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27 Apr, 2017 by Chris
I had Jim do my NFA Gun Trust and my family Trust. The NFA Trust was all done online and via email from Hawaii. Zero problems with that process. It was so easy to get done I had him to put together a family Trust. Very easy to work with and excellent service.
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08 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Jim made it very easy to set up my trust. He spent close to an hour on the phone with me answering all my questions and explaining every aspect of the trust and how it works. I never felt as though he was trying to rush to get me off the phone. I had my trust set up in a day. I would recommend Jim to anyone wanting to set up a gun trust.
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03 Mar, 2017 by Alex
I chose Jim to draft my trust and he did a great job. I've come back for questions multiple times and he always answers and is eager to help. I love that he is involved in the community which he services and it's been a pleasant opportunity to see him at some of the same events I've attended. If you need a trust, I highly recommend Jim.
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23 Sep, 2024 by Eddie
Megan Baumer was my attorney on my Bankruptcy case. She did an amazing job! She was very thorough, friendly, thoughtful, and kind throughout the entire process. There was never a question I needed answered that I couldn’t turn to her with and she made the entire process easy and less daunting each step of the way. My partner and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. The entire Baumer Law team did a terrific job. They are best bankruptcy law office in the Austin area. I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of a good bankruptcy lawyer. They know what they’re doing.
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08 Dec, 2022 by Susan
Megan Baumer was a pleasure to work with - she was knowledgeable and thorough! Wills and End of Life Documents aren't easy - lots of details and tough decisions to think through. My husband and I knew we were in good hands with Megan's guidance and direction. She was both professional and friendly - nice combination!
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25 Nov, 2022 by Dina
Megan Baumer was so helpful. Working on our estate planning was not an easy task. Megan walked us through the importance, answered multiple follow-up questions, and stayed patient the whole time. I recommend her services to anyone. She treated us with respect too.
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04 Aug, 2011 by Amalia
After the loss of my 19 yr old son, Christine was very careful to insure I knew what I was doing signing and wha tneeded to be done. Sh ekept me in the loop at al times. Was very open with me. Christine made sure I understood every step of the way.
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13 Jun, 2011 by Josie
Mrs. C. Larson and her able-bodied Receptionist Robin, worked very long and hard hours on this case. There were many documented items that needed to be followed through. The items that needed an accounting were taken care of in a timely manner so I was greatly appreciative that we did not waste.
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22 Oct, 2015 by J
If hiring an attorney can ever be described as a 'great experience', hiring Malcolm was just that. Previous dealing with attorneys have always left me with a bad feeling until using him. Highly recommend and very trustworthy (not something I usually associate with attorneys).
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22 May, 2010 by Hassan
I have known Malcolm for ten years. He represented me twice in civil and criminal cases. He is a great attorney devoted to help his clients to the highest professional and ethical standards. This attorney and his staff are very freindly and accessible.
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13 Aug, 2013 by Anonymous
John was very professional and knowledgeable. He assisted me with understanding a few different contracts. You can tell that he puts a lot of effort into providing all the necessary legal information and a little more. I was very satisfied with his advisement and did not feel that something was lacking in any way. I highly recommend John Burns for anyone needing advice in his areas of expertise.
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08 Aug, 2013 by Ron
Mr. Burns helped me recently and was available THAT day in
formulating a Licensing agreement when I was pressed for time.
His response was professional,quick and he kept me well informed during the process.
I would highly recommend him and will use his expertise again when needed.
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25 Oct, 2017 by Joe
I have known Terry for several years and he has worked on several real estate matters I hired him to work on. The many friends I have referred him to have nothing but praise for him and the work that he has done for them as well. When it comes to real estate matters you will find no one better than him.
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30 Apr, 2020 by Anthony
Joel handled my will with ease. He answered every question I had and explained things fully. It was a pleasure to work with him.
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07 Mar, 2024 by Taylor
He fought for me getting out of a lease from a landlord who’s housing had unhygienic and unsafe conditions. Legal disputes can be scary and he helped me in everything and helped me understand my rights.
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18 Aug, 2022 by Albert
Tom Fortenberry is the best. His experience is like having a Jedi on your team.
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31 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
My grandmother was being seriously mistreated at a nursing home outside of San Antonio and I was desperate for an answer. I was notified from a friend about an attorney who did work for his brother. Mr. McGill was very professional and understanding. He resolved my case within a year and ended a trying time in my life. Very thankful.
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02 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
I got to know Patty personally as a long time friend of one of my very good friend. She has represented several companies I have worked for and been a principal of in debt collection matters with impressive results in many cases...i.e. we got paid! She also represented me personally in a dispute with a shady landlord resulting in a favorable outcome.
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10 Sep, 2015 by Rick
I hired Natalie to paper the sale of my business. She was knowledgeable of the pertinent issues, bringing things to my attention that I had not considered. She was responsive to my emails and was easy to work with. I would hire her again in a heartbeat and would not hesitate recommending her to others. Overall, working with Natalie was a very positive experience.
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28 Mar, 2024 by Chuck wilson
Attorney Dana Rieder recently completed my Last Will and Testament in a very professional and timely manner. I highly recommend her for all of your Estate Planning needs.
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07 Mar, 2024 by Ben rawson
We decided to work with Att Rieder to help tighten up our estate plan. She greatly exceeded our expectations! Not only did she find several areas we needed to update and modify, but she also made the plan more complete. She is extremely knowledgeable about the current laws and how they pertain to our situation. She, and her team, are responsive and pleasant with any questions and/or updates. We feel so much more at ease with the new plan in place and have confidence in Dana going forward. We are so pleased with our decision to work with Dana and her team!
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12 Dec, 2023 by Arthur o'meara
Atty Rieder is simply outstanding. I contacted her with a last-minute request (a bit of an emergency) and she rose to the occasion and got everything done on time and on budget. Then, she met with me and my wife and explained everything. The best part? One year later I get prompts for an annual review to ensure everything is in order to to check if anything has changed. Bottom line: we're not alone on our journey through life because Dana is with us.
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23 Aug, 2024 by Brad king
Terry was organized, thorough, compassionate, and an amazing advocate for my late grandparents and mother. She had a plan for every hurdle that popped up and streamlined the process moving forward. I recommend The Garrett Law Firm for end of life and estate planning. I’ll be using the firm to arrange my own affairs.
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01 Jul, 2024 by Sunil raju
This firm strives to help its clients at the highest level. Ms. Lynch works behind the scenes to ensure the firm really helps clients get a lot of value and strong legal advice. I would not hesitate to refer clients to the Lynch Law Firm!
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12 Mar, 2024 by Steve sosland
I contacted the Lynch Law Firm to setup my first LLC. I did not know the process. They seamlessly and quickly walked me through every step. Natalie called me to answer all the questions I had. I strongly recommend the Lynch Law team.
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06 Sep, 2024 by David ely
We’ve been working with Nickerson Law Group for over 15 years and recommend them highly. They are professional, friendly, organized, and thorough. We appreciate all that they’ve done for us!
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30 Aug, 2024 by Bob wandmacher
The Nickerson Law Group has been amazing to work with on our family planning. They walked us through the many complex and sensitive family decisions with clarity and compassion. We made some tough decisions with their encouragement and support. It helped us to proactively plan for end of life matters in a comprehensive and customized manner. The team of Julia, Kim and Monique became like family to us. We highly recommend them to others for family planning.
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16 Aug, 2024 by Cleo steinhauser
Everyone who works here was so kind and took sufficient time to walk through the details of all the documents.
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10 Oct, 2024 by Doug masters
My father and I met with John Strickland to do some estate planning. John was amazing! He explained things in great detail and made sure that we had all of the documents we needed. We couldn't recommend Robbins Estate Law more!
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10 Oct, 2024 by Collin jones
Carla R. with Robbins Law Firm’s Estate Aftercare Program is exceptional. Her professionalism and thoroughness made navigating complex estate matters stress-free. Highly recommend!
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18 Aug, 2024 by Sandi batik
23 Aug, 2024 by Brad king
Terry was organized, thorough, compassionate, and an amazing advocate for my late grandparents and mother. She had a plan for every hurdle that popped up and streamlined the process moving forward. I recommend The Garrett Law Firm for end of life and estate planning. I’ll be using the firm to arrange my own affairs.
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01 Jul, 2024 by Sunil raju
This firm strives to help its clients at the highest level. Ms. Lynch works behind the scenes to ensure the firm really helps clients get a lot of value and strong legal advice. I would not hesitate to refer clients to the Lynch Law Firm!
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09 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
Very disorganized. Hired her to file a probate for my father's estate. After signing off on a flat fee rate, and reminding her twice that I had not received the link to pay her, she told us that she had lost our documents and said it might not be worth our time to obtain new ones. We were then charged by the hour plus filing fees for documents that she did not have.
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07 Sep, 2024 by Patricia polasek
I would NOT recommend Hembree Bell to an enemy. I was told that I would get my retainer fee back in full, which did NOT happen, and I was relying on that money to help support my children and I until I could get back on my own two feet. Please don't make the same mistake I did by trusting these people with such delicate matters.
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04 Sep, 2024 by Jesse
Kathleen Brown took on my case in 2021 it was a complete mess. Between an unethical attorney and frivolous filings and fabricated evidence she still didn't back down. I left with 50/50 and everything I asked for she is who everyone should have represent them.
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29 Aug, 2024 by Lauren mammen
09 Sep, 2024 by A c
I searched around and spoke to a few lawyers that didn’t want to take my simple divorce case. I continued searching, and then found the Shannon Family Law Firm. The reviews are not perfect, but overall there seemed to be more pleased clients who used them. So I decided to call and I won’t go into a lot of detail, but I have spoken with the paralegal Jodie Ward-House and attorney Richard Shannon whom I have decided to hire for my case. Jodie and Richard have been very kind and thorough in explaining the details of how my particular case should work if all goes well. My case is new and just starting. I may post another review in the future about this firm after my case is finished. However, based on the previous phone conversation I had with Jodie and phone consultation I had with Richard Shannon was very pleasing. We’ll see how this goes. I would recommend them if need consultation about a divorce case. I have a better understanding about my particular case.
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23 Aug, 2024 by Brad king
Terry was organized, thorough, compassionate, and an amazing advocate for my late grandparents and mother. She had a plan for every hurdle that popped up and streamlined the process moving forward. I recommend The Garrett Law Firm for end of life and estate planning. I’ll be using the firm to arrange my own affairs.
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08 Aug, 2024 by Emmanuel zermeno
Richard is extremely knowledgeable and patient with explaining the process. I have no doubt we'll meet our objective under his guidance
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17 Dec, 2015 by Nancy
We couldn't be more pleased with the service that Ms. Layne provided to our family. She asked great questions, was respectful, patient and understanding as we discussed issues with each other and made decisions and provided excellent and diplomatic advice when requested.
When she delivered the completed plan to us, she had witnesses available to sign and notarize our documents while we waited and patiently reviewed each page with us to our satisfaction. We had very few changes to make but she made them immediately so we could continue the finalization process.
It is such a relief to have our plan completed. It feels good to know that you've done all you can do to make the administration of your estate and providing of your family and pets as easy as you can.
I cannot recommend Ms. Layne's services highly enough.
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14 Dec, 2015 by Lynn-marie
Leanne helped set up a POA for my oldest son and my mother. She was great to work with and took the time to explain everything along the way. I highly recommend her services!
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11 Dec, 2015 by Dr chae
My wife and I could not have been more satisfied with comprehensive detail, personalized touch and genuine concern in regards to our needs and desires of our family while drafting our living trust and wills. She made sure We understood each and every section and that if executed then that would be the vision and desire of which we desire.. Each of us were pleased with here attention to detail and thoughtfulness while addressing offering thoughtful suggestion and guidance in each of our request . We would wholeheartedly recommend her to others and will be return clients.
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07 Nov, 2024 by Javi b
Really appreciate the work that David and team put into my case. Being my first offense, I was completely scared of all the unknown. But both David and Karina took the time to ensure me that they had my best interests at heart throughout the entire process. Time, attention, and detail provided by this team is 100+.
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04 Nov, 2024 by Iván díaz
Excelente servicio de chamber,dan seguimiento paso a paso en tu caso,te explican a detalle el proceso de tu caso,disponibilidad de su tiempo y muy amables
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04 Nov, 2024 by Zadarius peterson
Best of the best.
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02 Jan, 2019 by Anonymous
I called to schedule a free consultation for a probate matter. Mr. Greening advertises FREE CONSULTATION on Avvo and on his own website. NOT TRUE! I made the appointment, and spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with his assistant explaining my needs so that Mr. Greening could be briefed prior to our consultation. Then several days later I got a call back from another person in Mr. Greening's office to inform me that the so called "free" consultation requires a $4,000 retainer fee up front. So, it's only "free" if you agree to retain Mr. Greening in advance of the very first meeting you have with him! Isn't that pretty much the opposite of a "free consultation"??? Losing a family member without a will is difficult enough, but being forced to deal with attorneys like Mr. Greening just adds to the misery. Hopefully I will be able to find another probate attorney who will sit down with me for 15 minutes free of charge and hear my story without asking me to shell out $4,000 just for the privilege of speaking with him/her. Hard to believe Mr. Greening has such high reviews from other people. Surely this same thing has happened over and over again to other people like me who foolishly believed the advertising that he offers a free consultation.
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03 May, 2018 by Katy
In2003,shortly after I retired there was a neighborhood meeting which I attended.I contacted Ron Greening about a trust for my son. My son passed away and Ron assisted me in a new trust for my family.The efforts of the Greening Law Firm exceeded my expectations.
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11 Jan, 2018 by Patrick
Ron helped through a trying period while building my estate plan. There were many changes during that period including sale of properties, purchase of properties and the death of my Wife of 52 years. Through it all, Ron was patient and provided the best professional advice.
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06 Jun, 2024 by Angie hernandez
Estoy muy agradecida con la abogada Norma, su trabajo fue excelente, conoce todo muy bien, es muy ágil e inteligente; a parte puedo dar fe de lo gran persona que es, muy humana y está dispuesta ayudar y a entendernos no solo como clientes, sino como ser humano que somos, sin dudarlo la elegiría nuevamente, cualquier caso en sus manos, me daría total tranquilidad.
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28 May, 2024 by Gabby serrano zapata
Had a great experience with this attorney. Handled my case quick and with a lot of professionalism. If you need a great lawyer she is the one to go to. 100% recommend
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16 May, 2024 by Juan perez
Norma gonsalvez y su equipo de trabajo exelente abogada y muy amables se Las recomiendo 100%
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12 Jun, 2022 by Elizabeth
In 2012 my husband and I contacted Tracy to help us prepare a living will and overall estate plan. I will say that she was very professional and courteous, and her prices were quite fair.
My husband has been in oil and gas his whole life and we were specifically concerned about putting money away so that I would be okay and our disabled oldest daughter would be okay.
In general she did a good job and was easy to work with.
My husband passed in early 2021 and my son worked with Tracy to probate the estate. When we involved our tax specialist there was a 7 figure tax bill that was completely unexpected!
It felt like she didn't do her homework or involve the right tax specialist. We've been blessed to have more than we need but I am upset that she didn't do this properly when my husband was around to help.
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26 Apr, 2018 by Anonymous
I found Tracy through Avvo. She was so kind and thorough helping my father and I through the living will, MOA, and POA process. I had no previous experience with lawyers; she has set the bar high for other lawyers, that's for sure!
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08 May, 2016 by John lydick
I have worked with many attorneys, across a range of different legal disciplines. My experience has definitely varied. Tracy has proven the very best attorney with whom to work.
I enlisted Tracy's help on estate planning. My situation included will, trust, inheritance trusts, and a special needs trust. Tracy's legal advice was rock-solid, she was patient with my many questions, able to communicate, responsive, organized, and reasonably-priced. These are precisely the attributes I seek in an attorney.
I plan on continuing to enlist her services. I recommend her highly.
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14 Dec, 2023 by Kayla wilson
Very responsive, helpful, patient and professional. Very empathetic and sincere
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15 Mar, 2023 by Resa p
I contacted the firm in December regarding an employment law issue. I wasn't informed of the firm's unavailability until months later. The attorney who reviewed my case wasn't even familiar enough with my situation to know I'm NOT a state employee. I think I dodged a bullet when they decided not to represent me!
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25 Nov, 2021 by Mickey priddy
Martha Owen is awesome at her job!
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19 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
He revised a will of a sick aging couple while failing to recognize all the telltale signs of elder abuse.
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01 May, 2019 by Pat
Mr. Farrell walked me through the stages of care for both my parents: assisted living, skilled nursing, and death. We dealt with Medicaid and the VA. His guidance was priceless and accurate. His attention was timely and direct. My family will always be grateful for his wisdom and empathy.
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20 Nov, 2015 by Vivian
The above words are the ones I use to describe Mr. Farrell. We used his services in the past for my mother-in-law through various stages of aging to provide for her care. Our current need was to write my husband's and my wills and other important documents. As always, he listened carefully to all our needs and created documents that reflected our wishes, including a trust for our dogs!
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11 Oct, 2023 by Charles edward andrew lincoln iv
10 Jun, 2023 by B d
Nice
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01 Jun, 2023 by Eric rishel
08 Oct, 2024 by Tropicflow
Hello everyone!
Aaron Allison has accepted my case to where no one else would, at first I was on the verge of giving up , I had called at least 12 other attorneys that said ," this is something beyond my experience" or ," there is not much of a fight to be had".
With Aaron Allison and his legal team, they are truly a force to behold. The determination to win your case and the pure aggressive manner they go after your opposition is unmatched by anyone in the field.
If you need help and have no one else to turn to, call Aaron Allison today, yoi are one phone call away from a breath of fresh air.
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19 Sep, 2024 by Dyson turner
I hired Aaron for my worker's comp case. He got the insurance carrier to pay me the correct amount of temporary income and he argued for a fair disability rating. It took a lot of stress off me. I've recommended Aaron to multiple people.
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13 May, 2024 by Michael eldridge
Aaron Allison is the first attorney I have ever hired and all I can say is the man is phenomenal! He won my case and made the entire stressful process as easy to understand and get through as possible. I would also hope I am never on the other side of the courtroom against him because he doesn't miss any details! I hope I don't need his services again but if I do I would be happy to hire him again.
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20 Jul, 2024 by Sarah samos
09 Jul, 2024 by Duane harris
You may never get to talk to anyone because the receptionist does not pass on messages and gives horrible information. The lawyers are great but there messenger needs another career.
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13 Jun, 2024 by Tyrell
Thanks, Mr. Holub!
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28 May, 2021 by Jon neukam
It was horrible to speak with her. It was supposed to be a $20 consultation that they decided to add over a $100 to and then decided to add even more in costs. I thought finally I would be able to at least pay someone to look at the evidence. I paid at least $300 for May Yang to talk over me, tell me how I was uncooperative, refused to look at the evidence I had to pay extra to submit, put me under pressure to answer her why questions correctly and interrupt the questions she allows me to voice. It was maddening. It was rude. She would say she doesn't know much about immigration law and then tell me how I was wrong about immigration law despite 30 years experience in the field. She never bothered to get to know me nor what my concerns were. She took the money for the consultation, it was beyond a reasonable amount, and failed to deliver. She charges $300 an hour And Is Not Worth It. Not to me is it worth it. I am out of money for a person who wanted to complain about me during the consultation. She is extremely inconsiderate. She apparently likes to cuss a lot focusing on the F word and the S word. I didn't mind that part. But she does like to do that if you want to spend your money to listen to it.
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25 Sep, 2020 by John
Not only is May Yang proficient in all aspects of guardianship law, she is amazingly well-informed about all aspects of disabled adult custody law, social security benefits, and involuntary commitment rules. I was extremely grateful for May's insight into my daughter's character, her honesty about what our options were, and her patience, understanding, and professionalism. She was always concise and articulate in her descriptions of the challenges we could face, and she consistently found solutions to even the most complex of problems. You could not ask more from a lawyer. Consider yourself lucky if you find May Yang!
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18 Mar, 2015 by Tom
May was extremely efficient, empathetic, responsive, reasonable and patient. She got me through this difficult time with excellent advice and a reasonable bill.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Elder Law Lawyer Can Do for You
An elder law lawyer specializes in legal issues that affect older adults, their families, and caregivers. These lawyers handle a broad range of topics, including estate planning, Medicaid and Medicare, long-term care planning, guardianship, elder abuse, and retirement planning. The goal of an elder law lawyer is to protect the rights, finances, and well-being of elderly individuals and to help them plan for future healthcare and financial security.
If you or a loved one is aging and facing challenges related to healthcare, finances, or legal matters, an elder law lawyer can provide essential guidance to protect your rights and interests as you age.
When Should I Hire an Elder Law Lawyer?
Hiring an elder law lawyer can be beneficial in many situations where older adults need help with legal, financial, or healthcare-related decisions. Common reasons to hire an elder law lawyer include:
- Estate planning: If you want to create or update a will, set up trusts, or ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, an elder law lawyer can help with comprehensive estate planning.
- Medicaid and Medicare planning: If you need help qualifying for Medicaid to cover long-term care or need advice on navigating Medicare benefits, a lawyer can guide you through the application process and protect your assets.
- Long-term care planning: If you’re concerned about paying for nursing home care or assisted living, a lawyer can help you create a financial plan and explore options for government assistance.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: If a family member is unable to make decisions due to age-related cognitive issues, an elder law lawyer can assist in setting up legal guardianship or conservatorship to ensure their care.
- Elder abuse and exploitation: If you or a loved one is experiencing physical, emotional, or financial abuse, an elder law lawyer can help you take legal action to stop the abuse and recover damages.
- Retirement planning: Elder law lawyers can assist with planning for retirement, including managing pensions, Social Security, and other retirement income.
- Special needs planning: If you have a disabled family member who requires special care, an elder law lawyer can help create trusts or other legal arrangements to ensure their long-term financial and healthcare needs are met.
What Does an Elder Law Lawyer Do?
An elder law lawyer provides a wide range of legal services to help older adults and their families navigate the complexities of aging, healthcare, and estate planning. Their responsibilities often include:
- Drafting wills and trusts: Creating legal documents that outline how an individual’s assets will be distributed after death, ensuring that their wishes are honored.
- Medicaid and Medicare planning: Helping clients protect their assets while qualifying for government benefits to cover healthcare and long-term care costs.
- Establishing guardianships: Assisting families in setting up guardianship or conservatorship for loved ones who are unable to make decisions due to mental or physical incapacity.
- Protecting against elder abuse: Investigating claims of elder abuse or financial exploitation and representing the victim in legal actions to stop the abuse and seek compensation.
- Planning for long-term care: Developing strategies to cover the costs of nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care options without exhausting the elder’s financial resources.
- Managing probate and estate administration: Guiding families through the probate process to ensure that the decedent’s assets are distributed according to the law and their wishes.
- Setting up advance directives: Helping clients establish healthcare directives and powers of attorney to ensure their medical and financial decisions are carried out if they become incapacitated.
How Are Elder Law Lawyers Paid?
Elder law lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case and the type of legal work involved. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rate: Many elder law lawyers charge by the hour, especially for tasks such as drafting documents, handling legal disputes, or providing ongoing legal advice. Hourly rates typically range from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Flat fee: For specific tasks, such as drafting a will or setting up a trust, some lawyers charge a flat fee. This can range from $500 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the estate plan.
- Retainer: For long-term legal representation, such as managing a trust or handling guardianship matters, a lawyer may charge a retainer, which is an upfront payment that covers future legal work.
- Contingency fee: In some elder abuse or financial exploitation cases, a lawyer may work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they recover compensation for the client. This fee is typically a percentage of the settlement or damages awarded.
Be sure to discuss fees with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand how you will be billed and what the total cost of services might be.
How Much Does an Elder Law Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an elder law lawyer varies depending on the complexity of the case, the lawyer’s experience, and the fee structure. General cost estimates include:
- Simple estate planning: Drafting basic documents, such as a will or power of attorney, may cost between $500 and $2,000, depending on the complexity of the client’s assets and wishes.
- Complex estate planning: Setting up more advanced estate plans, such as revocable or irrevocable trusts, Medicaid planning, or special needs trusts, can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: Legal fees for setting up guardianship or conservatorship often range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case and whether disputes arise.
- Medicaid planning: Legal fees for Medicaid planning can range from $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the level of asset protection needed and the complexity of the individual’s financial situation.
Always ask for an estimate of fees during your initial consultation to ensure you understand how much the legal services will cost.
Top Questions to Ask an Elder Law Lawyer
Before hiring an elder law lawyer, it’s important to ask the right questions to ensure they have the experience and expertise needed to handle your case. Key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with elder law cases?
Make sure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, whether it's estate planning, Medicaid applications, or elder abuse claims. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, a flat fee, or a retainer, and ask for a detailed estimate of the total cost. -
What is the best approach for my case?
Ask for an honest assessment of your situation and what legal strategies the lawyer recommends. -
How long will the process take?
Whether it’s drafting an estate plan or setting up a guardianship, ask the lawyer how long they expect the process to take. -
Will you handle my case personally?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle parts of the case. Make sure you know who will be working on your case directly. -
What documents should I bring to the consultation?
Ask the lawyer what documentation or information you should prepare for your consultation, such as medical records, financial statements, or prior legal documents.
How to Check the Credibility of an Elder Law Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable elder law lawyer, follow these steps to verify their credentials and experience:
- Check their bar status: Verify with your state bar association that the lawyer is licensed to practice and has no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for elder law experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in elder law and have experience with 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 elder law issues.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications or affiliations with organizations such as the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), which can indicate the lawyer’s dedication to elder law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with an elder law lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- Existing estate planning documents: If you have a will, trust, or power of attorney in place, bring copies for the lawyer to review.
- Financial records: Provide details of your assets, including bank accounts, investments, real estate, and retirement accounts, as well as any debts.
- Medical information: If the case involves guardianship or Medicaid planning, bring relevant medical records that detail the individual's health condition and care needs.
- Insurance policies: Bring information about health insurance, long-term care insurance, and any other relevant policies.
- Questions for the lawyer: Write down any questions you have about your legal needs, the process, and the lawyer’s fees.
- List of family members or beneficiaries: Prepare a list of the individuals you want to include in your estate plan or who will be affected by the legal process.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation more effectively and receive the best legal advice tailored to your needs.
