I try to be an active member of my community and my profession. Over the years I have participated in many volunteer positions and on many boards. I act as a mentor to other lawyers and have done so for over 35 years. I have helped create many panels and other bar committees that did not exist before my participation. As a young deputy prosecutor, along with my boss, I met with various legislators and proposed law changes that were actually adopted and are now part of the laws of Washington.
I am happily married to Stepanie Hart and together we have three children, eight grandchildren and one great-greatchild. We love to travel both in the United States and abroad having been to more than 50 foreign countries.
Practice areas
49 years, 400 cases
49 years, 150 cases
49 years, 75 cases
50 years, 500 cases
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
WA | Active | 1971 | 02/09/2021 |
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority.
updated on 03/03/2011
This means the attorney did something wrong, but the Bar did not suspend the lawyer. Typically in this case the lawyer's poor behavior is exposed to the public in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.
Legal answers | 22317 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
---|---|---|
Pro Bono Attorney of the Year | Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association | 1985 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
President | L. J. Couture P.S. | 2012 - Present |
Volunteer Mediator | Superior Court-Pierce County | 2010 - Present |
Owner | LJ Couture PS | 2010 - Present |
Advisor | US Military-Operation Stand-by | 2004 - Present |
Pro Tem Judge and Commissioner | Tacoma Municipal Court | 1995 - Present |
Pro Tem Judge and Commissioner | Pierce County district Court | 1978 - Present |
---|---|---|
Pro Tem Judge | Pierce County Superior Court | 2014 - 2014 |
Pro Tem Judge | Fife Municipal court | 2013 - 2014 |
Of Counsel | Tuell-Young PS | 2009 - 2012 |
Pro Tem Commissioner | Pierce County Superior Court | 2003 - 2019 |
Shareholder | Tuell, Couture, Tuell & Young PS | 1992 - 2009 |
Sharehold | Tuell & Couture PS | 1992 - 2009 |
Associate | Dolack-Hansler | 1989 - 1992 |
Partner | Gelman Couture & Pate | 1984 - 1989 |
Owner | Larry J. Couture Inc PS | 1980 - 2000 |
Partner | Gelman & Couture | 1972 - 1980 |
County Attorney | Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office | 1971 - 1972 |
Enlisted Member | United States Army | 1962 - 1965 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
DRAW (Dometic Relations Attorneys of Washington) | Trustee | 2019 - Present |
YMCA Mock Trial | Attorney Rater or Judge | 2009 - Present |
Washington State Bar Assoc. Mediation Panel | Mediator | 2008 - Present |
Washington State Bar Association, Criminal Law Section | Member | 2005 - Present |
ABA Operation Stand-by | Legal Advisor for Military Members | 2004 - Present |
Puyallup Tribal Court | Member | 2001 - Present |
---|---|---|
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, Family Law Section | President 1995 | 1994 - Present |
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association | Speaker Bureau Member | 1990 - Present |
Washington State Bar Fee Arbitration Panel | Arbitrator | 1981 - Present |
Washington Bar Assoc. Family Law Section | Member | 1980 - Present |
United States District Court for the Western District of Washington | Attorney | 1972 - Present |
Washington State Bar Association | Member | 1971 - Present |
Univ. of Washington Law School | Honor Bd Judge of Mock Law Off Competiton | 2015 - 2015 |
Family Law Executive Committee (FLEC) | Trustee | 2011 - 2017 |
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association | Trustee | 1996 - 1997 |
Broadway Center for the Performing Arts | Trustee (President 2004-05) 1995-2007 | 1995 - 2007 |
First Place for Children | Trustee | 1994 - 1997 |
Tacoma Sunrise Rotary | Member and President 1997-1998 | 1992 - 2007 |
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Neighborhood Law Clinic Volunteer | Member | 1990 - 1999 |
Tacoma Estate Planning Council | Member | 1981 - 1985 |
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Committee | Member | 1980 - 2007 |
Trustee | Family Counseling Service | 1979 - 1982 |
Puget Sound Legal Assistence Foundation | Trustee | 1976 - 1979 |
American Bar Association | Member | 1972 - 2008 |
Custer Elementary PTA | President 1972-1973 | 1971 - 1975 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
University of Oregon School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1971 |
University of Washington -Seattle | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1968 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Family Law Mid-Year 2016 | Interstate Jurisidiction for Children | 2016 |
Family Law Mentor Program | Getting Paid as a Lawyer | 2016 |
Call to Duty | Child Support for Military Families in Washington | 2016 |
"Love Stinks 9" | Initial Consultation with new Client | 2016 |
WSBA Call to Duty: Days of Service | Parenting Plans & Residential Schedules | 2014 |
Family Law Section Skills Training | Initial Case Preparation in Dissolution Matters | 2014 |
---|---|---|
Family Law Mid-Year Seminar | Parenting Plan Modifications-Do's & Don'ts | 2013 |
Family Law Section Mid-Year Conference | Conventional Representation or Collabrative | 2012 |
Tacoma Newcomers Club Meeting | Humor in the Courtroom | 2011 |
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, Family Law Section | Ethics and Getting Paid | 2010 |
Evergreen College Education Seminar | Landlord-Tenant Rights | 2010 |
TPC Bar Assoc-Family Law Section | Getting Paid | 2007 |
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Assocaiation Convention | Fee Agreements | 2003 |
Tacoma CLE | Function of a GAL in Custody Dispute | 1976 |
Univ of Puget Sound | Child Abuse | 1974 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
In re the Marriage of Perkins | Reversed and remanded |
State v Bell | Dismissed by State |
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Steven Perrigo, Family Attorney on May 20, 2020
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I highly endorse and recommend this lawyer.
I endorse this lawyer. His answers to questions posed are very informative and well thought out.
Noah Peterson, General practice Attorney on Feb 13, 2016
Relationship: Other
I endorse this lawyer.
H. Aalsberg, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 25, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
If you need an extremely smart and experienced lawyer and want to win your case, you need to hire Attorney Larry J. Couture. I endorse him.
Christopher Day, Family Attorney on Jul 24, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I fully endorse Mr. Couture. He has demonstrated a depth of knowledge in many areas of the law, particularly family law.
I endorse this lawyer. He has left some pretty great and accurate responses.
John Wickham, Family Attorney on Apr 24, 2015
Relationship: Other
I endorse this lawyer. Larry has been widely regarded throughout Washington State as an expert on family law for many years. He is particularly adept at sorting out thorny legal questions that baffle good, experienced lawyers, saving parties from spending legal fees chasing down rabbit holes. Larry is my "go to guy" when I need a second opinion on choice of legal procedure in my family law cases.
I endorse this lawyer. An excellent and knowledgeable attorney who really cares about clients.
A very knowledge and competent attorney. I endorse this lawyer.
Robert Marble, Family Attorney on Feb 5, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Larry is one of the best family law attorneys in the state. Smart, experienced and aggressive.
Sean Cleary, Business Attorney on Dec 20, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer. A brilliant, trustworthy and highly respected attorney in the legal community.
Deborah Gordon, Family Attorney on Jan 23, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Top-notch attorney.
Jeffrey Caffee, Family Attorney on Mar 13, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community.
I endorse this lawyer.
John Stocks, Family Attorney on Jul 28, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Bruce Clement, Family Attorney on Dec 18, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Larry Couture has justifiably acquired a superb reputation among the Judges, Commissioners, and experienced family law attorneys in Pierce County WA. He recently acted as a mediator in a very messy and contentious case in which I represented the mother. My client wanted to relocate with the kids in order to remain with her husband, who had received orders in the military sending him to another state. Her ex-husband objected to her proposed modification of the existing parenting plan. Trial was scheduled to occur within days of the mediation. At first this seemed like a case which would be impossible to settle. At the conclusion of a lengthy mediation, we still had a number of unresolved issues. However, Mr. Couture's patience and encouragement during the mediation helped us to come to a settlement on all the remaining issues shortly after the mediation, and save our clients the expense and emotional toll of a full trial.
Ron Steingold, Family Attorney on May 2, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. I have had the pleasure of exchanging information and views with Mr. Couture through the Washington Bar Association Family Law Section listserve for many years. He is very knowledgeable not only about the substantive law but also about the pragmatic side of practice. I am confident that he knows how to treat not only his clients but also opposing counsel and opposing parties professionally and respectfully. He is genuinely interested in the law and cares about his clients.
Joshua Foreman, Family Attorney on Apr 30, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
It is a pleasure to endorse Larry Couture, one of Washington State's top family law attorneys. His firm is the best family law litigation firm in Pierce County; they are an all-star group of attorneys, and of course, when you hire one of them, they are all on your side. Larry is a smart, talented, experienced lawyer who also does some criminal defense and business law; he brings 40+ years of experience to every case, and all the judges and commissioners know him and respect him. Larry is a founding member of a group of senior family law attorneys who consult each other by e-mail; he's helped me many times. There's no better lawyer in Washington State.
Ruth Edlund, Family Attorney on Apr 11, 2009
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer's work. Larry is a wise and skillful lawyer who brings a broad perspective to the law. Larry is a great resource to younger lawyers and the legal community. I trust his judgment.
Cash, Check