The King County Bar Association Kinship Care Solutions Project (KCSP) recognizes Patricia H. Char (Pat) for her pro bono work in representing a caregiver of a minor, reaching an agreement with input from the child, who was over the age of 12.
Pat retired as a partner from K&L Gates, LLP in 2016 but finds time to assist the KCSP between travels and spending time with her family and grandchildren. Pat obtained her B.A. from Northwestern University in 1974 and her J.D. from Georgetown University in 1977. Following law school, she started practicing in Seattle with the former Bogle & Gates firm in its litigation department until transitioning to trust and estates. After moving in 2020 to Preston Gates & Ellis, now K&L Gates, she continued to focus on trusts and estates in planning, probates and litigation in Washington and elsewhere. During her career she served as an arbitrator and mediator. She was a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, was listed among the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers in Washington 2011–16, and was also listed among the top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington in 2015.
The KCSP opened intake under the new Washington Uniform Guardianship Act (UGA) in July 2022, continuing its work on behalf of caregivers of minor children in King County actions under the new act for minor guardianship. Since taking effect in 2021, the provisions of the UGA have been amended and local procedures are still being refined. At the time KCSP began accepting clients, few attorneys were handling minor guardianship cases under the new Act. In October of last year, our Webinar, Representing Caregivers in King County Minor Guardianship Cases, was a big success, and we have assisted more than 40 clients in the program.
Pat, who has been a dedicated volunteer since 2016, stepped forward to take a KCSP case, rising to the challenge of shifting from nonparental custody to minor guardianship cases. Pat represented a grandmother in a pending case for minor guardianship. In contested, and sometimes contentious proceedings, Pat navigated the new law and procedures, dealing with a range of issues including a party’s avoiding service of process, discovery requests, and trial preparation. With the assistance of former Commissioner Eric Watness, who is now with JAMS, all parties including the minor child engaged in mediation, and an agreement in the case was reached allowing the child to remain with the petitioner. The client, and the minor child greatly appreciated the dedication, work and effort of Pat and were extremely thankful for the outcome.
Pat is committed to giving back by helping people served by pro bono programs such as KCSP. She appreciates other supportive colleagues in the legal community, including Gail Mautner at Lane Powell, who found a notary public available after hours, and the law firm of Krutch Lindell Bingham Jones, which contributed use of its facilities and resources. In addition to advocating for children, she enjoys spending time with her own grandchildren, now that the responsibilities of active practice are behind her.
