather approaches legal practice from a place of experience, calm logic and pragmatism. This approach allows the strategic use of litigation while minimizing or avoiding entirely the consequences of flippant and unnecessary legal actions. Heather is a highly skilled negotiator, arbiter and trained mediator, training she utilizes in service to her clients daily. She brings the same methodical and thorough approach to Estate Planning clients and those clients starting new businesses and in need of assistance forming a solid legal structure.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best Attorney to Have on your side
I hired Compass Legal Services in 2017 to help me with a legal separation. Because my case involved not only complex financial matters but also a complicated situation regarding medical insurance I depend on but stood to lose in a divorce, I experienced terrible anxiety about the whole process. Heather and the staff at Compass Legal Services became like family to me during the many months it took to settle my case. Heather was able to help me ensure that I would be able to keep my medical insurance and have the resources I need to start over after twenty four years of marriage. They have continued to help me wrap up loose ends and red tape issues. I hope I never have to go through a situation like this again in my life, but if I ever did I would not hesitate to reach out to Heather and her staff for help. Heather is a smart and methodical divorce lawyer and I can attest that her strategic ability is exceptional and I highly recommend Compass Legal Services to absolutely anyone in Kitsap County who needs a divorce lawyer.
Thank you,
Alina
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Posted by Chris | June 17, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Heather will help - she's the one!
You are a godsend, lady.
Better than that: thanks for spending years in law school, practicing and gaining the experience to keep me from effing this up.
Heather provides fair-minded proactive advice, guidance and services. Her integrity, temperance, forbearance and quick response makes her the best attorney in Silverdale that I know of. If you need help, check with her right away; she's honest about what she can do for you, follows through and is an amazing person.
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Posted by anonymous | February 1, 2017
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Great advice
I saw her for a consultation. She had answers for all of my questions. She looked over my paperwork and gave me great advice. Found mistakes i made and how to fix them. She also have me an idea of worst and best outcome so I could have a clearer idea of what could happen next. She and her Secretary were friendly and very understanding.
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Posted by Jeff | December 15, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly Contested Divorce!
I originally contacted Heather about doing an uncontested divorce. This quickly turned into a 2 1/2 year contested nightmare! Heather, was with me every step of the way, always available for consultation, advice and shoulder crying. She was very reasonable with her billing time and cost. She was also good at weighing the pros and cons as to whether we should settle or go to trial. The only thing I would suggest is that she be more aggressive, she is almost too nice for this type of conflict.
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Posted by Marc | November 6, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Above and Beyond
I hired Heather to produce several contract templates for my business. I needed a standard Services Contract and a Non-Compete Agreement. Not only did she produce these two contracts ahead of schedule, she provided me with several addendum, at no additional cost, that I had not even thought to need much less ask for. Heather and her staff are friendly, knowledgeable and attentive to detail. I look forward to a long relationship with Compass Legal Services.
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Posted by Sandra | May 1, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Prompt, effective
Heather did a great job helping me resolve an issue with a collection agency on a bill I did not owe. She quickly got the bill dismissed and saved me from a ding in my credit. She was also very personable, ethical and genuinely wants to help others. I highly recommend her!!
Posted by Edle | April 5, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Professional, helpful and friendly
My husband and I were going out of town last month and once again the realization of not having a Will became apparent. We have been meaning to purchase a Will for many year but just haven't gotten to it.
I contacted Heather Forrler at Compass Law and she got back to me the same day. We corresponded a few times via e-mail and she sent me a review of our Will 2 days later. We were so pleased with how professional, helpful, friendly and swiftly Heather was to work with we and would highly recommend her for your legal needs.
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Posted by Andy | May 21, 2010
excellent
Very good experience for a difficult time in my life. I recommend Heather for anyone contemplating divorce.
Posted by anonymous | September 29, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Terrible Attorney - Utterly incompetent
Ms. Forrler could not have handled my case any less professionally. She failed in many regards, and my case was not particularly complicated. Her failures caused me to hire a new attorney solely to address the egregious damages she caused to me and my children throughout the legal process. I relied on her for legal advice and representation and was accurate and timely in my communications with her at all times.
However, Ms. Forrler made tremendous and inexcusable errors in my case. She forwarded my very confidential email and information sent exclusively to her - directly to the opposing counsel in its entirety without my consent. She failed to be a conscious -- never-mind effective, representative in any settlement negotiations. This was in part because she failed to conduct the most necessary inquiry into the facts of my case which ultimately resulted in major losses to me. She attempted to postpone every hearing in my case because she was not prepared, or ill. She advised me incorrectly with regard to the state laws, when I asked important questions. She was utterly incompetent and unprepared at trial, which caused me to discontinue it. She allowed me to enter a settlement meeting without discussing any necessary provisions with me, and without notifying me that a transcript would be taken or there was any final or binding legal process taking place. A non-lawyer would not have prior knowledge of legal processes. Her missteps caused major errors in all of my legal proceedings. She "forgot" to notify me of the date of my very, very important final decree hearing and subsequently forgot to prepare with me in the weeks leading up to it, resulting in a final decree that I disagree with. I did not even know it was on the court calendar. She then agreed to major provisions with opposing counsel against my consent or without any notification to me at that hearing, because I was not present. The series of events is very shocking. Ms. Forrler had no knowledge of very necessary preparation and provisions to consider in a dissolution agreement, so she was unable to counsel me to any adequate degree. In addition, her fees were misrepresented, inflated to a large degree and highly unreasonable, for which I complained. She kept the balance of a requested advance payment for four anticipated days of trial, when there was only one. I certainly don't think she should profit from the damaging effects of her representation against me. I feel that through her incompetencies, she actually worked for opposing counsel and not for me. Upon firing her for all of these inexcusable acts, and after asking her what I could possibly do to address the disagreements I had with the "final" document in the court, she failed to notify me that I had the right to an appeal within a certain timeframe, which I did not know. You are very well-advised to choose another attorney. There are several good ones in the same area. As I said, I cannot imagine how my case could have been handled any worse.
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Posted by anonymous | April 21, 2015
lacks abilty to work for the clients needs!
Ms. Forrler was unable/unwilling to help me! Even after taking a retainer, discussing the case,, her skills and my needs.....EPIC failure when it came to being in Court!
She failed to provide me court documents in a reasonable & timely manner (I received than 48 before court), did not send me the pleadings associated with the hearing until AFTER the court date passed.
She never attempted to introduce new evidence that could have helped stop a contempt charge and reduction on my maintenance.
She did not bring forth my financial situation that I was already living on only $31 a month (a declaration was made) but she did not attempt to help me by raising my financial distress prior to court, at the court hearing and is now far worse situation I am forced into.
She is unwilling to be proactive with or for a client. I would warn people to not consult with her, even for uncontested matters. She lacks ability to work for the clients needs. She spent more time talking to opposing counsel than she did with me that day, and the Sat just before combined.
My concerns seemed to be unimportant and left unaddressed after she was paid the retainer, much to my detriment in the end.
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Response from Heather ForrlerJuly 29, 2015
Critical feedback is greatly appreciated as an opportunity for me to examine the policies and procedures of the legal services I provide as part of my practice. I strive to promptly identify and rectify any errors in my processes and practice of the law. No one wants to be involved in legal proceedings, and when it is necessary, everyone hopes for the outcome most favorable for themselves. As an attorney I strive to achieve the most favorable possible outcome for each of my clients.
My responsibility is to know the law regarding the issues at hand; the parameters which control what can and cannot be presented concerning the issues at hand; and to practice the most proactive, persuasive and ethical legal services. I must follow specific procedures for each court action and each case. All these must be adhered to exactly as they relate to the very precise services I agree to provide my clients in order to resolve their legal matters.
With over a decade of experience as a practicing attorney, I am very much aware of those areas of the law for which I am best suited to serve my clients and most likely to achieve an outcome most favorable to them. For this reason I make very clear the specific matters I am able to represent them in. I make every effort to communicate very clearly and precisely the specific services I am, and am not, providing. Fees for these services are collected responsibly, and at a rate that affords my clients the best possible resources and ample time to prepare their case.
Ultimately, the burden of deciding the outcome of a legal matter lies with the presiding judge, and though I may believe passionately the righteousness of my clients, the law is not partial to passion. The judge is responsible for hearing arguments from both sides, examining the relevant law, and applying that law to reach a final decision that is responsible solely and completely to the law, not the parties involved. Both myself and opposing counsel must respect the judge’s decision. If the outcome is not favorable to my client I am always happy to discuss any next steps that may be available or provide referrals to other resources.
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