Lorna L. Bigsby, Divorce, Family & Collaborative Law Attorney
Lorna is proud to be a native Washingtonian; a brief residence outside the Pacific Northwest gave Lorna a lasting appreciation for the natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and great people in this part of the country. Born and raised in Bellingham, Lorna earned her college degrees at the University of Washington in Seattle, and finally settled both personally and professionally in Everett. There, she joined Bell & Ingram, P.S. a well respected, longtime Everett firm, becoming partner/shareholder in 1987. When the law firm discontinued its practice in 2011, Lorna opted to continue providing her family law expertise to the community as a sole practitioner, continuing to serve clients with the knowledge, experience, and compassion acquired during her 30+ year career.
Lorna received her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington, magna cum laude with Distinction in English, Phi Beta Kappa. She returned to the University to earn her law degree in 1974.
Lorna’s practice, though diverse, has come to focus on the unique and highly personal challenges encountered by people facing family law issues, primarily divorce and separation. She brings to her clients, both men and women, a wealth of problem solving experience acquired over her long career. Lorna finds particular satisfaction in finding, or helping her clients find, creative and workable solutions that set them on a positive path for the future.
While providing diligent and effective courtroom advocacy for many years, Lorna has also long been strongly committed to exploring with her clients the benefits of alternate dispute resolution processes, finding that the prospect of life-altering results is a strong motivator for involvement in a participatory process, rather than one where the results are imposed upon them. Lorna was successfully using mediation with her clients long before it became mandatory in many Washington courts. And when Collaborative Divorce emerged as another option, Lorna was immediate drawn to it, trained extensively, and became certified in this respectful and non-adversarial team approach, which allows couples to create their own settlements without unnecessary and costly – both emotional and financial – courtroom combat.
Outside the practice of law Lorna enjoys golfing, skiing and boating (along with the people and places experienced while enjoying these activities), gardening and other projects around her old house, and keeping up with the antics of husband, Tom, three adult children and their offspring. She is also an avid Mariners fan!
Experience
- Bell & Ingram, P.S.
Partner/Shareholder, 1987 – 2010 - Lorna L. Bigsby, PLLC
Owner/Founder, 2011 – present
Education
- University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington
- Juris Doctorate Degree
- University of Washington, Undergraduate Education, Seattle, Washington
- Bachelor of Arts in English (Magna Cum Laude)
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Distinction in English (Major)
Representative/Reported Cases
- In Re the Marriage of Bulicek, 59 Wash App 630, 800P 2d 394 (1990)
- In Re Brazler Forest Products, Inc, 106 Wash 2d 588, 724 P 2d 970 (1986)
Professional Associations and Memberships
Admitted to the Bars of: State of Washington, U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court.