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07 Dec, 2023 by Doreen schuch
Very insensitive to grandparents rights.
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22 Nov, 2022 by Jennifer lallas
If you need an aggressive and compassionate legal team, this is the one! Honest, upfront, and dedicated to getting you the results you deserve. Forever grateful to both Dorothy and Rachel.
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02 Oct, 2022 by L v
She is so kind, patient, knowledgeable and caring. I’ve been through a few attorneys in the past who were all nice but she is very different strong but in a very good way and saw directly through my situation. Just wanted to say thank Dorothy ❤️
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29 Dec, 2019 by Katrina chapman
Worst attorneys ever. Slip shod work and does not keep the confidentiality of the client. Avaricious and spiteful.
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13 Mar, 2019 by Pete
Mr Hausner and his staff did a great job for me , he was very professional and they were very responsive when I needed something .
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24 Dec, 2016 by Mehran kohanim
30 Dec, 2019 by Anonymous
Kathleen has been my attorney a few times. She has been more than helpful, attentive and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend her because she will fight for you until the end of the case and doesn't give up. She has always been there for me when I needed advice and called me back promptly. Family court can be very stressful, Kathleen finds a way to make you feel at ease.
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10 Jan, 2019 by Anonymous
We we're assigned Mrs.Mcdondald to represent me is my child custody case since day one she has shown no interest in what I wanted and what I thought was best. She constantly lied to me durning the entire court matter. She never call, texts or emails her clients back. She always lies about why she doesn't get back to you. She refused to let the children's lawyer talk to me I asked her multiple times I want to speak with them she said he doesn't want to speak with which come to find out was a lie. She is the worst lawyer! If you are going through a court case and want to see your children in the process my advice DON'T HIRE HER!!! I can't stress that enough!!!
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11 Feb, 2014 by Anonymous
Ms Mc Donald was extremly helpful in my family court case.Ms Mc Donald knew the laws and history of our case...other "volunteer" lawyers attourneys we not as knowledgeable about family court laws..not so w Ms Mc Donald.
. As a low income individual, I have dreaded situations where the specialty of the atty was not family court laws and nuances.
Ms McDonals is exclusivly Family Court.
is thourough and attentive to important details- and knows and challenges deciet and untruths
I would reccomend her to anyone seeking good council
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20 Oct, 2020 by Anonymous
Unprofessional
Scam
Didn’t get the job done and ran off with family’s money.
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15 Feb, 2012 by Anonymous
Mr. Pendergrass was remarkable -- he is my hero! My family is intact because of him. He neutralized what could have been a really ugly custody battle between myself and my son's birth family. He did the research, clocked the miles, went above and beyond, and best of all, won!
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14 Sep, 2016 by Anonymous
My experience with Susan has been the exact opposite of the previous reviewer's. I could not be happier to have her as my attorney for my situation. She definitely has not tried to drag things out to boost her fees with me and, if anything, has tried to get things resolved more expediently.
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13 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Lies constantly to extend my case for her benefit rather than mine. Racks up lawyer fees with false promises. She does not know the law or litigation and in her dealings with me has proved that she does not know her job. Cost me over $100K for a divorce that should have cost less than $10K.
Do not hire her, she will drive you crazy.
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13 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
Mr Martin handles some simple legal documents for me in a complicated case, but he did let me know he was not proficient in the other areas and recommended I seek the assistance of an attorney in the specific area of my dispute. My case has multiple areas and beyond complicated, the legal documents he provided, I was able to reference later, paper trails are important.
He send me regular updates on billing, there was not any dispute, I think there were a fair assessment. He did not do "extra things" like I believe another attorney did NOT 'pad the bill.'
His area is clear 'divorce and separation, child Custody, child support. I would be interested in the outcome of the other review.
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22 Jul, 2019 by Anonymous
I hired Andrew Martin through the MCBA Lawyer Referral Service and it was one of the worst mistakes I made in my life. When he told me he was a comedian my radar went up but because he was recommended through the MCBA (Monroe County Bar Association) I thought he would handle my case like a professional because if you can't trust A Bar Association recommended attorney who can you trust right? Well my situation was a business dispute with a former partner. I can't go into full detail because the case is still open but I hired him to do a civil case. I explained to him my situation and let him know an attorney had already had recommended a few other attorneys. After speaking with a few they were talking very expensive and Mr. Martin told me he would handle my whole case for set amount. Needless to say when I agreed with him he sent me a contract that didn't say the same thing as we agreed upon but I figured it was just his standard contract so I asked him to remove the line about paying extra money and he did.
Once the money cleared we met and went over the case and I explained the story to him. Mr. Martin and his paralegal (who I later figured out does his damage control.) Had me doing everything but the actual things that was pertinent to my case. While showing me what he was billing me for until we were almost half way through with my money. He told me he was going to get the case over with quickly and try to get me some of my money back. Did he ever pull a fast one on me?! He had me going to the Family courts instead of the Civil Courts and he kept lying to me telling me he was going to write up a motion to file in the Civil Courts. The people I were suing had dragged my name in the mud and stole my money and my business. I literally begged this guy to put my case through the civil courts. Originally he said he would handle my whole case for a set amount but it didn't dawn on me that he was doing all these little things and making up charges to avoid the civil courts and go the cheaper route and misappropriate my funds so he could justify ripping me off . Which is what he ultimately did. My business got sold and he filed a poorly rushed legal motion two months later without it including everybody's name and left it sitting without serving anybody.
I hired this man In July 2018. It took him until November to file the Civil Case. He ignored me for awhile that. He lied to me and said he would try to get the defendant served so he had me come in to pay for a skip tracer in January 2019. He proceeded to lie and act like the defendant could not be found for about 2 and half months until a friend of mind told me the defendant was at the same address and still doing business at the same location with the same people. He had me under the impression that the defendant moved out of state! I was going to just fire him at that point and try to do the case myself but because there were more defendants involved now because of his in action on my case it was going to be too complicated for me to handle. I didn't have much money left because I had been out of work recuperating from surgery all the way until towards the end of 2018. Instead of Andrew Martin helping my case he made it more complicated and literally destroyed any chance I have of winning. It wasn't until I filed a Grievance on him in May that he finally had two of three defendants served towards the end of June 2019. He wanted me to remove the grievance but he wouldn't show proof everybody was served. He then made up a extra bill and gave me a week to respond. I emailed him trying to settle our dispute and he proceeded to send me all the people he served and withdrawing himself from representing me. He still has my files and the money he billed me for should be up for dispute. Depending on what the Grievance office will say should let you know how much protection we as citizens have against these lawyers that pray on the innocent.
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29 May, 2018 by Anonymous
My son hired Mr. Gingold in a paternity matter. He was absolutely amazing. Kept constant contact, was very understanding, very reasonable price. The outcome would have been completely different if not for Mr. Gingold. Cannot thank him enough.
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23 Oct, 2017 by Anonymous
My divorce was not complicated. He said I'd likely even be getting money back from my retainer. We weren't fighting about anything. Instead, this got dragged out more than two years because Harlan couldn't be bothered to move on anything quickly. I got billed for phone calls and emails going over things we had ALREADY discussed that he forgot. This divorce cost me over $10k for his disinterest. I'm appalled- and broke. This is monstrously unfair to me.
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12 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
I had to hire Chris because my previous attorney never returned emails and went through lots of money in just one month. Within days of taking on my case we are headed to a resolution. I highly recommend Chris to anyone needing a matrimonial attorney.
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10 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
Made my divorce a living hell. Had to hire another attorney who said it was the worst divorce agreement he has ever seen. He conviently “lost”my file of 4 years. New lawyer trying to fix all of his mistakes. Total incompetent. Don’t trust him at all!
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19 Aug, 2024 by Eve
Made decisions that were not right for us. Did not listen to our needs. Full of attitude and hostility, seemed to have no moral base. It was an awful experience to work with Naomi Schanfield.
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11 Nov, 2016 by Jodi
Unfortunately, my divorce was extremely high conflict. I wanted to settle, but my ex did not, and he hired a very sneaky, contentious, fight-to-the-death attorney. I wanted an attorney would would take the high ground. Naomi was everything I wanted and more: she is calm, articulate, has excellent judgement, and -unlike other attorneys I have known- always took the time to explain everything to me in detail and answer all my questions --and always returned my phone calls! Naomi was supportive, understanding, and very present (not multi-tasking all the time the way other lawyers seem to do). I worked closely with Naomi for 2.5 years and, in spite of my ex's need for vengeance, she managed to help me get a settlement result I am very happy with. I cannot speak highly enough of Naomi; She is an absolute star, both personally and professionally.
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06 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
This woman drank whatever koolaide my ex husband was serving. She made a incorrect assumption about me in the beginning of my case and no matter what I did or how many professionals I had to state that her impression was incorrect she would not change her mind about me. My children all stated they wanted to be with me and she disregarded anything my children said. I am a victim of domestic violence and have been battered for 15 years, then I went to court and got even more battered by this woman. Pray your children never get her. She goes off of personal emotions and feelings. She won't admit if she is wrong, and she doesn't have the children's best interest in mind. She didn't take what the children told her they wanted into consideration. She was nasty and unprofessional. I don't know if she is burnt out but she should retire, she obviously is unhappy and is obviously not in this to help her actual clients. Honestly, if you could stay far far away from this angry monster I would she did nothing but destroy not only my life but my children's lives
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01 Mar, 2013 by Bill
She was the law guardian for my two children she made sure that my two children were safe and had a good healthy home thank you
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12 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
Obviously this is just an opinion. But I’d avoid this horrible woman at all costs. This woman is not only truly nasty but she doesn’t bother to know her clients at all. I’m not sure she even cares about clients in any way. I can’t for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to continue using her. She’s rude. She’s mean. She’s unfriendly and I don’t think she’s even competent. I think there is truly something wrong with her:
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27 Sep, 2015 by Oded
If you are looking for a lawyer who cares about you personally and about your case at least as much as you you care, who is extremely resourceful, logic, kind and well rounded - Eleanor Grosz is the one!
With my perfectionism, I was switching 3 lawyers, and interviewing about 15 of them prior to hiring Eleanor. From the first day of working with Eleanor, I got the feeling of "finally this is it" and ever since then, I was blessing day after day how good it was not to settle for less.
Eleanor is just Amazing and so her team. The lawyers that works under her just got the same qualities of personally caring a lot while deliver an incredible high standard of service.
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26 Jan, 2023 by Karthik reddy
01 Aug, 2021 by Gabrielle
A fantastic attorney, has been flexible, communicative and invested in my case and the wellbeing of my children. Easily accessible to his clients, always ensures I am well informed and included in all decisions going forward. Doesn’t sugar coat things or provide false hope. Makes a plan going forward and follows through quickly. Divorce and custody battles are hard enough. Ryan provides results and peace of mine that are more than worth his retainer. His legal assistant is also very friendly and approachable.
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23 Mar, 2021 by Ursula
A con artists with a law degree , that's how I feel after meeting Ryan E. Cooke. I met with this man on 3/23/21 for a consultation after having talked to him for 45 minutes over the phone on 3/22/21.
Ryan said he would charge me 1500 flat rate for all proceeding in family court until case resolves' and 1000 for trial, if it had to go to trial. I told him I was out of work and he said he would help me out.
the contract that he gave me to review was in fact anything but helpful and in it stated the complete opposite of what we agreed to verbally.
His contract is a two page robbery and leads people to a road of bankruptcy quickly , asking his clients to pay 1500 monthly with an additionally 10 percent interest charged on the 15th day of each month if you are late -is he a bank? and he charges these fees until case concludes.
If you are going to charge people fees you should do it honestly and up front and charge those who have the money to give.
I'm so happy I dogged this bullet and did not get into contact with this crooked attorney because Ryan E Cooke is a Crookie ,and you've been warned!
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06 Mar, 2020 by Anonymous
Ryan is unprofessional and crude to interact with. He made many
costly mistakes in my case. He missed filing dates, gave questionable legal advice. You will not save money with Ryan Cooke. In the long run it will likely cost you more time and money, at best.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Douglas barmore jr (eromrab)
Didn't really seem to know much about what I was asking...
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08 Jul, 2024 by Donna bensink
Always a positive meeting, very professional
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08 Jul, 2024 by Judy dies
Julie is the best of the best, passionate about all cases..very compassionate in cases involving children..She has a heart of gold, a drive beyond compare.When she believe's in a cause, she gives it over 100%..I would recommend her to anyone for any need..If she can't do it, She will know who to recommend..I thank her from the bottom of my heart..
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24 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
As a mother; I just want to say......children custody cases are just monetary transactions. There are feelings involved; apparently this is lacking with this attorney.
Great song for Bergevin.
"ThanK you aIMee"
by Taylor Swift
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13 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
Someone wrote that she is a 3 year old playing doctor ; agreed . Nothing she says has any meaning, charges an arm and leg to stand in court room with her melted candle face
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24 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
Charged me an outrageous fee for her services, then pawned me off on an associate after appearing in court once and dragged it out for years. Rude, unprofessional, money hungry, and uncaring. They created an essentially useless order while making me feel that mine and my child's needs were being met, and I discovered will not hold up in court. We were left in a worse position than when we started as well. RUN. These reviews are here for a reason!
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13 Jan, 2023 by Tim
I want to start out by saying Ms Donlon's paralegal is extremely knowledgeable and nice. If for some reason you hire Ms Donlon you will probably deal with her paralegal at least 90% of the time.
She didn't show up for my first hearing. When i called to ask her if she was on her way she replied, "Why would I be? I wasn't hired for that." Well she was hired for that and I have the contract to prove it.
I asked her multiple times to call about statements from a couple of witnesses. I didn't find out until I fired her 2.5 months later that she didn't get those statements. She said she wouldn't need them for another 5-6 months. Which i thought was even more reason to get them when I requested. She couldn't seem to grasp that concept. I didn't think it was worth my time to explain her job to her so I left. Both options would have yielded the same results. Memories can get a little hazy after time has passed and what what could have been a huge advantage can end up being being worthless because you failed to comprehend something most 6th graders would understand.
You are 1000% better off hiring someone else. That is unless you like being talked down to and paying someone to copy your homework.
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09 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
I hired Miss Donlon in a custody matter. I should of just got a public defender. She Atleast fought for her client.. She was late for the first court date. It was over by the time she even got there. She didn’t listen to anyone of my wants. Never responded back. Day of final court date she had nothing ready. Felt like I did most of the work. When they order came I didn’t even get to see it before it was signed by the judge, It had all sorts of mistakes on it that she wouldn’t fix. She kept the entire retainer for nothing. I would of done better pro se.
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23 Jan, 2020 by Anonymous
In my divorce and child custody hearing Ms. Donlon did not keep in contact with me, almost all communication was initiated by myself and I rarely spoke to anyone but the receptionist. In every case I showed up to court not knowing what to expect and was basically told to give up that there was nothing to do. I could have done no worse had I represented myself as I ended up paying maximum everything with almost no parental rights even though I had proof to counter the lies that were being told. She told me to gather everything I had and send it to her which I did. She had it for two months and informed me on the court date she never even looked at it and that I was going to lose anyway. I feel as though she never did anything for the money she was paid. I can not in good conscience recommend her in any way. I did all the legwork and got nothing in return. Even after asking her to petition for lower child support after I had to move to a different area and take a job making half of what I was she told me no, that I would not even be considered. Afterwards I discovered that was not true and have paid 80% of my income for a year because sure have me bad council and wouldn't go through the effort of helping me, her client.
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31 Jul, 2022 by Wes
This would be my third time going to Mr Herdzik for representation. He handled two bankruptcies and is currently representing me in a support proceeding. I have a pretty good rapport with him (out of poor/fair/good/great/excellent). I’m not sure how effective he might be, but I trust that he will do his due diligence as he has done in my other two cases. Although I understand that bankruptcy and family law are two different arenas, I trust that he will handle my case with care. I have a unique case, but overall not too complex, more so straightforward. His fee was reasonable…we’ll see how it goes!
I’ll be back for an update; )
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23 Mar, 2019 by Anonymous
For mother's estate. The whole process took longer than necessary. Had to contact him many times to get info on how it was proceeding. Was a learning experience.
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07 Dec, 2018 by Anonymous
I hired this guy for a custody case. He's not a good lawyer. He did not advocate for me and did the bare minimum. He seemed out-of-place in the family court setting. He blindly followed the law guardian's recommendations. He filed paperwork that wasn't worded correctly which caused issues. HE DID NOT RETURN MY UNUSED RETAINER MONEY AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS AND LETTERS. UPON ANOTHER LAWYER'S SUGGESTION, I SENT A LETTER VIA REGISTERED MAIL (SO I'D HAVE PROOF IT WAS SENT). ONLY THEN DID HE RETURN THE MONEY.
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03 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Terrible terrible terrible woman!! I hired her to help me with my custody/visitation case and she completely let my ex win custody of my children and I was left with nothing but 2 weekends a month! She failed to listen to me on what I wanted she instead only did what she wanted to do. She was very rushy and wanted the case to be done and over with as soon as possible with whatever results my ex wanted. Do not hire this crazy lady. She gives everyone dirty looks and always has an attitude when talking to people. She talks down to everyone as well. Stay far away from her!! Nothing but disappointment and nastiness from her.
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05 Jun, 2015 by Frank
Words cannot explain how pleased I am with Cate as an attorney, She is trustworthy, responsive, knowledgeable, and has always kept me informed.
Please disregard the previous bogus comments. This is a competitive business, and the best people in the industry are not always the most well liked. Cate is a great person. She works incredibly hard for her client. Enough said. She is widely recognized as a top tier attorney by her peers and that is why I chose her.
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04 Jun, 2015 by Anonymous
Cate did nothing but great things for my family. Although divorce can be a very difficult time, Cate did her best to find harmony between both sides. Her insight, credentials, and years of experience are truly unmatched in this industry and she is without a doubt one of the top attorneys in the area. Furthermore, she cares about her clients and is in the business for all of the right reasons. I would gladly refer Cate to any of my friends or family going through a similar situation.
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09 May, 2022 by Janet
She is the worst lawyer I have ever dealt with. She doesn’t listen and spends more time defending the other party than she does you!!!! Run…. Don’t walk!! Wish I had read the reviews before because she’s useless.
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28 Dec, 2020 by James
Claire is the worst lawyer ever, She was hired to do a divorce and 1 year and a half years later guess what still not divorced!!!
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14 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
I'm a Domestic Violence Victim and she did nothing to fight for my divorce. I hired her in January and now are in the middle of October and after going to the Supreme Court to look at the paperwork she filed, the last thing she did was in January. She is a disgrace to the law and anyone who is a Domestic Violence Victim. She could care less about Justice and helping ones who have been abused severely.
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15 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
Incompetent, poorly advised me, did not return phone calls, emails. I would not recommend her to anyone.
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11 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
Mindy was recommended to us by an attorney friend. She is busy and does take some time to return emails, however, her assistance is always there when needed. Very knowledgable and friendly.
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20 Jun, 2018 by Anonymous
Ms. Marraca was assigned to me. She has not responded to any emails or voice messages left. While I understand that she has a busy job, unanswered messages is not encouraging and completely unprofessional. We will be seeking another attorney to represent our case.
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28 Oct, 2021 by Dawn
Never finished my case. Turned off his phone. I paid him 750 and he dipped out
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28 Jan, 2021 by Rachel
He has dipped completely. I have not heard from him in months and he had not finished my divorce case. Voicemail full, office closed and number out of service. Class act this one. AND HE WAS PAID. He should be put in jail.
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10 Jun, 2019 by Steven
I just started with Dragic. He has been nothing but helpful in my time of need. He takes his work and his practice very seriously. I wish there were more like him out there. I am very happy that he is my family court lawyer. I am confident he will serve my best interests at heart as my lawyer.
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22 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
Left my case hanging, called multiple times no answer apparently appointed another person to my case but I haven't received word of it. Waste of money. Do not take a chance
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13 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
Absolutely awful attorney. While he tries to sound professional on the surface with his verbose language, he comes off as very rude, unprofessional, and condescending. Not an honest person. Did not seem to care about my case or want to fight for it. Made it seem like our time speaking was a waste of his time. Rudest person I have ever been in contact with. Do yourself a favor and do not waste your time with this guy.
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30 May, 2017 by Chris
Best attorney possible. Took the time needed for my case and showed genuine concern in making sure I got the best possible outcome. Wish every attorney was like this.
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14 Jul, 2023 by Tiffany
This review is long overdue. For 5+ years, Tim helped me with my divorce, buying my ex out of our house and a custody case. In all these cases, Tim got me the most favorable outcome due to his diligence, intellect, and work ethic. He always returned my calls and emails in a timely matter and guided me successfully. I felt his prices were fair. I can not recommend him highly enough!
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15 May, 2023 by Anthony
Where to start. Doesn’t respond, doesn’t know how to respond to motions, loses paperwork, sticks up for the other party. When he does call back calls with an attitude, cuts you off and doesn’t listen, then run to his senior partner with false accusations who is Louis Simonetti and he will back this thing up no matter what. This guy doesn’t have a clue, if it weren’t for me putting together some responses, god only knows what would have happened. Not sure if it’s inexperience or just simply doesn’t know what he’s doing. He can’t take any pressure whatsoever, a mediator was beating him down. He will take your money for sending emails but will do nothing with the actual email, not even read it. I sent him 3 offered to settle but yet never once sent it over. When the other party sent one he didn’t even read it, as he admitted when I questioned him about how ridiculous the offer was. All he wants to do and will do is sit back and take your money and watch you suffer.
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11 May, 2023 by Scott
I entered into this process with very little understanding of procedure and my rights. I had many concerns, questions and fears. Tim Fallon and his entire team provided professional and knowledgeable legal advice and support. My concerns and questions were always answered thoughtfully. I am highly satisfied with my representation and appreciate their efforts. You are in great hands with Tim.
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14 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
He lied about everything and double charged for motions that were never done along with court appearances he never made in addition he charged for serves he himself did not do. A case that should have been settled in no more than 6 months took over a year and a half. After I fired him and hired a new attorney my case settled in 3 weeks.
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08 Feb, 2019 by Anonymous
I hired Phil Castrovinci for my custody/adjust child support trial. It cost me approximately $30,000, plus I was forced to pay the OPPOSING lawyer $7,500 on top of the $30,000 at the end.
The Judge wrote us saying, “Defendant (my ex) included a Statement of Net Worth for the Court’s consideration, which gave a more comprehensive picture of the Defendant’s financial circumstances. Plaintiff (me) did not include a Statement of Net Worth which limited the Court’s examination of his financial circumstances. Accordingly, the Court shall award of counsel fees in the sum of $7.500.00 payable by Plaintiff to Defendant.”
Not only was I refused custody of my 14 year old son, who was begging to live with me, I was somehow forced to pay over $10,000 in ‘retro’ child support when I had paid, in full and on time, what I was required to by law up until the trial.
I sat in court and watched my ex and her lawyer commit perjury by telling lies to The Court, under oath. Sitting in court I had, in my hands, proof they were lying and Phil’s response was, “It doesn’t matter”. The evidence was not presented to the Judge and I got nothing out of this case except a large amount of debt and disappointment.
As stated by other reviewers, you’ll be promised the moon and don’t hold your breath waiting for return calls/e-mails. When I was fortunate enough to get a rare response from an e-mail or a call, direct/specific questions that I had asked were dodged.
The ‘glowing’ reviews here seem to completely contradict my experience, along with multiple others. On Google reviews, I see that a family member left a 5-star review for Phil’s associate. It make we wonder about the validity of these positive reviews.
Hire at your own risk!!!
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21 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
I too wish I could give a negative star . This firm is incompetent and full of lies and false promises. I'm not sure if they did anything for me except suck me dry of thousands of dollars. Do yourself a favor… Research your lawyer… Do your homework… And do not hire anyone from this practice
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16 Jul, 2024 by Sean
Called the firm because I needed a lawyer, was told they charge 150$ just to speak to the lawyer. Pay it fine whatever kinda sad they need to charge for a consultation but it is what it is. Problem I have is I didn't receive a phone call from this belsky, sure did get the emails wanting a survey and they sure took my money. Do not. Do not use this firm. Worst I've seen
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28 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
Be warned!
Michael J. Belsky is absolutely the worst lawyer money can buy. He is rude, arrogant and lazy. You’re guaranteed to lose your case, even after paying him and his law firm exorbitantly. Hire him at your own peril!
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11 Oct, 2022 by Anonymous
Michael Belsky is one of the worst lawyers I have ever hired. He is very rude and abnoxious and does not keep you informed about what is going on. I was hoping that Mr. Belsky would fight for me and help me get more in my case but he didn't seem very interested in fighting and putting in the extra effort. He left me totally in the dark about my case and I was totally dissatisfied with the outcome. He was slow to get back when I called and when he did get back he seemed annoyed, short, and condescending. I would never use him again or recommend him or Tully Rinkey to anyone. They are very overpriced, do not listen to or keep their clients informed and you walk away feeling like you did not get your money's worth. Do not, I repeat do not use this firm. You will leave with your head down and have a much lighter wallet. This firm doesn't care about their clients they just care about the money they can get from you.
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19 Dec, 2019 by Alexander
Helene Bernstein has been my attorney for the past four years on multiple court cases in Brooklyn family court. I give the highest recommendation possible for the work she has done for me as well as her demeanor and professionalism. Helene has the unique ability to be paradoxically empathetic and understanding and yet commanding and resolute when needed; I believe these are the personality traits that make for the best of attorneys.
What initially drew me to Ms. Bernstein’s practice and proved to be true over the years was that she also works as a mediator and looks to resolve contention rather than to win conflicts. In the long run, this proved extremely worthy as well as valiant and likely contributed to her winning my case for me. Our conversations were always about what is just and fair and most importantly, what was in the best interest of my children.
Helene is well organized, communicative, thoughtful, open-minded, reliable and is an extremely hard worker. She took great care in my case, with meticulous notes that she always shared with me. Ms. Bernstein prepared myself and the other witnesses properly when we had to testify and always patiently clarified legal procedures for me and advised me well, even when it was not in her own financial best interest. She was also completely upfront and open about both her fees as well as other legal costs that would impact my case. I am so glad that Ms. Bernstein has been my attorney and sincerely give her the highest rating of endorsement possible.
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19 Sep, 2016 by Anonymous
I contacted Helene for a consult on my divorce mediation. When she called me back, she came across as rude. I explained I was looking for the consult plus a review attorney, which she said was smart. Like every lawyer I speak with, I asked her about her caseload to determine if she could commit the amount of time I needed for my case. Her reply, "Why would I tell you that, I don't even know you." She can't even have a civil conversation with a prospective client, so that closed the door for me. I thanked her for her time and said I'll contact her if I want to schedule a time.
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13 Sep, 2011 by Anonymous
Initially looked for a collaborative atty but turned out I needed a litigating atty. Be careful if you seek litigating attorney. She charges reasonable rate but in her first bill charged almost triple the amount of time the plaintiff atty charged for the same task. Did not agree to negotiate the price down or even discuss it. Gave misdealing and misinformed advise that was very damaging in the early stage of the divorce proceeding related to forensic accounting, temporary support and visitation. I advise you to set up "do not exceed amount without approval" right from the start. Good luck
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19 Aug, 2020 by Anonymous
After "representing" me for three months, he announced that there may be a problem with the filed jurisdiction, and indeed there was. I had to hire another attorney from another state. He neglected to tell me the financial tidbit that I could not change an IRA beneficiary after the divorce action had been filed.
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13 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
Mr. Horgan was referred by a friend and it was the best referral I could have gotten! My divorce was handled in a timely manner and he made a bad situation a little easier to handle.
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12 Jun, 2012 by Anonymous
This attorney spent basically no time or effort in forming a defense on my behalf. There was no verbal communication other than the introductory call.
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20 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
Sylvia Goldschmidt is the worst! She bullied me into settling for worthless LLC’s. The divorce cost over $200,000 and she did no follow up after I settled. I had to hire another attorney who told me what a bad deal I made and that she did not do any forensic accounting. However she did have me hire a forensic accountant who did nothing for an additional $50,000. She would not make any appointments with the other attorney at her office, so she could charge by the hour for the drive to and from NYC. I can go on with so many stories as she dragged the divorce on for 3 years…
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17 Nov, 2017 by Anonymous
My agreement is worthless as my ex husband does not follow it . I have had to go to court several times over past 5 years and when I called her recently , wanting to discuss coming to court with me , she wouldn't even get on the phone unless I came in for a $475 consultation . This is after spending 100k on my divorce. .
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24 Feb, 2015 by Anonymous
This lawyer fights for the woman only! It cost my friend @ $40,000 to get stuck paying his non-working ex-wife more than $2000/month. Now he's living paycheck to paycheck and the witch has no care in the world. Make sure you go in front of a judge who asks you if you're ok with your lawyer. This one avoids that 4 obvious reasons. Watch out!
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28 Jan, 2023 by Sandra
The wisdom I received from Ms.Ibok I will use for the rest of my life I acquired an attorney and ended up with a friend that gave me so many jewels of life thank you I will always remember you for all that you did to help I and my children ❤️
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07 Feb, 2021 by Shawana
This attorney is the worst , she mishandled my case dragged it out and made everything difficult. She also has no communication skills, I would call for advice on a emergency situation and she left me stranded and it hurt my case . The most disturbing part of it she works with the opposite party attorney, that attorney then fabricated the information in court to help hurt the case. This attorney drinks as well. It’s visible her patience with her clients are defensive, she makes you feel less than. She’s irritable and lazy. She doesn’t care about children well-being. To add if you’re pretty woman she will make you very uncomfortable stay away!
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07 Oct, 2018 by Heldert thelot
Ms.Ibok represents my 3 young children in family court and I am Pro se. She communicates with the respondent's attorney and refuse to communicate with me after I've made several attempts to reach a compromise (the respondent is the paternal grandmother who gained custody of my children by default on my part and consent by the father). Ms. Ibok was bought on my case after the prior children's attorney withdrew after I exposed her to her supervisor for misrepresentation. Ms. Ibok unfamiliar with my custody case requested NO contact for myself & three young children 8, 7, and 6 at that time. Now their 9, 8 & 6. I haven't seen or spoken with my kids since 1/17/18 to present day nor has the father. On one occasion I visited her office it was May 22, 2018 and when the receptionist went to get her she came out and saw it was me and she said curtly " you can't come to my office" closed the door and walked away ; prior she consistently ignores my emails. I filed a motion to show cause to recuse her for her incompetence and conflict of interest. She has NOT represented my kids properly, they do NOT want to be alienated from their parents and has ALWAYS maintained that via supervised visits w social workers and court reports and ACS. Still Ms. Ibok works along with the respondent and her attorney ALL are seniors. My children are being neglected by the pgm( paternal grandmother) and Ms. Ibok fails to advocate for reunification of my family DESPITE the fact BOTH parents do NOT have ANY abuse allegations and the pgm lost her parental rights for all 6 of her own kids and is currently terminally ill. Ms. Ibok when asked if my kids wanted to see me in court claimed she explained to my kids client and attorney privilege and they are exercising that right. I KNOW MY KIDS AND THAT IS A BLANTANT LIE!!!! if my kids DIDN'T want to see me that would ONLY solidify her REQUEST so WHY on God's green earth she would withhold that information. This is deliberate omission and willful deception and misrepresentation of the facts. She CAN'T even pronounce my 1st born MOSES's name and she speaks incoherently there is no way my kids comprehend her claims. She should be suspended immediately or disbarred.
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25 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
All around horrible experience. If anything, she made things significantly worse for me and my children.
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07 Dec, 2021 by Francesco
i am recently divorced , and although i didn't always like or understand Eileen's methods but am i glad that she didn't give up on me, After being displaced from my home for a year while another man lived in my house with my ex wife and her and his children as i payed the bills Eileen got me the justice i deserved! when i thought the world was against me at my darkest moments in life she helped me pull thru! i still get emotional as i type this and talk about it today. she truly saved me! the system i felt (and still do) is broken! i am so lucky to have had the help of Attorney Eileen Marie Stiglmeier , who i can say has PROVED ME WRONG in my assumption that all lawyers are sharks and thieves she sure as hell IS NOT!
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16 May, 2019 by Connie
After a recommendation through an experienced family court attorney, I hired Ms. Stiglmeier after filing a petition to enforce a separation and opting out agreement that survived my divorce. A month after I filed this, my ex husband went to court and requested emergency custody on false allegations and domestic violence allegations I had with another individual that did not occur when I had my children and my children never met this person. I contacted police and police did not arrest. Subsequently, attorney for the children and judge (agreeing with AFC, which is not allowed), said due to my “poor decision making I’m not having the man arrested.” My children were immediately removed from my physical custody with a no contact order and he received temporary full custody. Ms. Stiglmeier (I have full evidence to support these claims) told me to sign documents that the courts afterward deemed me to have waived my right to my $30,000 in maintenance, child support, and primary custody...she also caused me to miss an appearance in a support matter. She was always unavailable an in open court acknowledged not reading a significant part of my separation and opting out agreement specifically detailing custody, even though she charged me for review of such. 5 years later and I am still fighting for my children and the irreparable harm caused by her ineffective counsel. My ex husband would hold visitation against me if I didn’t sign subsequent agreements, and she never responded or defended such. My ex husband said he hoped she was stupid enough not to read the agreement and didn’t realize she actually was...
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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.
