Reviews

I interviewed a number of different lawyers and while all were knowledgable. Rachel distinguished herself with her friendly but very practical demeanor. She was efficient, empathetic yet realistic, extremely easy to talk to, and honest. Compared to the other lawyers that I met with, I found her easy to relate to and felt she understood my situation and challenges very quickly. We ended up using a mediator but Rachel provided excellent counsel when I needed it, especially towards the end of our process. Importantly, however, she prepared me well to enter into mediation. I feel the mediation process was more efficient because I got great advice from Rachel in the one hour consult we had prior. Prior to our meeting, I had sent her a lengthy e-mail outlining the issues and my priorities. She took the time to read through this and had questions for me when we met. I felt this was respectful of my time and resulted in a much more productive, focused discussion with clear action items for me as a result. At the end of the day, divorce is a business transaction with a lot of emotion attached. Rachel made it a more pleasant experience throughout. And while I did not need her as much as I anticipated (thankfully), I have heard others give her extremely high marks for getting the job done. In fact a friend of mine had a few lawyers before connecting with Rachel and once connected, her divorce was expedited. Our mediator, who is very well known in our county, spoke highly of Rachel too which gave me a lot of comfort.

Asked Rachel about how to process a modification to child support. She said she could fill paperwork out and do this. Turn out, she is completely wrong and I have to go through court. Not only did she cost me time and money, but she delayed the modification dramatically. Terrible and unprofessional.

I was extremely pleased with Rachel Castrejon. Of course, divorce is a very difficult time in ones life. The process can be alien and intimidating. However, Rachel guided me through extremely well. Of course, she knows the law and various courses of action very well. She was technically very proficient, but more importantly, she did an excellent job of answering my questions and giving helpful and prudent advice. I honestly never once felt Rachel was "in this for the money" and appreciated that she was looking for the optimal outcome for me, for the least amount of legal fees. I would unhesitatingly recommend Rachel Castrejon to anyone.

Rachel and her office provided excellent service, demonstrating professionalism and personal attention to all details of my divorce. Rachel gave me the right advice on time, before making the wrong decision. Rachel handled my case very outstanding. She also speaks Spanish very fluently, which was very helpful throughout the case. I Highly recommend Rachel Castrejon law office.

Highly recommend Castrejon & Associates. Rachel and her team worked with me as consulting attorneys during a complicated mediation case. I appreciated her direct communication about my legal rights (even when hard to hear), desire to help move the case along, tenacious advocacy, and . If you want someone to just tell you "you're right" this isn't the firm for you. Or if you are dead set on litigating at all costs, it might not be a match. If, however, you want an attorney who knows the law and can give you a fair-minded appraisal of the pros and cons of each potential legal strategy, someone who will litigate on your behalf if needed or partner with a mediator if that's the desired approach,then you can't do any better. The team worked seamlessly behind the scenes (and stepping forward as needed) to ensure documents were filed in a timely and accurate way.

No one wants to get divorced. However, I felt like my process was relatively smooth and efficient. I attribute this to Rachel Castrejon. who is experienced and sharp. Unlike most attorneys, she is resolution focused which is exactly what you need when you are going through something so emotional and traumatic. I felt supported and strong with Rachel on my side. She's not only good with the details but emotionally intelligent and warm. I highly recommend her.

If you're in a high conflict situation, she won't fare well. Especially after she's lost and then she'll do nothing. The mistakes she made had long lasting consequences, such as the incomprehensible not showing up for the custody settlement. She said it would cost too much money, yet she showed up in court not long after that for something relatively frivilous, and then charged driving time, so it ended up costing the same. She didn't have any information for me as far as appeals or any input on the possible repurcussions of a custody evaluation. She'd charge 100- to write an email to my X to say she was going on vacation, as she thought I wasn't reading the bill. She wouldn't expose my Xs criminal background in a Declaration, saying that she "wouldn't stoop to their level" which was a horrible idea, (but maybe good for her reputation?) Her flippant attitude and lack of remorse is shocking and I cannot think of one move she made that worked out for me. I regret not hiring someone who was looking out for my best interests or who would stick around even after loss. She looses sight of it all and it's a scary situation to be in. Total bomb.

I will be forever grateful to Rachel for the invaluable help and support she and her staff provided during (and after) my very difficult divorce. I was married to a lawyer for thirty years and was just beginning to re-enter the work force after staying at home for ten years to raise our three children. My ex initiated the divorce and as an experienced SF litigator, he knew how to work the system to his advantage so I really needed a strong, knowledgable, and tenacious advocate. I was very fortunate to have Rachel on my side. Shel just seemed to know what to do and she did it. She listened well and was extremely compassionate, and at the same time she was efficient with her time. Most important of all, she never allowed my ex to intimidate or pressure her, and ultimately she negotiated a favorable and fair outcome. After the divorce, Rachel helped me tie up loose ends as I re-established myself financially. She helped me find a broker firm to refinance my house and an accountant to untangle my messy post-divorce finances. I am very reassured knowing that Rachel is there should I ever need her again.

Terrible. She not only gave me conflicting advice throughout my child custody case (where we were dealing with an abuser trying to gain custody) but she also completely mishandled the whole thing and in the end the other party won due to her negligence. But she didn't fail to over charge me! AND her office does not respond when things are very time sensitive... she often leaves the office early (by 4pm). And then fought with me when I told her I didn't have the money to do hearings that would cost me thousands and still land me in the same spot I'm already in.... but clearly she didn't like that so she backed out the night before a big court appearance and left me on my own! I have never seen anything like it in my life.

I felt compelled to write a review of the one bright spot I found while going through a difficult divorce – my lawyer Rachel Castrejon. For me, the circumstances leading to my divorce were unforeseen, and my (ex-)husband was proceeding very swiftly. I knew I needed to find someone who could quickly understand my unique & complex situation, and who would fight for my rights in this antagonistic divorce scenario. What I found was so much more than that… From the first meeting with Rachel Castrejon, she showed her warmth and compassion for the pain I was in, while pragmatically leading me through each step of my challenging divorce journey. Rachel consistently presented a fierce-but-fair legal front through her keen understanding of the law, her relationships in the legal community, and through her experience with the courts in Marin County, the judges, and opposing council. While recognizing my feelings of what would be “fair” given the circumstances leading to the divorce, Rachel was frank about what the law says, the rights of both sides according to the law, and what my realistic expectations should be for a settlement – nothing more and nothing less. She is a strong advocate of mediation, and she relentlessly pursued mediation as a way to better manage the emotional and financial strains of the divorce proceedings. As well, Rachel surrounds herself with a dedicated and first-class staff; the entire office showed devotion to my case and regularly offered their help and guidance to me with tasks and actions while always remaining compassionate. Rachel exhibited the utmost professionalism in all aspects of the divorce proceedings and consistently operated with integrity - even when faced with unfair and dishonorable tactics sometimes used by opposing council. She was always honest with me and definitely did not “sugar-coat” any tough news or information, and yet, she had a way of comforting me by validating my sometimes emotional reaction, but remaining calm and rational with our options, recommendations, and next steps. Rachel has a great communications style; she was able to quickly compose articulate and hard-hitting responses & letters that were concise and got to the heart-of-the-matter quickly & accurately. And finally, Rachel showed a real interest in a “complete solution” for my life after divorce. She gave excellent guidance and advice for the other important things that needed to be handled outside of the services she provides, such as personal finance, estate planning, etc. I wholeheartedly recommend Rachel Castrejon to anyone facing the unfortunate circumstance of divorce – she was professional, provided excellent guidance, and ultimately negotiated a fair and satisfactory divorce settlement. At the same time, Rachel supported me as a human being going through a painful chapter in my life, and she continues to cheer for the newly enlightened woman who has now started a new chapter.

Rachel's experience, professionalism, and knowledge of the complexities of a difficult and protracted divorce saved my life, and my son's. She is available, truly listens, and is able to craft a case that is factual, respectful, and with a clear understanding of the law. She never lost hope that justice would prevail, and I am grateful to have found her. She is highly respected by her peers, a seasoned and consummate professional and I highly recommend her.

Ms. Castrejon has incredibly persistence, epic knowledge of divorce law in Marin, patience, the ability to explain legal processes and rulings simply and effectively, excellent reputation among her peers and supreme organization. She cares about her clients while keeping the divorce process professional AND human - a rare talent. Ms. Castrejon helped me save my sanity through a protracted divorce while keeping the process going. Her staff is also organized, professional and caring.