$ 250-250 per hour
Nicole B Chafetz
About Nicole
Biography
THE MOST INTERESTING THING IN MY PRACTICE NOW IS THAT WE ARE OFFERING A PAY-AS-YOU-GO/ LOW-RETAINER PAYMENT PLAN ON ALL OF OUR CASES, DEPENDENCY AND FAMILY LAW! FOR AS LITTLE AS $400 TO START AND $400/ MONTH, WE WILL HANDLE YOUR CASE FROM START TO FINISH!
I am really excited, as you can see from the all-caps, with this plan! I have worried for years about the fact that there is no one out there to represent working people who have paychecks and who can pay a little per month, but who cannot come up with large retainers that almost every other lawyer in Washngton State requires in order to get involved with your case.
So I decided to BE that lawyer.
If you keep up with your monthly retainer, we are willing to be your firm even if you can't come up with the $2K-$10K retainer required by most Washington lawyers.
My first area of expertise is Washington State dependency law. I am passionate about helping parents get their children back from foster care, and have over a decade of successful years doing so. Nothing is better than being invited to a child's birthday party, when their last birthday was in foster care and this year, they live at home with their parents.
I have represented clients who successfully got their children returned, when their cases began with what at first glance would have appeared to be "hopeless" odds including: drug addiction; felony backgrounds; domestic violence; and religious issues and cultural diversity that sometimes bring their rituals and behaviors in conflict with the State's expectations of them as parents.
I also represent parents in family law cases/ dissolutions and modifications when their primary issues are custodial.
Although I do and have resolved large property settlement cases, my passion lies behind helping people resolve their parenting problems, generally with an emphasis toward understanding that children usual need both of their parents in their lives in some way or another; and determining how to do so safely and compassionately, whenever possible.
I have been involved in high profile cases in Washington State and appeared on the CBS Morning Show in a client interview, under my maiden name of Nicole Blake.
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Washington for 34 years
State: Washington
Acquired: 1991
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2017
Location
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Nicole B Chafetz's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
35 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 6 - 10 of 11 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge
Posted by anonymous | June 12, 2015 | Family
Peer
Nicki has always been great to work with. She is very knowledgeable about the law and has provided me excellent advice in a pinch. I would routinely consult her on issues regarding procedure and substantive law. She has particular expertise in matters of dependency from many years of experience. I...
Posted by Nina | May 11, 2015 | Child Custody
thank you nicole
thank you for not only being my attorney but also being a friend. although we've only known each other throughout the course of my battle with C.P.S. it seems as if we've known each other much longer. I'm sure it's do to how friendly you were me and my wife. you always had alot of faith and hope in u...
Nicole Chafetz
Replied last May 11, 2015Love you Joe. You did all the heavy lifting of turning away from a life of drug addiction. You are a FABULOUS dad!
Posted by anonymous | May 11, 2015 | Child Custody
Listened and heard
Having a non-parental third party custody case with both original petitioners separating, most lawyers I talked to gave me the run around. They were interested in the case if I wanted to pay them for their time to research it, which obviously wasn't my focus and I didn't have time for. Luckily we fou...
Nicole Chafetz
Replied last May 11, 2015I know how I lost that one star on this client and it makes me sad. She talked to me about it in the middle of the case. Sometimes I work hard on the legal part of a case but don't do enough of the "counseling" part. This client, despite having won and won big (being allowed to move out of state with her 3rd party custodian daughter, even though all of the biological ties were on the other side) she felt that I could have done more hand-holding and more communicating about my case strategy. I DO learn however! And I will keep this in mind for all future clients. It's not all about the law and winning, some of it is about bringing ease to the client's mind when that is warranted, especially when they tell you they want to be hands on. LATEST: Case over. Client retains primary custody! Yay team!
Posted by Jana | June 26, 2014 | Child Custody
Highly recommend this attorney
We absolutely would recommend this attorney to others, and have done so. We had been fighting for custody of my husbands child due to neglect and parental abduction to another state with another attorney for over a year when Nicole was recommended to us by another attorney and she took over the case ...
Nicole Chafetz
Replied last June 26, 2014One of the most costly cases I've been involved in. Mother stole the child and began a new life with him in a Midwestern state. I ended up hiring both an investigator in that state and a lawyer. It took a lot of creative work to figure out what was the best "next step" at each phase of this case.
Posted by Betty | June 26, 2014 | Domestic Violence
Recommed
Nicole is an outstanding attorney who helped me through a stressful domestic violence protection order case. Nicole is extremely quick and responsive regardless of the weekend and that was important to me. She is very knowledgeable, understanding , dedicated, aggressive and supportive meaning you ...
Nicole Chafetz
Replied last June 26, 2014This case made me particularly happy. It was one of those cases where victim files a dvpo and abuser files one for the next day (in another county, nonetheless!) We won her protection order in King County and used the "discovery" obtained in the King County hearing to prove that since he paid for her airplane ticket in the old world he felt as though he owned her in the new world. Wonderfully fun cross examination!
Nicole B Chafetz's Lawyer Endorsements
"I've known Nicole for several years and we have shared some clients. She works very hard for her clients. She is a fierce advocate. Were I in need of a family law attorney, I would hire her."
"I endorse this lawyer. She is a fantastic trial lawyer, creative and passionate in her advocacy approach with both dependency and family law clients. I have had the pleasure of being in trial with Nicole and have seen first-hand her successes in court. I look forward to working with her again."
"I endorse this lawyer. We were opposing counsel on a very contentious case. Nicole maintained professionalism and respect the entire time. I have observed her to be a fearless advocate and her client seemed to be pleased with the outcome."
"I endorse this lawyer. Nicole Chafetz has been a mentor to me since I was first starting to practice law and she has been opposing counsel in a highly contested family law case that went to trial. I try to emulate her professional and civility even in the midst of high conflict cases, still contact her regularly for advice, and refer with confidence my cases and clients with CPS-involved issues to her."
"I have known Nicole for many years. She is very knowledge and displays great passion in working to protect her client's interests."
"Nicki is an incredible lawyer, and I am very impressed by her and her results. She enthusiastically and aggressively pursues her cases; she zealously advocates for her clients; and, perhaps most importantly, she WINS. Moreover, she knows how to connect with people, and she knows how to make her clients feel secure and taken care of while she does what they need legally. While I live outside of Nicki's legal community, I know Nicki and how effective she is, and would be exhilarated to work for her law firm."
"Nicole's experience in criminal law and dependency cases provides her with a depth of knowledge beyond most family law attorneys. She works hard for her clients and genuinely cares about them. I endorse this attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer. She has a great way of working with clients. She can assist parents in seeing what they need but having heart to work through their case."
"I endorse this lawyer. She is hard-working and compassionate. I often seek her advice in matters involving dependencies and similar issues. She always takes the time to answer thoughtfully and provides appropriate legal contexts, include case citations. I have referred clients to her for this area of law, and have no hesitation in recommending her."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. Nicole (Nicki) is a highly motivated and devoted attorney, whether it is Family Law or Dependency. She has great compassion for her clients and genuine concern for the best interests of the children. She has a great knowledge of the ins and outs of Dependency work....an area which most people avoid, choosing not to get involved in this area of high conflict and emotions. She presents a commanding presence in Court and is highly respected by her peers and the bench. She is very devoted to her clients, whether Dependency or Family Law...a great choice for dealing with your problems."
"Nicki and I have brainstormed on cases regularly for close to ten years, and I have had the pleasure of watching her trial work in a complex multiparty case in which we each represented one party. Nicki is a true trial lawyer who understands that each case is won, lost or settled on its unique facts, and she has both a gift and a skill for understanding the facts in her cases and proving them. Her experience in life and professionally gives her the ability to be discerning, yet non-judgmental, in the pursuit of those facts that will win the case or persuade the client that the case must be settled. Highly recommended."
"Nicole brings a broad experience to her work and a true commitment to her client and her client's needs. She is well versed in juvenile litigation (dependencies) as well as in family law matters. She is responsive and timely and a pleasure to work with."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. I worked for Ms. Blake for nearly 2 years. Not only is she a highly respected attorney, she works tirelessly for her clients."
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Experience
Professional misconduct
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2017.
Resignation in Lieu of Discipline issued in WA, 2017
updated on 12/01/2017Ineligible to practice law in Washington. No longer a member of the WSBA due to resignation while disciplinary proceedings were pending. Not eligible to re-apply for admission.
Honors
N/A
Truman Scholarship, Illinois State University
Work Experience
1997 - 1998
Assistant Attorney, King County CASA, Legal
1991 - 1996
Associate Public Defender, The Defender's Association, Seattle
Associations
2001 - Present
Tulalip Tribal Bar Association
1995 - Present
CASA Program of King CountyCASA
1991 - Present
Washington State Bar Association
Sample of Legal Cases
Franklin v. Johnston, No. 63919-6-I (1st Div.).
Appeal pending.
In re Custody of Audrey and Alexis Fualaau, Mary K. Letourneau and Vili Fualaau Respondents
Closed/ inactive.
Education
1991
DePaul University College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
Speaking Engagements
2010
Third Annual Dependency CLE for King Co. Privates
In-box Zero/ Outbox The World: The Ethics of an Efficient, High-tech Desk
2010
Parent-to-Parent Class
Working with your Dependency Attorney
2008
Second Annual Dependency CLE for King Co. Privates
Ethical Round-table on Dependency Issues
2008
Second Annual Dependency CLE for King Co. Privates
Discovery Issues and Dependency Law
2008
Seattle U Law School Dispute Reolution Board Negotiation Competition
Dispute Resolution
2005
CBS Morning Show
LeTourneau's Mother in Law Speaks
1999
POCAAN Town Hall (People of Color Against Aids Network)
How to Work With Your Lawyer
1999
A Lawyer Speaks
How a Kid Can Have Input into their Own Legal Case
Publications
1999
Salon Magazine (.com)
Something's Bound to Go Wrong: Boys and Their Guns
Languages
American Sign Language
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides