One of the states in which I am admitted licenses me not only as an attorney but also a “Counsellor at Law”. I best counsel my clients as a supportive but calm buffer during their time of stress and emotion. With over 40 years in practice, I can clarify what seem to be incomprehensible procedures and legal gibberish to my clients, and explain how their facts fit into the legal factors the court weighs in deciding the issues.
If safety is not an overriding concern, I believe my client’s best interests (both emotional and financial) are served by negotiating agreed orders when possible, minimizing the mudslinging common in contested hearings. When hearings are necessary, my background as an accomplished debater, and writing skills derived as a legal writing instructor and Harvard English major, both help persuade the court.
In addition to full representation, I also offer hourly advice / drafting ("unbundled") legal services to individuals representing themselves. When the parties have their own attorneys but are unable to reach agreement, I have also served as mediator in settlement conferences since 1997.
Life is not all work, though. In my free time, I like digital photography, paddling a kayak, hiking, squash, tennis, cross-country skiing --- and playing Wii tennis, baseball, and bowling. Finally, I love tasty food and drink enjoyed with my wife and other good friends.
Favorite quote (from the late Judge McCutcheon, during a trial several years ago): “There’s still room in the law for common sense.”
Practice areas
Represent husband or wife in divorce or legal separation actions; resolve issues of child custody, child support, parenting plans, visitation, restraining orders, domestic violence protection orders, property and asset/debt division, child custody jurisdiction under the UCCJEA, dividing pension and retirement plans with qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), business values, investments, Microsoft and other stock options, alimony / spousal maintenance, and alcohol and substance abuse
36 years, 1,350 cases
Advocacy regarding child support, income, deductions, normal business expenses, deviations, significant residential time, split custody, maintenance, and imputed income
36 years, 750 cases
Represent husband or wife in divorce or legal separation actions; resolve issues of child custody, child support, parenting plans, visitation, restraining orders, domestic violence protection orders, property and asset/debt division, child custody jurisdiction under the UCCJEA, dividing pension and retirement plans with qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), alimony / spousal maintenance, alcohol and substance abuse, habeas corpus, and harassment
36 years, 1,500 cases
Conduct mediations and settlement conferences, arbitrations, alternate dispute resolution, dispute resolution in parenting plans, and service as a special master
25 years, 46 cases
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
WA | Active | 1990 | 05/07/2022 |
NJ | License Administratively Revoked | 1988 | 03/31/2022 |
NY | Resigned | 1984 | 02/24/2022 |
NE | Former Member | 1979 | 04/20/2010 |
AR | Active | 1979 | 05/07/2022 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Super Lawyer | Washington Super Lawyers | 2020 |
Lifetime Achievement Award | Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section | 2019 |
Re-elected to Executive Committee | Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section | 2016 |
Elected to Executive Committee | Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section | 2013 |
Chair, committee commenting on statewide family law civil rules | King County Bar Association Family Law Section | 2013 |
Plain Language Forms Workgroup | Administrative Office of the Courts / Washington State Access to Justice Board | 2012 |
Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation | Washington State Bar Association | 2010 |
Professional Mediation Skills Certificate | University of Washington School of Law | 2010 |
Superior Court Commissioner Screening Panel | King County Bar Association | 2008 |
Bench-Bar select committee to revise Family Law Local Rules | King County Superior Court | 2004 |
Guardian ad Litem Training Certificate | King County Bar Association | 1996 |
Underhill Scholarship | Backus School of Law, Case Western Reserve University | N/A |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Attorney | Seattle Divorce Services | 2006 - Present |
Managing Attorney | King County Bar Association Family Law Mentor Program | 2005 - 2005 |
President | Mark Alexander, P.S. | 1993 - 2006 |
Bonneville, Viert, Morton & McGoldrick | 1990 - 1993 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
King County Bar Association | 1990 - Present | |
Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section | Executive Committee 2013, 2015; Newsletter Editor 2015-2019 | 1990 - Present |
Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section | Secretary | 2016 - 2019 |
King County Bar Association | Chairman, Family Law Section | 1997 - 1998 |
East King County Bar Association | 1994 - 2006 |
South King County Bar Association | 1990 - 1994 | |
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association | 1990 - 1994 | |
American Bar Association | 1990 - 1993 | |
Washington State Trial Lawyers Association | 1990 - 1993 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
King County Bar Bulletin | State Bar Association Choices | 2016 |
King County Bar Bulletin | A Dozen Family Law Tricks Before Trial | 2014 |
King County Bar Bulletin | Service by Mail in Divorce After Ralph's Concrete | 2012 |
King County Bar Bulletin | Child Support Table: Then and Still Then | 2011 |
Washington State Trial Lawyers (WSTLA) Trial News | Business Expense Deductions for Support Purposes | 1993 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Case Western Reserve University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1979 |
Harvard College | A.B. with honors | 1976 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Family Law Midyear | Mediation-Arbitration | 2019 |
Family Law Midyear | Seminar Co-Chair | 2019 |
Often Overlooked: Family Law Issues | Seminar Chair | 2017 |
Family Law Midyear | The UCCJEA: A Systematic Approach | 2017 |
Mentor Program | Family Law | 2017 |
Plain Talk on Plain Language Issues | Seminar Chair | 2016 |
Family Law Changes | Seminar Chair | 2015 |
Mentor Program | Family Law | 2015 |
Family Law Skills Training | Presenting Your Case - Do's and Don'ts of Family Law Motion Practice | 2014 |
Mentor Program | Family Law | 2013 |
Mentor Program | Family Law | 2011 |
Parenting Plans | Decision Making and Dispute Resolution | 2010 |
Mentor Program | Family Law | 2009 |
New Hurdles to Enter Final Parenting Plans | Court Database Checks and Residential Time Summary Report | 2007 |
Mentor Program | Family Law | 2005 |
Mentor Program | Family Law | 1999 |
Introduction to Law | Family Law Overview | 1998 |
Posted by Michelle
March 10, 2021
Posted by anonymous
December 9, 2015
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May 31, 2015
Posted by anonymous
October 26, 2013
Posted by anonymous
August 1, 2013
Posted by Gil
March 2, 2011
Posted by anonymous
June 14, 2016
Sharon Blackford, Family Attorney on Jun 11, 2014
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
Mark is the voice of wisdom. He and I were opposing counsel on a divorce case, and I saw his practice style first hand. He demonstrated encyclopedic knowledge of the law, and was a tough advocate for his client. He never made an argument he couldn't back up, and the respectful tone of his arguments makes them even more powerful. He also never seems to have a "bad day," probably because he loves what he does. I ended up with tremendous respect for Mark by the time our case finished, and he has been a "go-to" guy for sound advice when I need it. I've been happy to refer clients to Mark, and endorse him wholeheartedly.
Michael Waddington, Family Attorney on May 26, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Mark. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.
Sharon Blackford, Family Attorney on Jun 11, 2014
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
Mark is the voice of wisdom. He and I were opposing counsel on a divorce case, and I saw his practice style first hand. He demonstrated encyclopedic knowledge of the law, and was a tough advocate for his client. He never made an argument he couldn't back up, and the respectful tone of his arguments makes them even more powerful. He also never seems to have a "bad day," probably because he loves what he does. I ended up with tremendous respect for Mark by the time our case finished, and he has been a "go-to" guy for sound advice when I need it. I've been happy to refer clients to Mark, and endorse him wholeheartedly.
Michael Waddington, Family Attorney on May 26, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse Mark. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.
Janel Ostrem, Family Attorney on Mar 7, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker
I have had the pleasure of working with Mark Alexander over the past year. He is a diligent, thoughtful and incredibly smart attorney. I highly recommend him.
Deborah Gordon, Family Attorney on Jan 22, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Douglas Becker, Family Attorney on Jan 16, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I strongly endorse Mark Alexander for his legal knowledge and great advocacy and mediation skills.
Rebecca Thorley, Family Attorney on Jul 27, 2013
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I highly endorse this lawyer. We worked together on a very difficult divorce case. Mark was extremely ethical and professional. He was respectful throughout, and a great mentor.
Morghan Richardson, Divorce and separation Attorney on Feb 6, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Alexander's legal advise on the AVVO forum is informative, practical and well thought out.
Jennie Laird, Family Attorney on Oct 1, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Years before I had the pleasure of working with Mark at the same firm, I knew him as a smart and diligent leader within the King County Bar Association family law section. Mark kept the group informed about the latest court rules, even alerting us in advance when local procedures were about to change. As a colleague, Mark made being at the office fun, and he was always up for a brainstorming session about a thorny legal situation. As an advocate, Mark is patient and consistent, and he keeps his eye on the client's ultimate goals. He is well-respected by the bench and bar alike, and he is a valuable member of our legal community.
Thomas Mackin, Family Attorney on Sep 29, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
John Stocks, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jul 19, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Mark has not only a great legal mind, but a compassionate, common sense approach to resolving legal problem. I endorse this lawyer without hesitation.
Susan Carroll, Family Attorney on Jul 9, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mark has been a mentor for me for many years and I still often seek his advice on complex or new issues. His knowledge of the law is extensive and thorough. He brings a calm perspective to even the most contentious issues.
Michael Gainer, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jun 19, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. I have followed Mr. Alexander's answers on AVVO for some time and found that he is gives very thoughtful, practical and experienced advice to families even though we have a limited time and space to give thorough advice. He clearly has the years of experience to be able to cut to the chase and recognize how to efficiently and effectively help his clients. He is someone I would refer to in the Seattle Metro area.
Joshua Foreman, Family Attorney on Jun 15, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
It is a pleasure to endorse Mark Alexander, who has been one of Seattle's most respected family law attorneys for many years. He takes good care of his clients, settling what can be settled and fighting only when necessary. Mark's firm, Seattle Divorce Services, has been a pioneer in alternatives to traditional litigation, such as collaborative divorce and innovative solutions to keep the process affordable. His thoughtful comments on the WSBA Family Law Section listserv have been very helpful for me and many other lawyers. Mark has three other excellent attorneys working with him at his firm, so his clients always get top-notch service. Mark is the right choice for anybody who wants to get a divorce without going broke in the process, and who wants the process to be humane and child-centered. We need more lawyers like Mark Alexander!
Michael Louden, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jun 11, 2012
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse this lawyer without hesitation or qualification. Mark brings a strong legal mind to his practice. He is insightful, thoughtful, and effective in representing his clients' interests.
Joseph Ostrowski, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jan 17, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Attorney Alexander exemplifies the very best attributes of an active attorney and displays a high level of professionalism, confidence and skill we should all aspire to. Honesty, dedication and a love of the law, which means. giving back to others who lack our understanding of the law and a benefit from our inherent desire to provide solutions to problems. The thousands years of combined legal experience of professionals activity participating in this forum represent some of the very best of our profession, which is after all, at its base is desire to help those in need. This Attorney’s experience and knowledge, I believe, demonstrates that there is a desire to provide accurate advice and obtain appropriate results for clients. Most importantly, this Attorney is willing to help complete strangers (as is the case in this forum) with their legal problems for which we collectively provide useful information, thereby demystifying the legal process as much as possible. I recommend him.
Howard Lewis, Divorce and separation Attorney on Sep 9, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Alexander has repuation as being the best of the best and is a true credit to the legal profession. He is an outstanding attorney and a strong and zealous advocate for his clients. I highly endorse him.
Shaun Van Eyk, Family Attorney on Jan 18, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Mark has an incredible depth and breadth of legal knowledge in his area of practice and I find myself regularly bending his ear when novel questions of law arise in my own practice. His advice and guidance never fails to be helpful in my experience. His calm yet firm and thoughtful demeanor is a real asset in a field of practice that understandably draws clients in varying states of emotionality, especially when opposed by one of our more vitriolic brethren. In short, Mark is a true Oracle of family law in Washington.