Suzanne Woodrow-Snell
Top rated Family Law attorney in Purcell, Oklahoma
Practice Areas:
Family Law,
Adoption,
Divorce,
Child Support,
Custody & Visitation,
Domestic Violence,
Same Sex Family Law
Education Qualification:
The University of Oklahoma College of Law
Practice Areas:
Family law,
Adoption,
Divorce,
Child support,
Custody & visitation,
Domestic violence,
Same sex family law
309 W Main StPurcell, Oklahoma, 73080
First Admitted: 1993, Oklahoma
Professional Webpage: https://woodrowsnell.com/about/
Bar/Professional Activity:
- State Bar of Oklahoma, 1993
- Garvin County Bar Association
- Cleveland County Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Western District of Oklahoma , 1999
- ABA Family Law section, Member, 2014
- McClain County Bar, Member, 1993
- McClain County Bar President. When I served as the local bar president I provided a diverse group of speakers at our monthly meetings. The speakers presented in different areas of law. This served to both educate our local bar and to provide the members an opportunity to obtain continuing legal education., 2017
- Oklahoma Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1993
- Oklahoma Municipal League, Member. I was appointed municipal judge of Purcell, Oklahoma in 1998. Purcell is my home town and my law office has always been located in Purcell. This position is more of a public service. It is often the first view citizens have of the court system. My goal is to provide and administer justice in a fair and impartial manner., 2014
- Oklahoma Bar Association, Bench and Bar Committee. I was selected to serve on this committee that has many responsibilities in regard to the Oklahoma judiciary. The committee functions to survey the Oklahoma judicial system. As a practicing attorney my input is to identify problems common to the Bench and Bar and collaborate on ways to resolve them., 2018
Pro bono/Community Service:
- As a member of the Purcell Chamber of Commerce I choose to provide a leadership role in the advancement of economic growth in Purcell. The chamber is important to help citizens enhance the quality of life., 2019
- I routinely donate to the food pantry that provides food for underprivileged children. I also donate anonymously to provide supplies for the special need of personal items for the young women of the local schools., 2018
- Named a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. The Paul Harris Fellow program recognizes individuals who contribute, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International., 2016
- My husband and I are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wanette, Oklahoma. It is a very small parish. We give generously of our time, resources and money. In fact, while I write this, my husband is using his heavy equipment he transported to the church to tear down the old rectory. We were instrumental in building the new rectory. We also updated the very old church's plumbing, heating, and roof. I also provide pro bono legal advice to the parish. Recently, the priest and his assistant were attacked while at the church. I am helping them navigate the legal system as victims of violent crimes., 2015
- Women' Resources Center, (WRC) Board of Director, secretary/treasurer and management committee. I limit myself to volunteer activities so I can focus on causes that I am passionate about while not taking away from my family. I am passionate about the WRC. It is a non-profit 501 ( c ) 3 organization which means fund raising is one of my responsibilities to help keep this vital organization financed. The mission statement is We believe that women have the right to live in safety, to be treated with dignity, to make choices and to hope.” In Oklahoma, almost four in 10 women have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Oklahoma consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous states for women because of the high incidents of domestic violence and resulting deaths. The Women's Resource Center provides specialized services catered to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. There is no cost to any of WRC’s services. As a board member I am very active in fund raising to support the needs of the center., 2016
- Rotary International, Purell Chapter, club service director. Rotary provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders., 1998
Honors/Awards:
- The highest peer rating standard. I was selected 2018, 2019, 2020. This is the honor I am most proud. I feel so humbled to be ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards by my peers., AV Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Excellence, Martindale-Hubbell, 2018
- Highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary., Judicial Edition AV Preeminent Martin-Dale Hubbell, Martin-Dale Hubbell, 2018
- Who’s Who in America
- Selected to attend the week long immersion in all aspects of trial preparation through an actual trial. I received constant feedback and was critiqued on trial preparation, opening and closing statements and direct and cross examination. Special attention was focused on direct and cross examinations of experts., National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Family Law Advocacy Institute, American Bar Association Section of Family Law, 2011
- I was selected to attend the three week trial lawyer college at the Thunderhead Rancy, Dubois, Wyoming. I was fortunate to be instructed by Gerry Spence and other nationally recognized attorneys in trial skills. My education at the ranch went further to include instructions by non attorney professionals in the art of verbal and nonverbal communication. Theatre professionals instructed in presentation with voice and body language. The particular skill of non verbal communication has been invaluable in my trial skills. The skills I learned at the Trial Lawyer College are ones I continue to use in communication, negotiation with both the court, opposing counsel, clients, witnesses and in my personal life., Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College, Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College, 2010
Educational Background:
- Bachelor of Science, Oklahoma State University, 1978
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- The area of family law is in a state of flux with the military deployment of single parents or even more complications, when both parents are soldiers and are deployed. This a very real problem and concern in Oklahoma. Often military orders do not come with advanced warning. The soldier needs to know about expedited hearings. There is additional confusion caused by federal laws in dealing with Oklahoma parents. There is more confusion when multiple states are involved. Oklahoma enacted a version of the federal Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act. The article helps the soldier navigate custody arrangements, visitation, expedited hearings and the reinstatement of the soldier’s custody and visitation rights post-deployment., Co-author, Practical Guide to Representing Military Families, Can We Take Away the Distraction of the Civil Wars the Soldier is Fighting at Home?, Oklahoma Bar Journal, Volume 85, No. 20, 8/9/2014 , page 1647 - 1654, Family Law, 2014
- The importance of this case is the determination of joint custody at the initial custody award when the standard is “best interest’ of the child. Can a trial court award joint custody to parents when one party opposes joint custody? There is a vast amount of case law in the modification of joint custody but not in the initial determination of joint custody. The district court found both parents fit and awarded joint custody to them against the wishes of the mother. Father was named the primary custodian. The appellate court agreed with the trial court. Even though the parents had hostility it did not mean that they could not overcome their hostility and co-parent their children in the future. If they were not successful modification of custody is always an option., Trial Attorney, appellate attorney for Petitioner/Appellee, Bilyeu v. Bilyeu, 2015 OK CIV APP 58, Oklahoma Court of Appeals, Family Law, 2015
Industry Groups:
- Municipal Judge
- Persons seeking divorces and any family law issue
- Women's Resource Center
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