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05 Feb, 2024 by James
I worked with Robert as my attorney for the last 2 years for my custody case. As a unmarried father in Minnesota, the odds are definitely against you. Robert was there for me through and through, and he wouldn't quit fighting for me to have equal parenting time with my son. We just recieved the good news, after going to trial, that we won! I was awarded joint physical/legal custody with my son! I couldn't have done it without him! He's made a bigger impact in my life than he knows! I can't wait to spend quality time with my boy. A special shout out to his assistant Amber as well. If I ever had a question about the small details, she was always there to answer it for me. Thanks again guys!! If you want an attorney that will fight for what you deserve, I'd definitely recommend Robert Manson Law.
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05 Jan, 2024 by Beth
Robert Manson was referred to me by a very good friend of mine. She was extremely satisfied with his work with her brother’s divorce proceedings. Based on that referral, I had the utmost pleasure in meeting with Robert Manson to discuss my divorce issues. Immediately it was evident that he was focused on what was fair and reasonable for me and my son in the divorce. He was able to provide a safe space for me to discuss my issues, what my goals were and allow me to ask for the things that were needed in making sure I was able to get through the divorce proceedings fairly with his ongoing support. His knowledge and experience of Family Law is invaluable. Especially since he has sat in front of so many Family Law Judges, he really has a wealth of experience in what to expect when there are issues that are being argued between parties in Court. He also was always available when any emergency occurred. He knew exactly what to do, took the appropriate action and was able to advise me on what my next steps were to be. He validated my concerns throughout the process. He also never compromised the safety of myself or my son in any decisions that were made throughout the proceedings. In a time that was very stressful, he made it so much more tolerable. I would recommend Robert Manson anytime for any Family Law issues that one may have. You will be extremely satisfied during a tough season of high stress.
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14 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
I hired Robert (Bob) to represent my daughter and I in Family Court. I was seeking full legal and physical custody of my daughter. When Bob and I first met, we were quickly able to see my situation was in dire need of legal assistance. As a single father, this was by far the scariest thing I have faced in my life. Bob was able to take a pragmatic approach, explain to me the processes within the court system, and guide me through litigation with confidence. There were false claims of abuse and Bob was able to not only deal with them, but to bring an emergency motion that granted me temporary custody. As a trial lawyer, I couldn't have been more pleased with Bob's professionalism, knowledge and legal advice. Bob represented me in court on several occasions leading up to and ultimately throughout a 4 day trail. Bob's experience and knowledge of MN state law was key in our outcome.
I was awarded full legal and physical custody of my daughter and mother had to do supervised parenting time. My situation deserved this outcome, but Bob was the individual who brought the argument to the court and ultimately won the case. He chewed up mother's expert witness. He also represented me in post decree matters and was always responsive and on point. His fees were reasonable as well.
I have since referred my friends and family to seek Mr. Manson's services if they find themselves with any family law issues. They have all been as pleased as I was with his services.
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22 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
This attorney omitted labor market data that documents a racial gap in unemployment for monitories and furthermore, this attorney adds to racial injustice in our court system. I am encouraging all minorities to boycott this attorney.
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16 Dec, 2019 by Mary
My ex-husband wanted to take me to court to change a few items in our
divorce decree that I did not agree with. We were trying to reach a
compromise over email but that did not appear to be working. I called J.
Markiewicz Law Office to set up a consult.
The day before my consult with her, J. Markiewicz called me on the phone
and asked me to email documents to her so she could become better
familiar with my case. I emailed them to her. At the consult, we
discussed sending a letter to my ex’s lawyer with a potential
compromise. I hired her and placed a $2000 retainer. She wrote a letter
to my ex’s lawyer, but I didn’t want to send it because my ex and I were
still emailing about a compromise which we did within a week. During
that week, J. Markiewicz emailed and texted me to approve the letter
which I said I wasn’t ready to do just yet. After receiving a text that
she was uncomfortable with my waiting, and exasperated that I had to
defend working on a compromise, I told J. Markiewicz that I no longer
needed her services and asked for my un-used retainer back.
Despite the fact that we met for a “free” consultation, and the only
thing I authorized was the creation of a letter, J. Markiewicz only
returned a little over half of my retainer. She unethically charged me
$455 – over an hour of her time – for reading the documents that she
asked me to send to her before I had even met and hired her, and a
$117.50 charge just to “Open a new file.”
I asked J. Markiewicz to refund the charges since she was the one to ask
for the emailed documents before I had met her or hired her, and,
because she gave no upfront information about the “Open New File” costs.
She initially said she would be open to discussing this concern, but
then ignored my email communications until I filed this review. She has
since emailed and stated that she’d refund only $345 and that she’d
consider the case closed. She mailed a check for this amount which is
less than her unethical charges.
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14 Jul, 2017 by Ron
My fiance' and I recently engaged Ms. Markiewicz to help prepare a prenup agreement and had an absolutely horrific experience. It appeared that Ms. Markiewicz approached our prenup as a hostile divorce (rather than a loving marriage) pitting my future bride and I against each other, employing emotionally charged adversarial negotiation tactics and dragging out an expensive lawyer intensive process to...literally...the day before our wedding.
She dismissed the process I had proposed where my fiance' and I would work together (doing much of the work ourselves) to craft a fair and equitable agreement through an amicable collaborative process with guidance and feedback from our respective counsel. She also ignored my request to provide an overview of the process, key milestones and timeline that she would suggest as an alternative. Instead, she just moved forward in a manner that lead to a drawn out, time consuming, resource intensive (read "lots of billable hours") process that dramatically increased our legal fees; created intense stress, conflict and emotional trauma; and dragged the "negotiation" process out to...literally...the day before our wedding. And to top things off, she billed us double the hours that our other lawyer did...even though he crafted and authored the multiple drafts of the proposed prenup and the key legal documents.
This nightmare of a process resulted in prenup that neither one of us felt good about, legal fees that were 3-4 times what we had expected, a prenup that got signed the AFTERNOON before our wedding and an excruciatingly stressful...downright traumatic...process that led to my fiance' and I "breaking up" twice in the two weeks prior to our wedding (including 4 days before).
P.S. This review features no embellishment or exaggeration (and I have the email audit trail to back up every word). I had never met...or even heard of...Ms. Markiewicz prior to this prenup process, do not work in the legal profession nor have any other potential conflicts of interests. I invested the time to write this review solely in the interest of helping others avoid repeating what was one of the most traumatic professional experiences of my life. One that came very close to aborting my wedding and costing me the woman that I love, adore and cherish with all my heart.
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What a Child Support Lawyer Can Do for You
A child support lawyer specializes in legal issues related to the financial support that one parent provides to another for the upbringing of their children. These lawyers assist with establishing, enforcing, and modifying child support orders, ensuring that the financial needs of the child are met, including housing, food, healthcare, education, and other essentials. A child support lawyer can also represent parents in disputes over the amount of support, ensure fair calculations based on income, and handle legal proceedings if one parent fails to meet their obligations.
Whether you're seeking to establish child support, modify an existing order, or enforce payments, a child support lawyer can help you navigate the legal system and protect your rights and the well-being of your child.
When Should I Hire a Child Support Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a child support lawyer when you need assistance with any of the following child support matters:
- Establishing child support: If you are going through a divorce or separation and need to establish a child support order, a lawyer can help ensure that the support amount is fair and accurately calculated.
- Modifying child support orders: If there has been a significant change in circumstances, such as a job loss, income change, or a child's financial needs, a lawyer can help you request a modification to the existing child support order.
- Enforcing child support payments: If the other parent has failed to make court-ordered child support payments, a lawyer can help enforce the order through legal means such as wage garnishment, property liens, or even legal action.
- Disputing child support calculations: If you believe the child support amount has been incorrectly calculated based on your income or expenses, a lawyer can help you challenge the calculation and seek a fair adjustment.
- Paternity disputes: If paternity needs to be established before child support can be ordered, a lawyer can assist with DNA testing and legal proceedings.
- Interstate child support cases: If the parents live in different states, navigating child support laws can be complex. A lawyer can help ensure the proper jurisdiction is established and that child support is enforced across state lines.
- Child support during custody disputes: If child custody and child support are being determined simultaneously, a lawyer can help ensure that both issues are resolved fairly and in the best interest of the child.
Hiring a lawyer early can help ensure that your child support case is handled effectively and that your child's financial needs are met.
What Does a Child Support Lawyer Do?
A child support lawyer provides a variety of legal services to help parents secure, modify, and enforce child support arrangements. Their responsibilities often include:
- Filing for child support: A lawyer can help you initiate the legal process to obtain a child support order, ensuring that all necessary documentation is submitted and deadlines are met.
- Calculating child support: A lawyer can help ensure that child support is calculated fairly based on both parents' incomes, the needs of the child, and other factors such as healthcare and education costs.
- Negotiating child support agreements: If both parents are willing to negotiate, a lawyer can help facilitate an agreement on child support outside of court, which can then be approved by a judge.
- Representing you in court: If negotiations fail or the other parent contests the child support amount, a lawyer will represent you in family court, presenting evidence and making legal arguments to support your case.
- Modifying support orders: A lawyer can help you file a request for modification if circumstances change, such as a loss of income or an increase in the child’s financial needs.
- Enforcing child support: If the other parent is not making court-ordered payments, a lawyer can take legal steps to enforce the order through wage garnishment, property liens, or other measures.
- Handling complex cases: In cases involving high incomes, self-employment, or complicated financial situations, a lawyer can help ensure that all relevant factors are considered in determining child support.
How Are Child Support Lawyers Paid?
Child support lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case and the type of legal work required. Common payment methods include:
- Hourly rate: Most child support 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 will depend on how much time the lawyer spends on your case, including preparation, negotiations, and court appearances.
- Flat fee: For more straightforward cases, such as uncontested child support agreements or basic modifications, some lawyers may offer a flat fee that covers all services related to the case.
- Retainer: Many lawyers require a retainer, which is an upfront payment that is billed against as the lawyer works on your case. The amount of the retainer depends on the expected complexity of the case.
- Sliding scale or pro bono services: Some lawyers offer sliding scale fees based on income or provide pro bono (free) services in cases where clients cannot afford to pay full legal fees, especially when children’s needs are at stake.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand how much you will be charged and what services are covered.
How Much Does a Child Support Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a child support lawyer varies depending on the complexity of the case, whether it's contested or uncontested, and the lawyer’s experience. General cost estimates include:
- Uncontested child support cases: Legal fees may range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the complexity of the paperwork and the lawyer’s fees.
- Contested child support cases: Legal fees can range from $5,000 to $20,000 or more, especially if the case involves significant court time.
- Hourly rates: Lawyers typically charge between $150 and $500 per hour for child support cases, with higher rates for more experienced attorneys or cases that involve complex financial issues.
- Modification or enforcement: Fees for modifying or enforcing a child support order may range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the complexity and the need for court intervention.
Always ask for a detailed cost estimate during your consultation so you can plan your budget accordingly.
Top Questions to Ask a Child Support Lawyer
Before hiring a child support lawyer, it’s important to ask questions to ensure they are the right fit for your case. Key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with child support cases?
Ensure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, whether it’s establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support orders. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, offers flat fees, or requires a retainer, and ask for a detailed estimate of the total cost. -
What is the likelihood of success in my case?
Ask the lawyer for an honest assessment of your case and any potential challenges you may face. -
How long will the process take?
Child support cases can take time, so ask the lawyer how long they expect the process to last and what factors may cause delays. -
Will you personally handle my case?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle parts of the case. Make sure you know who will be managing your case and representing you in court. -
What documents should I prepare?
Ask the lawyer what financial documents and other information you should bring to help them calculate child support and build your case.
How to Check the Credibility of a Child Support Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable child support lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and track record:
- 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 have successfully handled child support cases similar to yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about the lawyer’s professionalism and success rate.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on child support matters.
- Check for certifications: Some lawyers may have certifications in family law or membership in organizations like the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), which can indicate their expertise in child support and family law issues.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most out of your first consultation with a child support lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Income documents: Bring pay stubs, tax returns, W-2s, or any other documentation of your income and the other parent’s income, as this will be used to calculate child support.
- Existing child support orders: If there are any existing child support or custody orders, bring copies for the lawyer to review.
- Child-related expenses: Provide documentation of your child’s medical bills, education expenses, daycare costs, and any other expenses that should be factored into the child support calculation.
- Communication with the other parent: Bring any communication between you and the other parent regarding child support, whether through emails, text messages, or written agreements.
- List of questions: Prepare a list of questions about your case, the legal process, and the lawyer’s fees.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your case more effectively and provide the best possible legal advice on how to proceed.
