William Kogut | Olympia Divorce & Family Lawyer

William Pattison Kogut (pronounced Co-Gut) has been practicing law in Washington state for over 25 years. A University of Oregon law school graduate, he currently handles cases in Lewis, Thurston, Mason and Pierce Counties. He is also a family law guardian ad litem ( Mason County) and guardian ad litem for alleged incapacitated (once called “incompetent”) individuals (Mason County). He has also frequently presided as a judicial officer (commissioner pro tem) on the Thurston County guardianship and probate calendar. He has received a “Very High” rating from his peers on both legal ability and ethics by a process that is managed and monitored by Martindale-Hubbell, self-described as the world’s most trusted legal resource. Mr. Kogut practices guardianship and probate law, represents clients in claims for Social Security disability and practices divorce law, including child support, parentage and custody cases, including third-party custody cases. If you are served with divorce papers, he has decades of experience and a first-rate staff that will quickly put together the necessary paperwork to vigorously defend you in court in Lewis, Thurston, Mason or Pierce Counties. If you need to file first, he is there to represent you. If a protection order action has been filed against you, he is experienced in putting your case together on an emergency basis.

Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire

Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference.
Unknown to my client, husband had faked my client’s signature on divorce documents so that he had shared custody plan resulting in him paying no child support. After many court hearings we were successful in modifying the phony plan and my client getting child support, with payments for child counselling as well.  

How did you build a successful practice?
have been in practice  since 1985 and have been successful because I have gained experience in a number of areas—Family Law, Estate Planning, Probate and Guardianship, Social Security Disability. I have been a guardian ad litem in family law and guardianship cases. I have been a pro tem court commissioner in probate and guardianship cases as well as involuntary mental health treatment cases.  

What should clients look for in a lawyer?
A lawyer who knows what questions to ask a new client, acts with integrity and is respected by the court commissioners and judges before he or she appears.   

How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases?
It is extremely important to know how a county court operates. Each county has its own rules and we keep up with them.

What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?
I can give a consult an overview of the area of the law that concerns him or her.

What information do you need in a free phone consultation?
First,  in what county is litigation occurring or will it need to occur.  What is the status of the case.  What is the subject matter involved.

What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?
I have practiced many years and have an excellent reputation with the judges and court commissioners before whom I appear.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Getting a just and fair result for my client.

What are your other interests in addition to law?
Both my sons, ages 18 and 20 are musically talented. I am working with them to see that they reach their goals. I am an avid reader, a trained journalist,  with a particular interest in politics—this year a former law partner and I went to Las Vegas to observe the Nevada Democratic caucuses. I am a former Peace Corps volunteer with an interest in Third World issues.  I was on a conservation land trust board for twenty years.  I am a sports fan.     

Are you involved in your community?
I am currently a liaison member of the local bar’s Diversity and Inclusion section.

Position	Organization	Location	Duration
Attorney	William Kogut, Attorney at Law	Olympia, WA	Present

School	Degree	Major	Graduation
University of Oregon School of Law	J.D.	Law School	1984
University of Oregon School of Journalism	Masters		1980
Sarah Lawrence College	Bachelors		1975
Princeton University	Undergraduate		1973

State / Court	Date
Washington	1985

• Nisqually Land Trust | Board Member | 1991 - Present
  Clallam County Bar Association | President | 1988 - 1989

• Valedictorian | Class of 1971 | 1971

• Nicholson vs. Nicholson
  Won client placement of children.

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