Stacy Heard is an accomplished and well-respected family law attorney in Seattle, Washington who has served clients for over 20 years.

Stacy specializes in matrimonial and family law. She handles matters of divorce, high-conflict parenting plan/child custody issues, international custody disputes and Hague Convention cases, complex financial issues, relocation, restraining orders, child support, and modifications of Parenting Plans and Child Support Orders.

Stacy has been a speaker on national and international stages, providing thought leadership to her peers and industry professionals on the matters of Family Law Litigation, Parenting Plans, Complex Custody Issues, and Property Settlements.

She is active in the local, national, and international family law community. She is a member of several legal organizations and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). She has developed a vast network of leaders and experts in the legal, financial, and mental health industries and works with other professionals to assist clients in achieving their goals.

Stacy has authored the Lexis Nexis Practice Guide, Washington Family Law, and co-authored Family Law Attorneys and Parenting Evaluators: Improving Professional Collaboration. She has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed and professional publications, including the International Comparative Legal Guides Family Laws & Regulations-Washington. You can find a comprehensive list of Stacy’s contributions here.

She has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as Rising Star and by the Washington State Bar Association for her Pro Bono work. She is also trained in cross-border mediation, arbitration and mediation, collaborative law, and is qualified as a Title 26 Guardian ad Litem.

Prior to starting her own practice in 2005, Stacy worked at a large Seattle civil litigation firm where she gained valuable litigation experience. Stacy is a native Oregonian who has called Seattle home for over 25 years. She enjoys international travel, the outdoors, and photography.  She also loves hiking with her dog and spending time with her nieces.

FAMILY LAW SERVICES:

Caring, Competent Counsel for Your Family Law Matters

MARITAL DISSOLUTIONS (DIVORCE)

Attorney Heard assists clients in divorces that involve:

• Complex financial issues

• High-conflict parenting plan/child custody disputes

• Relocation

• Restraining orders

• Child support

LEGAL SEPARATION

Before divorce, many clients enter into legally binding separation agreements. Some key details to know about this subject include:

• Legal separation involves similar issues presented in divorce cases with a goal of entry of a Final Legal Separation Order

• Final Legal Separation Orders do not dissolve the marriage and the parties are not divorced upon entry

PARENTING PLAN AND CHILD CUSTODY MODIFICATIONS

Parenting plans and child custody agreements may not always work as your children get older. Get help:

• Requesting child custody modifications

• Protesting child custody modifications

• Petitioning the Court for changes to an existing parenting plan

• Filing motions to contest requested parenting plan modifications 

HAGUE CONVENTION CASES

Hague Convention cases are serious family law issues involving the abduction of a child across international borders without the consent of the child’s legal guardian. Attorney Heard could assist in:

• Pursuing proceedings under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction & Enforcement Act

• Filing a Hague Convention application

PARENTING PLAN/CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES

Parents often do not agree on child custody arrangements and parenting plans. A strong legal advocate can:

• Assist clients in developing Parenting Plans that are in the best interests of the children

• Work with parenting evaluators to prepare recommendations for parenting plans to the court

• Coordinate with third party professionals for any other necessary evaluations (drug and alcohol evaluations, anger management evaluations, evaluations regarding other addictions)

• Advocate for supervised visitation

• Request a parenting coordinator or co-parenting counseling be ordered to assist the parents

INTERNATIONAL CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES

In addition to domestic custody disputes, Attorney Heard provides advice and assistance in cross-border custody disputes. These services include:

• Helping clients develop a plan and strategy for their unique case

• Coordinating with foreign counsel or foreign parties for a thorough solution

• Addressing complex jurisdictional issues

• Effectively working in cross-cultural situations

• Assisting clients with cases involving the Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

• Cross-Border Mediation

PARENTING PLAN AND CHILD CUSTODY RELOCATION

Whether you are interested in relocating to another state or country or you need to protest such relocation attempts, you need a family law attorney who will 

• Advise clients in relocation cases involving the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)

• Coordinate with out-of-state counsel for comprehensive representation for the client

• Develop a strategy for each client’s distinctive circumstances

• Draft Parenting Plans in the best interests of the children

PATERNITY

Establishing paternity can have a dramatic effect on your life and your children’s. Attorney Heard can assist you in:

• Establishing parentage

• Developing Parenting Plans in cases in which paternity is not disputed

CHILD SUPPORT

Child support cases can be particularly volatile. You may need an experienced legal advocate for assistance with:

• Drafting Child Support Orders to provide payments made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship

• Analyzing financial issues relevant to child support orders

• Adjustment and Modification of child support orders

RESTRAINING ORDERS

When your safety is a concern and you need to keep yourself and your family out of harm’s way, Attorney Heard may be available to assist clients with:

• Entry of restraining orders that address financial issues, use of property, and temporary custody issues.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION ORDERS

Take steps to protect yourself and your children from threats or violence. Your family law attorney at our firm can:

• Assist clients with entry of orders protecting clients from contact by other parties who have threatened or assaulted clients

• Request temporary orders regarding visitation and custody of minor children