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About Melissa
Practice areas
- Family: 50%
I have practiced almost exclusively family law since 1990. I also own Advantage Denton, a lawyer finding business where we find the right lawyer for any area of law.
27 years
- Divorce and separation: 20%
This is a big part of family law. We strive to be really careful not to hurt people or waste their money at such a difficult time. It is so important to know what the law says because it reduces arguments and confusion.
27 years
- Child support: 15%
Child support is an art, not a science. We use highly sophisticated software to calculate support and strive to be honest and fair in settling this issue.
27 years
- Child custody: 15%
It is very important to keep the best interests of children at the very front of this kind of law. Fighting over kids hurts them. I try hard to help parents and kids avoid that.
27 years
Languages spoken
Spanish
Resume
| State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| WA | Active | 1989 | 05/18/2017 |
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
|---|---|---|
| Best Startup | Startup Weekend | 2010 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CEO | Advantage Denton | 2008 - Present |
| Partner | Ascher & Denton, PLLC | 1991 - Present |
| Association name | Position name | Duration | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy Fisher Legal Defense Team | Volunteer Legal Publicist | 2012 - Present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Olympia Free Clinic | General Legal Counsel | 2011 - Present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sound Collaboration | member | 2004 - Present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thurston County Bar Association | Member | 1990 - Present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington State Bar Association | Member | 1989 - Present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation | Board Member, VP, President | 2004 - 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City of Tumwater Planning Commission | Board Member | 1996 - 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Board | Board Member | 1993 - 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thurston County Young Lawyers Association | President | 1992 - 1994 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| More | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case name | Outcome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In re Marriage of Rideout, 150 Wn.2d 337, 352-53, 77 P.3d 1174 (2003) | WA Supreme Court ruling on Contempt in Parenting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| See all legal cases | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| AdvantageDenton.com | Many Cost Effective Ways to Use Lawyers | 2008 |
| AscherDenton.com | Our Philosophy | 2003 |
| School name | Major | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma College of Law | Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1988 |
| University of Oklahoma | N/A | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1984 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Snohomish County Bar Association, Family Law Section | One Lawyer - where one attorney helps both parties with advice to settle | 2010 |
Attorney endorsements
(6)
Ingrid Malca, Family Attorney
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
I endorse this lawyer. Melissa works extremely hard to make a difference in her client's lives. She has practiced as a Family Law attorney for over 20 years. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience. She is compassionate, focus, and determined to get the best results. Although she has the smarts and the experience of a giant, she has always been very professional and courteous towards her clients. I am lucky to have her as a mentor.
Christian Lassen, Personal injury Attorney
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community.
Cost
- Hourly Rates Contact for details
- Offers fixed fee-services SometimesFixed-fee are legal services performed for a preset rate, rather than on an hourly basis.
Cash, Check, Credit card
Contact
2401 Bristol Ct. SW # A-101
Olympia, WA, 98502