Best Divorce Lawyers in Bend oregon
Nathan Klinger
Divorce Lawyers
Prior to joining Baxter Harder, Nathan Klinger worked as an independently contracted attorney during which he worked on a variety of family law cases involving dissolutions, restraining orders, parenting time disputes, custody, and support. Other cases he has worked on, both as a law clerk and as an attorney, include tort law and consumer law issues involving Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act and Lemon Law.
As a law clerk, Nathan was exposed to many other areas of law. He worked with municipal law and Constitutional law at a City Attorney’s office, water rights, and environmental laws at a Water Law office, as well as family law and landlord-tenant law while at a general practice firm.
Nathan enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys, enjoying beautiful Central Oregon and the outdoors, hiking and biking, watching hockey, enjoying local cuisine, listening to music, and reading.
Education & Background
- Willamette University College of Law, Juris Doctor
- Certificate in Sustainable Environmental, Energy and Resources Law
- Liberty University. B.S. in Criminal Justice
Joel Kent
Divorce Lawyers
Practice Emphases
High Asset Divorce, Complex Divorce, Custody
Professional Experience
Joel Kent founded the Stahancyk, Kent & Hook Central Oregon office in Bend in 1998 and has worked for the firm since 1994. He was elected a shareholder in 1999. Joel is a leading litigator in complex dissolution cases throughout the state of Oregon and successfully represents numerous clients in divorces involving complex financial disputes, business valuation disputes, custody disputes, support modifications, stock disputes, agricultural matters, prenuptial agreements, and post-marital agreements. He has years of experience litigating, mediating, and settling divorces involving business interests and issues of business valuation. Joel travels statewide to accommodate client needs.
Education
Seattle University School of Law
Seattle, WA · J.D.
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA · B.A. Economics, Cum Laude
Aloha High School
Beaverton, OR
Professional Activities
Joel is a member of the Family Law Section of the Oregon State Bar. He has been a member of the Central Oregon Matrimonial Attorneys for the last twelve years and the Inns of Court since 1999. He has served on the Deschutes County Family Law Advisory Committee since 2007.
Community Involvement
Joel believes that for everything he gets from the Central Oregon community, he must give back three times over, and the most important place to start is with the youth. Upon moving to Central Oregon, Joel began volunteering as a head coach with the Rimrock Volleyball Club and has coached the eighteen-year-old girls’ elite club team ever since.
Through the years, Joel’s creative and effective coaching techniques have garnered numerous tournament wins. Joel’s players have succeeded at a high level, including six High School Player of the Year Awards, 37 All-State players, and 10 State Championships with their respective high schools. Most players continue to college, the majority on volleyball scholarships, which Joel takes time to help them secure. Alumni from his teams also include three Collegiate All-Americans and a Head Coach at Eastern Oregon University.
Joel Overlund
Divorce Lawyers
Joel Overlund is a Bend, Oregon family law attorney with a unique peaceful and collaborative approach to divorce, custody and legal separation cases.
Joel was born and raised in Minnesota and North Dakota, moving to Oregon to attend law school. He has practiced family law here in Oregon for 31 years. He obtained his undergraduate degree in 1981 from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, with a major in Business Administration and minors in Political Science and Religion. He earned his law degree in 1987 from Willamette University College of Law in Salem, OR.
Joel’s practice experience includes all aspects of family law, including dissolution of marriage, unmarried custody and parenting time, third party custody, administrative child support, and custody/support modifications.
Joel is a skilled and experienced advocate for his clients. He is a dedicated, compassionate, caring attorney focused on ensuring fair and just results for his clients. He enjoys solving problems and working with families in crisis, helping them navigate a challenging legal system effectively, efficiently, and with integrity.
Joel has also been formally trained in Mediation and Collaborative Law, alternative ways to facilitate agreements in family law matters without going to court. His mediation training allows him to resolve family law matters through “kitchen-table” mediation (working with two unrepresented parties), or working with parties both represented by attorneys to facilitate settlements without going to court.
Joel believes strongly that parties, and their children, do better, both short and long term, by taking a non-litigious, non-hostile approach to resolving family law matters. He welcomes the opportunity to assist you in this process.
Robert Ickes
Divorce Lawyers
Robert William Ickes graduated in 2005 from Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon. While studying law, Robert was an active participant in Moot Court Board and was an editor and writer for Willamette Law Online. He worked for the Willamette Clinical Law program as well during law school.
Robert was a prosecutor for 3 years after graduating from law school, then went into private practice. Robert worked at The Huntsman Firm after moving to St. George, Utah with his wife. Robert then became a partner with his wife at Ickes & Ickes, LLC, and has been a partner at this firm for the past 6 years.
During this time, he argued to the Utah Court of Appeals and won on a highly contested family law matter. Robert also has around 11 years of legal experience as an attorney. Robert moved back to Bend in 2016 to continue his practice together and raise their family. Robert is very happy to be back in Central Oregon, and enjoys mountain biking, archery, hiking, and camping.
JULIE VAN HANDEL
Divorce Lawyers
Julie’s focus is divorce, child custody, child support, modification of support, and related domestic relations issues. She works primarily in Deschutes County and travels to other counties in Central and Eastern Oregon. Julie is sometimes appointed by the court to represent the interests of children in complex family law disputes.
Julie is delighted when presented with an opportunity to use her strong skills in mediation to resolve a dispute.
AREA OF PRACTICE
Family Law
Mediation
EDUCATION
Graduated from Eastern Oregon State College and from the University of Oregon College of Law.
I TAKE GOOD CARE OF FAMILIES IN DIFFICULT TIMES.
Julie Van Handel is a family-centered attorney with 20 years of experience litigating and settling family law cases. Her technical expertise combined with a sense of fairness and the ability to really hear and understand both sides of an issue make her especially effective at helping family law clients find common ground.
Gordon Phillips
Divorce Lawyers
Gordon Phillips graduated from the University of Washington, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctor from The Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College. Gordon serves client’s statewide but practices primarily in Central and Eastern Oregon.
Gordon is a person of good character, always acting with integrity and honesty. He is confident about his own abilities and instills confidence in others. He thinks analytically, keeping the end result in mind. He fights for his clients while providing them realistic and legally sound advice.
Prior to law school, Gordon worked for Sigma Nu International Fraternity traveling throughout the United States as an Educational Field Consultant. During law school, he clerked for the Multnomah County Counsel’s office in the litigation division where he was active with motion and pleading practice in the federal courts. He also worked for the United States Army and volunteered with Multnomah County Legal Aid.
Since moving to Bend, Oregon in 2001, Gordon has been committed to enhancing the quality of life in his family and community. Gordon knows the end result of any business is not just to make money, but to be part of the community in which he practices, so for both personal and business reasons he continues to make social service a priority in his life.
Gordon is a past president and former member of the board of directors for the Central Oregon Council on Aging, a Central Oregon nonprofit that specializes in services to seniors, such as Meals-on-Wheels. He is a current member of the Board of Directors for the Central Oregon Humane Society, an organization he has been honored to work with for more than seven years.
Gordon was selected as an Accomplished Under 40 recipient in 2009, recognizing his contribution to the Central Oregon community. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a current member of the Oregon State Bar, the Deschutes County Bar, and Central Oregon Matrimonial Attorneys. He has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers Magazine from 2008-2012 (Rising Star) and 2016-2017.
Jacklyn L. Richins
Divorce Lawyers
Jacklyn has a passion for guiding clients and their families through potentially difficult life circumstances. She has an extensive background in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, property division divorce, probate and estate planning including planning for taxable estates and negotiating settlement agreements for families experiencing extreme conflict. Jacklyn was previously a National Certified Guardian and worked with a team of professional fiduciaries to administer trusts, estates, and conservatorships.
During law school, Jacklyn worked in the Wills & Trusts Clinic and clerked at the Department of Justice, Trial Division and conducted significantly large research projects, including the interpretation of the Uniform Trust Code and research on the federal and state legislations protecting the rights of LGBTQIA+ older adults.
Before achieving her goal of becoming an attorney, Jacklyn worked as a legal assistant for 10 years where she gained experience in a variety of family and elder law matters, including divorce, estate planning, guardianships, and conservatorships.
Hiring the best divorce lawyer in Bend, Oregon, can be crucial due to the complexities of divorce laws in the state and the potential impact of divorce on various aspects of your life. Here’s why you might need a top divorce lawyer in Bend:
Oregon-Specific Laws: Divorce laws can vary significantly from state to state. An experienced Bend divorce lawyer will have a deep understanding of Oregon’s family law statutes, ensuring that your case is handled in compliance with local legal requirements.
Child Custody and Support: If you have children, divorce can have a profound impact on their lives. Custody arrangements, visitation schedules, and child support determinations are crucial aspects that a skilled lawyer can help you navigate to ensure the best interests of your children are protected.
Complex Property Division: Oregon follows the principle of equitable distribution when dividing marital property. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean an equal 50-50 split. A top divorce lawyer can assist in valuing and dividing complex assets fairly, which is especially important if you have substantial property, investments, or businesses.
Spousal Support: Oregon allows for spousal support (also known as alimony) based on various factors. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you negotiate or litigate for a fair alimony arrangement based on your circumstances.
Legal Paperwork and Procedures: Divorce involves a significant amount of paperwork, legal documents, and procedural steps. A skilled lawyer can ensure that all necessary forms are properly completed and filed within the required timeframes, preventing delays or errors.
Mediation and Negotiation: Many divorce cases can be resolved outside of court through mediation and negotiation. A skilled lawyer can guide you through these processes to help achieve mutually agreeable settlements, reducing the emotional and financial toll of litigation.
Protection of Rights: Divorce can be emotionally charged, and it’s important to have a lawyer who can protect your rights and advocate on your behalf. They can ensure that your interests are considered and that you’re not taken advantage of during negotiations or proceedings.
Emotional Support: Divorce is a challenging time, and having a supportive lawyer by your side can provide not only legal guidance but also emotional support during the process.
Now, let’s address the impact of divorce on child growth:
Divorce can have significant effects on children’s growth and development. While every child’s experience is unique, some potential impacts include:
Emotional Distress: Children may experience a range of emotions, including sadness, confusion, anger, and anxiety, as their family structure changes. This emotional distress can affect their overall well-being and behavior.
Academic Performance: Divorce-related stress and upheaval can impact a child’s ability to focus on school and may result in changes in academic performance.
Behavioral Changes: Some children may exhibit behavioral changes, such as acting out, withdrawal, or regression, as they try to cope with the changes in their family dynamics.
Relationships: Divorce can influence a child’s relationships with both parents, peers, and other family members. They may struggle with loyalty conflicts or experience difficulty forming new relationships.
Long-Term Effects: Research suggests that the effects of divorce on children can extend into adulthood, potentially impacting their own relationships, mental health, and well-being.
Parental Conflict: The level of conflict between parents during and after divorce can affect how children adjust. High levels of conflict can exacerbate negative outcomes for children.
It’s important to note that while divorce can pose challenges, children can also exhibit resilience and adaptability. Factors that can mitigate negative effects include maintaining open communication, providing stability, ensuring both parents are involved in their lives, and seeking professional support when needed, such as counseling or therapy.