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Sound Advice, Calm Presence, Clear Explanations
“Mark Alexander represented me in a particularly difficult and acrimonious divorce. The matter was further strained by my wife’s attorney’s provocative language and insistence on citing irrelevant issues. Throughout this process, Mr. Alexander was dignified, calm, insightful, articulate and thoroughly knowledgeable. The final settlement which he negotiated for me was equitable and ended in a judgment more favorable than I had anticipated. I recommend Mr. Alexander and his prompt and efficient staff without reservation.” – G.M.
Divorce can be a period of temporary insanity; conflict and anxiety run high. I try to provide a calm presence, clear explanations, and the best advice, drawing on my 30+ years of experience. I also try to be as accessible as possible — I want my clients to feel free to call or email me knowing I will take their call if I am available or I will respond quickly if I am not. In many divorces, the greatest cause of conflict is anxiety over:
- Will I be left with anything?
- What kind of future will I have?
- Will I be able to pay my bills and live reasonably?
- When will I be spending time with my children?
A clear understanding of the divorce process can go far to reduce the anxiety. At our first meeting we will discuss your concerns, how the courts look at specific issues, and how the legal process will unfold.
Part of my role as your attorney is to explain the range of likely outcomes, given your particular situation, on each issue the court must decide. With a good understanding of these factors, you are in the best position to start working out how to share the time with your children and how best to separate finances.
When emotions run high, I act as a buffer to help defuse those passions. My job is to help you focus on the things that matter — developing the evidence on each issue which the court must decide: dividing assets and debts, alimony, the parenting plan, and child support. Emotional reactions and mudslinging may feel good in the short run, but often sabotage your best interests.
I believe the judges and commissioners appreciate a reasonable advocate. Daily they face people badmouthing each other. Rather than making a lot of noise without substance, I work with you to support our position with receipts, photos, records, and testimony from neutral professionals.
Finally, in a divorce it is important to disrupt the children’s lives as little as possible. It is critical that your children not feel placed in the middle, and not be asked to take sides. Part of our job as attorneys and as parents is to protect the children from the conflict as much as possible and not interfere with the love they have for their parents.
Mediation: I also work as a family law mediator. As a mediator I help both sides to a dispute work towards agreement by defusing conflict and exploring common interests. As a mediator I am neutral, so you will both need to have outside attorneys to answer your legal questions and prepare the legal documents which incorporate the agreements you reach in mediation. Let me know if you are interested in having me mediate with you and your spouse.
You can contact Mark directly at mark@seattledivorceservices.com
Mark Alexander graduated with honors from Harvard College and attended the Backus School of Law of Case Western Reserve University, where he was a legal research, advocacy, and writing instructor for first-year law students. Licensed as an attorney since 1979 and admitted in five states, he has been practicing family law in the Puget Sound area since 1990. He has served as Managing Attorney for the Family Law Mentor Program of the King County Bar Association, as Chair of its Family Law Section, and as a member for over 15 years of its Local Rules committee. In addition to devoting time to the Greenwood and Eastside legal clinics and the Volunteer Settlement Conference program, Mark has been a speaker on divorce and family law at local schools, at seminars for attorneys, and at the University of Washington’s business school.
