Barbara Jo Sylvester

Family law matters are inherently sensitive and often emotionally taxing. Whether you're navigating a divorce, seeking to establish child custody arrangements, or considering adoption, having legal representation that combines profound expertise with genuine compassion is crucial. For residents of Washington, particularly in the Tacoma area, Barbara Jo Sylvester stands as a highly respected and long-standing legal professional dedicated to helping families through their most challenging transitions. With a career spanning over four decades, Ms. Sylvester has dedicated her practice to the nuanced field of domestic relations, providing experienced and thoughtful guidance.

Ms. Sylvester's approach to family law is comprehensive, encompassing both highly contested litigation and collaborative, out-of-court solutions. She is known for her skill as both a litigator and a negotiator, ensuring that clients' interests are vigorously protected regardless of the path a case takes. Her extensive experience, now in her fortieth year of practice in domestic relations, means she has represented clients in a vast array of situations, from complex dissolutions involving long-term marriages with extensive assets to highly contested parenting issues. This depth of experience allows her to anticipate challenges and devise effective strategies tailored to each unique family situation.

Beyond traditional courtroom advocacy, Ms. Sylvester is a strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution methods, offering her services as a mediator and arbitrator. She is deeply involved in the collaborative law community, believing that such practices can assist clients in making informed and reasonable decisions outside the adversarial process. This focus on joint problem-solving is aimed at benefiting both parties and, crucially, their children, minimizing the inherent harm often caused by litigation. Her dedication to continuous professional development, including extensive training in collaborative law and mediation, underscores her commitment to providing the most effective and client-centered solutions available.

For individuals and families across Washington, particularly those in the Puget Sound region, Barbara Jo Sylvester's office is conveniently located in the heart of Tacoma, ensuring accessibility for clients seeking expert family law services. You can find her at:

1102 Broadway #500, Tacoma, WA 98402, USA

This prime location on Broadway in downtown Tacoma makes the office easily reachable for residents of Pierce County and surrounding areas, including Seattle, Bellevue, and Everett. Being situated in a prominent professional building, it offers a secure and discreet environment for discussing sensitive family matters. Its central placement allows for straightforward access via public transportation and is well-known within the legal community. This ease of access ensures that individuals across Washington can readily connect with an experienced and compassionate family law attorney when they need it most.

Barbara Jo Sylvester's practice is exclusively dedicated to complex domestic relations matters, providing a focused and deep level of expertise in family law. Her comprehensive services are designed to address a wide range of family-related legal challenges, including:

• Dissolution of Marriage / Legal Separation (Divorce): Guiding clients through all aspects of divorce and legal separation, including property division, debt allocation, and spousal maintenance (alimony). She frequently handles complicated dissolutions involving long-term marriages with extensive assets.
• Child Custody / Visitation (Parenting Plans): Developing and modifying parenting plans that serve the best interests of children, addressing issues of residential schedules, decision-making, and parental rights and responsibilities. She is experienced in highly contested parenting issues.
• Child Support: Establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders in accordance with Washington State law.
• Adoption: Assisting families through the legal process of adoption, helping to create new family units.
• Guardianship: Representing clients in guardianship proceedings, which involve legal responsibility for individuals who cannot make decisions for themselves, often minors or incapacitated adults.
• Collaborative Law: Offering a non-adversarial approach to dispute resolution, where parties and their attorneys commit to resolving issues outside of court through negotiation and mutual problem-solving. This is a key area of her practice, aiming to avoid the harm caused by litigation.
• Mediation: Serving as a neutral third party to help divorcing or separating couples reach mutually agreeable settlements, facilitating communication and negotiation.
• Arbitration: Acting as a neutral decision-maker in a private, out-of-court setting, where parties present their cases and the arbitrator makes a binding decision.

Her extensive experience allows her to handle both litigated cases with vigorous advocacy and out-of-court resolutions through collaborative and mediation processes, providing flexible solutions tailored to each client's unique needs.

Barbara Jo Sylvester's long and distinguished career in family law is marked by several key features and highlights that make her a highly recommended choice for individuals in Washington:

• Over 40 Years of Dedicated Experience: Ms. Sylvester brings an unparalleled depth of knowledge and practical insight to every case, having practiced domestic relations law since 1977. This extensive tenure means she has encountered and successfully resolved nearly every type of family law scenario.
• Dual Expertise: Litigator & Negotiator: She is highly skilled in both courtroom litigation and out-of-court negotiation. This versatility allows her to fiercely advocate for clients in court when necessary, while also possessing the finesse to achieve favorable settlements through cooperative means.
• Pioneer in Collaborative Law: Ms. Sylvester is deeply committed to collaborative practice, serving as a member of Collaborative Law Professionals of Pierce County, Collaborative Law Professionals of Washington, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. This highlights her dedication to helping families resolve disputes amicably and minimize conflict, particularly for the sake of children.
• Mediator and Arbitrator Services: Beyond representing clients, she also serves as a neutral mediator and arbitrator, offering valuable alternative dispute resolution pathways that can save time, money, and emotional distress compared to traditional litigation.
• Focus on Complex Cases: Her practice frequently involves complicated dissolutions, long-term marriages with extensive assets, and highly contested parenting issues, demonstrating her capability to handle the most intricate family law matters.
• Commitment to Client Well-being: Her embrace of collaborative services underscores her philosophy of helping clients navigate challenging times by making informed and reasonable decisions, fostering joint problem-solving, and avoiding the inherent harm caused by adversarial litigation.
• Recognized Professional: Her long-standing membership in the Washington State Bar Association and her involvement in various professional groups underscore her standing and reputation within the legal community.

These features collectively underscore Barbara Jo Sylvester's reputation as a highly skilled, experienced, and compassionate family law attorney, dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients in Washington.

While specific promotional discounts are not publicly advertised, legal professionals in the sensitive field of family law often prioritize client accessibility and initial guidance. For Barbara Jo Sylvester, her commitment to client-centered practice suggests that:

• Initial Consultations: It is standard practice for attorneys in her field to offer initial consultations. While the terms (e.g., free or paid) are not specified, these meetings are invaluable for prospective clients to discuss their family law needs, understand their legal options, and determine if her approach aligns with their goals. This opportunity for a direct conversation helps clients make informed decisions about their legal representation.
• Emphasis on Collaborative & Mediation Solutions: A significant "offer" in her practice is her strong advocacy for collaborative law and mediation. By embracing these alternative dispute resolution methods, Ms. Sylvester actively helps clients avoid costly and emotionally draining litigation, potentially saving them significant financial resources and emotional stress. This proactive approach to conflict resolution serves as a long-term benefit to her clients.

For precise details regarding consultation fees or current offerings, it is always best for individuals in Washington to contact Barbara Jo Sylvester's office directly. This will provide the most accurate information tailored to your specific situation.

For those in Washington seeking experienced and compassionate legal assistance with family law matters, you can easily connect with Barbara Jo Sylvester:

Address: 1102 Broadway #500, Tacoma, WA 98402, USA

Phone: (253) 254-5900

Mobile Phone: +1 253-254-5900

Reaching out to her office is the first step towards securing dedicated and knowledgeable representation for your family's legal needs.

For residents across Washington, particularly those in the Tacoma and surrounding Puget Sound areas, Barbara Jo Sylvester stands out as an exceptionally suitable choice for navigating the often-complex and emotionally charged landscape of family law. Her profound dedication to domestic relations, spanning over 40 years, offers a level of experience and insight that is invaluable. Locals can benefit immensely from her dual expertise as both a skilled litigator and a passionate advocate for collaborative and mediated solutions. This means clients have the flexibility to pursue an aggressive courtroom strategy when necessary, or to opt for a more amicable, cost-effective path to resolution that prioritizes the well-being of all involved, especially children.

Ms. Sylvester's deep involvement in the collaborative law community further highlights her commitment to minimizing conflict and fostering constructive outcomes. Her ability to handle complex cases, from high-asset divorces to deeply contested child custody disputes, reassures Washingtonians that their most sensitive legal matters are in highly capable hands. Her central Tacoma location ensures easy accessibility, providing local families with a trusted, long-standing resource for all their family law needs. For anyone in Washington seeking not just legal representation, but a compassionate guide through challenging family transitions, Barbara Jo Sylvester offers the wisdom, skill, and dedication to help achieve a positive and stable future.