Family Law

• Divorce
  The Morris – Sockle, PLLC law firm is a team of Family Law and Divorce attorneys that have been fighting to protect our client’s rights during, and after, divorce for over 40 years.  We are recognized as the premier Family Law firm in Thurston County.  We are dedicated to obtaining the results that our clients need and want.
• Child Support
  Setting fair and reasonable child support should be a simple and straightforward issue. Washington has adopted a child support formula based solely on the net incomes of both parents. You simply insert the incomes into the formula, and it generates the correct support obligation. The court must follow this formula in all but extreme circumstances.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Child custody, visitation, and support remain under the control of the court until the children are legally emancipated. Either party may request the court to modify custody, visitation, or support at any time before the child is emancipated by reaching the age of 18 years and graduating high school.
• Paternity
  The SCRA was enacted on December 19, 2003, replacing the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act. SCRA provides protections for active duty Service Members by delaying prosecution of civil lawsuits filed against Service Members (including divorce, custody, and paternity proceedings), and protecting against default judgments (automatic loss as a result of failing to respond to the lawsuit).
• Premarital Agreement
• Spousal Support
  Service members going through a divorce have to consider many financial issues, including determining how much child and spousal support they will be paying each month. In addition to State law, military regulations also set standards for the financial support of dependents during and after divorce. It is important to understand when these regulations apply and the requirements you must meet.
• Legal Separation
  Marriage can be terminated by divorce and defined in a very different way by Legal Separation. Legal Separation is a technical legal status that goes well beyond a married couple deciding they no longer want to live together.

Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death
  Jeanne Sockle: I have a whole host of fond memories over nearly 27 years of working together. The sweetest always focus on our successes on behalf of, particularly deserving clients. Frank presenting his case at the Supreme Court was a very big day. The most poignant memories are often, unfortunately, associated with devastating circumstances and difficult litigation. There were a few specific particularly hard-fought settlements that he negotiated that were bittersweet, such as one for the wrongful death of a stillborn baby, another for the traumatic death of a young father and husband witnessed by his family, and a settlement achieved while we watched our client wither and die from a missed diagnosis of prostate cancer.
• Sex Crimes
  If a service member is court-martialed or administratively separated from service due to abuse, the service member’s spouse and family members can obtain temporary benefits and compensation, such as housing, healthcare, access to commissary and exchange facilities, and temporary financial support. The degree of benefits and support depends on the remaining service obligations of the offending service member. Qualifying offenses against a spouse or family members include assault, battery, rape, sexual assault, murder, and manslaughter.
• Misdemeanors
  Lautenberg Amendment, anyone, including a service member, with a misdemeanor conviction of domestic violence is barred from possessing or using firearms. If a service member is convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence, he or she is not allowed to possess or use a gun, even in the course of standard military duties. Similarly, it is a crime for anyone, including other service members, to give an offending service member a gun. If a service member is required to be proficient in firearm use and demonstrate such, be ready to stand guard, or be able to perform any other activity requiring the possession of a firearm, this prohibition can lead to a discharge for inability to perform duties. In other words, a domestic violence conviction can end a service member’s career under the
• Assault
• Murder
• Restraining Order
  You likely find it impossible to ever consider hitting your spouse or children. Sadly, all too many spouses have been accused of domestic violence during a divorce and lost access to their children because of a temporary restraining order. Sometimes all it takes is a loud argument overheard by the neighbors to start a chain reaction resulting in the court ordering you to stay away from your kids.
• Manslaughter

Employment Law

• Employment Contract

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  During a marriage are presumed to be Community Property.  The only exceptions are properties acquired by gift or inheritance, and personal injury awards for pain and suffering.  Each spouse is the owner of a one-half interest in all Community Property.  The monies and properties acquired during a marriage are presumed to be Community Property regardless of which spouse:  earned, won, or found the money; or made the purchase.  The Court does not consider the name in which the title or deed is held, or in whose possession the property is held.  All earnings, interest, dividends, rents, income, growth, and increased value of Community Property is deemed to be Community Property.  Any and all debts and financial obligations incurred during the marriage are presumed to be community debts, regardless of which spouse actually created the obligation, or the others spouse’s knowledge that the debt had been incurred.
• Medical Malpractice

Trusts and Estates

• Wills