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Paul Lanan Battan

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Avvo Rating10
  • Tumwater, WA
  • Licensed for 38 years
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About Paul

We are a law office in Olympia, Washington that is committed to personal and respectful service for clients and their families with the most difficult legal matters - family law matters. This is the focus of our practice and we are experienced with family law cases of all types. We also have extensive experience in the areas of guardianship and probate. We work for our clients as assertive negotiators and litigators to settle cases or to resolve them at trial.

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Practice areas

OtherProbateChild supportChild custodyDivorce and separation
  1. Divorce and separation: 50%

    37 years

  2. Child custody: 15%

    37 years

  3. Child support: 15%

    37 years

  4. Probate: 10%

    33 years

  1. Family: 10%

    37 years

Languages spoken

English

Contact

Paul Battan Attorney at Law

2620 RW Johnson Blvd SW
Suite 208
Tumwater, WA, 98512

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
WAActive198311/13/2021
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers50
Legal guides5
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Super LawyerWashington Law & Politics Magazine2007
Volunteer of the YearThurston County Volnteer Legal Clinic2001
Boss of the Year AwardNALS, Thurston County Chapter2000
Daniel Bigelow Lawyer of the Year AwardThurston County Bar Association1997
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
OwnerPaul Battan Attorney at Law1985 - Present
AssociateLaw Office of Gary Andrews1983 - 1984
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
Thurston County Bar AssociationBoard MemberN/A
Thurston County Bar Association Guardianship SectionChairN/A
Thurston County Bar AssociationPresidentN/A
Washington State Bar Association Interprofessional Relations CommitteeMemberN/A
Thurston County Bar Association Family Law SectionChairN/A
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
Washington State Bar AssociationFamily Law DeskbookN/A
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
Seattle University School of LawJuris Doctorate1983
University of ArizonaBA - Bachelor of Arts1977
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
WA-AFCC Conference SeattleInterface of Family and Criminal Law2015
Washington State Bar Association Family Law Section 2014 Conference Oean ShoresIntersection of Family and Criminal Law2014
Lunchtime Education Series at Thurston County Family and Juvenile CourtChild Support and Post Secondary Support Issue2014
Boot CampClient Interviewing Skills2009

Reviews

(15)5.0 stars
5 Star
100%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
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Review Paul Battan

I would highly recommend Paul as an attorney!

5.0 stars

Posted by

I was so fortunate a friend recommended I hire Paul for my recent divorce. Paul was everything I needed. He was calm, considerate, listened to me, took the time to discuss my options, very responsive when I contacted him and professional in every interaction. I greatly appreciated that throughout the proceedings he was thorough in all his paperwork and very timely in all the court filings. Paul was always prepared for every meeting or deadline. I was so impressed with Paul, I subsequently used him for the estate planning for myself and then my mother. I would highly recommend Paul as an attorney, he's one of the best attorneys I've worked with.
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This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

I can't thank Mr. Battan enough, I'm a single father and now have custody of my daughter. Thank you Paul Battan!

5.0 stars

Posted by

This a 5 star review, I would give 10 stars if they'd let me. My custody case was very complex. I spoke to many Washington lawyers only to be told by all of them that this is a losing battle. I was told that I would spend a lot of time and money and still lose. I hired an attorney, in Oregon where I live, to work on my custody case in Washington. They did nothing, I hired a second Oregon attorney who was helpful, they found Mr Battan, discussed options and advised me to work directly with him. I was apprehensive at first as Paul had told me that my case was not only possible, but that he felt he could get it done fairly quickly and easily. This was in contrast to what previous attorneys had said. He cited the cases that were similar, explaining why he felt a judge would rule in my favor. I decided to move forward with Paul Battan and his approach with this matter, about a month later I was awarded temporary custody, another few months and it was finalized. Paul was confident, reassuring, and was always 10 steps ahead of the other party. My only regret is that I didn't find Paul first..... about 6 months and numerous consultations were wasted on other less experienced attorneys. Don't make my mistake, you "better call Paul"! Sincerely, Andy D.
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This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

fair, knowledgeable, and resolute

5.0 stars

Posted by

I met with Paul after two Olympia lawyers recommended him as a fair, knowledgeable, and resolute lawyer who worked toward negotiated settlements that both parties could support. I found Paul, and his paralegal Patti, to meet or exceed in all of these attributes. They helped me get through this very trying change in my life with grace. Paul's fairness earned my trust, his civil approach minimized unnecessary conflict and his resoluteness resulted in a settlement i could live with.
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This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Divorce, domestic violence, custody/ child support

5.0 stars

Posted by

Paul helped me navigate through several very hard and emotional legal matters. He and his para legal Patti White were extremely efficient and at the same time were empathetic. They made me feel like I was their top client at all times! I would highly recommend Paul and Patti to anyone who needs legal advice and help.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Outstanding attorney!

5.0 stars

Posted by

Paul Battan is an incredible attorney. He is knowledgeable, thorough, professional and caring. He has done a terrific job of keeping me informed and making me feel at ease. I had several consultations with different attorneys and Paul was the only one who came across as genuine and gave me useful information to best help my situation while others seemed purely motivated by money. I would highly recommend him.
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I highly recommend Paul Battan. Calm, collected, and professional.

5.0 stars

Posted by

My ex-husband and I had a terrible relationship and I was thankful that he lived out of state. We had in place a parenting plan that worked for me, but allowed little time for my ex and our 4 year old to bond. Out of the blue he submitted court papers to have a total change in custodial parent for our son. I felt attacked, angry, and hurt. My husband looked online at attorney reviews as we had only days to find an attorney and respond to the courts. We read up on Paul Battan and saw many reviews stating that he was outstanding, trustworthy and knowledgeable. He proved to be all that and much more. Mr. Battan listened to my situation with sensitivity and care. He was a strong advocate for healthy family dynamics and worked with me to propose a parenting plan that would last through the next 14 years. He was encouraging and helped me form a plan that I was comfortable with. He was on time and well prepared for every court session and kept me informed of the legal process. I have been very grateful to have an attorney who represented me in a dignified, constructive light, rather than an attorney who attacks and destroys. I would recommend Paul Battan to anyone! We was fantastic and I am so thankful that it was him we hired.
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Outstanding Attorney!

5.0 stars

Posted by

When looking for an attorney to handle my divorce case, I received two glowing recommendations for Paul. In the interests of finding the best fit, I set up interviews with three lawyers, Paul being the first. I was highly impressed with his legal knowledge, his sense of fairness and his honesty and was tempted to offer a retainer right there. I did go on with a second review just to be thorough, but knew within the first five minutes that I couldn't do any better than Paul. I cancelled the third interview and was very grateful that Paul accepted my case. My then-spouse was obstructionist and ultimately did not participate in the process. I was concerned that this would drag out proceedings indefinitely, but was calmed by Paul's logical approach, his knowledge of the law, and his experience with the human dynamics typical in divorce situations. With Paul's expertise, we were able to bring my case to a successful, timely conclusion. We were fair and honest in approaching the property settlement issues and ultimately the court granted what we asked for. I had absolute confidence in any counsel Paul offered and was comfortable in asking questions whenever they arose during the process. Paul and his wonderful legal assistant, Patti, were incredibly timely with their communications to me. I received respectful, professional and compassionate help from Paul and Patti during a very difficult time in my life. After the divorce, I asked Paul to help me update my other legal affairs regarding estate planning, to include updating my will, my health care directives and power of attorney documents. Again, all matters were handled smoothly, efficiently, and with attention to detail. I wholeheartedly recommend Paul Batten and his office for help with a variety of legal matters.
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Four other people directed me to Paul - I highly recomend him as well

5.0 stars

Posted by

I hired Paul Battan to assist me in a custody case regarding my son. Being a single father of a new baby I was ready to be involved in my son's life to the fullest. Paul Battan was amazing in assisting me in this process, while helping keep my emotions grounded and focused on being with my son and away from conflict with the mother. Paul is a down to earth guy who is also an outstanding professional in his field. He was very compassionate to my situation and did everything he could to work towards the outcome we were looking for. In the end, no one really wins in these type of cases but we were able to achieve the best result possible. I wouldn't have changed a thing in the way Paul handled my case. If you want an attorney who knows the law, who will diligently advocate for you and who also understands family dynamics then go with Paul Battan. I can't say enough about his competency. I highly recommend him.
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Efficient, intelligent, experienced, honest -- an excellent attorney

5.0 stars

Posted by

Paul was recommended to me by a friend of mine (a dad) that Paul represented with good results. I didn't hire Paul until after spending the better part of three years and thousands of $$ going to court with my ex and his aggressive attorney. We ended up going to trial with the GAL backing my ex. Paul accurately presented my children's situation while cutting through the layers of smokescreen and mud slinging put forth by my ex and his attorney. Paul also very effectively pointed out the major deficiencies with the GAL's investigation and analysis. When it was all said and done, my children and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. I also feel very good about the outcome because we always stayed on the high road (Paul isn't one to sling mud). My experience interacting with Paul was very consistent with the different roles that he describes on his website. He is very easy to communicate with and almost always available via email. He even told me that he'd be checking his email on the beach while vacationing in Hawaii, but I didn't have the heart to actually test his dedication during his vacation. Going to trial represented by an attorney is expensive. But I found Paul and his staff to be very conscious of my budget and they kept costs under control. Based on my experience with other attorneys, I believe that Paul's years of experience translate to lower costs because he can get stuff done in a fraction of the time of a less experienced attorney with a lower hourly rate.
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Outstanding Attorney & Outstanding Person

5.0 stars

Posted by

I interviewed four attorney's and Paul Battan stood out as the attorney who would be the most likely achieve the outcome I sought for my forthcoming dissolution and custody case. Paul held a genuine interest in determining what issues were most important to me and what would be the most beneficial for the children. Paul encouraged me to maintain co-parental communication and to rally around the children while he worked my objectives through the legal channels. Although this wasn't intuitive at the time, as I was willing to fight it out, working it out was certainly going to be more productive. It did not take very long to see that Paul's reputation for being knowledgeable and tactically sound would be very challenging for the opposition. Throughout Paul treated my ex-wife and her attorneys with respect. In the end I was awarded primary custodian of my two children, the home and achieved an arrangement that has fostered reasonable communications with my ex-wife. Thank you Paul.
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Attorney endorsements

(9)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer
Lawyer Brian Michael Barnes

Brian Barnes, Family Attorney on Jun 4, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I have known Paul for over twenty years. He is a thoughtful, skilled and dedicated attorney. I have referred cases to Paul in the past and will continue to do so.

Lawyer Patrick William Rawnsley

Patrick Rawnsley, Family Attorney on Jun 9, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I have known Paul for the entirety of my legal career (20+ years) and have worked numerous cases with him as opposing counsel. He is skilled, honest and diligent in the representation of his clients both in court and in mediation. He is a skilled negotiator and is highly effective in resolving conflict. I have referred cases to Paul and will continue to do so as I have confidence in his abilities.

Lawyer Brian Michael Barnes

Brian Barnes, Family Attorney on Jun 4, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I have known Paul for over twenty years. He is a thoughtful, skilled and dedicated attorney. I have referred cases to Paul in the past and will continue to do so.

Lawyer Patrick William Rawnsley

Patrick Rawnsley, Family Attorney on Jun 9, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I have known Paul for the entirety of my legal career (20+ years) and have worked numerous cases with him as opposing counsel. He is skilled, honest and diligent in the representation of his clients both in court and in mediation. He is a skilled negotiator and is highly effective in resolving conflict. I have referred cases to Paul and will continue to do so as I have confidence in his abilities.

Lawyer Michael S. Waddington

Michael Waddington, Family Attorney on May 26, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse Paul. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.

Lawyer Lisa Ellen Seifert

Lisa Seifert, Family Attorney on Nov 16, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I have known Paul Battan as a colleague for over 20 years. I never hesitate to refer clients to Paul when they need advice or help. It seems to me that Paul is one of the few really great family law attorneys who like this area and do it well.

Lawyer Leonard K Lucenko Jr

Leonard Lucenko, Divorce and separation Attorney on Oct 18, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Paul is bright, articulate and passionate about his clients. He works assiduously to promote their interests and welfare. Paul is an excellent attorney and litigator and he is able to find practical solutions to complex situations at a reasonable cost. Paul is actively involved in the local community and is very well respected in the legal community.

Lawyer Forrest Lee Wagner

Forrest Wagner, Family Attorney on Jun 27, 2009
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

When I first learned of Avvo, I knew that I would have to limit my endorsements to just a few peers, and that I would not engage in any collegial "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" reciprocity when it came to endorsements. If lawyers start to swap endorsements the whole process would become meaningless. I also knew that Paul Battan would be one of the few lawyers I would endorse. He is an excellent attorney who provides excellent representation for his clients. Paul is organized, methodical, thoughtful, intelligent, conscientious, kind, and ethical. He has earned the respect of his peers. I also know from personal interaction with Paul that he has that one indispensable attribute of a good lawyer--his clients matter to him. It sounds trite, but he cares. Too many lawyers just go through the motions, but Paul wrestles with legal problems as though his fate were inextricably linked with that of his client. That makes an exceptional advocate.

Lawyer James Arthur Connolly

James Connolly, Family Attorney on Feb 1, 2009
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer's work. I often refer clients to Paul if our office has a conflict or we do not have a family law attorney available. Paul is, of course, well experienced & knowledgeable but also has the ability to balance vigorous representation with a calming style. Paul understands the different stresses that family law clients often experience & works very hard to address those needs.

Lawyer Charles E Szurszewski

Charles Szurszewski, Family Attorney on Jan 28, 2009
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

I endorse this lawyer's work. I have had a number of cases with Mr. Battan over the last 20 years including one that went to trial. He is an extremely effective advocate and sound advisor for his clients. You will find him to be quite knowledgeable in the law and understanding of your personal needs.

Lawyer Christina Ann Meserve

Christina Meserve, Family Attorney on Jan 14, 2009
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

Paul Battan is an excellent lawyer. He is respected in the community and by our local judicial officers, which is important in a town this size. He is always well-prepared for hearings and trials but, more important, he has the ability to look at the "big picture" in family law cases. He is a good friend, a valued colleague and a worthy adversary. I recommend him without reservation.

Cost

RATES
  • Hourly Rates $300-$300/hour
PAYMENT METHODS

Cash, Check, Credit Card