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05 Jun, 2024 by Sandy
Michelle and her assistant Jody are very knowledgeable,compassionate and willing to go that extra mile if needed. Handled my divorce in a professional manner, answered all my many questions , told me what to expect, and were reassuring .
Thank you both so much.
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15 Mar, 2024 by Linda
Michelle was there to assist me though very difficult divorce with children in 2014. She was always there to meet with me and had a quick response to any questions or concerns that I had. She always kept me up to date with the process. Over the last 8 years, I have faced repeating challenges with child support issues. Michelle has met with me on short notice, taken my phone calls and guided me through these challenging situations. I highly recommend Michelle as a trusted advisor and advocate. One thing to keep in mind is to interview each lawyer, and judge for yourself. I met with three to four attorneys before selecting Michelle. One person's bad review is not necessarily the true representation of everyone's experience. Excellent attorney.
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13 Mar, 2024 by Rachael
Michelle came highly recommended by a friend/business professional. She was excellent with communicating how to achieve my desired results concerning my divorce. She laid out concisely what our strategy would be and how to execute it. She instructed and advised clearly in regard to child support, spousal support, division of property, etc. She was heart felt in her approach and I felt that she could relate to what I was going through. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone struggling with the weighty issue of divorce.
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15 Sep, 2020 by Mike kirish
Mr. Christopher Morris was very attentive and understanding to my needs.
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06 Jan, 2019 by John myland
Attorney Morris is a dedicated Attorney that stands by his word and sticks with you. He's a stand up guy .
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06 Aug, 2023 by Zane shami
Saraphoena is passionate, highly ethical, and professional attorney. She stive to find best resolutions to conflict, that put the child best interest first, even if it meant less fees paid to her services. I am a single dad, and not familiar with family law, didn't grow up here, my English is not perfect, but yet, she was patient with me explaining things to me in a language I could understand. She doesn't promise you the moon, she doesn't tell you what you want to hear, rather, she gives you the honest opinion about your case. She spent a lot of time on my case doing academic research with the FOC, then found out that it wasn't to the best of my interest to proceed, she decided to credit my account for the time she spent, then sent me back a check! I was very surprised! She is worth every dollar you spent, when the case is closed, you will find out that you actually saved money by hiring her because she is efficient and knowledgeable, does what make financial sense to her client, which was more important to her than making money on my case.
I enjoyed getting to know and working Saraphoena, I hope I don't have to deal with family law again, but if I do, I know I can depend on her to ensure my daughter interest is well protected, fair treatment for me as a single dad with FOC, and most importantly, continue to have a positive co-parenting with my daughter's mother.
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18 Feb, 2023 by Robert hundley
Saraphoena listened to my case with empathy, provided excellent guidance, prepared like no other, and ultimately represented professionally and passionately in the courtroom. I am so glad Saraphoena Koffran was my representation in a post-judgement matter regarding my child. I was shocked, and extremely pleased, with the vast difference of her preparation and knowledge in the courtroom than the opposing party.
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07 Feb, 2023 by Jeffrey bruss
Saraphoena is a pleasure to work with! She is an expert in her field and makes complicated issues easy to understand. She works hard to advocate for her clients and I would highly recommend her.
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22 Nov, 2023 by Carlos cruz
16 Sep, 2023 by Kim dixon
Marc absolutely came through for my MI UIA case in a limited amount of time. He was thoughtful, thorough and very fair with his pricing. I would highly recommend him.
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31 May, 2023 by T h
We worked with Marc for a total of 5 years from the beginning of our K-1 visa to our citizenship and all the steps in between. Marc was passionate, informative, and timely when dealing with our case and the different aspects of it. Communication was professional and we never felt lost in the process. Marc handled all the paperwork, provided copies, and provided an update on time so that we always knew we were within the time we paid for. I highly recommend Marc to anyone who asks and would work with him again if the situation arose.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Macey darlington
Adam is extremely knowledgeable and professional. He helped me understand all of my options and made recommendations that were pertinent to my situation. I would highly recommend him.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Tyler smith
Adam was very easy to work with. I always felt that he had my best interests in mind at every step of the process.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Steve schreuder
Adam is a dedicated attorney. He has helped several of my real estate clients navigate the complexities of dealing with family trusts. I would be happy referring family, friends and clients to Adam and his team.
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15 Aug, 2024 by Danny banana
Friendly, approachable attorney who offers excellent support and clear, helpful guidance
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15 Aug, 2024 by Colin gilmour
Mr Hanson is a very friendly and competent attorney, I would definitely recommend
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25 Apr, 2024 by T d w
Great attorney, I definitely recommend him
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23 Mar, 2024 by Cliff
Gary and Susan made my FSBO purchase of property smooth. Making the agreement and setting everything up for the closing on the property. Much appreciated.
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27 Feb, 2024 by Elizabeth ann
Mr. Smith as a lawyer needs a GREAT LONG review of HIPAA and it's policies when calling local medical facilities and DEMANDING PHI. It's truly saddening to see a lawyer not have the basic comprehension of HIPAA.
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26 Sep, 2023 by Sniper boss
Gary Tibble is an outstanding Attorney and helped get my gun rights restored to me. He has been my lawyer for many years and trust him with all my legal needs .
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05 Dec, 2022 by H8 xeus
do not trust this "man" to represent you. he sucks at his job. he should quit being a lawyer. you are better off with a public defender. save your money. this greedy bastard will take your money and then do a piss poor job. Bob, you should be ashamed of yourself.
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09 Aug, 2022 by Tracie brooks
Left a message and never got a return call ;( very disappointed
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14 Jul, 2022 by Vincent margol
An excellent attorney, patient and professional. If you have the misfortune to need an attorney for any of the situations Mr. Ryan handles, do yourself a favor and give him a call.
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28 May, 2022 by 840 streets
Became part of CBH and everything became a scam. My 4k payment turned into a 9k payment at the end of my case. Find someone who doesn't trick you out of your money at the end. Lawyers with integrity do exist.
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06 Oct, 2021 by Courtney amrhein
They were excellent to work with and anytime I had a question, they always helped me through it! Mr. Rayman was very professional and courteous & was able to get my case through efficiently! Overall I was very happy to use this business!
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11 Jun, 2021 by Meggin verduzco
All of the interactions we had with the office were very responsive and professional. We felt heard and cared for and were given great guidance in our area of need. I would highly recommend hiring Rayman and Knight for your legal needs.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Blue water67
We have had Bill Millard for years. We have been very pleased with the thoughtful, thorough way he handled our trust.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Todd pease
The team at DeMent & Marquardt helped with estate planning for my parents, my wife's parents, and now ours. They are always there to answer questions and have helped guide us through some difficult times. We are very thankful to have such a great and reliable resource in a city the size of Kalamazoo. Many of the successful people in our sphere of influence recommended this firm and now we understand why. We have seen and heard of others opt to go different routes with their planning only to run into way too much grief and headache. For us, so far so good after working through the loss of 3 out of our 4 parents. It has allowed us to focus on the important side of the grieving process and removes the unnecessary stress we see so many others face. What a blessing.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Helen goyings
18 Aug, 2024 by Harvinder benavides
If one does not have the financial means to procure legal representation at significant cost, it is advisable to advocate for oneself. Regrettably, I expended $15,000 in engaging both legal practitioners, only to find that they generated unwarranted issues subsequent to my retention. To my dismay, one of the practitioners had the temerity to assert that I would forfeit custody of my children. Despite these challenges, I retained custody. If I had not transferred to Sharp Associates, I would not have been represented by this attorney.
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24 Jul, 2024 by Sharon crotser-toy
I was very pleased to work with Your Path Family Law, though the circumstances were difficult. They were always compassionate and respectful towards both me and my ex. I very much recommend them.
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16 May, 2024 by Tee camara
Called and left a message and did not hear back at all.
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5.0
3 Reviews
3.9
10 Reviews
02 Jan, 2024 by Jake t
"If your child does not come with you for your parenting time, then you pick your child up, throw them over your shoulder, strap them in your car, and shut them in their room at your house." This was the advice Rex Brueggemann gave me when, in 2022, I engaged with him to represent me in the separation from my non-married partner of over 15 years.
Rex consistently gave me advice that was counter to my interests as a father/parent and as a business owner.
His tactic seems to rely on heavily pressuring his clients to "settle", much to the favor of the opposing party, while not acting on my requests that would balance the end results of the ruling order.
In the end, I had to terminate my engagement with Rex and hire another attorney to represent me. Hiring Rex was a waste of time and money, and it cost me significant leverage with gaining equal parenting time for my children. In the end, he wouldn't even refund the balance of my retainer, adding to the ridiculousness of this experience.
I only hope this review helps others save time and money and hardship.
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22 Feb, 2023 by Jody
Consummate professional, great communicator, creative problem solver, and a strong advocate. Would recommend Rex to any of my friends going through a divorce, and plan to work with him again for estate planning.
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05 Oct, 2022 by Devon
Hired Rex to assist in the facilitation of my divorce. Helped me save my company, fairly allocate the estate, and negotiate through marital assets. Rex was communicative, understanding, thorough, and successful.
He later helped successfully terminate un unnecessary PPO filed by previous spouse and followed through on his strategy to prove innocence. Rex had a difficult job ahead of him and I believe he did as much as he was able to.
Rex understands the system, the local agents at play, and will advise you with real time data and knowledge. I didn't always agree with Rex, but trusted him fully and chose to let him lead. We ended up with the most desirable outcome of a terribly undesirable situation.
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10 Jul, 2019 by Kim
I was very nervous going in and Joe and his staff were very helpful and helped me relax. Talked about what I wanted and he achieved that for me. He could have gotten more for me but he listened to me and did as I asked. Good personality and a fighter for me.
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17 Jun, 2019 by Jodi
I was referred to Joe and Jon Vander Horst from a friend. I cannot express my gratitude enough for the outstanding job the Vander Horst team provided. Their team was concise, professional and extremely knowledgeable. All phone messages were promptly returned and addressed. I also feel their fee structure was very fair and competitive. I would never hesitate to hire Joe Vander Horst and his team for future legal representation. I highly recommend the Vander Horst Law firm to anyone seeking the very best in legal representation.
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27 May, 2019 by Anonymous
I had the same problem as others mentioned in their reviews. Minor things were negotiated fine but the major issues, he refused to address or fight for me. I asked numerous times about specific issues and he was focused on settling without having to go to court. I said I was willing to and wanted to fight for them and he refused. He told me at my consultation that he would do what is best for me and would fight if needed. That was not the case and I felt like he didn’t want to be bothered by anything there was a disagreement over. I feel like he was more of a benefit to my ex-husband than he was to me and my kids. I hired him because of positive reviews as others have stated. Just a warning to consider all reviews before hiring him.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
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:
-
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.
