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02 May, 2024 by Jennn 3
03 Oct, 2023 by Eric vanyo
When I discovered that I needed to get a lawyer in my workers comp case I called the Markel firm, and Chris was there to answer every question that I had. Chris guided me all the way through the process! I am very thankful to have The Markel Firm on my side through the tragedy that took place. There is no doubt that if I ever needed another lawyer, I would be calling him right away!!
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27 Oct, 2022 by Chad holmes
I have known Chris for a long time and he has represented me on numerous legal matters. He is an excellent attorney.
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23 May, 2012 by Shaun
Mr. Burhram provided me with timely answers to guardianship questions. His professionalism was on the mark and his answers were on the mark.
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07 Mar, 2011 by Dan
John is a very knowledgeable lawyer that I've been working with for the last few years. i would highly recommend him to anyone needing aan attorney for estate planning purposes.
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04 Mar, 2011 by Anonymous
For several years, John has assisted members of our family with both tax planning and estate settlement. He is a competent and thorough professional.
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31 Jan, 2024 by Heather swift-woolf
Great man and attorney. He managed my expectations throughout my years long divorce with kindness and in a way that helped me remember what was truly important. Even when I was a difficult client, he remained continually honest, supportive, and hard working. I cannot thank him enough. Even his fees were exceptionally fair.
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23 Jan, 2024 by Lauren smith
Great defense attorney! Highly recommended if you want a good lawyer that is respectful and honest! Good Job Sam.
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15 Dec, 2021 by Jenn smith
Sam is incredibly intelligent and handled my complex, difficult, years long case with professionalism and grace. After 4 previously hired and fired attorneys, I was beginning to lose hope. I am thankful to have found him and will absolutely hire him again in the future, if the need arises.
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13 Aug, 2019 by Michael
Don Morton is very professional. He answered all of our questions on the spot, and many recommendations for us to consider. We felt very good about our estates after meeting with him a few times.....we recommend Don highly!
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14 Aug, 2015 by Anonymous
Valerie handles all of the legal work for my business in Chattanooga. Reasonable rates, very helpful, extremely competent. One of the best lawyers in Chattanooga.
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22 Aug, 2024 by Allan smith
Darren assisted us with an eviction and despite us having a TERRIBLE lease, he was very helpful. He navigated the legal waters impressively and won me over.
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18 Nov, 2023 by Mary pavish
Darren was very easy to work with. Talking to him was easy and he made sure we understood each set of the process as we went through it. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs estate planning or real estate needs.
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18 Oct, 2023 by Rebecca mott
11 Sep, 2024 by Robert lam
You're in good hands with Micah! Thank you for all your help and understanding getting me though challenging times.
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11 Sep, 2024 by Jasmail brar
He is so good person, he talks with politely and nicely.
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13 Aug, 2024 by Mirela dedic
I forgot about my speeding ticket in Grundy County until 4 days before my court hearing. I am a Missouri resident so I didn’t just have 6 hours one way to drive up to court. I contacted Advice Law Firm, and Attorney Guster showed up to my court hearing and got my ticket dismissed! Never in a million years would I have expected that to happen going as fast as I was… HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
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02 Apr, 2023 by Robert longley
Hired the firm to set up a guardianship for a relative. Sally Brewer was indispensable from start to finish, did a great job of explaining the entire process and walking me through the fillings. Rebecca Miller did a great job of representing in court. Highly recommend for handling any similar matters.
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19 Mar, 2023 by Sally coffey
22 Sep, 2022 by Kim mincey
02 Apr, 2023 by Robert longley
Hired the firm to set up a guardianship for a relative. Sally Brewer was indispensable from start to finish, did a great job of explaining the entire process and walking me through the fillings. Rebecca Miller did a great job of representing in court. Highly recommend for handling any similar matters.
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19 Mar, 2023 by Sally coffey
22 Sep, 2022 by Kim mincey
02 Apr, 2023 by Robert longley
Hired the firm to set up a guardianship for a relative. Sally Brewer was indispensable from start to finish, did a great job of explaining the entire process and walking me through the fillings. Rebecca Miller did a great job of representing in court. Highly recommend for handling any similar matters.
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19 Mar, 2023 by Sally coffey
22 Sep, 2022 by Kim mincey
07 Jun, 2024 by Jason hubbard
Alan Norton is a great attorney -he has helped me out a couple of times. I highly recommend.
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25 Apr, 2024 by Marc keys
18 Apr, 2024 by Alicia seidel
Alan Norton was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful in navigating my needs and concerns and I owe my ultimate gratitude to him for the peace of mind he was able to deliver. I would highly recommend him especially since hiring a lawyer can be such a huge expense and you want to make sure there is actively someone on your case fighting for you while being informative throughout.
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07 Aug, 2024 by Paul guglielmi
I first worked with John Rexford in 2002. He guided my wife and I through the process of preparing Revokable Trusts, Durable Power of Attorneys, Pour Over Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Living Wills for my wife and I. He made doing this process easy and understandable. In 2003 my first wife passed away from cancer.
In 2010 I remarried, and he helped update my estate documents by replacing my first wife with my second wife. The process was quick and painless. These encounters involved face to face meetings with John in Massachusetts.
In 2022 my second wife passed away from a different form of cancer. After settling her estate, I contacted John to update my estate documents on advice of my local attorney from Massachusetts. I was getting on in years, and my estate plan needed a major update. I now had my children, brother and sister in-laws, and nieces and nephews from two families to consider, and needed to update trustees, attorneys-in-fact, and executors with some younger people.
John was in Tennessee, and I was in Massachusetts. We were able to accomplish the updates over the internet using Word documents, which we would both edit. The amendments were quite large. As in the past the changes were accomplished smoothly. He had to explain some things and answer questions. The way he organized the original documents made it easy to make the changes. As usual he makes things easy for the customer.
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10 Jul, 2024 by George humpht
25 Jun, 2024 by Sheila davis
If you are looking for an estate attorney Mr. Rexford is the one….My husband and I was in need of a Trust to be set up and not really understanding Wills or Trusts we went for a Consultation with Mr. Rexford. He was WONDERFUL in explaining everything in great detail and answered all of our questions. John is such a blessing and an answered Prayer for me and my husband. We would absolutely HIGHLY recommend him to anyone thinking about wills, trusts, and estate planning. THANK YOU JOHN FOR EVERYTHING !!!!
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07 Aug, 2024 by Paul guglielmi
I first worked with John Rexford in 2002. He guided my wife and I through the process of preparing Revokable Trusts, Durable Power of Attorneys, Pour Over Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Living Wills for my wife and I. He made doing this process easy and understandable. In 2003 my first wife passed away from cancer.
In 2010 I remarried, and he helped update my estate documents by replacing my first wife with my second wife. The process was quick and painless. These encounters involved face to face meetings with John in Massachusetts.
In 2022 my second wife passed away from a different form of cancer. After settling her estate, I contacted John to update my estate documents on advice of my local attorney from Massachusetts. I was getting on in years, and my estate plan needed a major update. I now had my children, brother and sister in-laws, and nieces and nephews from two families to consider, and needed to update trustees, attorneys-in-fact, and executors with some younger people.
John was in Tennessee, and I was in Massachusetts. We were able to accomplish the updates over the internet using Word documents, which we would both edit. The amendments were quite large. As in the past the changes were accomplished smoothly. He had to explain some things and answer questions. The way he organized the original documents made it easy to make the changes. As usual he makes things easy for the customer.
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10 Jul, 2024 by George humpht
25 Jun, 2024 by Sheila davis
If you are looking for an estate attorney Mr. Rexford is the one….My husband and I was in need of a Trust to be set up and not really understanding Wills or Trusts we went for a Consultation with Mr. Rexford. He was WONDERFUL in explaining everything in great detail and answered all of our questions. John is such a blessing and an answered Prayer for me and my husband. We would absolutely HIGHLY recommend him to anyone thinking about wills, trusts, and estate planning. THANK YOU JOHN FOR EVERYTHING !!!!
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23 Aug, 2024 by Jessica cirelli
All of the associates are friendly and understanding. I didn’t feel any judgment having to be there during a very challenging time. Very professional, very honest. So glad this place came recommended when I was looking.
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20 Aug, 2024 by Starla goolesby
The process went very smooth & they helped me so much. Will refer someone else Bec they are amazing
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15 Aug, 2024 by Jamie swafford
23 Aug, 2024 by Julie kinnard
Great experience! We were out of the country and had to use a POA and they made the process easy and everything went perfect!
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28 Mar, 2024 by Brandie driskell
Always professional and great communication!!
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28 Mar, 2024 by Robert davis
Great closing experience. They took care of everything we needed.
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10 Feb, 2024 by D xx
22 Dec, 2023 by Matthew kay
Rip works with Hank Hill and they a dynamic team. He pulled some strings and helped my father and I out of a tight situation. I couldn't ask for a better attorney
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29 Nov, 2023 by Lucas delvalle
Rip Biggs is by far the best lawyer and is also one of the finest human beings I have ever met. You won't ever have someone fight for you the way he does. He is more than an attorney he's my friend as well. I can tell you right now everybody I know I refer them to Rip. It's an honor to know a guy like this man. Give him a shot if your needing representation. You will not be disappointed!
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29 Aug, 2024 by Mark lemons
Eric Buchanan and Associates did a great job resolving my case.
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21 Aug, 2024 by Scott shoemaker
Went to court with me on my disability case. He may have said 2 words. Would not recommend this lawyer. Then tried to charge me for all paperwork after I was denied.
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24 Apr, 2024 by Raymond jones
Great experience working with these guys.
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15 Mar, 2024 by Dr. donald mccary
Excellent law firm that does the very best in solving legal problems. They are the best!
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25 Sep, 2023 by Jessica olson
He helped me so much with my divorce. Made it quick and easy over the phone. He talks to you like you're somebody, not just another client. Would really recommend him to everyone to use.
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16 Jun, 2023 by Trent visser
15 Jul, 2024 by Sarah mcpherson
23 Dec, 2023 by Determinedjedi78
Mr. Hamill appears to be a brilliant lawyer. I look forward to working with him in the future.
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14 Dec, 2023 by Shane gressett
28 Nov, 2023 by Kim wilson
I could never actually sum up in a review my complete satisfaction with this Firm. I have used Michael Jennings over the past twenty years. And it's because he is so trustworthy and and awesome. It's a absolute pleasure to know he is a phone call away. I have had things come out of nowhere, felt panic and then remembered that I could call him. Everything has always worked out in my favor because he is diligent, a good friend, a person who you can trust. All I can say again and again is Thank you
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30 May, 2023 by Aimee simon
I swear I was trying to just ask one question these attorney's would not give me the time of day! They just avoided me! Like they were better than every body else! It was rather disgusting! No wonder alot of people do not respect attorneys! I had to keep calling which was very disrespectful!
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30 Apr, 2022 by Andrew metelits
I am certainly glad I have never had to deal with Hoyt Samples in the lawyer sense, but I can comment on his inability in being a landlord. Him and his wife, Mitzi, were the worst landlords a.k.a. slumlords my family and I have ever had to deal with. From Jan '21-Mar '22 we rented 1034 Red Robin Lane in Chattanooga from the Samples. 3 weeks after we moved in, we woke up to a swimming pool of water in the kitchen from a broken sink pipe. notified them immediately and they acted like it was our fault, asking" what did you do" and asking to send them pictures, like it was impossible to understand. Took 2 days for them to get a plumber out there, so no kitchen sink for 2 days for family of 6, unreal! Next the plumbing in the house is God awful. Toilet's never flushed properly, why... because after several complaints the plumber came back out and found chunks of pvc piping in the line. Leaking bathtub faucets, backed up sewer lines in the house, black mold in the house, and above all that, ... these people will nickel and dime you on getting your security deposit back, if any. If he practices law the same way he is a landlord, surprised he hasn't been disbarred.
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30 Mar, 2024 by Dan smith
Excellent attorney, will get you results guarenteed.
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30 Mar, 2024 by Jessica cruz
She was a wonderful lawyer, she got things done! She is very responsive, she will call you right away and text you back right away. No problem. She is really professional and very good at what she does. I couldn't be more thankful for her!!!
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30 Mar, 2024 by Charnita west
Donna was so very helpful with my case. She was able to help me keep my license so I could take care of my children. So so compassionate. Before court I was panicking and she was able to calm me down and ease my mind about it all. I will definitely hire again if she is ever needed. She is absolutely amazing at what she does.
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18 Mar, 2024 by Robin flores
26 Feb, 2024 by Michael thomas
02 Feb, 2024 by Karen grantham
Thieves. Overcharge to do nothing. Albert Secor should have his license revoked.
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18 Jan, 2024 by Wells eady
I hired Tim Ballard for a child custody case during a sensitive period following the loss of our daughter to cancer. While Tim seemed personable, the service and value I received were unsatisfactory.
My experience with Mr. Ballard was costly and inefficient compared to previous attorneys. Over $8000 and nearly a year later, the only significant progress was one hour of mediation. The costs seemed excessive: $2000 for mediation prep and almost $100 for a brief email. Additionally, I questioned the 5.5 hours billed (Tim does his own billing and invoicing. One month I received several months billing all of a sudden) for mediation prep half billed on a day when Tim was handling another case.
Several months I’m still waiting on discovery questions, child support worksheet, and some bills of my ex spouse to be paid. All of which are “in the works”
Communication issues were persistent. I often had to rebrief him on basic case details, yet was billed for these updates. Despite being promised legal aid assistance, this help materialized late, failing to restore my confidence in the firm.
The process was drawn out, with mediation dates constantly delayed from May to July to November. I felt my case wasn't advocated for effectively, particularly in dealings with the opposing attorney.
Now in the process of switching lawyers, I'm disheartened by the substantial financial and time investment with minimal progress. I'm open to sharing more details with those considering this firm.
A major concern was the inefficient communication costing over half the total fees. I preferred meetings over emails for efficiency, but this approach wasn't adopted.
There were also missed opportunities, like enrolling my daughter in a new school, and periods where Tim was difficult to contact, though active on social media liking the opposing attorneys instagram posts.
In summary, I expected more empathy and proactivity in handling my case. This experience felt like a financial and emotional drain during an already difficult time.
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15 Sep, 2023 by Briyah and mariyah's world
They are never there and have a awful response time
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07 Aug, 2023 by Andrew breneman
Chris Varner does an incredible job. Go to see him for your legal needs!
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19 Sep, 2024 by Chandiliers
Sorry bums! What was I paying them for?
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05 Aug, 2024 by Nicholasdavis45
I am a father of two children. I have custodial custody of my two son’s as well. I am an active duty service member and have obligations to duty such as deployments/rotations out of country. I followed my permanent parenting plan and had my kids stay with their mother and her boyfriend while I was gone overseas. Within two and a half weeks of being gone she and her boyfriend disappeared with my kids, alienated me from my kids, filed false abuse allegations to my current post ( which was investigated and unfounded). Among other things my kids were also not registered in school and ended up starting a week late once I had began filing missing persons reports for my children which forced her hand in enrolling them and letting me contact them. My firm I had used previously to Grant Konvalinka & Harrison was amazing and was the firm that helped me to win my custodial custody a year earlier all the way from Colorado. After about nine months of using my previous firm, to save me some expenses my attorney had recommended that I use local representation and advised that Katherine Lentz would be more than capable of representing me fairly and well in this case. Once I agreed to make this transition I spoke with Katherine and everything we spoke about seemed like a clean cut case seeing that I had more than enough evidence in the case to come out with a successful ruling. However, as the months went on the opposing attorney in the case found ways to keep getting the hearing dates moved and have yet to be heard. I fought the whole nine months I was gone to try to get my kids home and to be cared for by my wife. My ex wife broke every single court order, everything in the PPP and someone I had to budge and bend and at one point even had to pay money to my ex wife for her to meet halfway to exchange my kids when she has never paid a dime in child support. She continued to let my ex wife break court orders for the longest time without filing any motions of contempt, the GAL had filed two previous contempt motions on her own behalf before Katherine actually filed one. This case has been so screwed up and unjust since I have been using Katherine to represent me. She had informed me that the opposing counsel had been getting her case probono even though she’s the one that committed tax fraud by claiming my children which goes against the PPP and false reporting. Countless emails were sent to Katherine with no response and when there was a response it was short and barely helpful. I conveyed my frustration over and over again and was met with we don’t like the way you speak to everyone ( referring to my ex wife and herself). After over a year of begging this case to gain progress and hold my ex wife accountable and the event of my children being moved to four different homes over the summer due to the lack of my attorney to take action in getting them back along with nine months of begging her to file a child support order to help with expenses, I finally filed a complaint to the Tennessee Board of Professional responsibility and within 24 hours of being notified that my complaint was granted an investigation Katherine without even speaking with me filed a motion to withdraw her representation in my case after charging me over 18,000 dollars with nothing to show for it and all on the weekend I have to be gone to training for the month and can’t find proper representation to continue my case to hold my ex accountable. This just goes to show the injustice that fathers have when fighting for what is best for their children because history shows clearly fathers in the same role that the mother is in have been put in jail and drained financially with child support for a lot less yet I have to beg and beg for the same justice. I will never recommend this firm and luckily it’s not close to base where so many fathers on active duty are fighting for their kids because this firm does not seem to care about how they treat their service members nor the fathers position.
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20 Jun, 2024 by Dr. bryan christoffer
Awesome firm, great customer service, would definitely recommend!
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19 Sep, 2024 by Chandiliers
Sorry bums! What was I paying them for?
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05 Aug, 2024 by Nicholasdavis45
I am a father of two children. I have custodial custody of my two son’s as well. I am an active duty service member and have obligations to duty such as deployments/rotations out of country. I followed my permanent parenting plan and had my kids stay with their mother and her boyfriend while I was gone overseas. Within two and a half weeks of being gone she and her boyfriend disappeared with my kids, alienated me from my kids, filed false abuse allegations to my current post ( which was investigated and unfounded). Among other things my kids were also not registered in school and ended up starting a week late once I had began filing missing persons reports for my children which forced her hand in enrolling them and letting me contact them. My firm I had used previously to Grant Konvalinka & Harrison was amazing and was the firm that helped me to win my custodial custody a year earlier all the way from Colorado. After about nine months of using my previous firm, to save me some expenses my attorney had recommended that I use local representation and advised that Katherine Lentz would be more than capable of representing me fairly and well in this case. Once I agreed to make this transition I spoke with Katherine and everything we spoke about seemed like a clean cut case seeing that I had more than enough evidence in the case to come out with a successful ruling. However, as the months went on the opposing attorney in the case found ways to keep getting the hearing dates moved and have yet to be heard. I fought the whole nine months I was gone to try to get my kids home and to be cared for by my wife. My ex wife broke every single court order, everything in the PPP and someone I had to budge and bend and at one point even had to pay money to my ex wife for her to meet halfway to exchange my kids when she has never paid a dime in child support. She continued to let my ex wife break court orders for the longest time without filing any motions of contempt, the GAL had filed two previous contempt motions on her own behalf before Katherine actually filed one. This case has been so screwed up and unjust since I have been using Katherine to represent me. She had informed me that the opposing counsel had been getting her case probono even though she’s the one that committed tax fraud by claiming my children which goes against the PPP and false reporting. Countless emails were sent to Katherine with no response and when there was a response it was short and barely helpful. I conveyed my frustration over and over again and was met with we don’t like the way you speak to everyone ( referring to my ex wife and herself). After over a year of begging this case to gain progress and hold my ex wife accountable and the event of my children being moved to four different homes over the summer due to the lack of my attorney to take action in getting them back along with nine months of begging her to file a child support order to help with expenses, I finally filed a complaint to the Tennessee Board of Professional responsibility and within 24 hours of being notified that my complaint was granted an investigation Katherine without even speaking with me filed a motion to withdraw her representation in my case after charging me over 18,000 dollars with nothing to show for it and all on the weekend I have to be gone to training for the month and can’t find proper representation to continue my case to hold my ex accountable. This just goes to show the injustice that fathers have when fighting for what is best for their children because history shows clearly fathers in the same role that the mother is in have been put in jail and drained financially with child support for a lot less yet I have to beg and beg for the same justice. I will never recommend this firm and luckily it’s not close to base where so many fathers on active duty are fighting for their kids because this firm does not seem to care about how they treat their service members nor the fathers position.
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20 Jun, 2024 by Dr. bryan christoffer
Awesome firm, great customer service, would definitely recommend!
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19 Sep, 2024 by Chandiliers
Sorry bums! What was I paying them for?
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05 Aug, 2024 by Nicholasdavis45
I am a father of two children. I have custodial custody of my two son’s as well. I am an active duty service member and have obligations to duty such as deployments/rotations out of country. I followed my permanent parenting plan and had my kids stay with their mother and her boyfriend while I was gone overseas. Within two and a half weeks of being gone she and her boyfriend disappeared with my kids, alienated me from my kids, filed false abuse allegations to my current post ( which was investigated and unfounded). Among other things my kids were also not registered in school and ended up starting a week late once I had began filing missing persons reports for my children which forced her hand in enrolling them and letting me contact them. My firm I had used previously to Grant Konvalinka & Harrison was amazing and was the firm that helped me to win my custodial custody a year earlier all the way from Colorado. After about nine months of using my previous firm, to save me some expenses my attorney had recommended that I use local representation and advised that Katherine Lentz would be more than capable of representing me fairly and well in this case. Once I agreed to make this transition I spoke with Katherine and everything we spoke about seemed like a clean cut case seeing that I had more than enough evidence in the case to come out with a successful ruling. However, as the months went on the opposing attorney in the case found ways to keep getting the hearing dates moved and have yet to be heard. I fought the whole nine months I was gone to try to get my kids home and to be cared for by my wife. My ex wife broke every single court order, everything in the PPP and someone I had to budge and bend and at one point even had to pay money to my ex wife for her to meet halfway to exchange my kids when she has never paid a dime in child support. She continued to let my ex wife break court orders for the longest time without filing any motions of contempt, the GAL had filed two previous contempt motions on her own behalf before Katherine actually filed one. This case has been so screwed up and unjust since I have been using Katherine to represent me. She had informed me that the opposing counsel had been getting her case probono even though she’s the one that committed tax fraud by claiming my children which goes against the PPP and false reporting. Countless emails were sent to Katherine with no response and when there was a response it was short and barely helpful. I conveyed my frustration over and over again and was met with we don’t like the way you speak to everyone ( referring to my ex wife and herself). After over a year of begging this case to gain progress and hold my ex wife accountable and the event of my children being moved to four different homes over the summer due to the lack of my attorney to take action in getting them back along with nine months of begging her to file a child support order to help with expenses, I finally filed a complaint to the Tennessee Board of Professional responsibility and within 24 hours of being notified that my complaint was granted an investigation Katherine without even speaking with me filed a motion to withdraw her representation in my case after charging me over 18,000 dollars with nothing to show for it and all on the weekend I have to be gone to training for the month and can’t find proper representation to continue my case to hold my ex accountable. This just goes to show the injustice that fathers have when fighting for what is best for their children because history shows clearly fathers in the same role that the mother is in have been put in jail and drained financially with child support for a lot less yet I have to beg and beg for the same justice. I will never recommend this firm and luckily it’s not close to base where so many fathers on active duty are fighting for their kids because this firm does not seem to care about how they treat their service members nor the fathers position.
Read more
20 Jun, 2024 by Dr. bryan christoffer
Awesome firm, great customer service, would definitely recommend!
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06 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
I hired Mr. Paty to help me in a divorce case. He would go over a week without returning my calls. When questioned about his lack of communication, he would not discuss it and ultimately the relationship was terminated. Although I had known him for years, I DO NOT recommend wasting your time or money with him.
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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:
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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.
