About Me

Collaborative Law Mediation: An Alternative To Traditional Divorce Litigation

Phone: 206-547-3166

Fax: 425-576-7411

Email: darciatudor@me.com

Darcia C. Tudor JD, LMHP, CWM is an experienced attorney, mediator, and forensic evaluator. Raised in a military family, she lived a significant portion of her life abroad. She met her husband, Gary A. Tudor, working at the King County Juvenile court. They married in 1977 and entered law school together in 1978.

Graduating from the University of Puget Sound Law School in 1981, she received the American Jurisprudence Award. She accepted an associate position with Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, and O’Hern and became one of few African American women working at large firms in Washington. In 1984 she and her husband, Gary A. Tudor, established their firm, Tudor & Tudor, PS. She enjoyed advocating for individuals and small businesses, litigating discrimination, real estate, and personal injury cases. During that time, she and her colleague, Gerry Bopp, won a significant settlement for one of the first minor head injury cases in the United States. And she represented and won her first discrimination case for her sister against Roffe Sportswear.

In the late 80’s she was the first African American to host a local television program, “Know your rights, and was a frequent guest on “Celebrate the Differences,” a KING 5 local diversity program sponsored by Lori Matsukawa. In 1991, her alma mater recognized her legal expertise and community service as a Distinguished Resident Alumni.

In the 90’s domestic violence became a national focus. Darcia promoted free legal assistance for victims and funding for research to understand the impact of family violence on children. In 1998 she helped found the Eastside Legal Assistance Program and became its first director. This program continues today and has helped thousands of domestic violence victims with legal representation and advocacy.

In 2001 her practice emphasis pivoted to advocating for children in crisis caused by divorce and substance and mental health impairment.

In 2005, she obtained a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on child development, family systems, psychological assessments, and resiliency in children post-divorce. She received her license as a therapist in 2008. She has used her dual degrees to help clients pursue interest-based parenting plans and settlement agreements and reduce conflict through child-focused mediations. In 2013 she founded Eastside Mediation & Arbitration. Mediating cases involving family legal disputes where maintaining the personal relationships were essential to the interests of all involved.

She has served on numerous professional and charitable Boards and Legal Committees supporting children, public education, and professional development. Nevertheless, what she enjoys most is working with and mentoring teenagers and young adults. She has mentored more than 30 individuals. Some have worked in her office as interns, and others she assisted through one-on-one meetings and other means of emotional or financial support.

She is currently serving as Treasurer of the Board of the Academy of Professional Family law Mediators, a volunteer attorney with the King County Bar Association and the Eastside Legal Assistance Program.

 

In the pursuit of social justice and equity, she worked with colleagues to train professionals in implicit bias, societal indoctrination, and its impact. She is a frequent guest lecturer for associations seeking training on critical topics, such as implicit bias, conflict reduction, emotional intelligence, interviews, investigation, and negotiation.

Her current practice focus is limited to Mediation of Family Law, Eldercare, and family estate and probate disputes. She lives with her husband in Kirkland, WA, and enjoys spending time with her daughters and grand puppies.

Lifetime of Service Award from the Loren Miller Bar Association

ADMISSION DETAILS & LICENSES

Admitted in 1981, Washington
Attorney, #12175, 1981
License Mental Health Counselor 60062637, 2005

CERTIFICATIONS & DEGREE SEEKING EDUCATION

Therapeutic Supervision, Certification, 2011
Washington State Mediator, 2005
Title 4 Guardianship GAL Registry, 2004
Title 26 – Guardianship GAL Registry, 2000
Academy of Family Mediators, 1995

Washington School of Professional Psychology/Argosy University, Seattle, Washington, 2005, Master’s Clinical Psychology
University of Puget Sound School of Law, 1981, J.D.
Seattle Pacific University, 1978, B.A., History & Political Science, cum laude

NON-DEGREE SEEKING EDUCATION

Elementary Peer Mediation, Conflict Resolution Institute, 2011
Teen Peer Mediation, Conflict Resolution Institute, 2010
ADR Annual Seminar, WSBA, 2006
Advanced Mediation for Family Law Practitioners, University of Washington, 2005
King County Dispute Resolution Mediation Training, 1997
Academy of Family Mediation Training, 1995

Darcia C. Tudor JD, MHP, CWM is an experienced attorney and mediator

working with a practice focus on mediation of family law matters and forensic reconciliation therapy. She has served as a Title 4, 11, and 26 Guardian ad Litem appointed by the court in these matters, and as a Parent Coordination, Child Specialist, Re-unification Therapist, and Co-parent Conflict Reduction specialist.

working with a practice focus on mediation of family law matters and forensic reconciliation therapy. She has served as a Title 4, 11, and 26 Guardian ad Litem appointed by the court in these matters, and as a Parent Coordination, Child Specialist, Re-unification Therapist, and Co-parent Conflict Reduction specialist.

She graduated from the University of Puget Sound Law School in 1981.

She obtained her certification in Family Law Mediation in 1995, completed the King County Dispute Resolution Training in 1997, and began mediating family law cases in 1998.

In 2005, she completed her Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on child development, family systems, psychological assessments and resiliency in children post-divorce.

She has served on numerous Legal and Meditation committees. She is currently serving on the Board of the Academy of Professional Family law Mediators is a member of the Kirkland Rotary Club, and a volunteer attorney for Kinship Care representing low-income clients.

Her practice focus at this time is limited to Mediation, Arbitration, Co-Parent Conflict Reduction Strategies, and Reunification Therapy. She will be expanding into discernment therapy in the summer of 2019.

She enjoys helping couples and families explore the possibilities of new beginnings. Well-trained and diverse in her abilities, she brings more than 30 years of legal experience, 20 years as a mediator and 10-plus years as a licensed mental health counselor to the search for solutions that my clients need.

 

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Divorce, Legal Separation, & Parentage Mediation
Child support Adjustment Mediation
Parenting Plan Disagreements or Modification Mediation
Elder Care Family Disputes
Disagreements in Probated Estates
Non-Parental Custody Temporary and/or Permanent Placements
Arbitration of Family Law Matters

 

HONORS & AWARDS

10 Best Law Firms, Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 2019
Top 10 Family Law Attorney & Law Firm, Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 2018
National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Fellow, 2018 & 2019
Best of Attorney’s in Kirkland, WA, 2015
Associate Mental Health Counselor Diplomat, 2013
Distinguished Resident Alumni, Seattle University Law School, 1992
American Jurisprudence Award, University of Puget Sound, 1981

 

PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS

Tudor, D.C. (2011)
A child’s developmental stage, temperament, and the level of conflict between the parents, shapes a child focused parenting plan, DRC Newsletter, Kitsap County, 2011
Tudor, D.C. (2011)
Secrets of a Teen Shrink
Tudor, D.C. (2009)
Mediated Divorce Is Best for Children, Divorce: Opposing Viewpoints.
Tudor, D. C. (2009)
Supporting Families Through Divorce: The Roles Mental Health Professionals Play, WAMPT Newsletter, 2009 & Washington Mental Health Association, 2009
Tudor, D. C. (2007)
Difficult Divorce Cases from a Parent Evaluator’s Perspective, NBI, 2007
Tudor, D.C. (2005)
Mom’s Rules verses Dad’s Rules: Would you rather be right, or happy? Parent Education Group.
Tudor, D. C. (2003)
Family Court Rules and Current Child Development Theories, King County Bar Bulletin, 21.6.
Tudor, D. C. (2002)
Marital Dissolution Laws Evolve to Insure “Best Interests” of Children. Trial News, 10:18.
Co-Author (1989 & 1990)
Office Management Section, Washington Lawyer Practice Manual. Revisions, 1998-1999.

 

BOARD ACTIVITIES

Current
Member of the Board of Directors, Academy of Professional Family Mediators, 2019

Past
Member of the Board of Directors, King County Boys and Girls Club of America
Member of the Board of Visitors, University of Puget Sound Law School
Member of the Board of Directors, Child Haven
Member of the Board of Directors, NW Children’s Fund
Member of the Lakehills Soccer Association Board of Directors

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