Hon. Patricia Aitken (Ret.)

T: 206-622-5267
F:206-292-9082

Locations

Available to hear cases nationwide.
  • Print
  • Email
  • PDF
  • Add to Packet
  • View Packet
Family Law
Judge Aitken handled all types of civil cases while on the King County Superior Court bench and conducted settlement conferences, a majority of which were in the family law area, on a weekly basis for 14 years.

As a mediator, she especially enjoys working with family law matters, particularly marriage dissolutions. Judge Aitken believes working together can lead to a settlement which benefits both parties far more than any disposition from the court. Judge Aitken has a collaborative style and method of resolving disputes directly with the parties.

Representative Matters

  • Arbitrated parenting plan modification concerning school for special needs children
  • Arbitrated to award many dissolution cases involving division of assets, spousal support, and child custody issues
  • Mediated a marital dissolution case involving custody of family pets
  • Mediated a marital dissolution case involving developmentally disabled adult with court appointed Guardian Ad Litem
  • Mediated and settled estate matter where beneficiary claimed fraud by the Personal Representative
  • Mediated and settled probate case involving funding of trust and pre-nuptial agreement
  • Mediated estate matter concerning claims made against an estate by decedent’s girlfriend
  • Mediated marital dissolution matter involving foreign nationals domiciled in Washington State
  • Mediated meretricious relationship dissolution involving disposition of jointly owned house
  • Mediated numerous marital dissolutions involving multi-million dollar estates

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

  • Member, U.S. District Court, Western District, Rule 39.1 panel of mediators and arbitrators
  • King County Election Task Force, appointed by King County Executive 2005
  • Member, Washington Women Lawyers
  • President’s Award, Washington Women Lawyers, 2000
  • Outstanding Judge Award, Seattle-King County Bar Association, 1996
  • Member, Seattle-King County Bar Association Court Congestion Committee
  • Judge Advocate General Corps, Washington Army National Guard, 1974-1988 (Captain, 1974-1982; Major, 1982-1988; Staff Judge Advocate, 81st Brigade, 1984-1988)

Background and Education

  • JAMS "Remedies in Arbitration" Training, 2009
  • JAMS Arbitration Training, 2004; JAMS Mediation Training, 2001
  • Judge, King County Superior Court, 1982-2000
  • Chief of the Criminal Division, Office of Seattle City Attorney, 1982
  • Assistant Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Office of King County Prosecuting Attorneys Christopher Bailey and Norm Maleng, 1971-1982
  • Deputy King County Prosecuting Attorney, Office of King County Prosecuting Attorney Charles O. Carroll, 1967-1970
  • J.D., University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA, 1965
  • B.A., Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, 1957