Attorneys

When Barbara McFarland determined that her own marriage needed to terminate, she decided that her previous college major of poetry would not quite support her and her three young children, so she obtained an undergraduate degree in accounting and, with three little kids and a horse breeding ranch to take care of, she went to law school.

Barbara graduated from Northwestern Law School at Lewis and Clark in 1974 and initially worked in corporate law. However, she soon found that her true passion was helping families in the throes of domestic upheaval. In 1978 she began working exclusively in the fields of estate planning and family law, and since 1992 she has only practiced family law.

When it appears that a divorce is inevitable, Barbara's primary goal is to help the family separate their issues as amicably as possible. She believes intensely in the majesty of the legal system, but endeavors to keep her clients out of court. This is particularly true when children are involved. Raising her own three children as a single mother, she understands the demands and difficulties as well as the rewards of that task.

However, when a case just will not settle and court is necessary, Barbara fights hard for her clients. Her "win" record is impressive. Because she is experienced and level-headed and does not give her clients' unreasonable expectations she has credibility with her fellow lawyers and with the courts. 

In addition to maintaining a full-time law practice, raising three children and running a horse ranch, Barbara planted and operated an apple orchard and developed a cottage industry of apple products. She founded the Willamette Valley Tree Fruit Growers Association and served as Chairman of the Board for many years.

Barbara is an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubble. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a member and past president of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Academy of Family Law Practitioners. She is a member of the Washington County and served for many years on the Board of Directors. She is a member of the Clackamas County and Multnomah County Bar Associations and the Oregon State Bar Association. She is a Director of the Washington County Conciliation Services and a past member of the Oregon State Bar Ethics Committee.

Her civil contributions include membership in the Portland Hunt Club, Oregon Symphony Society, Parry Center for Children and Director of Hope Crisis.

After practicing law for over thirty-five years, Barbara continues to be idealistic about her grand passion, which is the law.