What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

Bakes Law LLC

Compassionate and zealous advocacy for all your domestic needs.

04/27/2026

If you work in family law, you’ve probably seen how quickly communication between co-parents can break down, and how much that impacts both cases and families.

One tool that’s been making a real difference is the OurFamilyWizard app.

Designed specifically for co-parenting, it creates a structured, court-admissible record of communication, expenses, and scheduling. That alone can reduce conflict, limit misunderstandings, and give attorneys clearer visibility into what’s actually happening between parties.

From a practitioner’s perspective, a few things stand out:
• Messages are time-stamped and can’t be edited or deleted
• The tone meter helps flag potentially inflammatory language before it’s sent
• Shared calendars and expense logs reduce “he said, she said” disputes
• Courts increasingly recognize and even order its use

It’s not a cure-all, and no app can fix underlying conflict, but it can create guardrails that keep communication focused and accountable.

Curious how others are using tools like this in practice. Are you seeing courts recommend or require co-parenting apps more often?

04/24/2026

Excited to be a guest on a podcast this morning discussing some of the trends I’m seeing in my practice. As a family law and estate planning attorney, I have a unique vantage point into how people are planning for both the expected and the unexpected. We’re talking about the increasing use of prenuptial agreements, the importance of proactive estate planning (especially for young families), and how more clients are prioritizing clarity and protection over assumptions.

Grateful for the opportunity to share insights and be part of these important conversations. You can listen here: https://player.cloudradionetwork.com/gpn6/

03/11/2026

Today we recognize International Day of Women Judges and the remarkable women who serve on the bench with integrity, wisdom, and dedication to the rule of law.

Women judges play a critical role in strengthening our justice system and ensuring that courts reflect the communities they serve. Their leadership, fairness, and commitment to justice continue to inspire the next generation of lawyers.

Grateful for the many women on the bench who guide our profession and uphold the values of our legal system.

03/09/2026

Law school has a way of making you question everything. Your intelligence, your confidence, your future, and sometimes even your life choices.

Recently, I had a conversation with Nicholas Parsenios, a current student at my alma mater, about what 1L year actually feels like. It struck us how different and how similar our perspectives are. One comes from practice, looking back years later, and one from the classroom, living it in real time.

So we decided to share both.

In this co-authored piece, we talk about what we wish we knew as 1Ls. We discuss the realities of grades and reputation, the mindset shifts that happen during that first year, and the lessons that only become clear later in practice.

If you are currently in law school, I hope this offers some reassurance. If you are a lawyer, it might remind you how formative those early years can be and why reaching back to support newer students matters.

Nicholas and I would love to hear from others. What do you wish you knew as a 1L?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-i-wish-knew-1l-co-authored-perspective-katherine-bakes-esq--s4pmf

02/24/2026

A recent client conversation reminded me how much estate planning has changed. We were reviewing her will, and everything looked solid: her home, retirement accounts, guardianship provisions. Then I asked a simple question: “Do you own any cryptocurrency or online-only accounts?” She paused and said, “Oh… yes. A few things.” Those “few things” turned out to include crypto, online investment accounts, digital business income, and years of family photos stored in the cloud.

Here’s what many people don’t realize: if your estate plan does not specifically authorize access to digital assets, your executor may not be able to retrieve them. Not because you don’t have a will, but because privacy laws and platform restrictions can prevent access. I’m seeing this more often: cryptocurrency, Venmo or PayPal balances, online businesses, monetized social media accounts, subscription revenue, even cloud-stored family photos.

Estate planning today is no longer just about who receives the house or bank accounts. It’s also about access, passwords, legal authority, and clear instructions. Without thoughtful planning, assets (both financial and sentimental) can become inaccessible or even lost. If your documents were drafted several years ago, it may be worth revisiting them. Your digital life deserves planning too.

02/08/2026

In law school, I did not know exactly when I would start my own law firm, but I knew early on that if I did, it would be in family law and estate planning.

Those areas of law show you very quickly that the work is not just legal. It is deeply human. Even as a student, I started paying attention to things beyond statutes and case law.

I paid attention to how families experience the legal system during moments of crisis, how fear, confusion, or poor communication can make things harder than they need to be, and how decisions made in divorce, custody disputes, or estate planning can shape a family’s future for years.

Clinics and internships taught me that the process matters just as much as the outcome. How you return a call. How you explain a document. How you guide someone through an overwhelming decision.

I also started noticing the business side of practice early on, not because I was focused on owning a firm, but because I wanted the freedom to build a practice aligned with my values of clarity, empathy, and thoughtful planning.

Law school teaches you how to analyze problems. Family law and estate planning teach you how to sit with people in some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Thinking about a future firm meant asking one core question early on. If someone trusts me with their family, their future, or their legacy, how do I want that experience to feel?

For law students interested in these practice areas, start thinking about that now. It shapes everything that comes next.

01/25/2026

To current law school students: I see you.

Law school can feel overwhelming academically, emotionally, and financially. It’s easy to think everyone else has it figured out while you’re just trying to keep up. The truth is, many successful attorneys once sat exactly where you are now, questioning whether they belonged or whether it would all be worth it.

A reminder: law school is training, not a measure of your value or your future potential. Your career will be shaped far more by judgment, empathy, work ethic, and integrity than by any single grade or class rank.

If you’re feeling uncertain, that’s not a weakness. It’s part of learning how to think critically and responsibly as a lawyer. Keep asking questions, seek out mentors, and don’t be afraid to carve your own path. There is no single “right” way to practice law.

Cheering you on as you navigate this season. You’re building more than a résumé.

01/08/2026

One of the most encouraging trends I’ve seen lately as an estate planning attorney: more families are bringing their college-bound students in for a will, financial power of attorney, and living will BEFORE move-in day.

For many families, this is the first time they realize that once a child turns 18, parents no longer automatically have the legal authority to access medical information or handle financial matters, even in an emergency.

And the benefits of taking care of this early are huge:
✅ It protects the student’s wishes if something unexpected happens
✅ It avoids delays during medical emergencies
✅ It gives families clarity and legal authority when time matters
✅ It supports independence while still providing a safety net
✅ It’s one of the most responsible “adulting” moves a student can make

This isn’t about being pessimistic: it’s about being prepared.

Just like you buy renter’s insurance, set up a bank account, or register for classes… you can also put the right legal safeguards in place.

If you have a student heading to college this fall, now is the perfect time to check this off the list!

12/29/2025

Every year, I’m reminded that behind every case file is a real family, and a real story. This year brought challenging cases, difficult conversations, and also a lot of hope. I’ve seen parents show up for their kids in meaningful ways, clients rebuild after heartbreak, and families create thoughtful plans that bring peace of mind. I’m grateful to do work that matters, and I’m especially grateful to the clients who trusted me during moments when life felt uncertain. Wishing you all a New Year filled with health, stability, and good things ahead!

10/15/2025

🏡 Cohabitation Agreements Are on the Rise and They’re a Smart Legal Move

More and more couples are choosing to live together without getting married, and as an attorney, I’m seeing a steady rise in cohabitation agreements as a result. It’s one of the most practical and thoughtful legal tools for unmarried partners who are building a shared life.

A cohabitation agreement spells out how partners will handle the real-world details that come with living together: how expenses, rent, or mortgage payments will be divided, who owns the home or other property (especially if one partner moves in with the other), how assets or joint purchases will be handled if the relationship ends, what happens to jointly owned pets, vehicles, or even shared bank accounts.

Unlike married couples, unmarried partners in Connecticut don’t have automatic rights to property or financial support if they separate — even after many years together. Connecticut does not recognize common-law marriage, and while courts may sometimes enforce “palimony”-type claims or implied contracts, those cases are complex, uncertain, and expensive to litigate.

That’s why a cohabitation agreement is so valuable. It provides clarity, reduces risk, and ensures that both partners have a shared understanding, legally and emotionally, about their finances and their future.

I often tell clients: this isn’t about anticipating a breakup. It’s about communicating clearly now, so that misunderstandings don’t lead to conflict later. It’s a sign of trust and maturity — not distrust.

With housing costs, blended families, and shared financial commitments becoming more common, it makes sense that cohabitation agreements are on the rise. They reflect a shift in how couples are defining partnership: with intention, transparency, and respect.

If you or someone you know is moving in with a partner, especially if you’re buying property, combining finances, or making unequal contributions, it’s worth taking the time to talk through what a cohabitation agreement can do for you. Because protecting each other is one of the most loving things you can do. 💛

Address

745 Westfield Avenue
Bridgeport, CT
06606

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12036103088

Website

http://www.bakeslaw.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bakes Law LLC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Bakes Law LLC:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Practice
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your practice to be the top-listed Law Practice in Bridgeport?