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16 Apr, 2024 by Michael
I was involved in a very contentious divorce with quite a few moving parts. I worked a lot with Jean Kim and Steven Fernandez. Both Jean and Steven were always professional, extremely helpful and empathetic throughout the case.
Crystal Boultinghouse and Melanie Minas were extremely capable and instrumental in helping me reach a fair outcome regarding the custody component of our case.
In short, I would recommend Fernandez & Karney if you're looking for an excellent family law attorney.
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18 Oct, 2018 by Zach
I don’t know where I would be without Steve Fernandez. This is not merely a review- some suggestion that endorses the services of Fernandez and Karney. This is more of a testament of gratitude for what he did for me.
First things first: the work of Steve Fernandez is excellent. He is a professional in the highest sense of the word. He obviously has a deep nuanced understanding of family law. He is beyond competent. All of his work was precise, swift, timely, and thorough.
But the true zeal beneath this review comes from the humanity in the way Steve treated me.
When I met Steve Fernandez my life was not in a good place. It is now. I have my life back, and, for the first time in a bit, the future looks bright and exciting. Steve Fernandez gave me a fresh start, brought order back to my life, and stood up for me when no one else would.
And that is the real reason I write this. My life was flipped upside down in the span of a day. My absorbantly wealthy wife used all of the powers at her disposal to bully me and make my life as difficult as possible. It was a daunting situation. But Steve kept me poised, sane, and confident that the way I was being treated was not only immoral, but not legal either. He was right.
So he stood up for me when no one else would. When all other avenues of help disappeared Steve was there- calm, intelligent, a guiding light through the tumultuous and complex process of divorce.
So, Steve, thank you. You kept me calm. You got me what I deserved. And, most importantly, you truly helped me in a time of need. These are not little things and I can’t thank you enough.
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22 Dec, 2017 by Robert
Opposing council will misquote this review in court, so I will misquote Hunter S Thomson.
"Family Law is a cruel and shallow money trench where thieves run free and most of the time good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.... "
Free advice : Before filing for custody, select your attorney wisely, choose a firm with a strong foundation. Hopefully this helps. Had I initially hired Steven Fernandez, none of this would have happened, had I not hired him I would have never seen our child again as I had come to his firm unable to speak and broken. I'll explain. I am a thirty eight year old man who loves his daughter dearly. I've had a smorgasbord of Family Law Specialist, JNE Commission, overpriced Avvo 10's. Not all of them were to blame for the original event that turned the child custody case that I filed in Los Angeles into a fabricated Hemet case, built by design for over-litigated fee churning fraud... However, said attorneys sure were lazy for the money and were happy to turn a blind eye to the blatant fraud and corruption, while simultaneously extrapolating from me every single penny. Steven Fernandez, who's name is on the letterhead of this firm, was the first person to put the wellbeing of myself and our child ahead of easy money and Steven has done a better job than every single other firm combined. He has earned every single dollar and then some. Fraud, perjury, corruption, stalking, extortion, legal kidnapping, private investigators, investigative journalists, you name it, from Malibu to Hemet, we have been through it. Again, had I initially hired Steven Fernandez, absolutely none of this would have happened. Steve has the guts and good nature to run a deep roster of gifted professionals. Steven is smart, ethical and everything that one would hope their own children would grow up to be. Every attorney at this firm is a consummate professional and gifted in their own right. I believe the latter is a prerequisite for being employed by Steven, as Mr. Fernandez is highly intelligent, yet still he is a respectable humble man. Steven and his firm are hands down some of the most compassionate skilled litigators alive and excellent human beings.
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22 Feb, 2015 by Tatiana
I had a very difficult divorce case that required very delicate and knowledgeable approach to handling all the obstacles. My ex husband has mental issues and not an honest person, the case was very difficult and it lasted for 2 years.
Matthew was up front about what will be the process and possible outcome of my case. It was very difficult time in my life, but he always answered my questions and I knew that I had a strong and professional counselor.
He won my case, and I would recommend The Law Offices of Matthew Rich to anybody.
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09 Dec, 2013 by K.h.
Matthew was a good listener, he was understanding, he was focused on helping and was very kind while being very effective. He was always informative and explained things so I could understand. If Matthew was in court Tiffany his assistant was always available
And worked well with me. I felt we were a team and they did a great job.
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09 Nov, 2018 by K.s.
I found Mr. McCall to be a dedicated and professional family law attorney. He is quiet and reserved when necessary in the most continsous and high conflict proceedings. He listens and when appropriate takes command with fortitude and expertise. He is professional in his timely communication and prepares for a case with efficiency. I highly recommend Stephen, as he has done a wonderful job as my family law attorney.
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13 May, 2019 by Kris j
Jean Kim is a listener, legal scholar, and court navigator with an amazing ability to activate. Jean is not only super knowledgeable about the infinite avenues/detours of family law; Jean makes it a priority to know the facts and details of your situation like she knows the law. Why is this important? In real-time, court has so many unexpected moments; but with an attorney like Jean...It didn't matter because she was ready to activate and SHE DID! Thank you Jean and thanks to the Fernandez and Karney team for recruiting such an amazing team.
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05 Jul, 2022 by Gabriel perez
I used him to setup my home business and he was great!. He was very communicative and explained things so I can understand them. He knows how to navigate the legal system. He is also a broker so I will probably use him when I sell my house as well.
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04 Jul, 2022 by Matthew nyden
Amazing service! Attorney that has great attention to detail, extremely hands on.
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01 Jul, 2022 by Cari
Naveed is a fantastic entertainment lawyer! He was referred to me by Kathy Heller, who runs the entertainment law program at Chapman University, so I had high hopes, and was not disappointed. We worked together on a sticky contract, and his advice was useful and nuanced for both my experience in the industry and my goals. Now I regularly refer him to other writers. He's also a generous human--he did a Q & A for a screenwriting lab that I teach, and gave the students some clear legal basics, so they are more prepared for a career.
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08 Sep, 2024 by Ly pharmacy
Labor Law PC has a fantastic team of specialists who are incredibly knowledgeable in their field. Every interaction was professional and informative, and they took the time to explain everything clearly. The team's expertise and dedication really set them apart!
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28 Aug, 2024 by Jessica mohseni
Great experience working with Danny and this entire team - they were always responsive and helpful. i would def recommend choosing to help with any labor issue.
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26 Aug, 2024 by Angela cruz
I had some issues with a past employer and I finding this lawyer was the best thing that happen to me. I highly recommend
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5.0
3 Reviews
4.9
221 Reviews
08 Sep, 2024 by Ly pharmacy
Labor Law PC has a fantastic team of specialists who are incredibly knowledgeable in their field. Every interaction was professional and informative, and they took the time to explain everything clearly. The team's expertise and dedication really set them apart!
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28 Aug, 2024 by Jessica mohseni
Great experience working with Danny and this entire team - they were always responsive and helpful. i would def recommend choosing to help with any labor issue.
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26 Aug, 2024 by Angela cruz
I had some issues with a past employer and I finding this lawyer was the best thing that happen to me. I highly recommend
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08 Jan, 2021 by Rand
I am very disappointed really about the whole Experience. I went to David due to his reviews and all of the things I have read that has wrote about high conflict divorce and fathers rights. I guess I should have gone with don’t judge a book by it’s cover cause the book was horrible! I was charged different amounts for the same initial meeting twice. One charge was 400.00 the second one was 540.00. I was billed 3500.00 for never going to court. One extension for trial was faxed in and a couple phone calls that was it. I could never get him to answer my calls once he took my money. I had to call from my girls friend phone to get him to answer. Don’t waste your time. Those other reviews are fake I heard him joking about a couple of them the one time I did actually have something you might call a meeting(which was the initial meeting). If you want a Attorney that will let your ex spouse just leave with your kids out of state and do nothing this is your guy !!! Even know he promises that he will do his job and do the ex parte and then not answer his phone for days this is your guy!!! I hope you get the picture!!! Other than that nice guy somewhat clean cut, has no style and shouldn’t be a attorney or is just over the hill at this point !
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03 Jun, 2014 by Caleb
This review has been a long time coming. Over the years I've been struggling with a huge stolen identity issue that has caused a lot of problems and it was affecting my driver’s license status. Dealing with government agencies can be time consuming and draining and you find yourself getting nowhere in a hot second; I was at the end of my rope. A friend referred me to David. Found him to be knowledgeable, friendly, and over all a good attorney to work with. Unlike many other attorneys’ I have worked with he asked his questions, pulled the emotion out of the situation, and got the problem fixed. It wasn’t easy but he was relentless. Its rare to find an attorney that gets invested in his client and worries more about solving the problem than the amount of hours he can bill. David, you literally saved my life. Since then I’ve found him to be useful on many other little things in matters of the law and his guidance is something I know I can rely on. Anyone who needs an attorney and sits down with David will see that. Thank you!
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27 Oct, 2013 by Elivh
David is a zealous advocate for his clients. His passionate and aggressive approach lead to results. He is not opposed to resolve matters out of court that assuredly saves his client's money and will allow all parties to move on with their lives. I endorse this lawyer!
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18 Sep, 2024 by Smp
EDMOMD IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR who has been suspended in 2 states. ONLY WAY HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN IS BY SUBMITTING FALSE STATEMENTS AND EVIDENCE, INTENTIONALLY MAKING A CHILD HOMELESS. CURRENTLY, EDMOND IS UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND ANOTHER FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE BAR IS BEING FILED, THIS TIME WE ARE SEEKING HIS PERMANENT REMOVAL FROM PRACTICING LAW
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22 May, 2024 by Anonymous
BEWARE: This attorney has been Disciplined w/actual suspension by the State Bar.
I strongly advise against hiring Edmond Salem as your attorney. My experience with him was extremely disappointing and frustrating. Firstly, he lacks credibility and has a history of disciplinary issues, including an actual suspension from the state bar. This alone should raise red flags for anyone considering his services.
Moreover, he is not honest in his dealings. I found his advice to be misleading, and he failed to provide clear and accurate information about my case. His lack of transparency was concerning and made me question his integrity as a professional.
To make matters worse, Edmond Salem finds ways of overcharging for his services. I was shocked by the exorbitant fees he billed, which were not justified by the quality of his work. It's clear that he prioritizes his financial gain over the best interests of his clients.
In summary, Edmond Salem is an attorney you should avoid. His past disciplinary actions, lack of honesty, and unreasonable fees make him a poor choice for legal representation.
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10 Nov, 2013 by Grateful
Mr. Salem was not only able to minimize very stiff penalties I was facing in a criminal case, he also helped me save my job by getting the charges reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor. He and his very capable staff stood by me every step of the way during very a frightening time for me. No one ever expects to find themselves facing jail time and the quality of your legal representative can determine the outcome of your case. Should anyone find themselves facing an improbable situation, I would strongly recommend Ed Salem for knowledgeable and effective representation.
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18 Apr, 2024 by Evan
Going through a divorce is never easy, and it was no different for me. I needed a reliable attorney for my case, which involved more substantial assets, and thankfully, a trusted friend referred me to Tammy. From the beginning, she was incredibly supportive and knowledgeable.
Tammy was always available to answer any questions I had. I had a question about a bill once and I was worried from past experience that it would turn into a fight, but Tammy patiently resolved my concerns, drawing from a detailed record of the work she'd done to represent me.
Her expert handling of my case led to a satisfactory agreement with my ex-spouse. I am grateful for her guidance and professionalism during such a difficult time. I highly recommend Tammy to anyone looking for competent and compassionate legal support in a divorce.
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14 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
I hired Tammy for my divorce when I was in a very vulnerable time of mi life. She unethically overstated her expertise, overcharged, engaged in theft through intentional double billing, back-charged for conversations that happened prior to our engagement, then abandoned me (After billing $60k in only 2 months for no random stuff that did not in my case). She only wants to drain everything you have. Stay away!
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14 Feb, 2022 by Scott
I hired Tammy Andrews for my divorce. I run a Healthcare company, so I've dealt with my fair share of lawyers. She unethically overstated her expertise, overcharged, engaged in theft through intentional double billing, back-charged for conversations that happened prior to our engagement, showed negligence in outsourcing of work, then abandoned me when I started asking questions (After spending $80k). Stay away!
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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:
-
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.
