On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Washington Supreme Court suspended attorney Timothy Ronald Richards from practicing law for eight months, effective seven days from the order’s date. The suspension stems from a stipulation agreement between Richards and the Washington State Bar Association’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), following a settlement conference related to multiple violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) and court orders.
The disciplinary proceedings against Richards, identified as case number 202306-1, originate from actions taken during and after his own divorce proceedings. The stipulation details a series of misconducts, including communicating directly with his then-wife, Catherine Vincler, who was represented by attorney Sara Epler, violating RPC 4.2. Further violations include harassing Epler and damaging her property, leading to breaches of RPC 4.4(a) and RPC 8.4(d).
Richards also violated multiple court orders related to his divorce, contravening RPC 3.4(c), RPC 8.4(d), and RPC 8.4(j). These violations involved contacting Vincler through text messages and the OurFamilyWizard (OFW) platform despite a restraining order and agreed parenting plan that restricted such communications. He also made multiple phone calls to Vincler, further breaching the court’s directives.
Additionally, Richards faced accusations of attempting to interfere with the employment and housing of Elba Moreira, a third party, leading to violations of RPC 8.4(a) and RPC 4.4(a). This involved contacting Moreira’s employer with claims of her mental instability and pressuring her to vacate her residence, actions deemed to lack substantial purpose other than to embarrass or burden her.
The ABA standards were used to determine the disciplinary measures. ABA Standard 6.3 applies to Respondent’s violations of RPC 4.2 by communicating with a represented party (Count 1). ABA Standard 7.0 applies to Respondent’s violations of RPC 4.4(a) and 8.4(d) (Count 2).
In mitigation, the stipulation acknowledges that Richards was significantly impacted by the stress of his divorce and separation from his child, experiencing anxiety and depression. He has engaged in treatment, demonstrating a meaningful period of rehabilitation.
Beyond the suspension, Richards faces several conditions for reinstatement, including paying costs and expenses associated with the proceedings and undergoing an independent psychological or psychiatric evaluation to assess his fitness to practice law. If the evaluator recommends treatment, Richards will also be subject to a two-year probation period with specific conditions, including compliance with treatment recommendations and court-ordered requirements from his divorce and any domestic violence cases.
The stipulation also outlines that it is a compromise intended to resolve the matter while avoiding further proceedings, with both Richards and the ODC acknowledging that a different outcome might occur after further proceedings. The Supreme Court’s approval of the stipulation means it will be followed by the agreed-upon disciplinary action, with all required notices made according to the Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct.
According to Avvo, Mr. Richards is a family lawyer in Kirkland, WA. He acquired his law license in Washington in 2012.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
