Our firm is particularly well known for its divorce and family law representation. We base our practice around a principled negotiating style which seeks to maximize the possibility of arriving at a fair settlement as early in the proceedings as possible. We handle dissolution cases in a manner that is as rapid, straightforward, economical and harmonious as possible.

We make a legitimate effort to settle cases whenever possible, but there are always times when a breakdown of negotiations and communications produces a contested trial.  As experienced trial lawyers, who vigorously represent our clients’ interests, we are prepared to take any case all the way to trial when necessary.

We are extremely proud of the success of our firm’s Divorce with Decency™ mediation clinic. Divorce mediation is a growing and dynamic field which can produce truly gratifying results for couples who can still maintain mature and open communication during their divorce. For these couples, mediation can be far cheaper, faster and more amicable than conventional divorce procedures.

Another popular component of our divorce representation is a unique procedure which we have developed for processing uncontested divorces for couples who can employ the assistance of Coates & Frey to successfully arrive at an outline of their own mutually agreeable settlement terms, and then proceed to draw up and process the appropriate papers required to finalize the divorce in a proper form acceptable to the Family Court. This unique approach enables us to process uncontested divorces for our clients on perhaps the most economical, expeditious and efficient basis available anywhere in Hawaii.

It is testimony to the strength of our commitment to top flight representation in the divorce and family law field that all of our attorneys are members of the Family Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar. For more than thirty years, our office has handled over twenty thousand cases in virtually every area of the family law field. We are extremely proud of the excellent reputation we have earned in the process.