A Washington State family lawyer is an expert in the body of law governing domestic relations in Washington State. Over the last fifty years, at least two factors have contributed to the exponential growth of family law in the United States and the need for specialists like the Washington State family attorney. First, the breadth of the law in general has expanded to the point where a family attorney must specialize in order to be effective. The sheer volume of enacted statutes, codes, and the ever-expanding case law makes it difficult for any one lawyer to know it all in many areas. Of course, many family lawyers also practice in other areas; but there was a time when a Washington State family lawyer was a general practitioner who practiced Washington State family law on the side.

The second historical development giving rise to the specialist Washington State family attorney has been the changing nature of the family. Rising divorce rates, more strict family support regulations, the acceptance of same sex relationships, and couples living together before marriage, perhaps never getting married, have led to more detailed and subtle approaches to the problems in family law. Today, just to understand the various approaches taken by courts in the myriad factual settings in which a lawsuit can arise requires the Washington State family lawyer to be diligent and focused. Fifty years ago, many Washington State family lawyers never attended law school, learning their trade through practical experience. Today, Washington State family attorneys must complete three years of law school with training in many areas of the law, pass a rigorous bar exam, and then continue education through required refreshers approved by the State Bar.

While the demands upon Washington State family law attorneys have increased over the years, practice focus also brings with it an attention to detail and an experienced approach. Furthermore, practice focus in the law means that those who choose to become a Washington State family lawyer have a desire to practice family law.

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