Adam M Shapiro

Adam is a passionate and skilled trial attorney who brings a great deal of energy, creativity and problem solving skills to his work as a legal advocate. Adam has represented hundreds of juveniles and adults in a wide variety of family and criminal law matters since his admission to the Washington State Bar in 1992.  Adam’s practice is primarily focused on Child Protection Services (CPS), family law issues including protection and restraining orders, dissolution (divorce), legal separation, parentage/paternity matters, custody, visitation, property division, child support, maintenance, parenting plan modifications, child support modifications, post decree enforcement issues and contempt of court.  Adam has unique expertise in administrative and family law proceedings involving Child Protective Services and the Department of Social and Health Services, including: dependency, At Risk Youth, and Child In Need of Services cases as well as Child Protective Service investigations and administrative proceedings involving allegations of abuse or neglect.  Adam enjoys working closely with his clients to reach successful results in difficult family law matters, and focuses on finding solutions rather than on finding more conflict in his cases.

Adam’s background encompasses a real breadth of experience that enables him to represent his clients more effectively.  He was an appellate attorney for four years at the Washington Appellate Defender Association in Seattle representing adults and juveniles on appeal of their misdemeanor and felony convictions in the Washington State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.  For 14 years, Adam was a public defender with the Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons in Seattle and Kent, WA where he represented juvenile and adult clients on a broad range of criminal and family law matters, mainly focusing on dependency, At Risk Youth and Child in Need of Services cases.  Adam is a member of the Washington State Bar Family Law Section as well as the King County Bar Family Law and Criminal Law Sections and the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  Adam graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1991 and Tufts University in 1986.     

Some times you can’t agree with the other side and your case needs to be fought, and fought hard, in court.  Rhodes & Meryhew clients are in a strong position when that happens in their case.  In fact, Adam has spent close to twenty years advocating for clients at court hearings, including judge and jury trials.  If contested courtroom proceedings are necessary in your case, you will feel confident with Adam by your side.                       
Adam is very sensitive to the needs of his clients during these very difficult times and has the experience, skill and judgment to get them through the process and into the best position possible to move forward with their lives.  Adam is highly protective of his client’s privacy and confidentiality, yet effective in achieving results for them, whether through agreement, negotiations or court litigation over issues such as child custody, property division and spousal support.
Child Protective Services – CPS

Adam’s practice includes CPS investigations and administrative proceedings involving child abuse or neglect.  Adam represents those accused during the investigation process as well as through any administrative appeal process.  CPS agencies have an enormous amount of discretion in administering their investigation.  These investigations generally involve interviews and can stretch out for months, or longer if the police become involved.   You will need an experienced counsel to advise you on the law and represent your interests through their process to assure the investigation is done fairly and impartially.

Family Law

Adam’s family law practice includes the representation of married, unmarried and same-sex individuals in prenuptial, spousal, cohabitation and domestic partnership agreements; parentage/paternity issues; separation and property agreements, divorce, and legal separation; restraining and protection orders; parenting plans, child custody, visitation, property division; child support and spousal maintenance; parental and guardian relocation; modification of parenting plans, child support, and spousal maintenance orders; enforcement of child support, parenting plans and spousal maintenance orders; non-parental/third party custody petitions and proceedings; dependency, at risk youth (ARY) and child in need of Services (CHINS) cases.

Protection Orders and Restraining Orders
Adam has extensive experience in handling a variety of restraining orders, protection orders and anti harassment orders. Courts have the authority to impose temporary and long term orders to protect a party from threats and/or acts which present a danger of injury to their person or property.  Adam represents individuals seeking a protective order as well as individuals defending against one.  If you believe you need a protective order or are put in a position of having to defend against one, you would benefit from Adam’s experience and skilled representation in these matters.