Nancy Nellor Retsinas
Nancy focuses her practice on family law—those myriad issues arising between or among family members involving separation and divorce, child custody or support. She handles complex family matters involving difficult custody issues, divisions of businesses, retirement plans and real estate, and identifying separate and community property interests.
Nancy understands the difficulties individuals face when moving through a life transition such as separation or divorce. She assists them through the process by communicating emphatically and efficiently so that they not only understand the direction their case is moving, but they feel confident in that direction as well. And, although it is often difficult to predict with certainty the outcome of any legal proceeding, she works in tandem with clients so they can see the outcomes unfolding as they move through the process.
Disagreements between family members are frequently not easily resolved, given the difficult emotional components of those relationships. Nancy seeks to reduce unnecessary conflict while allowing her clients the opportunity to be heard and understood. She provides sophisticated legal counsel with an eye toward an equitable resolution of family–oriented disputes.
Nancy finds that a cooperative approach is most beneficial to her clients and their families, and understands that a “win” in court is often not much of a win for the families involved in a court proceeding.
Nancy has received special training in an alternative dispute resolution process whereby family members in the midst of conflict pledge to negotiate a settlement without going to court. This process, known as Collaborative Law, benefits from a multidisciplinary team of professionals with special training focusing on a client–driven settlement process. Collaborative Law changes the culture of conflict resolution by allowing individuals to take control of their future as opposed to leaving decision–making about their lives to a judge. Along with the family members and their independent legal counsel, the team may include a neutral facilitator, a neutral financial specialist, a neutral child specialist, and others, all for the purpose of educating the parties and empowering them to make informed decisions collaboratively, without court intervention. This collabarative process distinguishes itself from the traditional adversarial manner in which our courts resolve disputes, and its benefits establish it as Nancy‘s preferred process for finding the fairest solution for her clients.
On some occasions, Nancy may refer clients to mediation. A mediation process can assist parties in the midst of litigation, or post–litigation, and may be able to avoid further court intervention. Nancy assists clients referred to mediation by providing on–going guidance during the mediation process, and she will draft or review proposed agreements reached through mediation. Mediation differs from Collaborative Law in important ways. Nancy can help you decide which process is best for you.
When Collaborative Law or mediation are not appropriate, Nancy is a skilled litigation attorney and forceful advocate. The litigation model of dispute resolution is especially useful where unique facts or legal issues are present that warrant a court‘s intervention. In those circumstances, the adversarial system is an important bridge between conflict and resolution. With a great understanding of how the family law court functions, Nancy provides balanced counsel and advice to clients so they can make informed decisions about how to proceed with litigation.
But regardless of the process used to resolve client conflict, Nancy‘s philosophy is simple: she understands that her client will achieve the greatest benefit of her legal services as an active participant in his or her own case.
Admitted to practice in Washington in 1991, Nancy also holds a license to practice in Oregon (1992). She graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law (1991) and prior to that, received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from University of Portland (1986). A proud Vancouver native, Nancy attended Harney Elementary School, McLoughlin Junior High School, Hudson's Bay High School and Clark College.
Naturally, she is a member of both the Washington and Oregon Bar Associations, and is actively involved with the Clark County Bar Association's Family Law Section. She also belongs to the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict. A collaboratively trained attorney, Nancy is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, an organization promoting the use of collaborative methods of resolving disputes. Nancy routinely volunteers her legal services for clients of the Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program and has been honored three times by that organization as "Volunteer Lawyer of the Year".
An active member of her community, Nancy's current involvement includes:
- Vancouver Rotary Club, Board of Directors, July 2002 to July 2004; Member, September 1998 to present.
- Clark County Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board, Board Member, September 2004 to present. Appointed by the Clark County Board of Commissioners to assist in providing oversight of Clark County's emergency ambulance and medical services.
- Children's Center, Board of Directors, September 2003 to present. A state agency providing and advocating for comprehensive community–based services that ensure the psychological and social well–being of children, youth and families.
- Community Mediation Services, CMS Certified Mediator. An organization offering free mediation of disputes between citizens of Clark County.
In the past, Nancy has devoted her time to the following organizations:
“A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; If he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect.”
—Scott