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15 Mar, 2024 by Dr. donald mccary
Excellent law firm that does the very best in solving legal problems. They are the best!
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25 Sep, 2023 by Jessica olson
He helped me so much with my divorce. Made it quick and easy over the phone. He talks to you like you're somebody, not just another client. Would really recommend him to everyone to use.
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16 Jun, 2023 by Trent visser
04 Oct, 2024 by Eva ferrell
If i could give 10 stars I would. Attorney Micah was able to help me handle my case in Tennessee although Im in another state. I would advise anyone to hire him and trust he will do what he says he will do. Honest, dependable, and a man of God!
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03 Oct, 2024 by Luiz cas-
He is a very good lawyer dedicated and honest very professional 👏 👍 👌 😀
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02 Oct, 2024 by Forrest pace
Great person to speak with.
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22 Mar, 2020 by Veronika
Loved working with Amanda. She is extremely knowledgeable and her office was very prompt in responding to questions, making appointments, and filing documents. Very satisfied with the results of our case and will not only recommend Amanda to family and friends, but will definitely come back for our future legal needs.
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06 Feb, 2020 by Anonymous
Amanda made getting our Family Trust completed easy! She was helpful in explaining in detail the questions we asked her and gave us explanations of the pros and cons of what we wanted to achieve. Her office staff is friendly and their work was done in a very timely manner!
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19 Jul, 2019 by Cheryl j.
My family and I live in New England and recently had a relative residing in Tennessee pass away with a small estate and no beneficiary, so we contacted the Tennessee Bar Association and they referred three Probate Lawyers. The second Attorney that we called and the one that we chose was Amanda Jelks. The consultation that we had was extremely informative and covered everything from our options, Tennessee Law, and legal fees. She, as well as her staff, were very professional and made the Small Estate Probate process seem effortless.
I don't normally review products or services, however, Amanda and her staff definitely deserve 5 stars and we would highly recommend this Attorney to anyone.
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16 Nov, 2022 by Marvin
I have been working with Amanda since 2017 and it has been nothing but a pleasure. From the initial consultation to discharge, Amanda has been there for me every step of the way. She is patient and really knows what she is doing. She has only the best interest of her clients in mind. I would recommend Amanda Stofan to anyone.
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29 Nov, 2021 by Douglas
I am a sole business owner yet registered as an LLC due to contractual reasons. I first went to a different Attorney and was advised that he wasn't sure about filing a chapter 7 because he said that they could take my business. Im a service business with no assets involved. He thought it would be best to file a chapter 13 with the possibility of the monthly payment increasing if I started making more money. I decided to hold off and do some more research and seek other counsel. I was fortunate enough to call Amanda Stofan. Best decision I ever made. Not only was she super down to earth and easy to talk too, She knew her business and she knew it well! 60 days later 70k discharged.....She gave me some great advice as to how to move forward from this point and even recommended some outlets I could use. Anyone thinking of filing any type of bankruptcy....PLEASE call Amanda first. We will be setting up an appointment soon with her 100% so she can handle some estate issues that we need to take care of. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much Amanda for your honesty, patience and most of all integrity!
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07 Oct, 2021 by Perry
Amanda, took care of everything. She contacted all the folks involved, wrote the letters made the calls, all I did was answer a few questions.
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30 Jun, 2017 by Tammy navickas
Ryan Smith was a blessing to me and my son .He was always available to meet or talk with me.
It was a very sad time in my life. Rayn took all the questions that I had to heart .He also was on Vacation and I had a problem that came up. Mr.Smith took care of it ASAP.
He is not just Attorney he cares.
A blessing God send to me.
Thank you again.
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23 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Looking for a divorce lawyer? Then look no further! Don't let his young age fool you! Ryan always had my best interest in mind, and I felt like he charged a fair fee. During my initial consultation, I felt as though he listened to me, and my martial dissolution agreement was drawn up very quickly. At my request, most of my case was able to be handled via e-mail, so I did not have to spend a lot of time on the phone or at his office. When I did go to the office, Ryan and his staff were always smiling and friendly. Because Ryan had all of my paperwork in order for my uncontested divorce, I spent a very minimal amount of time in front of the judge during my hearing. He prepped me for the questions that I would be asked, and I felt very comfortable knowing that he was going to walk me through this process. I hope that I never need a divorce attorney again, but if I did, I would definitely use Ryan again!
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26 Jan, 2017 by Sean
Such a excellent, professional lawyer. Would recommend to anyone needing child custody services. He was excellent in drawing up the necessary documents and executing them as well. Very professional and a well spoken and kind person. His personal characteristics certainly add up to his professional ones.
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16 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
Darald is very trustworthy attorney that goes above and beyond what most attorneys will do. Having an attorney that actually has your best interest financially in mind. This guys is the way to go.
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16 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
I highly recommend Darald. He is very companionate, professional and knowledgeable. He sincerely cares about his clients and works extremely hard on their behalf.
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15 Mar, 2021 by Amber
I found Mr. Darald Schaffer upon staring my LLC. I desperately needed counsel on how to proceed with a few contracts and opportunities that I had pending. As a new, small business owner, he exceeded my needs and expectations with excellent service, thorough explanations and prompt responses. After several months of working with Mr. Schaffer , I have become more confident in my business endeavors and feel a safety net has been established for any future decisions I may encounter. I am grateful for his expertise and willingness to take time to explain matters in detail. I highly recommend him .
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23 May, 2012 by Shaun
Mr. Burhram provided me with timely answers to guardianship questions. His professionalism was on the mark and his answers were on the mark.
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07 Mar, 2011 by Dan
John is a very knowledgeable lawyer that I've been working with for the last few years. i would highly recommend him to anyone needing aan attorney for estate planning purposes.
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04 Mar, 2011 by Anonymous
For several years, John has assisted members of our family with both tax planning and estate settlement. He is a competent and thorough professional.
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02 Apr, 2024 by Scott
Mr. Lype provided very thorough and thoughtful information about the situation I brought to him for a preliminary consultation. He explained the relevant law and identified where there would be both strengths and weaknesses of a case if it were advanced, along with the possible risks. It was far more than I expected prior to an official engagement, and demonstrated to me the degree to which Mr. Lype cares about the law and helping people. I would highly recommend talking to him; even if he is not in a position to be engaged for a particular case, his experience and insights will be valuable.
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29 Dec, 2021 by Patrick
Mr. Lype recently represented me in a lawsuit and he did a great job. He was professional and answered all of my questions I had. I would highly recommend him.
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02 Oct, 2018 by Rena
Mr. Lyle is always timely and throw in his response. Has been very helpful many situations and when he is unable to provide services he provides good references for referral. He is always courteous and professional. His services have been much appreciated and important to my business for years.
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29 Jun, 2016 by Valerie
I was denied benefits and was referred to this group by one of my doctors. From the consultation to my hearing, he was very professional and explained each step of the process. I would recommend him to anyone.
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25 Jun, 2016 by Truett
Compassionate,understanding and remarkably prepared in understanding and presenting my situation to the institution that reviews and ultimately decides the outcome. His knowledge of all my past physical and emotional issues was nothing less than extraordinary. Hudson explained and clarified any and all questions and doubts that I had concerning the entire process, by the way which had a favorable outcome. I highly recommend Hudson and the entire firm to anyone who needs advice and representation for their disability concerns. Great personality and willing to go the extra mile with help and advice.
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09 May, 2016 by Carroll
I am glad to report an excellent review of Hudson Ellis. Mr. Ellis is professional in every way, yet he is quite approachable and has the ability to make you feel important and secure. Each time we have met with him, he answered every question with full knowledge and confidence. I would certainly recommend Mr. Ellis to "go to bat" for anyone who needs a successful lawyer. We had a complicated situation but Mr. Ellis did his research and personalized what we needed and he won the case for us. The final ruling of the judge was "full favor"!
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02 Aug, 2018 by Gene
Jason handled our lawsuit as a defendant in an allegation that we were responsible for water damage after a real estate sale. Jason was very knowledgeable of the applicable law, did quick research, prepared us well for the trial, was very supportive emotionally, honest, thorough, and very reasonably priced. We can not think of what he could have done that supported us better. He won the case and was praised by the judge on his preparation and presentation. Excellent attorney!
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08 Aug, 2017 by Cole
Jason handled our lawsuit on behalf of a deceased family member. He provided excellence service to us during the lengthy process. Whenever the family had questions, he always answered them fully. In the end, he was able to settle the suit, which was our goal from day one. We had a great experience working with Jason and highly recommend him.
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02 Aug, 2017 by David
Jason and I have worked together for several years now, as my original attorney moved out of town and referred Jason to me. He is quick to respond, has good feedback and is a pleasure to work with. We have completed anything from contracts, dissolution, and pre litigation responses, and I am happy with the level of professionalism his gives.
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30 Jan, 2020 by Anonymous
Great! The staff is awesome and their service is even better! I used them in my disability claim and they got it first try.
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01 Sep, 2015 by Jeff
Eric Buchanan and Associates handled a LTD and SSDI case for me. Eric was very courteous, knowledgeable and up front about the case. His team and staff were very professional in working on the case and Hudson Ellis always returned my calls promptly and kept me informed of the status. I really appreciated his efforts and that of the whole team in working on my case. The team has been very helpful with any ongoing needs or questions that I have and I really appreciated their efforts during a very difficult time. My experience with them has been excellent and I would easily recommend them based on my experience.
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05 Aug, 2015 by Ramona
All of the staff, from the secretary Barb to my legal rep Molina were awesome. They went up against great odds and won my case. I am so thankful. I cannot say enough nice things about Eric Buchanan and his staff. They made me feel at ease with constant communication and caring compassion. I highly recommend them.
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23 Nov, 2021 by Heather
I was in an automobile accident and did not know what to do and my mom referred me to Ronnie. The entire office staff was very polite and professional. Ronnie and Stacy took very good care of my case and I had nothing to worry about. I would highly recommend, and I already have, this group for any needs, especially if you have no clue where to start, they will help you go in the right direction and get the best outcome! Thank you Berke, Berke, & Berke, and Stacy. If I ever need help again, I will be calling. :) (but I hope I don't)
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10 May, 2016 by Lauren
Ronnie assisted my husband and I on a real estate case involving negligence on the part of our home inspector, the selling agent, and the sellers. We did not end up pursuing our case in court, but were able to reach a settlement with the assistance of Mr. Berke. Ronnie was very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of a case like ours, and was very informative and helpful throughout the entire process of reaching a settlement and considering pursuing our case in court. I would happily recommend Mr. Ronnie Berke to my friends and loved ones!
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09 Sep, 2015 by Joseph
I am a client of Darren Caputo.
Darren handled the closing on my commercial real estate purchase. He also assisted in contract agreements, vendor issues and other matters related to the commercial property.
I found Darren to be very knowledgeable and thoroughly researched issues that arose. He provided timely and informative responses to the issues I addressed to him.
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09 Nov, 2011 by Anonymous
Handled an issue with title to my home. Seemed to be motivated by getting results rather then drawing my case out and running up my bill.
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14 Sep, 2019 by Doug trant
An excellent lawyer. Smart, hard working and creative.
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30 Jul, 2024 by William sweeney
Having moved to the area and needing a new law firm for both our business and our personal legal needs I performed extensive research that just led to being frustrated until I came across Ray Law. Once I spoke to Harry Ray and he explained what he could do to assist us in both endeavors I knew I would be in good hands. Beyond having provided sound legal advice and making short work of legal matters, Harry and every one of the staff, including the other attorneys, are fantastic, decent people. Finding a lawyer to work with is one thing, but finding great people to work with is another. Having been in business for decades and having had teams of attorneys work on legal matters for me over the years, I can say that the relationship I, and we have with Ray Law is a great one, and I would recommend to anyone looking for legal assistance to strongly consider them for representation. I have also had the pleasure of dealing with some of Harry's other family members on other unrelated business matters and the experience is the same. Harry Ray and Ray Law are doing something right!
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25 Feb, 2020 by Amanda darquea
We have never had to hire a lawyer before, we have now found our place. The Ray Law Firm were quick in their responses, honest in the reality of the situation and what they could do, and helped us do what needed to get do. Thier advice was sound and reasonable. We would use Ray Law Firm for most anything we anticipate in the future and highly recommend them. Give them a call for yourself, you will not be disappointed. They seemed to truly care and want to help us resolve our issue.
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31 Jul, 2018 by Adam smith
Ray Law firm has been excellent to us. No matter how large or small your business, they treat you as if you are their number one client. We are a smaller company that is rapidly growing and Scott (and the entire staff) has been attentive to our needs since day one with diligence, speed, and professionalism. We can't stress enough how awesome it is to have such a wonderful family of educated professionals in our corner for ever facet of our business. Thanks guys!
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04 Aug, 2019 by Nancy stevens
29 Nov, 2024 by Matthew trimble
John Rexford is an outstanding attorney, laser focused on taking care of his clients, listening to their needs, and serving them with the heart and love of Christ. I would highly recommend his expert services.
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27 Nov, 2024 by Susan anderson
John Rexford is an estate planning attorney with a wonderful demeanor and expert advice. My husband & I worked with him to develop a Revokable Living Trust, and he made the entire process very pleasant and understandable. We are grateful for his expertise and guidance, and we recommend him highly.
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03 Oct, 2024 by Trevor gaumer
Went to John Rexford for advice regarding a Power of Attorney and a Living Trust. I found him to be knowledgeable, a clear communicator, and he was patient with all my questions and hypotheticals. I hired him for both and I am very happy with the results.
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02 Apr, 2023 by Robert longley
Hired the firm to set up a guardianship for a relative. Sally Brewer was indispensable from start to finish, did a great job of explaining the entire process and walking me through the fillings. Rebecca Miller did a great job of representing in court. Highly recommend for handling any similar matters.
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19 Mar, 2023 by Sally coffey
22 Sep, 2022 by Kim mincey
5.0
15 Reviews
4.0
45 Reviews
19 Oct, 2023 by Dee farris
04 Oct, 2023 by Travis hudson
Please take my advice and stay away! Yes emails are $58 a pop. Yes they charge you $290-$330 per hour. Yes you have to deposit at least $1250-$1800 in retainer fees. Yes you do have to put $5000 in your retainer at court. No I was not happy with the outcome for $20,450.... that's right $20,450! Not for men for them! I wish I could charge them $100 per letter in this review.
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07 Aug, 2023 by C w george
I guess business is good. I'm on a waiting list for nothing more than a consultation
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13 Nov, 2024 by Tammy ikard
Mr EPSTEIN office is amazing the staff is very helpful and answers every question about the case of ours Mr EPSTEIN is an amazing lawyer the you for making us feel comfortable and understanding our safe and all question we had at any time my nerves was off the wall. But he made shour we was take care of thank Mr EPSTEIN we will refer you to anyone who needs help on a case
MR & MRS IKARD
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13 Nov, 2024 by Kenneth heet
30 Oct, 2024 by Michael elder
Very understanding and informative easy to talk too
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30 Dec, 2024 by Megan elrod
I finally completed my 5 years on bankruptcy! Amanda Stofen was there every step of the way and made the process so easy and simple. Highly recommend her and her team
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19 Dec, 2024 by Sheilah tipton
This is one of the best lawyer firm i have ever used in my life.There courteous and friendly and helped through my whole process.If anyone needs a lawyer contact them immediately they will help you through your time in need.
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07 Jun, 2024 by Jason hubbard
Alan Norton is a great attorney -he has helped me out a couple of times. I highly recommend.
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16 Oct, 2024 by Lindsey gooden
18 Apr, 2024 by Erika beadle
Gigi Lawless is the ABSOLUTE BEST!!!! She is very thorough and extremely knowledgeable. Gigi is easy to talk to and is an honest and hard working attorney. She goes above and beyond to ensure her clients receive stellar attention and care. I consider myself VERY blessed to have her for my attorney. I wouldn't ever use anyone else. If you want the best, ask for Gigi Lawless!
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07 Feb, 2024 by Holly w
A wonderful group of Attorneys with multiple areas of expertise.
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16 Oct, 2024 by Lindsey gooden
18 Apr, 2024 by Erika beadle
Gigi Lawless is the ABSOLUTE BEST!!!! She is very thorough and extremely knowledgeable. Gigi is easy to talk to and is an honest and hard working attorney. She goes above and beyond to ensure her clients receive stellar attention and care. I consider myself VERY blessed to have her for my attorney. I wouldn't ever use anyone else. If you want the best, ask for Gigi Lawless!
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07 Feb, 2024 by Holly w
A wonderful group of Attorneys with multiple areas of expertise.
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16 Oct, 2024 by Lindsey gooden
18 Apr, 2024 by Erika beadle
Gigi Lawless is the ABSOLUTE BEST!!!! She is very thorough and extremely knowledgeable. Gigi is easy to talk to and is an honest and hard working attorney. She goes above and beyond to ensure her clients receive stellar attention and care. I consider myself VERY blessed to have her for my attorney. I wouldn't ever use anyone else. If you want the best, ask for Gigi Lawless!
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07 Feb, 2024 by Holly w
A wonderful group of Attorneys with multiple areas of expertise.
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05 Oct, 2015 by Joules
David was very helpful in my divorce. Although he could not represent me in a civil court while he was still active duty, he was very instrumental in providing direction and materials to assist in an amicable resolution.
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08 Jun, 2015 by Christiane
I became a client of Mr. Coates because I needed help with my divorce case, which was quite complicated and difficult, because I am from an foreign country and was married to an US citizen.
Even though there was a time difference of 7 hours, Mr. Coates always stayed in contact with me via Email or phone to keep me updated on the process.
If I had questions or concerns he always took the time to listen to them and came up pretty fast with solutions.
I am very happy that he handled my case. He is professional, caring, takes his job very seriously and I highly recommend him.
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01 Jun, 2015 by Amanda
I couldn't think of a better way to pass on my gratitude for the amazing job Mr. Coates did for me with my divorce and custody hearings. If you are a customer looking for an attorney that is going to see you through every single step and process of any legal situation you really don't need to look any further. I have hired attorneys before from Tennessee and Georgia and all at great cost and none of them had done, even remotely close, to as well of a job as Mr. Coates did for myself and my family. Those previous attorney's weren't cheap either and pretty sought after in the area.
One of the things that I liked about this firm is that he and his staff treated me like I was as important to them as if I were one of their own family members. I ask a lot of questions and dont hesitate to call and I got either immediate answers or responses back from mainly Mr. Coates personally or his assistant. This was reassuring that he is always taking time out of his schedule to not only keep no stone unturned in my case but also to keep my mind at ease. Going through a divorce can be very scary and heartbreaking, especially with children involved, yet this was drastically different in so many ways possible from previous experiences I have had with other attorneys, that I still can't thank Mr. Coates enough. If you are looking for an attorney, please, hire this man. He is not like many of the others who give attorney's such a bad rap. He is straightforward but kind and very trustworthy. Everything he told me he would get done or accomplish for me he did. I will never use another attorney again. I did not know what to expect going in and had a lot on my mind as it was, but instead of just feeling like I was "guided" through the process with, "the best hopes", I actually came to soon realize that if it were at all possible for a person to care as closely as I did about me and my child's future, and provide us with the service as someone could if it were their own family member, it was Mr.Coates. Thank you Law Offices of David Coates!!
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05 Dec, 2024 by Austin williams
Quick and painless closing, they did a great job explaining everything and getting me in and out on a tight timeline.
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06 Nov, 2024 by Katelyn statom
Keyle went above and beyond to ensure that my closing went as smoothly as possible and would close within the timeframe I needed it to!
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31 Oct, 2024 by Chase saulnier
Easy, stress free closing. Wonderful people to work with. Highly recommend!
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20 Sep, 2024 by Dennie b (denniefitbody)
Bill Pemerton was very helpful during our initial consultation even though he was located to far away to represent me in person. He assisted me with understanding the options available to me and gave advice on steps to take next to protect myself from further actions.
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18 Jul, 2024 by Sam byrd
I am a local attorney representing parents in divorce and child custody proceedings. I know Mitch and Brian in their professional capacity as lawyers in the areas of creditor defense and criminal law. Both Mitch and Brian are well known, respected, and trusted among their peers in the legal community. Mitch has been an asset to me and my law firm by providing valuable guidance and advice on several occasions relating to collection of unpaid fees to my firm and unpaid money judgement/awards my clients have received but the other parent/spouse refuses to pay and tries to avoid. I recommend this law firm.
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15 Feb, 2024 by Haleigh worth
As someone who has never gotten a divorce and did not fully understand the process. I felt like I was left in the dark a lot. I had to constantly ask, “what happens next?” Even when I did get an answer it was vague. For example, I didn’t know my court hearing was over the phone until last minute. I didn’t know that my ex didn’t have to even be present on the call until last minute. It was very frustrating. I didn’t realize that I could have changed my name during the hearing until after it was finished and I got a follow up call. Then Mr. Pemerton tells me that since I didn’t change it during the hearing if I wanted to change it he’d offer me a discounted rate of $500 to change my name instead of his regular rate. He was very kind and professional in person though. He even walked me to my car at one point because I didn’t want to be cornered by my ex on the way out of the office. I just wish everything had been more upfront.
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22 Nov, 2024 by Justin blackwell
08 Sep, 2024 by Abdullah alkrad
03 Aug, 2024 by Larry williams
Totally unprepared on court date.
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07 Jun, 2024 by Herb bushnell
Mr. Duval and Stephanie were so thoughtful and helped steer us in the right direction. I will always remember Mr. Duval helping me over some rough spots, making it possible for me to go on and live a productive normal life. Much respect.
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15 Apr, 2024 by Brittany johnson
13 Apr, 2024 by Fozzie brown
Always an attorney and a friend. Was referring someone. He's always open to help people
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17 Feb, 2022 by Randy
Curtis Bowe III, along with his staff provided excellent customer service. They were very efficient and always in touch with me when changes occurred with my case. Mr. Bowe, was very straightforward in & out of the courtroom. His legal knowledge was very impressive when the time came for cross examination during my case. He provides quality service which can be hard to attain in his field. I thank you for a job well done.
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15 Feb, 2022 by Phillip
I’ve used Mr. Bowe multiple times on different issues and I’ve been very pleased with each experience. Curtis is professional but personable and always made me feel like my situation was important. He and his staff set clear expectations, which is always appreciated when navigating legal issues. Thank you, Curtis!
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15 Feb, 2022 by Walter
Curtis has proven himself time and time again to be a great attorney. I have known him for quite a while and have heard great things. Not only that, but my family and I have had the fortune to retain his services personally. Curtis showed genuine concern for our issue and provided options that were well thought out. He not only provided the options, but helped to arrive at an educated decision that proved to be beneficial to the outcome of my family's issue.
It became clear early in the process that Curtis knows his profession and has the level of commitment that we needed to address our concerns and we worked towards an amicable resolution. We made the right choice when we retained his services.
Curtis is the attorney whom I will refer to my friends and family.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Business Lawyer Can Do for You
A business lawyer provides critical legal guidance and support to entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses. Whether you are forming a new company, drafting contracts, or navigating complex regulations, a business attorney ensures you are legally protected and operating within the law. They can also help prevent legal disputes or represent you in negotiations, transactions, or lawsuits that arise during the course of business operations.
Business lawyers have expertise in areas such as business formation, contract law, intellectual property, employment law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. They ensure that your business is compliant with relevant laws and help mitigate risks that could threaten your company's success.
When Should I Hire a Business Lawyer?
Hiring a business lawyer is essential at various stages of business development, including:
- Forming a business: When deciding on the best structure for your company (LLC, corporation, partnership, etc.), a lawyer can guide you through the registration and compliance process.
- Drafting contracts: If you need contracts for employees, partners, suppliers, or clients, a lawyer ensures these documents are legally sound and in your best interest.
- Mergers, acquisitions, or dissolutions: If you are buying, selling, or dissolving a company, legal counsel is critical to avoid costly mistakes.
- Compliance and regulatory issues: A lawyer can help navigate complex regulations, particularly in industries like healthcare, finance, or tech.
- Resolving disputes: Whether it's contract disagreements, intellectual property infringement, or employment issues, a business lawyer helps mediate, negotiate, or litigate on your behalf.
What Does a Business Lawyer Do?
Business lawyers provide a wide range of services that cater to different legal needs of a business. They can:
- Help you choose the best legal structure for your business.
- Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with employees, suppliers, customers, or business partners.
- Ensure regulatory compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
- Advise on tax strategies to minimize your business's tax burden.
- Assist with intellectual property protection, such as trademarks, patents, and copyrights.
- Handle mergers, acquisitions, and business sales, ensuring all legal paperwork is in order.
- Resolve disputes through negotiation, arbitration, or litigation.
How Are Business Lawyers Paid?
Business lawyers typically charge either by the hour or on a flat-fee basis, depending on the complexity of the work. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rates: The lawyer charges based on the time spent working on your case. Rates vary depending on the lawyer's experience and location.
- Flat fees: For certain tasks, such as incorporating a business or drafting a standard contract, a lawyer may offer a flat fee.
- Retainer: Some businesses may hire a lawyer on retainer, paying a fixed amount each month to have ongoing access to legal services.
The payment structure is often discussed during an initial consultation so you can choose the one that best suits your business needs and budget.
How Much Does a Business Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a business lawyer depends on factors such as:
- The complexity of the legal issue: More complex matters, like mergers or intellectual property disputes, typically cost more than routine tasks like contract drafting.
- The lawyer's experience and location: More experienced lawyers or those in larger cities often charge higher fees.
- The nature of the billing arrangement: Hourly rates can range from $150 to $1,000 or more, depending on the lawyer's expertise. Flat fees are usually available for simpler matters like forming an LLC or drafting a standard contract.
It's essential to discuss fee structures upfront to avoid surprises.
Top Questions to Ask a Business Lawyer
Before hiring a business lawyer, ask the following questions during your consultation:
-
What is your experience with businesses like mine?
Find out if the lawyer has handled legal issues for companies in your industry. -
What services do you offer?
Ensure the lawyer can meet all your business's legal needs, from contract drafting to dispute resolution. -
What are your fees, and how do you bill?
Get clarity on how you'll be charged - whether by the hour, flat fee, or retainer. -
How do you handle conflicts of interest?
Ask how the lawyer ensures there is no conflict in representing your business. -
Can you provide references from other business clients?
Speaking with past clients will give you an idea of the lawyer's expertise and professionalism. -
Do you have experience in my specific industry?
Industry-specific knowledge can be crucial, especially in highly regulated fields like healthcare or finance.
How to Check the Credibility of a Business Lawyer
To ensure you're hiring a reputable business lawyer:
- Check state bar association records: Verify that the lawyer is in good standing and has no disciplinary actions against them.
- Look for client reviews or testimonials: Online reviews, testimonials, or word of mouth from other business owners can provide insight into the lawyer's reliability and effectiveness.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should have satisfied clients who can vouch for their services.
- Check professional memberships: Membership in respected legal organizations (such as the American Bar Association or a local business lawyer association) can signal credibility.
- Review their website and professional profile: A well-established lawyer typically has a professional website showcasing their areas of expertise, credentials, and case success.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most out of your first consultation with a business lawyer, prepare the following:
- A description of your business and its structure: This will help the lawyer understand your legal needs.
- Any current contracts or agreements: If you're seeking contract advice, bring copies of existing contracts.
- A list of legal issues or concerns: Be ready to discuss any potential legal challenges, such as regulatory compliance, disputes, or transactions.
- Financial documents: If applicable, bring financial records related to the legal matter you're seeking help with.
- Questions about fees and billing: Ensure you understand the lawyer’s payment structure and fees upfront.
By preparing these materials, you can ensure that your first meeting with a business lawyer is productive and informative.
