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Tacoma Guardianship Lawyer
Overview
Robin Balsam has been in private practice since 1984 and has over 30 years of experience. She is an assertive litigator with extensive experience in highly contested probates, will contests, uncovering and pursuing perpetrators of fiduciary fraud and elder abuse, complicated guardianships, trusts, estates, and other related matters.
Her practice has emphasized guardianship, trust, probate and representing families with special needs since 1993. Ms. Balsam has chaired and spoken at legal seminars on various aspects of these practice areas as well as related ethical issues since 1998. She handles complex guardianship, trust, and probate problems; represents other fiduciaries in various roles; and engages in many aspects of personal injury settlement trust work. Her work also includes representation of families with special needs, as well as practical experience in defense against allegations or findings by Adult Protective Services and recovery of assets for victims of elder abuse or exploitation. She received an LL.M. Masters in Elder Law at Stetson University School of Law in 2013.
As Director of Commencement Bay Guardianship Services, a certified professional guardian agency, she is the major decision-maker on investments, medical procedures, living arrangements and purchases for incapacitated people and trust beneficiaries. She also directs the day-to-day operations of the guardianship agency employing four professional guardians and support staff along with a three-attorney law firm.
In addition to extensive litigation experience, Ms. Balsam is also collaboratively trained and has experience as a mediator. She is a former Pro Tem Court Commissioner and Pro Tem Judge for Pierce County Superior Court.
Ms. Balsam has a number of professional affiliations, and frequently acts as associate counsel to other attorneys who are not experienced in representing the elderly, incapacitated and disabled in legal matters such as personal injury, contract and domestic litigation. Ms. Balsam's firm provides a uniquely collaborative and resourceful approach to the legal issues that confront elders and the disabled by providing a range of solutions from negotiated out-of-court agreements to traditional legal advocacy.
About Robin H. Balsam
Practice Areas
- Guardianship
- Trust
- Wills
- Probate
- Contested Cases in Probate/Estate Administration
Current Employment Position(s)
- Managing Partner
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 1984
- U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1984
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington, 1984
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1984
Specialties and Certifications
- Provisionally Certified Professional Guardian, 1999-2000
- Washington Certified Professional Guardian, 2001
- Certified Professional Guardian Board, , WSBA Representative, 2003 – 2013
Other Affiliations
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
- Washington State Bar Association, Elder Law Section
- Washington Professional Guardian Association
- Pierce County Bar Association, Guardianship section
- Tacoma/Pierce County Bar Association, Guardianship Committee, 1993 - 1996
- Tacoma/Pierce County Bar Association, Guardianship Committee, 1998 - Present
- Tacoma/Pierce County Bar Association, Guardianship Committee, 2004 - 2010 (Chair of Committee)
- Washington State Bar Association, 2004 - 2009 (Adjunct Investigative Counsel Panel Member, Board of Governors)
- Washington State Bar Association, 2010 - 2015 (Adjunct Investigative Counsel Panel Member, Board of Governors)
- Inns of Court, 2000 - Present (Master Barrister (emeritus status 2009))
- Collaborative Law Professionals of Pierce County, 2006 - Present
- International Academy of Collaborative Law Professionals, 2008 - Present
- Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Advisory Committee, 2010 - Present (Member)
- Washington State Bar Association, 1990 - 1993 (Special District Counsel)
- Washington State Bar Association, 1999 - 2004 (Special District Counsel)
- Pierce County Superior Court, 1991 - 2004 (Arbitration Panel member)
- Pierce County Settlement Guardian ad Litem for injury victims, 1989 - 1998
- Pierce County Guardian ad Litem for guardianship, domestic and probate cases, 1989 - 1998
- Commencement Bay Guardianship Services (Director)
- Pierce County Superior Court (Pro Tem Court Commissioner and Pro Tem Judge)
Education
- Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport/St. Petersburg, Florida, 2013
LL.M., Master of Laws
Major: Elder Law - University of Puget Sound School of Law, Tacoma, Washington
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
B.A., Bachelor of Arts
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Robin H. Balsam
Included on the 2025 Washington Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2024 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Washington Super Lawyers list
Office Information
Address
911 South I Street Tacoma, WA 98405 - 4517
Phone
Fax
- (253) 572-0912
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Websites
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