Ululani "Lani" Akiona

Top rated Family Law attorney in Everett, Washington

Akiona Law, PLLC
Ululani "Lani" Akiona
Akiona Law, PLLC

Practice areas: Family Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution

Licensed in Washington since: 2005

Education: University of Hawai'i at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2026

Akiona Law, PLLC

3231 Lombard Ave
Ste. #1
Everett, WA 98201 Phone: 425-740-2209 Email: Ululani "Lani" Akiona Visit website
Details

I am a compassionate and empathetic individual, and I founded Akiona Law, PLLC to fully realize my passion for helping people in this turbulent and uncertain economic climate and to ensure people are being treated fairly and are not being taken advantage of.

I support and encourage parties to work together to resolve their issues, especially when children are involved. The fact of the matter is when you have children, you are going to have to deal with your former spouse for the rest of your life, like it or not. Thus, I encourage you to put aside whatever feelings you may have toward your spouse early on and focus solely on what is in your children's best interests. This is the Court's main focus as well.

I know cooperation is not always possible or desirable in certain situations. If that is your situation, rest assured as a former prosecutor, I have tried to verdict dozens of criminal jury and non-jury trials. My extensive trial and courtroom experience means I will not shy away from high conflict situations, and I will fight for your rights when needed.

However, if you are looking for an attorney to be aggressive just for the sake of being aggressive, then I suggest you look for another attorney. My personal thoughts on the matter are that overly-aggressive attorneys actually do a disservice to their clients as unnecessary and lengthy litigation increases the client's costs, not to mention the emotional and mental stress it places on all parties. I believe it is better to "pick and choose your battles."

I understand looking for an attorney can be overwhelming. I want to emphasize it is important to find someone you like and feel comfortable with since you are sharing personal and intimate details about yourself and your life, perhaps details you have never told anyone before.

To help you in your decision, let me tell you a little about myself. I am originally from Hawaii but moved to Washington to be closer to family. For one reason or the other, my family and my husband's family relocated from Hawaii to Washington, and now we all live within 1-5 miles of each other. I have two young boys, and it is a huge blessing to have our families nearby for their support and for those family get-togethers. I live in Snohomish County, and I enjoy practicing in Everett because, oddly enough, it reminds me of Hawaii since it has that same friendly, small town feeling.

My week-ends are usually spent running around, trying to keep up with my sons and keeping them entertained. My family and I enjoy being outdoors exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, which means camping and surfing in the summer and snowboarding and taking the kids sledding in the winter. I also enjoy listening to Christian radio (SPIRIT 105.3 and PRAISE 106.5) and volunteer at New Hope Seattle in the Children's Ark.

First Admitted: 2002, Hawaii

Professional Webpage: https://www.akionalaw.com/About/Ululani-lani-Akiona.shtml

Bar / Professional Activity

  • Hawaii Bar, 2002
  • Bill Eddy High Conflict Consultation Group, 2023-2025, 2023
  • King County Collaborative Law/Collaborative Professionals of Washington, Social Media/Public Outreach, 2024-Current, 2024
  • King County Collaborative Law/Collaborative Professionals of Washington, Website Committee, 2024-Current, 2024
  • King County Bar Association Collaborative Law, Chair, 6/2025-Current, 2025
  • Washington Bar, 2005

Videos

  • In this episode, of the Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani “Lani” Akiona speaks with health and wellness coach, and certified divorce coach, Kathleen Burgler. Kathleen is also the author of “Forge Your Path: a workbook for intentional growth during end of marriage, divorce, and healing." The discussion highlights five essential keys to healing—including grounding and self-compassion—designed to help individuals reclaim their personal power through structured exercises., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Kathleen Burgler, 2026
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani “Lani“ Akiona, speaks with Emotion-Focused Trained Counselor and Collaborative Divorce Coach, Beth Hirnle. Beth is a board member of King County Collaborative Law (KCCL), and a member of Collaborative Professionals of WA (CPW), International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), and Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). Beth and Lani dive into the transformative role of a collaborative divorce coach. Beth explains how collaborative divorce coaches manage the emotional dynamics and communications between couples. When children are involved, a collaborative divorce coach supports the transition from spouses to co-parents. She describes how coaches work alongside legal and financial professionals to create comprehensive divorce solutions that focus on the parties' long-term well-being. Beth emphasizes collaborative divorce coaches are not therapists. Instead, a collaborative divorce coach provides tools and strategies for effective communication during the divorce process, helping couples make informed decisions while maintaining respect and dignity. Lani’s conversation with Beth highlights how divorce coaches add value by making the process more efficient and cost-effective, while also providing support to the parties through individual meetings separate from the main collaborative team sessions., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Beth Hirnle, 2026
  • In the final installment of our four-part series on parenting plans, Akiona Law Podcast host Ululani “Lani” Akiona and co-parenting coach and host of “Welcome to the Other Side” podcast, Meg Gluckman explore crucial aspects like child safety, effective communication strategies between parents and children, and maintaining open dialogue about family values. Lani and Meg provide practical advice for managing school and medical appointments, introducing new partners, and customizing plans to fit your family’s unique traditions., The Akiona Law Podcast: Parenting Plan Series with Meg Gluckman Part 4, 2024
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, host Ululani “Lani” Akiona is joined once again by Meg Gluckman, divorce and co-parenting coach and host of “Welcome to the Other Side” podcast. In this third episode of the parenting plan series, Lani and Meg dive deep into dispute resolution within your parenting plan. They’ll explore both informal and formal conflict resolution methods you can specify to navigate disagreements. Tune in as they break down key approaches like mediation, arbitration, and counseling, providing valuable insights on how to foster effective co-parenting., The Akiona Law Podcast: Parenting Plan Series with Meg Gluckman Part 3, 2025
  • In this episode of Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani "Lani" Akiona continues part 2 of a 4-part series on parenting plans with Meg Gluckman, divorce and co-parenting coach and host of "Welcome to the Other Side" podcast. In this second episode, Lani and Meg break down decision making, they discuss the fundamental difference between joint decision-making and sole decision-making and how it applies to two of the most significant decision-making area: education and health care., The Akiona Law Podcast: Parenting Plan Series with Meg Gluckman Part 2, 2025
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani “Lani” Akiona welcomes Meg Gluckman, a seasoned divorce and co-parenting coach and host of the “Welcome to the Other Side” podcast. Meg shares invaluable insights on how coaching can equip you with the tools to communicate effectively, manage stress, and clearly identify your needs and wants as you move forward. Learn how coaching can transform your co-parenting dynamic., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Meg Gluckman, 2025
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, join Ululani “Lani” Akiona, as she kicks off a 4-part series on parenting plans with Meg Gluckman, divorce and co-parenting coach and host of “Welcome to the Other Side” podcast. In this first episode, we break down residential schedules: what influences them, how they're built, and how to create stability for your children., The Akiona Law Podcast: Parenting Plan Series with Meg Gluckman Part 1, 2025
  • In this episode, of the Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani “Lani” Akiona speaks with Jennifer Lee, AWMA, AIF, founding partner of Modern Wealth and author of "Squeeze the Juice: Live with Purpose, then Leave a Legacy." Jennifer's book is an anecdotal, approachable, and thought-provoking guide to tackling life and financial preparedness with ease. Jennifer and Lani discuss the benefits of using a financial advisor when facing life’s upsets such as divorce. It's about understanding what you're entitled to, what your resources can do for you, and what your life is going to look like., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Jennifer Lee, 2025
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani “Lani” Akiona speaks with Jacinta Gallant, Canadian collaborative lawyer, mediator, and educator. In this episode we discuss insight meditation and how it offers a powerful alternative to traditional negotiation or litigation. Insight mediation is focused on managing the defensiveness that gets in the way of productive dialogue, so that people can understand and articulate their needs and concerns, clear up communication challenges and collaborate to discover possibilities that will help them make a healthy shift in their relationships., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Jacinta Gallant, 2024
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani "Lani" Akiona speaks with Parenting Coordinator, Caroline Plummer. Caroline is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and serves on the board of the Washington Chapter of the AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts). She has a specialty in parent coaching, where she focuses on increasing the parent-child bond, improving child's self-esteem and decreasing behavioral issues using therapeutic methods, such as, Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Alternatives for Families-CBT (AF-CBT), or Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Caroline is an expert in "resist and refuse" child dynamics or in cases involving "parent child contact problems" (PCCP). Lani and Caroline discuss how to set these cases up for success and create healing for the rejected parent and child., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Caroline Plummer, 2024
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani "Lani" Akiona speaks to collaborative divorce attorney and mediator, Gwen Mathewson. Gwen is a past president of King County Collaborative Law and member of Collaborative Professionals of Washington. She is also a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and she recently completed a yearlong leadership academy with them. Lani and Gwen discuss Collaborative Divorce, a process built on compromise and creativity to help you heal and move forward. They explore the power of compromise, emotional relief, and healing for the future., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Gwen Mathewson, 2024
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Ululani “Lani” Akiona speaks with lawyer, book author, certified financial planner, certified divorce financial analyst, and certified QDRO specialist Marques Lang of Pacific Northwest QDRO, LLC. Lani and Marques cut through the legal jargon of a QDRO (qualified domestic relation order), explaining what it is, the type of retirement accounts or pension it applies to, why you may need one in your divorce, and the importance of bringing a QDRO person into your divorce before your final orders are entered., The Akiona Law Podcast- Featuring Marques Lang, 2024
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Lani speaks with collaborative divorce attorney Leigh Noffsinger. In 2022 Leigh launched a training curriculum — complete with comprehensive templates, checklists, and client handouts — to support collaborative divorce cases from start to finish. She is passionate about making collaborative divorce as efficient as possible by scaling the process to meet each family’s unique needs.  Leigh previously served as the president of the Collaborative Professionals of Washington and has been involved in various collaborative organizations and practice groups over the last 14 years. This episode dives into collaborative law, a powerful alternative to traditional ligation, offering a high-powered toolbox for navigating divorce., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Leigh Noffsinger, 2024
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Lani speaks with certified divorce financial analyst, former president of King County Collaborative Law, attorney Kristyna Larch. We untangle the threads of two major mediation styles: shuttle and facilitative. We also explored the diverse team that can support a successful mediation journey., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Kristyna Larch, 2024
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law podcast, Lani speaks with family mediator, co-parenting specialist and Certified Legal Specialist in Family Law, attorney Elisa Kisselburg. We delve into the world of conflict resolution in family law matters such as divorce, separation and unmarried parents(aka paternity matters), exploring the two main pathways: litigation and mediation. What are the key difference between these approaches? When is one preferable to the other? And how can you determine which path is right for your needs and the needs of you and and/or your family?, The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Elisa Kisselburg, 2024
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Lani speaks with nationally recognized mediator, Susan Guthrie. She is the co-founder of the Mosten Guthrie Academy along with Woody Mosten. Susan's goal is to find and forge new pathways and take out the coercive nature of litigation. The idea of bypassing the court system and finding an amicable resolution is that a mediated agreement is much more durable for families., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Susan Guthrie, 2023
  • In this episode, Lani speaks with Caroline Pak, certified divorce financial analyst, divorce and transitions coach, who helps people going through divorce navigate the financial and emotional challenges of the process., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Caroline Pak, 2023
  • In today's episode, I talk with a former client about what he would have done differently in his family law case knowing what he knows now., What I Would Have Done Differently In My Family Law Case, 2022
  • How my parent’s divorce influenced my career path into Collaborative Divorce., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Sara Wahl, 2023
  • Co-parenting is hard in any circumstance, and co-parenting with someone who chooses to pursue conflict over resolution may seem downright impossible. In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Lani speaks with Bill Eddy and Megan Hunter of the High Conflict Institute about how to use BIFF (brief, informative, friendly, firm) in communications with a high-conflict co-parent., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Bill Eddy and Megan Hunter, 2023
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Lani speaks with divorce mediator, Kathleen Royer. She speaks about the need for divorcing couples especially those who have children, to engage in problem-solving rather than being adversaries. Lani and Kathleen discuss the importance of good communication and planning to create an effective coparenting team., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Kathleen Royer, 2023
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Lani speaks with mental health counselor, author, and domestic violence survivor, Kate Mageau about how she used her own experience with domestic violence to help others. Find Kate Mageau here: www.katemageau.com National Domestic Violence: 1-800-799-SAFE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Violence Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html, The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Kate Mageau, 2023
  • In this episode of the Akiona Law Podcast, Lani speaks with Certified Divorce Lending Professional (“CDLP”) and former tax attorney, Mihaella Bayla about how involving a CDLP during the divorce process helps divorcing homeowners make informed decisions and avoid costly pitfalls regarding their mortgage financing options during and after divorce., The Akiona Law Podcast: Featuring Mihaella Bayla, 2023
  • Consultant, writer, and mentor Karen S. Bonnell returns to the Akiona Law Podcast! Karen discusses her three Coaching Buckets for parents and dives into her most recent book, which she co-wrote with Patricia Papernow, Ph.D.: The Stepfamily Handbook: From Dating, to Getting Serious, to Forming a “Blended Family.”, Discussing The Three Coaching Buckets With Former Divorce/Co-Parent Coach and Author, Karen Bonnell, 2022
  • In today's episode I talk to attorney, Roy Martin about one of the best benefits of collaborative divorce - maintaining trust and goodwill between both parties., What Is A Collaborative Divorce? With Attorney Roy Martin, 2022
  • In today’s episode, I talk with former Marine and divorced father, Eddie Dzialo. We discuss how putting your child first can lay the groundwork for being a successful co-parent., The Challenges Of Divorce And Co-Parenting, 2022
  • Estate Planning attorney, Kanoa Ostrem, discusses the importance of managing your estate. He outlines why you should know where your assets are going, whether they will pass through probate, and who will be in charge of carrying out your wishes., The Value Of Having an Estate Planning Attorney with Kanoa Ostrem, 2022
  • In today’s episode, I talked to family law attorney, Jules Butler about addiction and how it can affect your divorce proceedings., Recovery and Family Law with Divorce & Family Law Attorney, Jules Butler, 2022
  • In today’s episode, I welcome back family law attorney, Nathan Cliber. He shares how his parents’ divorce when he was a teenager impacts the way he approaches divorce & family law and his clients., How Being a Child of Divorce, Shaped My Approach to Family Law with Attorney, Nathan Cliber, 2022
  • Discover why you need to create a child-centered parenting plan. The established co-parenting coach and author Karen Bonnell sat with us to explain why this is essential for you, your former spouse, and your children., Co-parenting Advice From The Successful Coach, Mentor and Author, Karen Bonnell, 2022
  • In today's episode, I speak to family law attorney, Nathan Cliber. He discusses helping polyamorous families or more than two people in a committed relationship navigate divorce and family law issues.  , Helping Nontraditional Families Navigate The Legal Process With Family Law Attorney Nathan Cliber Part 1, 2022
  • In today’s episode I talked to immigration lawyer, Brandon Gillin. We discuss the Affidavit of Support, form I-864 which in most cases is required when seeking lawful permanent residency, a green card., Immigration Law with Attorney Brandon Gillian, 2021
  • In today’s episode I speak with family law attorney, Elise Buie. We discuss the role of the parenting coordinator and what the difference is between the parenting coordinator and a Guardian ad Litem., Discussing the role of the parenting coordinator with Elise Buie, 2022
  • n today’s episode I talked to Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT), Jeanne Barrans, about what a LLLT is and what they do. We also discussed how these professionals can help in a family law or divorce case and how that differs with what attorneys and paralegals..., What is a Limited License Legal Technician with Jeanne Barrans, 2021
  • Lani Akiona and Kati Peterson discuss the factors of awarding spousal maintenance., Factors Of Awarding Spousal Maintenance, Divorce, 2021
  • Lani's interview with Shark Tank's Kevin Harrington, Kevin Harrington Interview, Divorce, 2021
  • Lani Akiona and Katie Peterson discuss remedies if your spouse isn't paying spousal maintenance., Remedies if Your Spouse Isn't Paying Spousal Maintenance, Divorce, 2021

Special Licenses / Certifications

  • 8 hour Collaborative Divorce Training on collaborative law basics. , 2022
  • IACP The Role of the Neutral Child and Family Specialist, 8 hours, 2024
  • Mosten Guthrie Co-Parenting Specialist Training Program, 2024
  • Jacinta Gallant Curious Mediator, 2025
  • Mosten Guthrie 40 hour family and divorce mediation training., 2023
  • Mosten Guthrie 12 hours of training in New Ways for mediation training in mediating high conflict dispute. , 2023
  • Mosten Guthrie12 hours of training in New Ways for mediation training in mediating high conflict dispute. , 2022

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

  • I launched Akiona Law podcast in September 2021. In it, I discuss all things related to and/or areas that intersect with divorce and family law. My mission in starting the podcast was to be of service and share information not readily accessible. This mission especially resonates with me given these strange and uncertain times we find ourselves in. , Host, Akiona Law Podcast, 2021

Other Outstanding Achievements

Firm News (Newsletters)

Office location for Ululani "Lani" Akiona

3231 Lombard Ave
Ste. #1
Everett, WA 98201

Selections

1 Year Super Lawyers
  • Super Lawyers: 2026

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