Welcome to the Barnhart Family Law! Founding Partner Kristy Barnhart and Associate Attorney Balean Reid are excited to launch Barnhart Family Law in May 2023. Kristy and Balean bring a combined experience of fifteen years assisting clients through the hardest part of their lives, including complex divorce, contested custody, child support, modifications, contempt, and numerous other domestic issues. We started the firm to better serve clients in our community. This website is intended to be a resource for a palatable delivery of family law statutes, case law and helpful information about how to best care for yourself as you navigate the monster that can be a family law matter.
As your future counsel, we know there are numerous requirements for us to make you feel safe and represented. Below is an initial list of the promises we will make as your counsel at Barnhart Family Law.
Honesty
We will always tell you the truth, even if the truth is not what you want to hear. Sometimes the law does not feel fair, but it is our job to ensure you understand all possible outcomes allowed under the law so we can create a plan intended to get you to your most desired outcome.
Empathy
We care about you just as much as we care about your case. At the end of the day, Family law is about people, and when people feel cared for and understood, they can make more rational and informed decisions. Our job is not to tell you what to do. Our job is to advise you on the law and work with you to create a solution that best fits your family and situation. We are a firm that believes your mental health matters and emphasizes that our clients care for themselves as much as possible. Domestic litigation is challenging, but if you take care of yourself, you will be better equipped to handle the changes that come with family law cases.
Creativity
We believe the best solution for a domestic case is the one that clients create themselves, rather than dictated by a judge. We promote mediation to try and keep the parties amicable, and to allow us to craft creative settlements that work for your circumstances and would otherwise not be available at trial. We are forward thinkers and want our clients to feel like you have a solution for years to come. However, if settlement is not right for you, we will zealously advocate your position at trial
Efficiency
We do not want you to go through a prolonged, contentious domestic matter. We are advocates first. Being your advocate means litigating zealously for you, but it also means advising you on settlement if you stand to lose more than you would gain. We are intentional in our strategy and approach and do not do unnecessary work to stretch your matter for our gain. The best outcome for you is usually both time and cost-effective, and we keep that in mind as we strategize for every client’s case.
Welcome!
We hope this website is useful and can add veracity to the information we provide throughout your case. We welcome all and prioritize comprehensive and compassionate representation. Every family is different, and their cases are just as unique. Let the experts at Barnhart Family Law aid you through this difficult time. We look forward to advocating for you!