Criminal Defense & DUI
Criminal Defense & DUI
DUI, domestic violence, assault, drug and theft charges — from a first offense through serious felonies, defended in the Spokane courts.
With Jonathan Schwab and Jason Chenette Jr.
All Criminal Defense →Spokane Criminal Defense, DUI & Family Law
We fight like your life depends on it.
Because for our clients, it often does. A DUI or criminal charge can cost you your job, your license, your freedom. A divorce or custody case can reshape your family for years. Schwab Law takes on both — with attorneys who concentrate in each — for clients across Spokane and Eastern Washington.
DUI & Criminal Jonathan Schwab has built his practice defending impaired driving and criminal charges across Washington.
Family Law A dedicated family law team handling divorce, parenting plans, support, and modifications.
Statewide Reach We travel to smaller communities and consult by phone or video when you can't come to us.
Why Schwab Law
We fight your case as if it were our own.
That is not a slogan. It is how Jonathan Schwab approaches a criminal case — as if the person facing the charge were his own brother, with everything on the line.
Because that is what is actually at stake. A DUI can cost you your job, your license, and your ability to travel for work — and in Washington, a DUI conviction can never be removed from your record. A felony charge reaches further still. We treat a traffic ticket and a serious felony the same way: as the most important thing in our client's life right now, because it is.
The same standard applies on the family law side, where a divorce or custody case decides where your children live and how your life is rebuilt. Different attorneys, different law — same commitment.
We represent clients throughout Spokane, Spokane Valley, and across Eastern Washington, and we regularly travel to smaller communities and handle consultations by phone or video for clients who cannot come to us.
How We Help
Four practice areas — each with its own attorney.
Criminal defense and family law are the core of the firm, with estate planning, probate, and bankruptcy alongside them. Whatever you're facing, you work with the attorney who concentrates in it — and the whole firm stands behind them.
Family Law
Family Law
Divorce, parenting plans, child support, and spousal maintenance — handled with care when the outcome shapes your family for years.
With Taylor Schaefer
All Family Law →Probate & Estate Planning
Probate & Estate Planning
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and probate administration — deciding what happens to what you've built, before someone else decides for you.
With Isaac Smith
Probate & Estate Planning →Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 — stopping garnishments and foreclosure, and finding out how much of what you own you actually get to keep.
With Jonathan Schwab
Bankruptcy →Criminal Defense & DUI
Charged with a DUI or a crime? What you do next matters.
An arrest is not a conviction. From misdemeanors to serious felonies, our defense attorneys examine how the evidence was gathered, whether your rights were respected, and whether the State can actually prove its case — because a conviction reaches well beyond the courtroom, into your job, your housing, and your record.
DUI / DWI Defense
First offense through felony DUI — plus the separate license fight with the Department of Licensing, which runs on its own short deadline.
Domestic Violence
DV allegations move fast and often bring a no-contact order that can put you out of your home before any trial.
Assault Charges
From fourth-degree assault to serious felony allegations, including claims of self-defense.
Drug Charges
Possession through distribution — and the search-and-seizure questions that often decide these cases.
Theft & Shoplifting
Charges that look minor but leave a record employers can see for years.
Protection Orders
Responding to a petition against you, or seeking protection for yourself and your children.
Family Law
When your family is being decided, have someone in your corner.
Divorce and custody cases determine where your children live, how your finances are rebuilt, and what the next several years look like. Most matters resolve by agreement — which is faster, cheaper, and easier on children — but agreement is only worth having when it is fair, and we are ready to litigate when it is not.
Divorce
Washington is a no-fault state with a ninety-day minimum — and property is divided by what is just and equitable, not automatically in half.
Custody & Parenting Plans
Washington uses parenting plans rather than custody, and there is no presumption of equal time.
Child Support
Calculated from a state schedule that changed substantially on January 1, 2026 — older orders may be worth revisiting.
Spousal Maintenance
There is no alimony formula in Washington, which makes how the case is presented unusually important.
Modifications
Changing a parenting plan is deliberately difficult — and starts with clearing an adequate cause hearing.
Protection Orders
Seeking protection for yourself and your children, or responding to a petition filed against you.
Meet the Team
Attorneys who take the time to understand you.
Founding Attorney
Jonathan Schwab
Jonathan Schwab is the founder of Schwab Law, P.L.L.C. and a Spokane native. He previously practiced with Johnson Law Firm, P.C. in…
View Profile →
Family Law Attorney
Taylor Schaefer
Taylor Schaefer is a family law attorney at Schwab Law with extensive experience across the full range of family law matters —…
View Profile →
Estate Planning Attorney
Isaac Smith
Isaac Smith completed law school at Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, then returned to his home state of Montana to…
View Profile →
Criminal Defense Attorney
Jason Chenette Jr.
Jason Chenette Jr. brings a deep dedication to justice and an unwavering commitment to defending the rights of the accused. Known for…
View Profile →Probate & Estate Planning
Protect what you've built — and spare your family the guesswork.
A clear estate plan decides who inherits, who raises your children, and who speaks for you if you can't speak for yourself. And when a loved one dies, Washington's probate process is more workable than most people fear — but only if it's handled correctly from the start.
Wills
Name who inherits and, if you have young children, who would raise them — the decision most parents put off longest.
Trusts
Useful for privacy, blended families, property in more than one state, or a beneficiary who needs protection.
Probate Administration
Guiding personal representatives through Spokane County Superior Court, creditor notice, and closing the estate.
Powers of Attorney
Who handles your finances and health decisions if illness or injury takes you out of the picture.
Guardianship
When an adult or child needs someone legally authorized to make decisions for them.
Adoption
Making a family legally permanent, including stepparent and relative adoptions.
Bankruptcy
Debt that has outgrown any plan to repay it.
Almost nobody arrives here casually — most people have already tried consolidation, hardship programs, and extra hours. Bankruptcy is a legal tool Congress created so people can recover, and Washington's exemptions mean most filers keep far more than they expect.
Chapter 7
Discharges qualifying debt in a matter of months. Most filers lose nothing, because exemptions protect their property.
Chapter 13
A three- to five-year plan that can stop a foreclosure and let you catch up on a mortgage.
Stop a Garnishment
Filing triggers an automatic stay that halts wage garnishment and collection calls immediately.
Keep Your Home
Washington's homestead exemption protects the greater of $125,000 or your county's median home price.
Client Experiences
Trusted across Spokane and Eastern Washington.
Hear from clients we've guided through divorce, custody, and other family law matters across Spokane and Eastern Washington.
Amber Hoene
★★★★★
I cannot say enough good things about the Schwab Law team. Facing a DUI charge was one of the most stressful experiences of my life, but they immediately gave me confidence and reassurance. They were professional, knowledgeable, and completely dedicated to my case.
Merisa Hadziomerovic
★★★★★
I’m so grateful I hired Taylor Schaefer during the hardest time of my life. He handled my divorce settlement, child custody agreement, and even helped me secure a domestic violence protection order that protected me physically and mentally. Taylor is amazing in court, super dedicated, great with communication, and genuinely understanding of what his clients are going through. If you need help with divorce or family law, custody, or child support, he’s the one to call. I’ve already recommended him to friends and family, and I will continue to do so without hesitation.
Tiana Samuels
★★★★★
Mr. Schwab is a very straightforward, respectable man. Helped me with my case, got my charges reduced and no jail time so that’s awesome! Highly recommend him if you need an attourney, he will get back to you fast and answer any questions you may have!
Randy Maldonado
★★★★★
I am very grateful for how well Jon helped me out through this difficult time. When I first got into my dilemma with the law I was extremely nervous and all over the place. I had almost lost hope and was about to just give it up. When I met Jon, he was on the case like a firefighter fighting a wild fire. He helped me out with a consultation, he answered all of my questions, and would give the best advice during and till the end of my case. Him and his team are hard working, compassionate, and are the nicest people I’ve interacted with during this hard time. I highly recommend this law firm to anyone who feels stuck.
Read more reviews on Google
Reviews from Google
Common Questions
Questions we hear every week.
What kind of cases does Schwab Law handle?
Schwab Law is a Spokane law firm built around two core practices: criminal defense and DUI, and family law. Founding attorney Jonathan Schwab defends DUI and criminal charges, and a dedicated family law team handles divorce, parenting plans, child support, and spousal maintenance. The firm also handles probate and estate planning and bankruptcy, serving clients throughout Spokane County and Eastern Washington.
What happens if I get a DUI in Washington?
A DUI arrest starts two separate cases: a criminal case in court, and an administrative case against your driver's license with the Department of Licensing. The licensing case is triggered by the arrest itself and runs on a short deadline, so it needs attention immediately — well before your first court date. Washington sets mandatory minimum penalties that depend on your alcohol concentration and any prior offenses.
How long does it take to get divorced in Washington?
Washington imposes a mandatory 90-day waiting period that runs from both the filing and the service of the petition, and it cannot be waived. Uncontested cases often finalize shortly after that mark, while contested matters involving custody or property commonly take six to eighteen months.
Do I need a lawyer for a first-offense DUI in Spokane?
Washington's DUI penalties are largely set by statute, the license case is lost by default if the deadline passes, and a Washington DUI conviction can never be vacated — it stays on your record permanently and counts as a prior offense. Those three facts are why first offenses are worth defending rather than simply pleading out.
How is child custody decided in Spokane County?
Washington uses a parenting plan rather than the word custody, setting out a residential schedule and how major decisions are made. Courts apply the child's best interests using seven statutory factors, giving the greatest weight to the strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent. There is no presumption of equal time.
Does Schwab Law handle estate planning and bankruptcy too?
Yes. Isaac Smith handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and probate administration, and Jonathan Schwab handles Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy — including stopping wage garnishments and foreclosure. Both practices support the firm's criminal defense and family law work.
Take the First Step
Talk through your situation with a Spokane attorney.
Every case starts with a conversation. Tell us what you're facing, and we'll explain your options clearly — no pressure, no jargon.