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12 Feb, 2025 by Sentient being
RUDE AND ARROGANT. Just as the last reviewer noted, I also am high level professional and Rita spoke down to me from the moment she began. She hung up on me after she mocked me for not knowing the answer to her question, even after offering what info I did have. I hope someone is able to follow through on a bar complaint, she is the kind of person who gives lawyers a bad name. Shame on you for speaking to those seeking aid as beneath you.
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10 Oct, 2024 by Jas
She called me because I was refereed her by a aid service, Im 20 this is my first marriage, so it’s my FIRST divorce ! I called confused and asking for help because I don't know the first thing about getting a divorce, I explained to Ms. Rita M Boyd this was my first time and Im confused on the whole process she proceeds to ask me because I'm so confused “Am I on medication?” what a wonderful thing to ask a grieving WOMEN going through a
DIVORCE with a child ! 0/10 wont help if you don't know much about getting a divorce ! STAY AWAY !
Edit: You gave me the aid website I had previously called and I stated that to you !
I didnt pay a consultation fee because YOU called me asking what I needed help with and I told you I needed help with a divorce and you spoke me like I had 0 sense from jump, so I explained to you that I knew nothing about the divorce process, and you said “Might I ask how old you are” because I stated I was confused, You said you would help with the paper work but wont show up to court with me ! Why would you do paper work but not come to court with me for 1,500 ? Before I hung up you asked if I was on medication, and my mom who has waaaay more tolerance than me, hung up on your unprofessional, rude, behind. You have a angry soul and I pray no one goes to you !
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01 Oct, 2024 by Subarna shrestha
Very professional and dedicated lawyer. Helped me with settlement. Saved lot of my money. Highly recommended.
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20 Jul, 2023 by Anonymous
She represented my brother in a criminal case but did not practice criminal law and even set him up thinking that the courts didn’t know something that they already knew. She will take your money and run
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07 Jul, 2020 by Anonymous
I was working with Karen M Burns from February to April 28, 2020. She has ghosted me and the case, that she sent a demand letter for. I last spoke with her on April 28 and it is July 7th and she has not returned any of my calls (I call weekly) and has not returned any of my 16 emails. I have received no explanation, her receptionists say they just saw her a few days ago, and she's never expressed any doubts in taking the case. We are now hearing back from the opposing party but Miss Burns has ruined the case as she will not communicate.
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02 Jul, 2019 by Anonymous
Hired attorney Karen Burns on October 23,2018. The firm is called Burns Iwuji, PLLC. I was searching for an attorney and found them on, Fathers Rights in Texas website. My mother first spoke with attorney Burns on September 2018, which was I’m assuming the free consultation. My mother met with attorney Iwuji and was charged a consultation fee which was odd because my mother clearly stated she was there to hire them. I did google the firm before we met and at that time they had great reviews.
However, both of this attorney will charge for possibly everything they can. Even the air you breath if possible. Attorney Iwuji mentioned that a portal was going to be set up. This was the way of us communicating with the firm and keeping up with charges incurred. The portal was set up a month after we hired them. I never received and invoice from them until June 2019 asking for more money because we had no more funds.
First court date was scheduled for Dec; 2018 it was rescheduled. Second court date 2/26/2019, judge gave the mother more time to hire and atty. I was before the judge no more than 5 minutes yet I was charged 2 hrs. Third court date 3/14/2019 we were there maybe 45 minutes I was charged for another 2 hrs. Attorney Burns, constantly wanted to meet to go over our case. Every time we met with her we were charged for 2 hrs. Now, keep in mind we didn’t know about the charges because up until the last time we met we hadn’t received and invoice. I would send atty Burns emails over and over again with no response. If I called the office because she wouldn’t reply and spoke them for like literally 2-3 minutes I was charged $30. I have plenty of proof to show how incompetent this attorney was.
Absolutely nothing was accomplished. My daughter is still in an abuse home. I lost money and time form work. I believed and trusted attorney Burns. Now, I truly believe this firm was a RIP off. Unfortunately, I can’t say to do your research before hiring anyone because I did. I lost thousands of dollars and I’ve also lost hope in the justice system. I pray to God every day that he keeps my daughter safe.
*We hired them to have a court ordered already in place be modified.
(atty made an agreement w/the mother for extended time from March –June 2019)
*I have several police reports on mother for not showing up to pick up my daughter.
*I have police reports and videos of mother showing up an hour late to drop off or to pick up my daughter.
*I have pictures of the physical abuse
*Mother was ordered to change last name on my daughter it’s been 3 years and it hasn’t been done yet.
*Mother has long history with CPS.
*And the list goes on and on.
AM
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24 Feb, 2022 by Anonymous
A very expensive headache. And I'm not talking about court. I've never been so happy to conclude business with someone!
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24 Feb, 2022 by Candy
Ms. Combs is a great attorney. She really helped me a lot through my divorce and she also did my estate planning after the divorce finalized. In the beginning of the divorce I was scared that I wouldn’t get a decent division of our assets and debts, child support etc. Ms. Combs fought hard for me to ensure that I got a great deal. Very happy with the results.
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06 Feb, 2022 by Anonymous
7-10 day wait to get a phone call or email, maybe, then cancels the phone appointment you waited for, only to do more waiting and hoping as you try again. You have to beg her to pay attention to your case. Months of waiting and hoping she will take the next step or take the time to talk to you - then you get 10 minutes, maybe 15 at best (3 times over more than 7 months), then she has little to say about anything including the process. We went with her because of the claims on her website. Experience shows otherwise.
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03 Jul, 2019 by Maryjane
Mr. White represented me in a multidisciplinary law matter, and did so with demonstrated ethics, offering reasonable options and perspectives for the end goal. Mr. White is highly personable and has excellent communication skills, as I have experienced as the client, but also witnessed in his interactions with the bench and opposing counsel. The entire staff is professional and helpful.
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24 Jan, 2019 by Anonymous
I hired him for a divorce. Initially paid $2000, was nice but moved slow. I did have a complicated case. He asked for another $1000 and gave him that. After $3000, years and no divorce, I found another attorney that had me divorced within months. Got no money back.
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13 Jan, 2017 by Amy
Mr. White and Barbara are wonderful. I'm very nervous and confused about the process and they never make me feel like a bother. They are patient and answer my question. And they really know what they are talking about!!! I would recommend them. Thank you Jesse and Barbara.
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11 Oct, 2024 by Justina bruzgulytė
27 Oct, 2023 by Kayla scott
Complete JOKE! They filed suit without our permission. They do not communicate at all. They do not follow directions. And they lie! Horrible service. Do not use them unless you want your situation to get worse.
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24 Oct, 2023 by David pena
Did not show up to court. Lost all our paperwork and emailed copies 3 times. Resending not a big deal but annoying. Communication through out the whole process was horrible. Now we lost the case and it's very hard to over turn. He has promised to return our money in payments. First check was denied by the bank. And now he says I forgot. I have the emails to prove it.
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21 Feb, 2021 by Yahweh
All Praises to the Creator, YAHWEH
He is a judge now...and an awful one. I am assuming he slithered his way into that space when Trump got elected.
He signed a default judgment after the government attacked me and my child. It was a private attack and the police published I went missing.
This judge signed an order after the attack. Because of the order I have to pay child support and only see my child through supervised visits.
He needs to removed as a judge.
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21 May, 2013 by Rod
Rick Kennon represented me in my custodial case and divorce. He did a first rate job. I got full custody of my children which is rare for a father. Any father who wants equal or full custody of his children should 100 percent consider hiring Rick Kennon. He in my opinion is one of the few divorce custody lawyers that is pro father! He always answered all my emails and most importantly he used his top flight legal eagle skills on behalf of myself and my family.
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09 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
I contacted him and he gave me great free advice. But when I tried to engage his services not only did he not represent me, he never responded to emails basically saying "I want you to represent me and give you money." Must be doing really well financially to just completely ignore potential clients.
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20 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
My ex-wife was represented with this attorney while I paid the bills. With her it is NOT about “what I can do for my client, it is what my client can do for me financially”! Financial exploitation is at best.
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22 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
You do the work and she sends you the bill. Every minute is bill when she makes the mistake by missing Court dates.
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14 Jul, 2021 by Diamond
Don’t even want to help you out with nothing she just gonna tell you something over and over and I’m gonna be on the same topic as you just so she can take your $150 away from you
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24 Jan, 2023 by Riley
This will be a detailed review so if you need a short one, do not hire Holly to represent you. If I had not checked and had my attorney partner to proof read, she would have ruined my finances and given one of my cars to my ex-wife. My attorney partner and her attorney father were appalled at what I went through here. I ended up correcting the entire petition myself with the help of my partner after I was still finding material (not just grammatical) errors after the 5th version.
First: Mishandling of material information
The most severe failure here was—despite me having provided material information twice, the second time in writing and organized so it was copy and paste-able—Holly still made severe errors. She assigned one of my brokerage accounts to my ex-wife that belonged to me. She put one of my cars’ VIN numbers as the VIN number for my ex wife’s car I was giving her. She wrote the same account number twice but as if it was different account types. Had this gone to court, it would have financially harmful or caused more delays and costs having to get it corrected. It was an agreed divorce and this could have caused my ex-wife to think I was trying to pull something over on her, which would have ruined the delicate peace we have.
I had to ask Holly 5-6 times to correct something else each time I reviewed another draft. I finally just ended up doing the key points myself, which defeats the purpose of paying someone two thousand dollars to do it. It took about 6 editions ultimately to get an acceptable decree because there were so many mistakes made inputting the very clear information I provided to Holly.
Secondly: Failure to protect non public information.
In the first draft of the final decree, Holly had left in information of her other clients in it instead of mine. This included their phone number, address, employer name and address, and partial social security number and drivers license number. There are laws about attorneys needing to protect and secure such information. Now I will worry forever about Holly doing the same to me with my information.
Third: Grammatical Errors.
Holly makes regular grammatical errors even in what was intended to be a final draft sent to a judge. From spelling my name as Wants, to putting my child’s initials as EAM when it’s AEW, missing periods, punctuation marks, missing or misspelled words. This is all in the first draft of the final decree she mailed me and was in the some 5th draft she wrote before I decided to correct it myself.
Lastly,
When it came time to file Holly said we could e-sign the decree, it was filed and rejected because it was e-signed. Holly ranted and raved rather unprofessionally about the Judge. This cost me another $40 in printing and more hours wasted syncing up with my ex-wife an hour away in Fort Worth to get it signed. For an attorney who claims to do all this electronically I’m surprised by her claims she didn’t know. I got her the signed paperwork two days later, and had to send three emails following up nearly a week afterwards to get her to confirm it was filed. Then another email a week later for her to bother uploading the signed decree.
I had paid Holly her fees in full as she does flat rate before we started on the decree (which is reasonable of her I might add) however had I not already paid in full, I would have fired her and hired another attorney. I didn’t only because I had already paid in full and it wasn’t until then all the severe stuff came up.
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10 Jan, 2011 by Jan
Holly worked with me on modifying my divorce settlement. She was very professional. Holly did a very good job of keeping me informed and was very easy to communicate with. She was tough, but fair and got everything resolved quickly. I would highly recommend Holly Schymik.
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27 May, 2010 by Laura
Holly worked with me on a particularly difficult litigation with my ex-husband. By the time we got to trial, Holly knew my case even better than I did. She was thorough and relentless in trying to resolve issues outside of court. Unlike with other lawyers I've used, I never felt that Holly suggested a course of action just to increase her billable hours. In fact, she did just the opposite and refused to engage in letter wars instigated by opposing counsel. I highly recommend her as a family lawyer and, in fact, have.
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28 Nov, 2024 by Brian johnson
25 Nov, 2024 by Anoosah store
Very Bad experience they know nothing to advocate for their clients. Don't waste your money here
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05 Aug, 2024 by Bill lane
Big Firm, Big Reputation, Very poor representation, no client advocacy, billing so high they would need to add hours in a day to justify. Intentional delays at every corner. All about double and triple billing. Stay away if you want to win your case and have a good experience.
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01 Apr, 2018 by Lisa wen sen
My attorney didn't do anything. Didn't try or put any effort in my case. He was a replacement for my previous court appointed attorney. Did the least amount of effort. Took the side of the prosecutor. Was bias. Prejudice.
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07 Feb, 2017 by Tosha
Needed a real estate attorney to prepared a deed in a urgent situation due to a terminal illness with my grandmother, Kerry and his wife prepared the deed and came to the hospital to notarize the deed within 3 hours of my call! They were wonderful kind and very friendly. My family and I greatly appreciated their time and understanding! I would recommend Kerry to everyone!
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24 Jan, 2021 by Lisa
I hired this lawyer she is extremely unprofessional and always late. She is money focused and lied to me on many occasions, stating where my case was and what she filed but never did. Do not waste your money on this woman.
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01 Feb, 2011 by Anonymous
I am still currently working with Tiffany on a child custody case and she has been a great help not only legally, but she is responsive and whenever my mind gets the best of me she helps me get back on track.
She is honest and upfront about what can and can't be done so she keeps it real and won't build false hopes. I'm still awaiting the outcome, but so far I am very impressed with Tiffany and grateful she's taken my case and at a reasonable rate as well.
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01 May, 2015 by Anonymous
Ashley promised to keep charges down. Instead she threatened to withdraw constantly if funds weren't constantly replenished. She had charges for paralegals doing general secretarial work and reading emails she already charged for reading. Her fees were astronomical and work was poor. She entered stuff incorrectly for me and refused to correct her work or help me get it corrected which cost me terribly and my children.
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15 Apr, 2014 by John
My case was a child custody case. Being a Father in Texas and trying to get custody of your children seemed to be an almost impossible task. The Texas court system is NOT too favorable to giving Father's custody, even when the children want to live with their Father. Ashley was highly recommended and turned out to be the attorney we needed to help us successfully navigate our difficult, if not impossible, court system. She is very knowledgeable, professional and courteous. She was confident, comfortable and performed exceptionally well in court. We can't thank her enough for helping bring our family much joy and happiness. She was a life changer for our family.
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29 Mar, 2019 by Anonymous
This lawyer was the most insensitive rude lawyer I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. She kept non of my information disclosed, she was rude, and said terrible things. She doesn’t NOT CARE about her clients at all. LACKS COMPLETE EMPATHY. Doesn’t do her job and relies on other lawyers to do her job for her. She is NEVER available is always taking vacations and spending time at “family events”. If you want someone who will over charge and do a piss poor job and make you feel terrible about your choice for adoption THIS IS THE ONE! BEWARE horrible manners would not recommend
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19 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
Jenny was a great person to deal with the issues of my divorce and took the lead in the process of the collaborative divorce.
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25 Aug, 2023 by Andrea
She wins and keep precious babies out of the hands of mad men. Can’t say enough positive things about her. Even in the face of a group of loons she keeps her cool.
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24 Aug, 2023 by George
Lol she’s making so many mistakes I’ll help my ex get her money back if she ever files for malpractice. I’ve been pro se for a few years and she hasn’t loaded anything in my case. Beware lol
Go check out my review on google
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14 May, 2023 by Anonymous
I’m a man and felt less than a person dealing with this attorney. She stopped taking my calls after I paid her thousands and thousands of dollars in a child custody case. Please do better and find another career.
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19 Sep, 2023 by Janie
He takes forever to return calls, text, and emails, office staff the same. I don’t even bother now to contact his office staff and I keep records of his lack of response so I can file a claim against him
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09 Jan, 2017 by Never again
Mr Robert Gier does not return calls or texts and the secretary is even worse.If you want to win a case and need a good aggressive lawyer,then turn away and run from this so called attorney!I lost my child because of his negligence.He turns in crucial paperwork to the courts late and makes it seem like its no big deal.trust me ,it is!!Please be warned..
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19 Oct, 2016 by Anonymous
Doesn't ever return calls. Or do anything by deadline takes weeks and weeks to get ahold of him and he acts like its no big deal. Constant excuses
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22 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
I've personally only had to use 2 lawyers for my custody and Claire was the replacement to my first lawyer, and I can say without a doubt I would have preferred my first lawyer. Firstly Clair charged $6500 more for her retainer fee and fed me all sort of excuses why we would need the larger fee, to continue on with the crap shoot I provided hours of audio recording, a detailed journal of events, a handful of videos, and quite a bit of other scrapes of evidence that clearly outline my ex's failings so far as a mother (ie drug use, borderline abuse, abandonment ect) just for it all to be sweep under the rug and forgotten. The entire time my case was going on it was a struggle to even contract her, I couldn't tell you how many times I heard 'I'll call you back' but I can say I've never received a call back unless I owed them more money. All in all Clair Mehaffey charge me a total of $15000+ to get me 50/50 custody and paying child support when a had proof my ex lied about me and that she likely needs to be in jail (Again).
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05 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
I hired this lawyer over a year ago to assist with my custody battle with my child. It has been the most stressful and the worse experience I've ever had with an attorney. After countless of evidence ( video, message and pictures) against the other party I have provided throughout the year along with thousands upon thousands dollars spent I ultimately feel that she never had my interests at heart. It was all about money with her and if you can pay thousands of dollars BEFORE anything gets done and IF anything get done. She did not file anything to assist with my case and my childs' welfare was in jeopardy countless times and nothing was done. She has failed to stay in contact with me and will not contact me (even after payment) about the next steps in my case or updated me when things were happening. She avoided going to court at every instance even when it was a necessary step at one point. I have continued to give her chance after chance in hopes that she will help. EACH new instance that occurs requires around a $3500 dollar retainer. So basically I am back to square one with my child in the hands of someone who is unfit, me out of thousands of dollars and an a attorney who is good for.. nothing really. I wouldn't recommend her to my worse enemy, she's HORRIBLE.
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30 Dec, 2018 by Martinez
Claire is amazing! She helped us gain custody of my step-daughter. She was great fast and professional.
I don’t know where my family would be without her great knowledge of family law
Thank you Ms. Mehaffey
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21 May, 2018 by Judy h.
I had been married for 38 years and hiring this Lawyer was absolutely the worst Lawyer ever !!!!!!!
1. Never calls you back NEVER !!!
2. Filed in the wrong County
3. She didn't look into important information that could have helped me financially
4. Finally after my Divorce I called for months to ask for all my documents that I summited to her that she never checked into for me and AGAIN she has never called me back. It is now 7 months after my divorce and she still has never called me back after leaving 4 voicemails..
I DO NOT Recommend this Family Law Attorney
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28 Sep, 2016 by Anonymous
Terrible experience. RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK! Impossible to reach Lisa once you pay. She doesn't return phone calls or emails and you can't reach her office either because the part time assistant also doesn't answer the calls. She operates a part time business/office, never communicates with clients in a timely manner. I actually spent over a month trying to reach her. She gives no notice about court or due dates. She told me one day in advance that we had a court date. I was handed my divorce decree and asked to 'hurry up and sign it' - luckily I took the time to read the decree because Lisa Thiele did not or she was trying to get me to sign it because she know it had a bunch of wrong and damaging info in the decree that I had never agreed to. It had so many errors that it had to be redone a number of times. It is still not correct. Lisa did not read the decree, but tried to get me to sign it. Imagine that kind of legal representation! It has been a terrible experience and Lisa Thiele provided no representation. She does not protect or represent you. I wish I had read some of her reviews before hiring her because I see many people have had the same horrible experiences with this attorney.
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01 Jul, 2016 by Anonymous
I shopped around for lawyers for months before finally deciding on hiring Lisa... I was going through some tough times with my ex not paying his child support for over a year and the kids coming home every other weekend complaining that they were having to sleep at random places because their father was too drunk to even walk. I gave my last penny to Lisa hoping that she could help me with my situation for the safety and best interest of my children and she just took off with my money. She was so easy to talk to and her secretary praised her at how good and compassionate she was.., nothing but lies. Once I handed over payment there was excuse after excuse on why my ex couldn't be served ( papers weren't ready, he couldn't be found, etc. ) and then her office stopped answering my calls and emails completely. The last couple of times I called the office someone actually picked up and hung up on me. My ex hired a lawyer to modify his payments down to the minimum allowed and his lawyer had me served and in court in 3 months! I am going on a year with nothing... Now I'm looking for ways to report her and her office. I beg anyone that needs help to please not use her... One of the worst mistakes I made was trusting her and her office to help me when I needed them the most.
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10 Jan, 2024 by Amaris castillo
Personally, I would not recommend Sylvia. She was very helpful initially, as I was recommended her by a close friend. I paid her retainer to her in cash, then I was informed that she moved to a new firm shortly after hiring her, then was asked for another retainer with her new firm. Not sure if this is normal, but the way I was communicated with about the situation by the new firm wasn't very professional and quite rude.
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07 Jan, 2020 by Leittia knight
Sylvia is an amazing attorney! She is very knowledgeable in regards to Family law. Sylvia is very easy to talk to and compassionate as well. Don't be fooled though, she is tough and will go to bat for her clients. I am very pleased and will use her in the future.
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20 Jan, 2020 by Anonymous
I wish I could forget his name for the rest of my life. After going to court, and not winning, he did not have the nerve to even call me and tell me that we did not win the case. He had his secretary call me and do that part. Bill gave me some of the worst advice during the case and looking back, I wish I would have listened to my friends and family about him thousands of dollars later. I ended up hiring a lawyer out of Amarillo to fix as much of the damage that he caused, which was life-changing. Stay far away from this guy. There are plenty of other lawyers in Lubbock.
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12 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
We paid $250.00 to get laughed at and told we were lucky we got what we got? Our grand daughter now gets to suffer court ordered mental abuse and yet another Lubbock lawyer keeps his friendship with the self proclaimed gods among men aka judges. Best interest of the child,,,I didnt wait to hear the excuse of his definition. I could have wasted $250.00 in so many better ways.
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13 Sep, 2013 by Benjamin
I'm not sure how Bill ranks in expense vs. other lawyers. Divorce is expensive, but it pays to have the best on your side. Bill and his staff took very good care of my needs and I got the result I wanted. He is honest and will tell you the hard truth about your situation. Never the less he will fight hard for you in court. He is very organized and comes fully prepared to argue your case. I would look no further and would certainly use this firm again if the needed, hopefully not needed.
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04 Oct, 2023 by Elizabeth camacho
They will twist the story around and let you do a very very long maximum sentence in prison over a very very very serious accusation that was so dam false to begin with. Even a dummy could read the fine print and have common sense. Beware! Just keep it moving and hire yourself a real good professional. But…“Instead they should be called the criminals and of the state for allowing such behavior of a dirty trial from the officers, detectives, to the jury and then to the judge….not to mention the cross examiners and cross examination they did was very questionable how can you allow such verdict without sufficient evidence let alone a minor was interviewed without permission of a parent. They will violate your constitutional rights from left to right but they will fight to keep themselves standing innocent at the cost of what?? An innocent man’s life. I’m sure this isn’t the first time they do something this dirty but I do believe more proper investigation shall be given in any case given that will jeopardize someone’s impeccable life…to be exact this all happened in the city of Montgomery County Texas to be Exact….
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25 Oct, 2020 by Lucille briles
Negative answers..
Attorney was late do to a video call.
Was not happy on court date . Was explained the contract an then word was not turn after judge signed papers. Don't like words o. Paper being twisted very un professional. Will not use them again. Unless the fix the problem.
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22 Jun, 2022 by Tommy dowden
Do not go to trial with this lawyer. The opposing party ran away with the show and I lost my child. Any objections we're disregarded by the da and the judge let it happen. Other times I told lawyer to object and she didnt. 3 days trial over 10 grand later and the results don't add up. Sorry kayla, but im deeply unsatisfied with you overall.
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24 May, 2023 by Anonymous
Reneka and Kary Gregg were put on my case last minute and did not do anything they were ordered to do by the courts in Montgomery County. I would highly recommend finding a different attorney as this entire law firm is a joke. Don't read and believe their reviews. they literally pay employees to put good reviews on there site to make them look better. Run as fast as you can.
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12 Nov, 2021 by Kt
Ms. Hayes was assigned to my case last minute by Bryan Fagan Law Firm, after my attorney resigned days before my trial. She was totally unprepared, unassertive, and lacked any evidence of properly preparing for my trial. As a disabled veteran on social security, I am still questioning how is it that I was billed over $10,000.00 for what amounted to horrible legal representation.
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20 May, 2015 by Deda
Carolyn Northcutt handled my divorce. Communication was lacking. Calls were not returned in a timely manner. I feel as though she did not do a thorough job on my behalf. Now that we have been divorced for some time when trying to collect my retirement I found out she filed the paper work incorrectly and that I was not receiving the 50% because of her inability to do her job correctly. When I contacted her to help repair the situation I was told she would get back to me. Months went by while I worried about whether I could afford to live in my old age. I finally called her and was told that she wouldn't help me because she didn't know the laws. I can respect that it wasn't her area of expertise but this was her failure to be fixed and she never got back to me or gave me a referral to fix the matter.
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12 Nov, 2021 by Kt
Over $10,000 was billed and then he left my case without notifying me.
My opinion, observation, and experience are that my case was not handled properly despite the overpriced bill I've paid them. Bryan Fagan Law Firm & assigned attorney was not prepared; was not up to date on my case details, and did not properly represent me in court, In fact, I didn't witness any effort or desire to win. After my trial, I reached out to the law firm for clarity - and despite four (4) attempts to contact Bryan Fagan Law Firm, via email and their chat services I have not heard back from anyone except their billing department.
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12 Aug, 2012 by Anonymous
I hired Scott Stevens of Stevens and Stevens over 2 years ago and he has completely neglected my case. He has seemingly ignored my case entirely only securing 1 court date over the course of these 2 years. He even neglected to contact the people I listed to help me win my case.
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18 Oct, 2018 by Shawn bainum
Beware! HOA's (KPM) Enforcer. They send out threatening letters, charge ridiculous fees and threaten legal action to take you home or charge you 200.00 a day for non compliance. But when you call them to email a requested form in they can't give you an EMAIL address because their email is not "reliable"? What legitimate company doesn't have email or a website? But they have a 40 year old fax machine!
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Adoption Lawyer Can Do for You
An adoption lawyer specializes in navigating the legal complexities of the adoption process, ensuring that the rights of all parties involved - the adoptive parents, birth parents, and the child - are protected. They assist families through the different types of adoption, such as domestic, international, foster care, stepparent, and private adoptions. Adoption lawyers ensure that the adoption process complies with state, federal, and international laws, and handle any legal issues that may arise during the process, such as terminating parental rights, conducting home studies, and finalizing the adoption.
If you're looking to adopt or if you're a birth parent considering placing your child for adoption, an adoption lawyer can guide you through the legal requirements and ensure the process goes smoothly.
When Should I Hire an Adoption Lawyer?
You should consider hiring an adoption lawyer in the following situations:
- Private or independent adoption: If you’re adopting a child directly from the birth parents without the involvement of an adoption agency, a lawyer is essential to draft and review all legal documents, including consent forms and parental rights termination agreements.
- Foster care adoption: If you’re adopting a child from foster care, a lawyer can help navigate the legal process, ensure the child’s eligibility for adoption, and represent you in court to finalize the adoption.
- Stepparent or relative adoption: If you’re adopting a stepchild or a relative, a lawyer can assist in terminating the parental rights of the biological parent and ensure the adoption is completed legally and efficiently.
- International adoption: International adoptions are complex, involving multiple layers of laws from the U.S. and the child’s birth country. A lawyer can help navigate immigration requirements and ensure compliance with international treaties like the Hague Convention.
- Contested adoptions: If a birth parent changes their mind about the adoption or there is a dispute over parental rights, a lawyer can represent you in court and ensure that the adoption proceeds legally.
- Adoption for same-sex couples: If you're a same-sex couple looking to adopt, a lawyer can help ensure that your adoption complies with state laws and that both parents have equal legal rights to the child.
- Birth parent representation: If you’re a birth parent considering adoption, a lawyer can ensure that your rights are protected, help you understand the legal implications of terminating parental rights, and ensure that your decision is legally sound.
Hiring a lawyer early in the process can help avoid legal complications and ensure that the adoption is legally finalized as smoothly as possible.
What Does an Adoption Lawyer Do?
An adoption lawyer provides a variety of legal services, ensuring that the adoption process is completed in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Their responsibilities often include:
- Filing legal paperwork: Adoption lawyers handle all the necessary paperwork, including petitions to terminate parental rights, consent forms, and final adoption decrees. They ensure that the adoption is in line with state, federal, and international laws.
- Conducting home studies: Some adoptions require a home study to evaluate the prospective adoptive family. While a social worker usually conducts the study, a lawyer can ensure that the process complies with legal requirements and that the report is submitted correctly.
- Terminating parental rights: Lawyers assist in terminating the legal rights of the biological parents, either voluntarily through signed consent or involuntarily through court proceedings if necessary.
- Representing clients in court: Adoption lawyers represent adoptive parents, birth parents, or other parties in court hearings to finalize the adoption or resolve disputes.
- Navigating international adoption laws: For international adoptions, a lawyer helps ensure that all legal requirements, both in the U.S. and the child’s home country, are met, including securing the child’s visa and citizenship.
- Providing legal advice: Adoption lawyers guide clients through each step of the adoption process, advising them on their rights and obligations, as well as any potential legal issues that may arise.
- Drafting post-adoption agreements: In some cases, especially open adoptions, a lawyer can help draft post-adoption agreements that specify the level of contact between the adoptive and birth parents.
How Are Adoption Lawyers Paid?
Adoption lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the adoption and the time involved. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many adoption lawyers charge a flat fee for handling the entire adoption process. This is common for straightforward adoptions, such as stepparent or foster care adoptions, where the legal work is relatively predictable.
- Hourly rate: For more complex adoptions, such as contested or international adoptions, some lawyers charge by the hour, with rates typically ranging from $200 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: In cases where the adoption process may take longer or involve more legal work (e.g., termination of parental rights or court disputes), a lawyer may require a retainer, which is an upfront payment that is billed against as the lawyer works on the case.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer upfront, so you understand the total cost of the adoption and any additional expenses that may arise during the process.
How Much Does an Adoption Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an adoption lawyer depends on the type of adoption and the complexity of the case. General cost estimates include:
- Stepparent or relative adoption: Legal fees for these types of adoptions typically range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on whether the adoption is contested or requires a court hearing.
- Domestic private adoption: The legal fees for a private adoption usually range from $5,000 to $10,000, including drafting documents, terminating parental rights, and finalizing the adoption in court.
- International adoption: International adoptions are generally more expensive, with legal fees ranging from $7,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the adoption and the child’s country of origin.
- Contested adoption: If the adoption is contested and involves court disputes, legal fees may range from $10,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the length and complexity of the court proceedings.
In addition to lawyer fees, adoptive parents should also be aware of additional costs such as court filing fees, home study fees, and travel expenses (for international adoptions).
Top Questions to Ask an Adoption Lawyer
Before hiring an adoption lawyer, it’s important to ask key questions to ensure they have the experience and knowledge to handle your case effectively. Key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with adoptions?
Ensure the lawyer has experience with the specific type of adoption you’re pursuing, whether it’s domestic, international, foster care, or stepparent adoption. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or hourly rate and ask for a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in your adoption. -
What are the legal requirements for my adoption?
Ask the lawyer to explain the legal steps involved in your adoption and any specific requirements that may apply to your case, such as home studies or parental consent. -
How long will the adoption process take?
Adoption timelines can vary depending on the type of adoption, so ask the lawyer for an estimate of how long the process will take, including any potential delays. -
What are the common challenges in adoption cases?
Ask about any potential legal challenges that could arise during the adoption process and how the lawyer plans to address them. -
Will I need to go to court?
Depending on the adoption, you may need to attend court hearings. Ask the lawyer whether your presence will be required and what to expect during these hearings. -
Can you help with post-adoption issues?
Ask the lawyer if they can assist with any post-adoption issues, such as obtaining the child’s birth certificate, finalizing the child’s U.S. citizenship (for international adoptions), or drafting post-adoption contact agreements.
How to Check the Credibility of an Adoption Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable adoption lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and experience:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed to practice law and has no disciplinary actions on their record.
- Look for adoption experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in adoption law and have experience handling cases similar to yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about their experience with the lawyer.
- Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on adoption cases.
- Check for memberships in relevant organizations: Look for lawyers who are members of adoption-focused organizations like the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA), which can indicate their expertise in this field.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your first consultation with an adoption lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Information about the child and birth parents: Provide any available information about the child you’re adopting (e.g., age, country of origin, current living situation) and the birth parents, if applicable.
- Adoption preferences: Be clear about the type of adoption you’re pursuing - whether it’s domestic, international, foster care, stepparent, or private - and discuss any preferences you have regarding the child’s age, background, or special needs.
- Legal documents (if applicable): If you’ve already begun the adoption process or have signed any agreements, bring copies of all relevant legal documents, such as consent forms or agency agreements.
- Questions about the adoption process: Prepare a list of questions about the legal steps involved in your adoption, potential timelines, and any concerns you may have about the process.
- Financial considerations: Be ready to discuss your budget for legal fees and any additional costs, such as home studies, court fees, and travel expenses (for international adoptions).
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation more effectively and provide the best possible legal advice for your adoption journey.
