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05 Sep, 2023 by Anonymous
Brian is a guy who loses touch with objective truth and dangerously flirts with subjectivity and speculation. He tends to represent females in need … not a pretty picture— and quickly gets personally involved with his clients. His demeanor is questionable at best, and it’s surprising he hasn’t received legal censure by the state bar of California. The previous review mentioned his fees (or lack thereof) and that is quite telling about his own motives in taking on cases. It’s not about money, so what is it about? This guy needs to be investigated for improper attorney-client relations. His reputation is clouded by bombastic behavior in and outside of the courtroom. Everything is personal for him. He will drag your case on and on.
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14 Jul, 2012 by Anonymous
Brian is an amazing attorney for child custody. He was passionate about my family law case and helped me with a child custody arrangement to keep my child safe. He has an incredible amount of knowledge and strong intuition. He commands the court room and is highly skilled at getting to the point an in effective manner. He is my second attorney. I have been with him for a few years now. The first attorney I tried had a much lower hourly rate, but what I later found was that Brian was much more cost effective in the long run. To go to court with the first attorney somehow costed me significantly more than Brian did for a single court hearing. After Brian's first billing, I knew he was a good guy and not out to get rich off my case, in addition to being very effective in court. The other thing I would say about him is that he understands how emotionally difficult these cases are and has been able to coach me into calmness at times and help me see things that I could not extract from various experiences on my own.
Brian Martin is a master at what he does. And I highly recommend him.
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02 Feb, 2023 by Gabriel
Nina bhoutani represented me for my child custody case , the courts didn't want to grant me reunification services but Nina got me reunification services which was really good news for me in reuniting with my child , she was very professional and communicated with me thru email and text she send me all the documents and minute orders my case went very good I do recommend hiring this attorney .
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15 Jan, 2013 by Jay
She will sell you out, has no communication with you about your case,very incompetent she will turn against you is like having 2 district attorneys going against you...please stay away ftom crooked lawyers like bhutani
Don't make the mistale i did
..
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31 Mar, 2017 by Andrea
Katherine helped me win a contested adoption of my two grandchildren that I have had guardianship of for the past 5 years. She was very effective. Emails and calls were promptly responded to and she did not cause costs to get out of control by forgetting we spoke about an issue. Katherine is an outstanding, caring person and a top notch attorney. She knows her stuff. I cannot speak highly enough about her and her services.
After going through a 2 1/2 year divorce that is still ongoing, I learned how important it is to interview multiple lawyers and hire the best. This is Katherine. Wish I would have hired her for my divorce and saved myself $40,000 plus dollars. Love Katherine! Hire her if you have a case and results matter
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24 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
I had a bad divorce and this is my third lawyer I have used and by far the worse. She took forever to respond to calls/emails. I had to keep her up to date on what was going on and plus my ex-wife kept me more informed then Katherine did!
Ultimately, I feel the custody issue should of been a cake walk and my ex-wife by herself walked all over Katherine and my ex-wife is not that smart... So if you want to just pay a lot of money for nothing you can give it to me or her (I prefer me.)
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18 Apr, 2014 by Very happy parent
I have had Daniel Nishiyama as my attorney for the past three years for my Divorce, Child Cutody, and Child Support case. Having to higher him again for his services again recently. He got me Primary Custody of my child, which is exactly what I asked for. If you want an Attorney that is going to fight for you, he is the one. He is a very smart man who knows the law and know what he is doing. He is a Shark in the court room, and will FIGHT for his Client. He may be hard on his client at the beginning, but it is to make sure that this is truly what the client wants. He makes them think long and hard before he accepts their case. I have seen him in action and I am proud that he is my attorney. If you want someone who is aggressive and will fight for you then I highly recommend Daniel Nishiyama for your attorney. He is very good at what he does. All I can say is that I would hate to be the other party. His office staff is wonderful and his partner David is exceptional. I am proud to say that he is my attorney. I have been very happy with him and his team.
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19 Nov, 2012 by Anonymous
Obnoxious, arrogant, unprofessional. I met him to discuss my case and he was unbelievably unprofessional, bragging about his car collection and how much money he felt he was worth. It was beyond comprehensible to sit and tell him about my case only to have him tell me that without a $10,000 retainer to attend a hearing and prepare for a child support/custody case, he wouldn't take my case. I wasn't offering it to him, I was simply interviewing him in a consult and did not like what I heard at all. I don't think I have ever come across a more egotistical human being, forget about the fact that he is an attorney. I felt that he was really preying upon my insecurity as a person who needed to hire an attorney to help me with custody of my child. By the end of the consult he had me in tears and I walked out.
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10 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
Kent took 3 months to go back and forth to creditors with no outcome whatsoever and no paper trail, just word of mouth to the work he was doing. He would send weekly excel sheets of his "work" and would charge 10 minutes for an email that was one sentence long when it literally does not take more than 30s. After a couple thousand dollars and ending up back where we started, we ended having to get a different lawyer.
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18 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
I was desperate, paid this fraud at least $1000 to represent me to my creditors, and he never did. None of my credit card companies were contacted. I was trying to avoid filing bankruptcy and losing my house, yet this sleazy guy steals $1000 from me. Do not hire!
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25 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
Kent cannot be trusted to have any of your interests in mind. He shamelessly inflated his timesheet on what, even her claimed to be, was a very simple case. He conveniently inflated his timesheet to complete his entire retainer. Once the case was dismissed in my favor, he took a call from the opposing party, charging me for that, and then setting up a meeting with her which he would further charge me for. There was no reason for him to take the call or create a meeting, it would extend a case that was over, essentially working against me. He also charged me for filling out paper work to pursue the prevailing party's clause which he never actually submitted. truly fraudulent.
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08 Jun, 2018 by Anonymous
Mark bruce was assigned to me as a public defender. And i beleive my case should have been dismissed. But now i am convicted of a felony because he never discussed my caae details with me i had to seek counsel from free consultations because i couldnt afford to hire an attorney. My whole life is ruined. I understand public defenders have alot of case loads and probably overwhelmed . but i am devastated because of this conviction it is already having major negative consequencea in my life.. And the charge i plead to is automatically a misdemeanor. Depending on circumstances.
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11 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
I hired Mr. Bruce to deal with my divorce and custody issues. It was and is a very serious matter because my ex husband is extremely abusive. He didn't hit me or our children . What he did was worse . I have read a lot on emotional Abuse and I know there is plenty of information about it . I assume a family law attorney has to have some idea about verbal, financial abd psychological abuse because its a huge problem in society.
He was very sympathetic and interested when I went to himfor a free consultation. He spoke with authority and put a positive spin on all of this , assuring me we couldn't lose.. I wasn't thinking straight, which is not unusual for an emotionally abused woman. I just saw that he cost less than other lawyers and he seemed concerned about children me . I wish I asked around before. Instead I paid him then I closed the gate after the horses got out.
Naturally, things are very scary when you're in a divorce, and my husband made sure to hire a big shot. When we had a hearing , i wasnt sure what I thought of my attorney's performanc . I could tell he was not prepare--the judge was annoyed by him and said so . That day we lost and after court , I tried to get Mr. bruce to explain what was going on. He rolled his eyes and barked at me ysing terms ai disnt understand. Later when I tried to call with questions about my case, he made it clear us had no time for me. I know heis busy and I can be a littlle dense , but happened every time I called or we had court. I think he got hostile becaise he told me I was bothering him. He was losing my kids to an abusive monster and wasnt gping to tell what was going on?
I started to ask around about this lawyer and no one had any thing positive to say . He is rude, incompetent, disorganized , sexist ,mand all kinds of things people told me . I jave a cousin who works in the court house and she made it clear that the judges just didnt like my lawyer. That doesnt seem very fair to Mr. Bruce or his clients
.Youre hoping things are more honest in situations like this but at this point I didn't like my lawyer mucb either. He didnt look me in the eye . He always seemed mad and I could not get a strught answer . He told me he was going to charge me hunreds of dollars to talk on the phone because I used up all the free lawyer time. I can tell you it was not free. It took up time, cost me plenty and all he did was make things worse. I just decided I was better off on my own.
a hold of him.
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28 Jun, 2012 by Chance la rue
I think being a lawyer us much harder than it looks.i know a lot of lawyers and most are worried about the money, and i get that because you're dealong with folks who are in trouble and not allmof the, are honest . But this guy was eager to help. He was an advocate as much as hevwas avlawyer. He wants believe you are innocent, and thats refreshing when you really are snd my ex had me painted as one cold, hard beeeatchh.
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08 Apr, 2021 by David
He is the sloppiest good for nothing attorney anyone could ever find. Once he takes your money no work will be done! Beware of his drunk Secretary. Both of them comsume alcohol in the office during business hours. Worthless people.
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02 Dec, 2020 by Tammy
I am a client. Well until December 2, 2020 I was. Our and Steve Fox's offices are located in the same building. We paid money to Steve Fox he did absolutely nothing but talking. December 2, 2020 Around 5 pm I stopped by my office to pick up some paperwork. Steve Fox called my cell phone to inquire whether I was at the facility I told him I was right there in the hallway ready to leave the building. He opened the door and invited me in. I was showing him some potential case paperwork through the plastic shield on his desk. All of a sudden, the door wide opened without any notice and Steve Fox's drunk Secretary came inside. I turned toward her to say hi, she moved close to me with large bags of food and told me into my face with a threat in her voice: "you need to get out of here right now!" was shocked and said: "Excuse me?". She repeated moving closer to me: "you heard me you need to get out of here right now! Her voice was threatening. She looked violent! Her face was angry and red. I was afraid she was going to heat me. She looked and sounded drunk! She screamed at me calling me a Russian w...., saying that Russian people were not known for their intelligence etc. I grabbed my computer bag and my purse and ran out of the office. I was shaking... I realized that I forgot the car key and knocked on the door to get them. She opened the door loudly cursing; threw my car key with a heavy metal key chain into my face; and kicked me out of the door. I got hysterical and called the police to report a verbal abuse and physical threat. Steve Fox was just seating there doing nothing.
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12 Mar, 2020 by Fred
I retained Steve Fox a couple months ago and I am honestly thankful that I did. He is top notch and finds ingenious ways to get your kids back even if the mother is cray cray. He is punctual, well-spoken and has a great courtroom demeanor. His staff deserve 5 stars alone and we're there for me every step of the way. I highly suggest hiring Mr. Fox to take on your case cause you won't lose. He's the best in the AV and everyone in The Know knows it!
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11 Jul, 2022 by Mj
All my paperwork were done all ready. All I needed Thompson was to be their and speak on my behalf. The worst lawyer!! He never showed up in court keeps on asking for continuous. The only paperwork he and his paralegal Adriana Duenez did was copy some of my old court paperwork that was filed and still managed to screw that up. Adriana can’t spell. There’s autocorrect spelling how can you mess that up? Thompson is quick to promise results but never delivers. The only quick thing he ever did was to take my payments. DO NOT HIRE THIS LAWYER HE IS A JOKE SO IS ADRIANA DUENEZ. The only 5 stars he gets is from his employees.
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22 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
We used Mr. Thompson for a child custody case. In my opinion, he was very unorganized and just wasn't the aggressive lawyer we thought he would be. In fact, we got further with my fiancé representing himself, we lost time after hiring Mr. Thompson. He never told us when he wasn't going to be present in court, which happened on multiple occasions. He didn't always have his paperwork prepared or readily available. In fact, one time he said he didn't have the necessary paperwork that the judge asked for even though we had turned it into his office via email and in person. This resulted in us being served with a sanction to pay the other parties attorney fees, luckily he ended up taking care of that since it was his fault. If you're looking for an aggressive lawyer who will fight for you and is organized, keep looking.
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16 Jun, 2021 by Vlad
I have retained Mr. Thompson several times over the years for different cases involving criminal and family law matters, both times the work was excellent.
Thank you.
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20 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Mr. Brian Holohan has no integrity. He represents and will lie for and forge paperwork for abusers, that choke their wives and abuse their children. Silvia his Secretary is nice to communicate with, but honestly she is the only thing holding this mess of a show together. This attorney will do anything for the money. He will make you lose a case because the judge can see his lies and inconsistencies. He tries to make victims of domestic violence look crazy when the proof is in the paperwork and in the witnesses. Anyone that represents someone that nearly killed a woman and continues to stalk harass, and abuse his children deserves any karma coming to them, and anyone associated with him does as well. The people you represent says a lot about you as a person and as your character. The interaction with him speaks for itself. Anyone that can treat victims with little integrity is a pathetic human being. How can a pathetic human being win a case for you. Food for though. Take your business elsewhere, if you don’t want this karma on you. He will try to violate your medical and HIPPA rights if you don’t know them. Just speaking to this type of person will make you lose a case because he lies, if you do end up having to deal with him, make sure it’s all in writing, keep track of everything so you can prove it. He’s been caught 5 times in the court room with lies causing my case to be continued and the abuser to be lose to continue to stalk and to commit identity theft by taking out pay day loans under my name to pay for his lying attorneys retainer, and he’s not even my attorney, he is the other parties. The person that represents you speaks volumes of you in court case. Don’t go in there represented by a liar that the judge can see right through. It’s a waste of your time, energy and money.
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27 Mar, 2018 by Mike
I used him before and then fired him and he does not honor refunds. So, I went back with relatively easy task and he just agreed with the other attorney and I'm saddle with excessive child support. He made me put together an extensive financial report that he didn't even use. Terrible!
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21 May, 2013 by Anonymous
I have been told that he was on vacation for a week by his secretary. So I called a week later and was told oh I told you 2 weeks he was on vacation...I was lied to! I have been trying to get ahold of him for over a month and a half. I even went in one day and the secretary said he was in court and I look over at the office and he was in there!!!! I saw through the crack on the side of the blinds on the door. Poor client relation's!!! He act's invincible rushes you through any and all conversation's you may have with him. He sure did take my money though. Still 3 months later he has not done a thing on our case!! Very disappointed. Unlike him our money doesn't grow on tree's and we are having to deal with the case by ourselves.
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11 Feb, 2022 by Anonymous
Mary Kathleen Caswell, has altered information and facts when handling my child custody case to favor her client (My Husband). Her greed has lead her astray from the main purpose of The Family Court system being involved with families, which is to help families struggling to collaborate together (in my case my abusive/cheating husband didn’t think it was sufficient that he was physically/emotionally/verbally abusive and abandoned the Marital home) He still wanted to continue his power and control over me and This scrupulous attorney started Her strategies/tactics that resemble those of terrorist and are by NO MEANS in any child’s BEST INTEREST, It is unfortunate that the Family Law System is being exploited by greedy, malicious, narcissistic Attorney’s such as Mary Kathleen Caldwell. It is such a distressing time when a Marriage is coming to an end and on top of that you have to fight your (cheating/abusive/criminal) spouse in this Family Court System with people like Mary Kathleen Caswell continuing to encourage my Husbands Abuse, Power and Control with NO regard for the child’s true best interest. If you are interested in continuing to inflict trauma on the person whom you married and made kid/s with for nothing more than power and control, and will do it by any means necessary (she will alter electronic communications, change the facts to coincide with her depraved lies) She’s the attorney for you if you have No regard for your child’s best interest and the Trauma that this situation continues to expose the children to.
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22 Mar, 2015 by Brian
I called her for urgent help with a family law crisis. Although she didn't have time to take my case that week, she took about fifteen minutes to listen and give solid advice to help me get county authorities to enforce a legal order. She also referred me to a colleague who had the bandwidth to provide immediate assistance. Thank you very much!
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22 Dec, 2013 by Anonymous
I hired Kathleen to represent me in what should have been a "simple" uncontested divorce. Her YELP reviews were amazing. While she was nice, she lacked the knowledge/experience to work with more skilled counsel and I ultimately had to let her go and hire someone who had more skill. If what you want is basic advice, I'm sure she could help, but the minute another attorney is involved, her lack of experience shows. I would love to have coffee with her or hang out, but I would not want her to be the one giving me or anyone else I care about, advice about how to end their marriage and care for their children.
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13 Sep, 2023 by Anonymous
Drew did an excellent job at helping me get through my divorce and stayed focus on closing out all issues related to the divorce to help finalize everything as quickly and amicably as possible. I'm very grateful for his attention to detail and insights based on his years of experience. Divorce is a very tough process to go through for some, yet it was extremely helpful to have his experience, guidance and assistance during this challenging time. I would absolutely recommend Drew.
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16 Dec, 2021 by Anonymous
Unreliable. Lack of communication. He was always late, charged a ton and got nothing done.
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02 Jun, 2021 by Anonymous
Maley never prioritized the case, inexplicable time delays, then he quit the case, and put a lien on my property.
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07 Aug, 2018 by Anonymous
My husband and I get married in Philippines he is A US citizen we have son, how cam I file a child support if he live in USA and son and I living in Philippines he going to file an annulment
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26 Aug, 2014 by Anonymous
I hired Mr Morrison with an amazing amount of evidence against my ex-husband proving he was an unstable and horrible father. (jail records, mental health records, etc). He did nothing to represent me or the case against him. He never responded to my calls, his assistant Michelle barely emailed me, would never inform me of things received from my exhusbands attorney. Now back at court, I represented myself and finally got the court to see what I had provided Mr. Morrison to do 5 years ago. Unbelievable.... my kids have suffered partly to the lack of care and concern he took for my case. Oh and when I asked for a copy of my case file, I got half a$$ copies with missing information and letters I never received. UNBELIEVABLE. My 8 year old could have done better.
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14 Jan, 2013 by Anonymous
Met once, retained him, never heard anything. I called and always spoke to assistants and no information. Just heard he moved offices and now practice??? No one informed me about my case nor the changes. Recieved one notice, my invoice! No case status! Now Im getting the run around to see who is now handling my case. I better not have to pay more to have someone else more fees to finish what he started and failed to finish or follow through.
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22 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
Stuart was great and to the point - introductory call was very productive, and he acted quickly and intelligently to the matter at hand. Yet, since that, his associate, Mabel, took the lead, while being highly incapable of handling complex situations. Seems like she knows how to fit issues into simple boxes she already knows how to handle, and is not capable of any level of tactical or strategic thinking. With that inside the box thinking, Mable is great at breaking down her tasks to the smallest levels, take the time to note each one, and charge you for it. This way, the bill gets inflated to at least twice of what it should have been. And yes, as of 2023, you pay $500 and hour for either Stuart or Mabel. Meaning you pay at a great lawyer rate, and get below average associate.
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11 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
Gary has been nothing but excellent, honest, and vigilant in helping with my case. He personally goes through his cases and is aware of what is going on at every step. I would not wish anyone to go through a family law matter but if they had to, i would recommend Gary ten-fold!
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06 Jul, 2014 by Renxia
Gary Perotin is an extremely bad attorney. After paying him more than $16,000 to represent me in a serious legal battle, I lost my house to the opposing party. During the trial, his head was nodding, and he actually dozed off. He did not depose my opponent. He did not seek out and call any character witnesses to the witness stand to vouch for me. He did not show 4 supportive letters to the judge that could have helped me. He wasn't concerned when my house was broken into and my diary was stolen just three days after the opposing attorney had asked me what my diary looked like – a highly suspicious question. That diary contained valuable evidence supporting me, and it was the only thing stolen out of my house that day. And when the opposing attorney claimed that I was hiding the diary in order to bury evidence that could hurt me, that opposing attorney accused me of performing a hoax. Gary let this clever, insidious move go by without comment. And when he gave his final argument to the judge, he did so sitting down, not standing up, as any competent lawyer would do. Mr. Perotin is lazy and ineffectual. If you don't want to waste your time and money, look elsewhere for an attorney.
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09 Aug, 2010 by Dutch
Hired Gary from a reference from a friend and now I owe my buddy a million beers, this guy is very good! As the previous comment said yes.. he does not do to much interface or contact directly with is client's. Instead he has his staff do it through him, anything I get from his staff I consider from him, isn't that the point of delegating to employee's? anyway he did have someone else show up at my hearing but I swear I walked out of the court ALMOST feeling bad for my ex as his associate more or less embarased her outside the court room. I would highly recomend Mr. Perotin to represent you, his staff is awesome as they kept getting calls from me where one might say get lost they kept me informed and even hinted me on what to do ( as far a s recomend staying away from my ex) mind you no recomendation from the staff was of legal mind.. just opinions but they were spot on. Will not go to another attorney no matter how far they are. -C. In torrance, CA
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25 Sep, 2013 by Adelle
My divorce was highly contentious with many assets. I had a long term marriag, two adult children and had not worked in over 20 years. Jeffrey Novack stood by me and aggressively asserted my rights. He stood his ground against my controlling and demanding husband. He paid attention to every detail and was professional at all times. Jeffrey Novack did wonders for my case. His experise in Family Law cannot go unnoticed. I hightly recommend him!
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13 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
Be careful do not use this lawyer, he created more problems for me then what it was worth! He puts on a great front, and can sure make it seem like he is working for you but when you look back you will say to yourself, wow where did all the $ go and what did he really do for me?
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12 Apr, 2011 by Dave
Jeffrey Novack was an uniformed representative inside the courtroom. He was unfamiliar with the terms of my case on several occasions where we spoke on the phone. He had no strategy to complete the divorce process and just wanted to keep extracting money. $16,000 after I began I fired him due to incompetence.
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29 Oct, 2024 by Anonymous
Dear Friends,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding Mr. Brian Baron and his practices in handling child-related cases. My husband and I, along with a growing group of concerned families, have noted significant issues with Mr. Baron's impartiality and professionalism in his current and previous cases.
Firsthand experiences and accounts from other parents indicate a troubling pattern of behavior. Mr. Baron claims, to adhere to a non-bias approach and insists he is ONLY meeting with the child in isolation from guardians or parents as he is appointed by the court. Recently, we have learned that Mr. Baron extends his practice to meeting with only one side of a party, and in many cases, those who are the accused. This ultimately leads to chaos and confusion for the child.
In court, he will admit to not reviewing cases nor interviewing the other parties involved. His recommendations hold significant weight, yet he seems not fully invested in the child's situation. There are serious questions regarding his motives and capabilities.
Additionally, we have found records of complaints against Mr. Baron with the California State Bar Association and requests to remove himself from a case, further raising concerns about such appointments in critical family matters.
We encourage anyone with this type of experience with Mr. Baron to connect with us. Together, we can advocate for a thorough investigation into his practices and ensure that no child suffers emotional harm or separation from their family.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.
Brian Baron has several accounts for reviews.
Cheers.
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30 Jul, 2024 by Annie
Believe what the review says about rebecca and brian!! They are horrible they deserve no star in 2017 i was referral by another attroney and paid retaining fee and never used them since then! They just take your money and when called to get information the evil rude rebecca would answer for phone with attitude!!! If you want to loose your case, throw away your hard earn money, and have headache from your own lawyer hire this firm! If not run away as fast as you can!!!!! For those whom have bad experience with them come warn others!!!!!
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15 Sep, 2023 by Robert
He just wants to take your money, he never returns calls. His assistant is a rude sociopath. Dont let him represent you. Stay away.
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21 Nov, 2024 by Darryl litz
Robert bless his heart - he is too old. He needs to do crossword puzzles for his dementia - he lost the big war, won a little battle and collected his tro petitioner fees but lost his clients custody of the minor- he thinks he’s a competent attorney- only because he loves to appear I court instead ofcourt connect because he has nothing to do all day- he is a sub par old man- with a bar number lower than most people alive today- he truly needs to hang up his scales - he’s a detriment to anyone who needs a competent attorney to represent them in court. Sorry Robert…the truth is out, go away before you ruin any more lives.
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23 Mar, 2015 by Jk
I hired this guy thinking i would be able to get my alimony from spouse who threw all my belongings out. He didnt take the time to review our paperwork and judge awarded the spouse didnt have to pay any alimony due to an error that was made by the attorney. He is not aggressive enough
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What a Child Custody Lawyer Can Do for You
A child custody lawyer specializes in helping parents navigate legal matters related to the custody and care of their children, particularly in the context of divorce, separation, or other family disputes. These lawyers assist with determining custody arrangements, drafting parenting plans, and advocating for your rights in court. They also help resolve disputes over physical custody (where the child lives), legal custody (who makes decisions for the child), visitation rights, and modifications to existing custody orders.
Whether you're going through a divorce or need to change an existing custody arrangement, a child custody lawyer can help you understand your rights and protect your child's best interests throughout the legal process.
When Should I Hire a Child Custody Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a child custody lawyer in several situations, especially when disputes arise or complex legal issues affect your parental rights. Some common reasons to hire a child custody lawyer include:
- Divorce or separation: If you're going through a divorce or separation and need to establish custody and visitation arrangements, a lawyer can help ensure the custody order reflects your child's best interests.
- Disputed custody cases: If you and the other parent cannot agree on custody or visitation terms, a lawyer can advocate for your rights in court and help you develop a strong case.
- Modification of custody orders: If you need to change an existing custody arrangement due to changes in circumstances (e.g., relocation, changes in the child’s needs), a lawyer can help file a modification request.
- Parental alienation: If the other parent is interfering with your relationship with your child, a lawyer can help address these issues through legal action.
- Domestic violence or abuse: If there is a history of domestic violence or abuse, a lawyer can help protect you and your child by requesting restraining orders and advocating for appropriate custody arrangements.
- Grandparent or third-party custody: If you are a grandparent or another relative seeking custody or visitation rights, a lawyer can guide you through the legal process.
- Paternity disputes: In cases where paternity is in question, a lawyer can assist with establishing or challenging paternity, which may affect custody and visitation rights.
Hiring a lawyer early in the process can help protect your parental rights and ensure that the custody arrangement is in your child's best interests.
What Does a Child Custody Lawyer Do?
A child custody lawyer provides a variety of legal services to help parents resolve custody disputes and secure favorable custody arrangements for their children. Their responsibilities often include:
- Filing custody petitions: Helping you file the necessary paperwork to request custody or visitation rights and ensuring all legal procedures are followed.
- Negotiating custody agreements: Assisting in negotiating custody and visitation arrangements, often working toward a mutually beneficial parenting plan without going to court.
- Representing you in court: If you and the other parent cannot agree on custody terms, representing you in court by presenting evidence and making legal arguments to support your case.
- Drafting parenting plans: Helping you draft a comprehensive parenting plan that outlines the schedule for physical custody, decision-making responsibilities, and visitation.
- Handling child support issues: Assisting with related issues such as child support, ensuring that financial obligations are properly calculated and enforced.
- Modifying custody orders: Helping you request a modification from the court if you need to change an existing custody arrangement due to significant life changes.
- Mediating custody disputes: Acting as a mediator to help both parents reach an agreement on custody and visitation without the need for litigation.
How Are Child Custody Lawyers Paid?
Child custody lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case, the time involved, and the nature of the legal work. Common payment methods include:
- Hourly rate: Most child custody lawyers charge by the hour, with rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer's experience and location. The total cost depends on the time spent preparing documents, negotiating, and representing you in court.
- Flat fee: For simple custody matters or uncontested custody agreements, some lawyers may offer a flat fee for specific services, such as drafting a parenting plan or filing a custody petition.
- Retainer: Many lawyers require an upfront retainer fee, which is billed against as the lawyer works on your case. The amount varies based on the expected complexity and duration of the case.
- Sliding scale or pro bono services: Some lawyers may offer reduced fees or pro bono (free) services for clients with limited financial means, particularly in cases involving domestic violence or other serious issues.
It’s important to discuss fees and payment arrangements with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand how much you will be charged and what services are included.
How Much Does a Child Custody Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a child custody lawyer depends on various factors, including the complexity of the case, whether it’s contested or uncontested, and the lawyer’s experience. General cost estimates include:
- Uncontested custody cases: Legal fees may range from $1,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the paperwork and any negotiations.
- Contested custody cases: Legal fees can range from $5,000 to $40,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the issues, the need for expert testimony, and the time spent in litigation.
- Hourly rates: Lawyers typically charge between $150 and $500 per hour, with higher rates for more experienced attorneys or complex custody disputes.
- Mediation services: If both parents agree to work through mediation, costs typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more for the mediation process.
Always ask for a clear cost estimate during your consultation to ensure that you understand the total legal fees and payment structure.
Top Questions to Ask a Child Custody Lawyer
Before hiring a child custody lawyer, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure they are the best fit for your case. Some key questions to ask include:
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What experience do you have with child custody cases?
Ensure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, especially if your case involves complex issues like domestic violence, relocation, or paternity disputes. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, offers flat fees for certain services, or requires a retainer, and ask for an estimate of the total cost. -
What is the likelihood of success in my case?
Ask for an honest assessment of your case, including potential challenges and expected outcomes. -
How long will the process take?
Inquire about the expected timeline from filing the petition to reaching an agreement or going to trial. -
Will you personally handle my case?
Ensure you know who will be managing your case and representing you in court. -
Can we pursue mediation or alternative dispute resolution?
Ask whether the lawyer recommends mediation or other forms of dispute resolution to avoid a lengthy court battle.
How to Check the Credibility of a Child Custody Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable child custody lawyer, follow these 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 and has no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for family law experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in family law and child custody cases.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to gauge the lawyer’s professionalism and success in child custody matters.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on custody cases.
- Check for certifications: Look for lawyers who are board-certified in family law or have memberships in organizations like the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) or local family law sections.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with a child custody lawyer, come prepared with relevant documents and information:
- Court orders or existing custody agreements: Bring copies of any existing custody or visitation orders for the lawyer to review.
- Communication with the other parent: Provide copies of emails, texts, or letters regarding custody, visitation, or disputes.
- List of your child’s needs: Prepare a list of your child’s specific needs, such as medical care, education, and extracurricular activities.
- Timeline of the case: Outline key events related to your custody case, including changes in living situations or parental involvement.
- Questions for the lawyer: Write down any questions about the custody process, legal fees, and the lawyer’s strategy for your case.
By being well-prepared, you can help the lawyer assess your situation effectively and receive the best possible advice for protecting your rights and your child’s well-being.
