360-357-8669
2401 Bristol Ct. SW, #A-101
Olympia, Washington 98502
We Are Here To Help You
Melissa Denton, founding partner and senior lawyer at Ascher & Denton.
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I started practicing family law in Thurston County in 1990.
I focus on helping people who want to resolve their cases with minimal ugly and expensive court action. While the courts are essential and necessary when people can't agree, it is much wiser to handle personal family issues privately and with minimal expense when acceptable agreements can be reached.
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This is why I created the One Lawyer process in 2004. Mentoring and helping families with One Lawyer are my main practice areas now, and I am writing a book about One Lawyer to share with the world.
One Lawyer
Since 2004, I've pioneered a new way of practicing law called One Lawyer. Please be sure to check out the description of One Lawyer on our website. It works wonderfully when both sides have the trust and respect necessary to work together for an agreed-upon—no court needed—resolution.
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​Famous Case
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I've learned a great deal from helping clients through these many years. A case that is familiar to every Washington family lawyer was hard work for me. I represented a client at the very start of the case through the ten-day divorce trial (a rare thing, I assure you), two appellate court cases, and up through the Supreme Court of Washington. This case is called Rideout v. Rideout 150 Wn.2d 337, 359, 77 P.3d 1174 (2003). The many wonderful clients I have worked for since 1990 have enriched my perspective and have given me many experiences to draw on in practicing family law.
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Personal Background
Beginning in 1980, I studied and practiced karate while earning my bachelor's degree in history with a minor in psychology. I earned my black belt right before starting law school in 1985. It helped.
It also helped that I was fortunate to study at Oxford University, England, for a summer in undergraduate school and a summer in law school. It made the law less intimidating.
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Melissa Denton's Credentials
In 1989, I was admitted to the Washington State Bar and the US Federal District Court for Western Washington. I'm active in the Thurston County Bar Association and the state and local bar's family law sections.
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Law Schools: I finished my last year of law school (doubling student loans from all of my former education) at Seattle University School of Law, which was then called UPS Law School in Tacoma. Transferring those Washington credits to my former school, I was awarded a Juris Doctorate Degree from The University of Oklahoma School of Law in 1988. Part of my law degree coursework was earned at The Queen's College, University of Oxford in England.
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Other activities: I've run for public office twice and served in leadership and supporting roles in my church and several local non-profit organizations. Travel has been a big part of life, especially to see family in Oklahoma and Malaysia and I have a wonderful son and delightful people to work with.
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James Ascher, Former Partner
Jim Ascher and Melissa Denton joined their previously separate law firms in 1995. At the first business meeting, Jim made a solemn announcement: "We have good news and we have bad news."
Melissa asked for the good news. He pronounced "The good news is - we qualify for food stamps."
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Fortunately, Jim was kidding and the law practice flourished and was fun to be together in until Jim retired in 2014. We remained close friends and spoke at least weekly until Jim passed away in July of 2019.
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As a law firm, we will always be grateful for Jim's wisdom and friendship. Jim was a gentleman and a scholar, and this law firm continues to bear his name because he was wonderful and - as he would hasten to add - because his name starts with an "A."
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Non-Lawyer Staff
Mo Alberda, Legal Assistant
Our clients are fortunate that Mo is usually their first contact with our law firm. She provides knowledgeable and reassuring communication while getting a fantastic number of things done simultaneously. She first came to Ascher & Denton on her birthday in August 2022, which turned into a great birthday present she gave to this law firm.
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Mo's college education includes a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Legal Studies. Among other great prior jobs, she worked for Nike Corporate in her beloved Oregon. Nike was also an excellent fit for Mo, as she is a big sports fan. The many skills Mo learned in different jobs benefit the clients and lawyers at Ascher and Denton.
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Call Mo at Ascher and Denton, and you will experience her excellent emotional intelligence and lovely leadership in acknowledging and celebrating successes.
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Deborah Cushman, Bookkeeping
Deborah worked for Ascher & Denton for a few years until she opened her legal bookkeeping business. Now, she is an independent contractor, helping us keep the books perfectly straight—which is the only way they should be in this business. Although Deb is also a lawyer and sometimes has done legal work with Ascher & Denton, her work as a bookkeeper is not performed in the capacity of a lawyer but as a bookkeeper.
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We mention Deborah because we want you to know that we adhere to the highest standards of professionalism in handling money and the business responsibilities of this law firm. You matter to us, and doing the right thing the right way matters to us.
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