Stacy Heard

Top rated Family Law attorney in Seattle, Washington

The Law Office of Stacy D. Heard, PLLC
Stacy Heard
The Law Office of Stacy D. Heard, PLLC

Practice Areas: Family Law, International; view more

Licensed in Washington since: 1999

Education: Seattle University School of Law

Languages Spoken: English, French, Spanish

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2024 Selected to Rising Stars: 2004

The Law Office of Stacy D. Heard, PLLC

1420 5th Ave
Suite 3000
Seattle, WA 98101 Visit website

Details

Attorney Stacy Heard is the founder and owner of The Law Office of Stacy D. Heard, PLLC, in Seattle, Washington. A top-ranked lawyer with more than 30 years of total legal experience, Ms. Heard focuses her practice solely on family law and international family law, and she provides invaluable counsel and support to clients across her region and throughout the state who have legal needs involving any of the following:

  • Divorce
  • Complex financial matters and high asset property division
  • High conflict parenting plans and child custody issues
  • Hague Convention cases and international child custody issues
  • UCCJEA (Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act)
  • Relocation
  • Restraining orders
  • Domestic Violence Protection Orders
  • Child support
  • Modifications and enforcements

As an attorney, Ms. Heard has gained a reputation for her compassion and integrity when dealing with her clients as well as her unwavering commitment to helping them obtain their goals and the favorable outcomes they seek as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. She is trained in cross-border mediation, family law mediation, collaborative law and arbitration, and as a Title 26 guardian ad litem.

A leader in her field, Ms. Heard published two books and co-authored a third. She has conducted many lectures and seminars on a variety of family law topics. She is also active in the international family law community and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL).

Among her other professional affiliations, Ms. Heard serves as the Financial Officer and co-chairs the International Law Committee for the American Bar Association's Family Law Section. She is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) and a past president of the Washington State Chapter of AFCC.

Ms. Heard obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Oregon in International Studies, with honors. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law, working full-time as a family law paralegal and attending law school at night. She has received perennial designation from her peers as among the top lawyers in her region, and she has thrice received the Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation from the Washington State Bar Association.

Ms. Heard is also a member of the Oregon State Bar. 

Practice areas

Family Law, International

Focus areas

Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law

  • 50% Family Law
  • 50% International

First Admitted: 1999, Washington

Professional Webpage: https://heard-law.com/about-stacy/

Bar/Professional Activity:
  • ABA Financial Officer, Family Law Section, since 2022, 2024
  • Washington State Bar Association Member, since 1999, 2024
  • Oregon State Bar Member, since 2005, 2024
  • Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), since 2019, 2024
  • ABA Family Law Section Member, since 2012, 2024
  • ABA Council Member, Family Law Section, since 2019, 2023
  • ABA Family Law Section International Committee Chair and Co-Chair, since 2019, 2024
  • ABA International Law Section Member since 2012, 2024
  • AFCC Member since 2011, 2024
  • AFCC Australia Chapter Member, since 2017, 2022
  • King County Bar Association Member, since 2005 , 2024
  • American Society of International Law Member, 2020
  • AFCC Washington Chapter Board Member, 2012-2019, 2019
  • International Bar Association Member, 2019
  • ABA Family Law Section CLE Committee, 2017-2018, 2018
  • AFCC Washington Chapter Board President, 2016
  • ABA Family Law Program, Professionals Abroad Delegation to Cuba, 2012
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
  • Aubin v. Barton, 123 Wn. App. 592, 98 P .3d 126 (2004). Legal malpractice action regarding the standard of care required of an attorney representing a grantee of stock options in a marital dissolution action in the State of Washington, 2004
Special Licenses/Certifications:
  • Cross-Border Mediation, 2019
  • Title 26 GAL, 2005
Pro bono/Community Service:
  • Volunteer Attorney, US State Department Hague Convention Attorney Network, 2024
  • King County Family Law Volunteer Mediator since 2018, 2024
  • Mentor, Noemie Piton, Master's Bilingual International Law, 2022
  • Mentor, Matthew Atewe, law student, 2021
  • Mentor, Matthew Atewe, law student, 2019
  • Volunteer Attorney, Lawyer's Fostering Independence (LFI), Center for Children and Youth Justice, 2018
Honors/Awards:
  • Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation, Washington State Bar Association
  • Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine
Educational Background:
  • University of Oregon, B.A., International Studies, with Honors
  • Universite de Poitiers, Poitiers, France, International Studies and French Literature
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
  • Panelist with four other International Academy of Family Lawyers fellows discussing child custody issues in various jurisdictions. , Speaker, Custodial Conundrums IRL, IAFL, International Family Law, 2024
  • Presentation on drafting Parenting Plans in High Conflict Cases, Speaker, CLE - Top Challenges in Washington State Family Law, NBI, Family Law, Parenting Plans, 2022
  • Family Law Practice Guide for the state of Washington for the years 2019-2024., Author, Washington Family Law - Lexis Nexis Practice Guide, LexisNexis, Family Law, 2024
  • Presented on the impact of Covid-19 on parenting plans and alternative resolutions to conflict. , Speaker, Impact of Covid-19 on Parenting Plans/Residential Schedules, WSBA, Family Law, 2020
  • Presented legal standards in the state of Washington and the United States for resist and refuse dynamics in family law cases. , Speaker, Parenting Plans/Custody Orders and Teenage Fatigue, 23rd Annual Family Law Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, International Family Law, 2020
  • ABA Family Law Section, Co-Author, Family Law Attorneys and Parenting Evaluators, ABA Section of Family Law, Family Law, 2020
  • Presented on collaboration of attorneys and parenting evaluators in family law cases. , Speaker, Attorney and Parenting Evaluator Collaboration, LEI, Aspen, CO, Family Law, 2019
  • Spoke with a panel on ensuring that mediation is available for American families involved in international family law cases. , Speaker, How to Ensure Mediation is Available in the US for Families in Cross-Border Conflicts, International Social Services (ISS), Washington, DC, International Family Law, 2018
  • Moderated a panel presenting how the 2017 Tax Act impacts divorce cases. , Moderator, Family Law and the 2017 Tax Act, ABA Section of Family Law, Park City, UT, Family Law, 2018
  • Spoke about unique parenting plans and use of experts in family law cases. , Speaker, Dissolutions from A-Z, Parenting Plans and Use of Experts, King County Bar Association, Family Law, 2017
  • Presented on a panel of attorneys and jurists from Singapore, Australia, and the US regarding differences in family law litigation in international jurisdictions. , Speaker, International Strategies for Managing Family Law Litigation, AFCC Australia, Melbourne, Australia, International Family Law, 2017
  • Presented on a panel of differences in domestic violence laws between the US and Australia. , Speaker, Degrees of Separation: Intimate Partner Violence, AFCC National, Boston, MA, International Family Law, 2017
  • Presented on collaboration between attorneys and parenting evaluators to best serve families in the legal system. , Speaker, Attorney and Parenting Evaluator - Professional Collaboration, AFCC, AFCC Washington Chapter, 2017
  • Presented on implicit bias in parenting evaluations in family law cases. , Speaker, Attorney and Parenting Evaluator - Addressing Bias, Law Education Institute , Aspen, CO, Family Law, 2017
  • Co-presented on how attorneys and parenting evaluators can collaborate to best serve families in the legal system. , Speaker, Attorney and Parenting Evaluator - Professional Collaboration to Best Serve the Modern Family, AFCC, AFCC National, 2016
  • LexisNexis Practice Guide, Author, Washington Family Law, Parenting Plans, LexisNexis, Family Law, 2016
  • Co-presented on issues presented in family law cases involving bankruptcy. , Speaker, Bankruptcy Considerations for the Family Lawyer, ABA Family Law Section, Family Law, 2015
  • Presented ethics for paralegals in the area of family law. , Speaker, Family Law Practice for Paralegals, Ethics, NBI, National Business Institute, 2015
  • Presented issues regarding complex assets in divorce cases. , Speaker, Complex Assets in Divorce, NBI, National Business Institute, 2015
  • Lecture on review and interpretation of parenting evaluations. , Speaker, Deconstructing the Parenting Evaluator's Report, AFCC, AFCC, 2014
  • Presented on parenting plans for families with unique issues, including children with disabilities. , Speaker, Parenting Plans, Center for Children and Youth Justice, Lawyer's Fostering Independence, 2014
  • Presented issues involving relocation, including legal and mental health considerations. , Speaker, Relocation Assessment: Mental Health and Legal Perspectives, AFCC, AFCC Washington Chapter, 2014
  • Navigating the Hidden Tax Perils of Debt Relief, 2013, Moderator, Navigating the Hidden Tax Perils of Debt Relief, ABA Section of Family Law, Family Law, 2013
  • Presented options for Parenting Plans for different child development stages. , Speaker, Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Plans, King County Bar Association, Family Law, 2011
  • Presented on various ways to address complex parenting plan/custody issues. , Speaker, Handling Complex Custody Matters, NBI, Family Law, 2008
  • Presented basic divorce law for family law paralegals. , Speaker, Divorce 101 for Paralegals, NBI, Family Law, 2008
Firm News (Newsletters):
Industry Groups:
  • ABA Family Law And International Law Sections
  • AFCC
  • IAFL Fellow
  • KCBA
  • OSBA
  • WSBA

Office location for Stacy Heard

1420 5th Ave
Suite 3000
Seattle, WA 98101

Phone: 206-489-0899

Selections

2 Years Super Lawyers
1 Year Rising Stars
  • Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2024
  • Rising Stars: 2004

See legal Q & A provided by Stacy Heard

Q: When Do Washington State Courts Have Jurisdiction In International Child Custody Cases?

A: International child custody cases can get complicated, and the question of jurisdiction is one of the key issues. When parents who live in Washington … See all answers by Stacy Heard

Attorney resources for Stacy Heard

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