Lutz & Associates, P.S.

Nearby Lawyers Washington Pierce County Fircrest 19th Street West

(94 reviews)

Contact Info

Location 6314 19th St W STE 21, Fircrest, WA 98466, USA
Phone +1 253-683-8838
Website https://www.lutzlaw.com/?npcmp=dir:local:2753569:98409

Reviews

I've used this firm twice for family related court. Andrew and his team have been great to work with. Even the judge thanked them for having everything in such good order at one point. Andrew is very straight forward. He gives good advice and doesn't waste time. This venture was far from cheap, but you get what you pay for and I ended up with the best results I could ever hope for. Thankfully my case has been handled so well it's very unlikely I'll need their services again, but hopefully this review will convince you to take my place.
Laura was amazing. She did exactly what was requested with integrity. She was both professional and friendly and I will definitely recommend her to anyone who asks. Thank you so much for resolving an issue that others could not and making it easy.
I can't speak for the entire team, but if you are a guy involved in a divorce or custody issues......STAY AWAY FROM ANDREW. He does Pro Bono work for abused women, so if your spouse pulls the victim card in court, WATCH OUT. He is sympathetic towards women and will not work in your best interest during the trial. He did not challenge ANYTHING my ex stated while testifying. So many lies went unchallenged. I wrote notes to him during ex's testimony that he ultimately ignored. During recess before I took the stand, he told me I was not going to get anything I asked for. His pretrial brief was not what we had discussed to fight for. My ex's aggressive attorney had a great work of fiction for a pretrial brief. A biased Judge did not help me either. Don't waste your money (quite expensive I might add for what I got) I got totally screwed by Andrew first, and the Judge second. Many calls and emails to the office were handled by the Legal Assistant as Andrew would not talk to me directly and would not respond to a majority of my emails. Horrible experience with Andrew. He impressed me as not having a lot of Divorce experience. After the trial and later zoom hearing to hear the Judges final decree, I got a bill for trust deposit. I was already deep in debt and could not afford any more expenses, so I emailed Andrew and left calls to have him call me. He did not respond to any email or any request to call me. I had emailed him to stop all activity on my account and I got no explanation for the trust account bill. While checking my LINX account for status on my Divorce, I saw a reconsideration filing and called Andrew to ask what was going on. I only spoke to his Legal Assistant who said Andrew felt guilty about me getting screwed, so he was asking Judge to give back my full pension and remove my ex from 1/2 of future benefits. This was being done at no charge. The judge granted the motion and I was happy I got something out the the Divorce, so I called the legal assistant to thank her for the reconsideration motion. Linx also showed a court date that was an in person hearing after the zoom hearing. I was never advised by Andrew of the court date and court records show he failed to appear also, but my ex and her Attorney were present. When is the end of all of this? Why is a significant trust deposit needed again? Nothing was explained to me. I submitted a negative review because of the lack of experience on Andrews part. He emailed me and pleaded for me to pull the review and said he was prepared to see the Divorce all the way to the end at no charge. I then got a bill for time spent by the Legal Assistant. I was never advised any conversation with the legal assistant was chargeable. Very unprofessional. It casts a very dark shadow on the whole law firm. Owner responds. Typical attorney response putting blame on others. What Andrew told me prior to trial and his actions at the trial were contradicting. He basically sat on his thumbs during the trial, and before I even started to testify, he told me I was not getting to keep the house in exchange for pension values for my ex's pension. Andrew did not get a professional valuation of my pension and was unable to get valuation of ex's pension due to lack of cooperation. The Judge even mentioned that fact. An experienced Divorce Attorney would have been prepared. My pension was community property but not my ex's. My car and sale of car was community property but not my ex's new car. My salary was community property but not my ex's. Andrew did nothing while ex's attorney compiled a list of offsets to allow ex full ownership of pensions. Andrew's recall of trial is obviously different from mine, and I was sent a final bill even after they said they were working without charge. Andrew would not even talk to me to explain what he was doing. This law firm is a poor choice for anyone looking for a divorce attorney.
I had a great experience with Andrew J. Voelker at LUTZ & ASSOCIATES, P.S. during my divorce. He was professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the process. Andrew made everything clear, answered all my questions, and truly had my best interests at heart. Thanks to his expertise, my case was handled smoothly and efficiently. Highly recommend!
Kelsey was wonderful to work with. She was thorough and understanding. I was especially impressed by the respect that she was given from other attorneys, including the mediator.

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Lutz & Associates, P.S. Photos

About Lutz & Associates, P.S.

Navigating family law matters can be one of the most challenging experiences in life. For residents across the Washington region, particularly in Fircrest, Tacoma, and the surrounding Puget Sound area, having an experienced, empathetic, and effective legal team is paramount. Lutz & Associates, P.S. stands as a well-regarded family law firm dedicated to guiding clients through these difficult times with professionalism and care. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Lutz & Associates, highlighting their long-standing commitment to the community, the breadth of their services, and what truly sets them apart as a trusted legal resource for locals.

Since 1997, Lutz & Associates, P.S. has been providing individualized service to clients throughout Washington State. The firm's attorneys, including founder C. David Lutz, Andrew, Laura, and Kelsey Morfitt, bring a combined experience of over 73 years to their practice, having successfully represented thousands of clients. They understand that every family law case is unique and inherently stressful. Their primary duty and privilege are to minimize client stress while resolving issues in an expedient and cost-effective manner. Whether your case requires a keen negotiator to reach a fair settlement or someone who will fight fiercely for you in court, Lutz & Associates, P.S. is there every step of the way, helping you determine a clear plan and working diligently to achieve the best possible results.

Location and Accessibility

Lutz & Associates, P.S. has a conveniently located office at

6314 19th St W STE 21, Fircrest, WA 98466, USA

. This accessible location places the firm strategically within the Fircrest community, just a short distance from Tacoma, making it easily reachable for clients throughout Pierce, South King, and Thurston Counties in Washington. The 19th Street West address is situated in a commercial area, which typically offers readily available parking options, adding to the convenience for clients traveling by car.

Beyond their primary Fircrest office, Lutz & Associates, P.S. also maintains satellite offices in Kent and Bellevue, further extending their accessibility across the Puget Sound region. This multi-office presence underscores their commitment to serving a wide range of clients. For military families, the Tacoma/Fircrest office is notably about 15 minutes away from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), making it a convenient option for service members and their spouses who often face complex challenges unique to military family law. The firm emphasizes being "right here in your neighborhoods," highlighting their local roots and dedication to the communities they serve. They also offer flexible contact options, including phone and email, to accommodate client preferences.

Services Offered

Divorce & Legal Separation: Comprehensive guidance through the entire divorce process, including legal separation, for both civilian and military families. This covers all aspects of dissolving a marriage in Washington State.
Child Custody & Parenting Plans: Assisting parents in creating or modifying parenting plans that address decision-making authority, residential schedules, and transportation, always with the child's best interests at heart. This also includes handling third-party custody cases.
Child Support: Guiding clients through the calculation, establishment, and modification of child support orders in accordance with Washington State guidelines.
Spousal Maintenance (Alimony): Advising clients on issues of spousal support, including determining eligibility, duration, and amount.
Marital Asset and Debt Division: Expertise in equitable distribution of marital property and debt, including complex asset cases and business valuations.
Domestic Violence & Protection Orders: Providing legal support for individuals seeking or defending against domestic violence protection orders, ensuring client safety and legal rights are protected.
Military Divorce: Specialized knowledge in handling divorce cases involving military personnel, addressing unique considerations such as retirement benefits, deployments, and jurisdictional issues.
Adoption: Assisting families with the legal process of adoption, helping to navigate the complexities to expand their families.
Paternity: Establishing legal paternity for unmarried parents, which is crucial for determining child support and custody rights.
Post-Divorce Relocation: Guiding clients through the legal process when one parent seeks to move a significant distance with a child after a parenting plan has been established.
Estate Planning (Limited): While primarily focused on family law, the firm also offers some services related to basic estate planning, such as preparing wills, to complement their family law practice.

Features / Highlights

Extensive Experience and Proven Track Record: Established in 1997, the firm has over 20 years of experience, with attorneys possessing a combined 73+ years in the field. They have successfully represented over 8,000 clients, demonstrating a profound understanding of family law in Washington and a history of positive resolutions.
Client-Centric and Empathetic Approach: Testimonials consistently highlight the firm's dedication to clients. Andrew is praised for being "straight forward," giving "good advice," and genuinely caring, "fighting for me and my child." Laura is described as "amazing," "professional and friendly," and capable of resolving issues "that others could not and making it easy." The team is committed to listening, explaining processes, and providing consistent communication.
Experienced and Collaborative Team: The firm comprises multiple attorneys (C. David Lutz, Andrew, Laura Gano, Kelsey Morfitt, Roger C. Schweinler, and Merry Broberg) and paralegals. This team structure ensures that clients always have someone available to answer questions, respond to inquiries, and provide updates, fostering efficiency and comprehensive support.
Specialization in Family Law: Lutz & Associates, P.S. focuses exclusively on family law, allowing their attorneys to maintain deep expertise and stay current with the latest legal developments in this complex field. This specialization benefits clients by providing highly focused and effective legal strategies.
Strategic and Efficient Problem-Solving: The firm aims to "minimize clients' stress to the greatest extent possible while resolving their issues in an expedient, cost-effective manner." They are adept at both negotiation for fair settlements and aggressive litigation when necessary to achieve favorable results.
Recognition and Trust: The firm's attorneys, such as Kelsey Morfitt, have been selected for Super Lawyers® lists, indicating peer recognition for their professional achievements. Positive client reviews, including one from a former police officer praising David Lutz and his staff for their professionalism and advocacy, underscore the firm's trustworthiness and effectiveness.

Promotions or Special Offers

Lutz & Associates, P.S. offers an initial consultation to prospective clients. While specific details on whether this consultation is free or carries a fee are not explicitly stated across all public sources, their website's contact form encourages scheduling a meeting. One review mentions that the service was "far from cheap," but resulted in "the best results I could ever hope for," suggesting that quality legal representation is valued over immediate low cost.

The firm aims to provide "reasonable and competitive attorneys' fees" and accepts all major credit cards for client convenience. They also emphasize their commitment to minimizing clients' stress by striving for "expedient, cost-effective" resolutions. For precise information regarding consultation fees, billing structure (e.g., hourly rates, flat fees, retainers), and payment options, it is highly recommended that prospective clients contact Lutz & Associates, P.S. directly using the provided phone numbers or by completing their online intake form to schedule an initial meeting. This direct communication will ensure full transparency and allow for a personalized understanding of the financial aspects of their services.

Contact Information

To connect with Lutz & Associates, P.S. for a consultation or legal assistance, please use the following contact details for their Fircrest office:

Address: 6314 19th St W STE 21, Fircrest, WA 98466, USA
Phone: (253) 683-8838
Mobile Phone: +1 253-683-8838

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For residents of Fircrest, Tacoma, and the broader Washington region facing family law challenges, Lutz & Associates, P.S. stands as an exceptionally suitable and highly reliable legal partner. Their suitability is derived from a compelling combination of deep-rooted experience, a specialized focus on family law, and a genuine commitment to client well-being.

Firstly, with a history dating back to 1997 and attorneys possessing decades of combined experience, Lutz & Associates, P.S. offers unparalleled expertise in Washington State family law. This long-standing presence means they are intimately familiar with local court procedures, judicial tendencies, and the unique circumstances that affect families in the Puget Sound area. Their track record of successfully representing over 8,000 clients underscores their ability to navigate even the most complex family legal issues, from intricate divorce proceedings and asset division to sensitive child custody disputes and military family law matters.

Secondly, the firm's unwavering client-centric approach is consistently highlighted in glowing testimonials. Clients commend attorneys like Andrew, Laura, and Kelsey for being not only highly competent and effective but also understanding, friendly, and compassionate. Phrases like "doesn't waste time," "listens and gives clear counsel," and "resolved an issue that others could not and making it easy" demonstrate a practical, efficient, and empathetic service model. This personalized attention and dedication to minimizing client stress are invaluable during emotionally charged family law cases, providing a sense of support and confidence that locals truly appreciate. The presence of multiple attorneys and paralegals ensures continuous support and responsiveness, a key advantage for clients seeking timely updates and answers.

Finally, the convenient Fircrest location, coupled with satellite offices in Kent and Bellevue, enhances accessibility for clients across the region. Their proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a significant benefit for military families. While legal services involve costs, the firm's commitment to "reasonable and competitive attorneys' fees" and efficient problem-solving indicates a focus on value. For Washington residents seeking experienced, compassionate, and results-driven family law representation, Lutz & Associates, P.S. provides a trustworthy and highly recommended choice within the local community.