I help people move through family law matters without going to court.

I got divorced before I was an attorney, and even though it was mostly amicable, it was hard. I didn’t have an attorney and had no idea what I was doing.

That experience is part of why I practice family law the way I do now. I wanted to help people who are going through this and don’t know where to begin.

Hi, I’m Kristina Gibbs-Ruby.

I started out practicing family law in a traditional litigation setting, and for most families, I saw that the court system often did more harm than good.

I thought there had to be a better way.

I met my mentor, the late Kevin Scudder, at a moment when I was ready to leave family law entirely. He introduced me to collaborative law and gave me the tools to build a practice focused on non-litigation approaches.

What that means in practice is simple: I will never go to court.

I work in collaborative and cooperative models, and I do not file unnecessary motions or do anything that escalates conflict.

Being a peacemaker in family law is important to me.

Most people I work with are trying to move through a difficult situation without making it worse.

They may not agree on everything. There may be real conflict. But they are looking for a way to work through it that is thoughtful, structured, and focused on long-term outcomes.

That’s the work I focus on.

I attended Seattle University School of Law as a non-traditional adult student. While there, I also completed a degree from the Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry in Transformational Leadership.

That program focused heavily on working with people where they are, which continues to shape how I approach my work today.

When I’m not working, I sing with Resounding Love Interfaith Gospel Choir, write short stories and poetry, and spend time with my spouse, our three dogs, and our two cats on our micro-farm in Renton.

I also work with Max Gibbs-Ruby, who supports certain areas of the practice.

If you’re trying to understand your options or figure out what the next step looks like, we can start there.