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15 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
Stephen Hayman is an excellent attorney. He has handled a variety of cases for us, including real estate matters and contract disputes. He is knowledgeable, conscientious, dedicated and understanding. He discusses with us the best course to take. I highly recommend him
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23 Jan, 2018 by Dotty
After interviewing several attorney's I settled on Mr. Hayman as he was responsive from the beginning, knowledgeable and spent quality time with me. My case was long and required great versatility in working with all the components and several other attorneys in and out of state. I highly recommend Mr. Hayman and I'm thankful for the representation he gave to me.
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27 Nov, 2017 by Edward
Stephen Hayman is an excellent real estate attorney. I am a local attorney and I refer any complex real estate transactions and/or real estate related matters to Mr. Hayman. He is very knowledgeable and thorough in his research. He once did a detailed analysis of several properties that changed hands over the years for a probate matter which needed a real estate specialist.
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07 Nov, 2023 by K s
Elizabeth was well prepared. She was quick with her reputable. Had all the facts and knowledge of State legal codes. The case was won successfully!
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19 Nov, 2019 by Amanda
From start to finish Devolder Law Firm was effective, patient, caring, ethical, firm in reaching agreeable solutions and are a top notch firm. The entire staff is professional and personable and we highly recommend them!!
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21 Oct, 2019 by Anonymous
Elizabeth Devolder was affordable, fair, efficient, and helpful. I highly recommend her.
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10 Oct, 2012 by Daniel
My husband and I are extremely grateful to the assistance of Ms. Wolf and her team in helping us deal with the healthcare issues for our elderly parents. Not only is Ms. Wolf extremely knowledgeable, but her personal warmth and patience are invaluable assets in helping translate the maze of legal and financial issues that the elderly must address to ensure quality of life. We highly recommend Amanda D Wolf for anyone who needs an Eldercare Attorney.
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10 May, 2010 by Henry
We are very pleased with Amanda Wolf's knowledge of the law as it applys to eldercare and estate planning. We could not have negotiated the maze of government rules and regulations without her guidance. She also handled my elderly mother with empathy and professionalism which helped ensure that she secured the benefits she was entitled to. I am a a senior officer with the Northern Trust Company and have worked with many attorneys, Amanda is at the top of the list.
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28 Apr, 2010 by William
Amanda made a difficult time in my life much easier for me. Her amiable personality and intimate knowledge of elder law as well as the workings of the DCF made it a less stressful process getting my Mother approved for Medicaid. She is very easy to talk to and one feels immediately at ease with her. Her fee was much more reasonable than I had expected and she was able to make the whole process, from initial interview to final acceptance by Medicaid, smooth.
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02 Mar, 2020 by Dana
I am so happy that I contacted Derek to help me with my divorce. I had spent a ton of money retaining a lawyer prior to reaching out to Derek, and ultimately didn't get the assistance I needed. When I contacted him, I was at my wit's end, emotionally, dealing with financial strain, unhelpful professionals, on top of a painful divorce situation. I met with him twice for consultation and he was very patient, compassionate, knowledgeable, and authentic. I have never been divorced before, so I was totally lost, and he explained all my options, rights, and responsibilities in language that made sense to me. He was also able to provide consultation by the hour, as needed, so I didn't have to go through the upfront cost of a huge retainer fee, when my divorce case didn't really call for it. It's very clear that he genuinely cares about his clients and their well-being. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs divorce assistance.
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25 Jun, 2012 by Geoff
I had been dealing with a very difficult divorce situation, and I needed a lawyer that would listen, understand, work with me as opposed to overide me, and keep me up to date and informed with a challenging situation.
I spent weeks and then some searching for the right lawyer, and then upon a recommendation from a friend found Derek Lucas.
I explained my complex and complicated situation to Derek, and he picked up on it right away, and agreed to work with me in the way I wanted and needed, and lastly we agreed on a fair and reasonable payment for the services. Derek lived up to all of my expectations.
Derek kept me up to date as requested and as he agreed.
The case was concluded in a satisfactory way.
I would highly recommend Dereek and his firm to anyone, and in fact I have referred him to several other potential clients already. Needless to say the next time I need a lawyer for law that he handles, I will be calling upon Derek Lucas again.
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02 Feb, 2011 by Lori
I was rerferred to Mr. Lucas by a friend, another lawyer who didn't handle the type of law I needed. I could not be more pleased. His fee was reasonable and he was very patient throughout the whole divorce process which became unavoidably drawn out. He kept me informed of progress by email and phone calls and always responded promptly to my inquiries. He helped me through a difficult process and showed a good balance of professionalism and empathy.
I would highly recommend his services.
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12 Aug, 2024 by Malina
She was amazing and always ensured I thought about my decisions . Always responded and always on time . I would definitely keep her .
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02 Nov, 2023 by Gerry
Miss Bedell exhibited thorough knowledge of the Florida divorce laws. Her knowledge, communication skills, imbued a profound depth of trust in her advise. Miss Bedell was patient, understanding , and was an excellent listener. Dissolutions are rarely easy , however Miss Bedel's competence managed the difficulties that occured through the dissolution. I hold Miss Bedel in the highest regard. She is a credit to the Law firm in which she practices, and reflects the highest standards of her profession.
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26 Sep, 2021 by Malika el aynous
She was very patient with me,specifically my ex was over cities,thank you you was owesem.
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19 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
I came to Brian for a free initial consultation for chapter 7 bankruptcy.
I had consulted three other Consumer Lawyers based in Pinellas County. I instantly knew I found the right fit when I met Brian because he is professional and a sincere and humble lawyer. He is transparent with charges and court fees, he is collegial, non judgemental, and does not make appointments he can't keep, nor does he brush you off to legal assistants or paralegals. Very down to earth and hard working.
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19 Dec, 2013 by Anonymous
Before I was referred to Brian for my bankruptcy case, my stress level was through the roof. From the first phone call with him, he alleviated that stress and answered every question I had. The other attorneys I had dealt with prior were more about how was the fastest way to get my money. Brian was the exact opposite. He walked me through every step, giving me advice and guidance throughout the process. He was knowledgeable and very helpful. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a good bankruptcy attorney.
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14 May, 2013 by Rafael
Brian is an excellent attorney, He is very detailed and very trustworthy with excellent communication skills. I am truly satisfied with the services he provided. A true professional with exceptional knowledge.
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11 Apr, 2017 by Zuzana
My husband and I have found ourselves in a desperate situation dealing with debilitating chronic disease. My husband's health had been declining too fast too soon. I have realized I needed help caring for him. Mrs.Muenter has truly been a godsend for our family. Not only did she help us set up all necessary documents every family should have ( living will, power of attorney etc.) but most importantly, she helped us navigate through the complex matrix of applying for Medicaid long term care for my husband. We just got approved and I can finally feel relieved that we can get some much needed help. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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21 Mar, 2013 by Liz
Kim was incredibly helpful and diligent. She definately made me feel cared for and often went out of her way to get everything done properly and speed up the process of my divorce. This can be a very overwhelming process, but Kim helped me feel at ease and stress free, every step of the way. I absolutely recommend her services to anyone.
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21 Mar, 2013 by Felicia
Attorney Kimberly Muenter made me feel like I was her only client. She always kept me informed, researched laws to help my case, always answered/returned my calls, showed me she was knowledgeable with my case, and always covered all bases before making a decision. She is someone you can trust and when you are dealing with life changes, you need someone on your side that shows interest and concern about your case and about you. I would really recommend her!
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19 Aug, 2016 by Anonymous
John reviewed all my landlord tenant dispute document (lease, county inspection, email and text correspondence, my narrative of the sequence of event) and gave me honest opinion that I'm at fault, advised me to settle with the tenants. It was a very emotional, frightening experience that really clouded my judgement. His honest opinion forced me to face the reality and make the right concession. I was decided to hire him for the settlement offer letter, but the tenants couldn't wait. I had to hurry up and draft the agreement myself and sign with the tenants. But thanks John, your professional opinion was invaluable!
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07 Jun, 2011 by John
John's sage advice and quick grasp of my legal situation in a landlord tenant dispute involving the health of my children due to rat and mold infestation will likely save me hundreds if not thousands of dollars in legal costs. He was astute, personable and possess the highest integrity I have observed in a long time. As a senior military officer, I have come across inumerable professionals from a broad cross section of our government committed to doing what's right. John possess those same qualities in spades. Highest possible endorsement.
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21 Oct, 2009 by Carol
We were selling property and despite all the complications, John systematically figured it all out, negotiated and completed the sale successfully on our grateful behalf. We plan on retaining John Redding for the rest of our lives for all our legal work for contracts and estate trust management. He is a rare find in todays complicated and fast changing world. We highly recommend him.
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27 Aug, 2013 by Anonymous
Dear Attorney Michael,
Thank you so much for everything you have done for me in my employment discrimination case. After first speaking with you and seeing how professional and knowledgeable you are made me feel confident that you would be the right attorney to represent me. It was never a hassle to get in touch directly with you and I did appreciate your constant contacts even after the settlement making sure that everything was back in place. The outcome of my case was far better than what I had expected. You have done an amazing job and I would recommend you to anyone looking for a great lawyer. Thank you again for everything you have done for me.
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05 Jun, 2013 by Brian braggs
Attorney Stephens assisted me as an executive in a corporate matter within a mid-sized organization that was delicate in nature . His attention to detail, depth both in knowledge in terms of corporate culture was above par...Additionally, his education, training, certifications and as an SPHR coupled with being an experienced HR attorney was critical at least with my case. I would and have referred a couple of folks to him as he represented my case well and we were fortunate because of his intellectual ability while crafty communication skills led to a successful win that paid in large dividends... I am still reaping the rewards of his contributions in my case... If I needed him again, it would be a no brainer.
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01 Jun, 2013 by J.r.
It is seldom that you find legal representation with integrity, results driven, and innovative through the use of technology to provide proficiency in handling multiple diverse cases. Michael Stephens demonstrates each of these critical attributes for his clients during the most challenging economical times. More importantly, his rare style of building and maintaining a strong client relationship is a key attribute I admire most. I felt connected and informed throughout the entire engagement. I would highly recommend his legal and consultation services.
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21 Jul, 2021 by Ezequiel
I highly advise hiring the services of Nathan Adam Carney in Tampa. He took very good care of my case. I got consistent updates on a regular basis and the entire process was very quick. I would retain his services over and over again if needed.
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12 Sep, 2017 by Robert
Nate was very upfront and honest about courses of action, options, potential outcomes, time frame, cost, etc. He was very professional at all times but at the same time, was personal and empathetic to my position as well as my brother's. He always communicated with me about updates when asked or when he had something substantive to advise me of. I would highly recommend him to anyone!
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21 Sep, 2009 by Laurie
Nathan handled a significant amount of work for us and always got the best result possible. He was informative when decisions needed to be made and worked hard and long to give us the best service possible.
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09 Nov, 2017 by Carolle
Mr. Stanton has assisted me many occasions with my Franchise Agreements, reviewing contracts and agreements and incorporation work. They are reasonably priced, very professional and communicates effectively. I highly recommend his service.
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30 Jan, 2015 by Richard
We were a defendant in a frivolous federal lawsuit that was filed against us. Not knowing where to turn we wanted to make sure we had the best lawyer representing our company. Mr. Stanton was recommended to us as an incredible business attorney in Tampa FL from other business professionals.
Mr. Stanton walked us through the entire process and advised us of the pros and cons to every decision we made. We held our ground and ended up with a case that was dismissed. We are completely satisfied with the work provided by Stanton Cronin Law Group and we plan on keeping our retainer active so we can call them with any questions or problems that may arise in the future.
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10 Feb, 2012 by Bobby
I contacted Mike (and Sean) to assist me on a business lawsuit for which I was being deposed in 6 days. We spent over an hour discussing my case. Mike was completely upfront and knowledgable on the deposition process and how we should proceed. Having never been deposed, I was quite nervous before speaking with Mike. He put me at ease and assured me that he would be there to represent me and my business partner so that we presented our case succinctly and accurately to the deposing attorney. He met us early for the meeting, reviewed our documents and took control of the meeting from the beginning. The deposition went smoothly and we were done in less than 90 minutes due to Mike preparing us so well ahead of time. His flat rate was more than reasonable while the service was extraordinary. If you need a business lawyer in Tampa, you only need to call StantonCronin.
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12 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
Mr. Daddono was outstanding. He was patient, empathetic, and interested in helping me to understand my situation. I highly recommend anyone who has an estate, will, or probate issue(s) give Mr. Daddono a call. He gets an A+ score from me.
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15 Jun, 2023 by Dwight
The office answered my text promptly and Drew responded quickly.
He Emailed a response and then called right after.
Drew answered all my questions and discussed other issues too.
Thanks a lot!
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08 Sep, 2022 by Joshua
Drew is the best. He and his team are very courteous and professional and helped me handle inheritance after my mother passed without a will or much of a plan. I was overwhelmed by the inheritance and probate process and ready to just walk away when I contacted him and he encouraged me not to. He was able to quickly and affordably handle the transfer of her property so I could sell it to help cover funeral costs. I cannot thank him enough for his help. He truly is a cut above.
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15 Nov, 2018 by Chas
Jessica is a great asset to your business management. She's extremely knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to reviewing our business contracts.
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13 Nov, 2018 by Dr. john d. goolsby
Jessica is a great attorney. she has a great legal mind that can manage any business situation you may have. I highly recommend her for all of your business needs.
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18 Apr, 2018 by Kelly
Mrs. Mazariego is an extraordinary attorney. She goes above and beyond for her clients. She is very knowledgeable and compassionate. I would highly recommend her.
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14 Dec, 2018 by John
Adria did our wills and trusts recently. She was timely and very helpful. I am an attorney but know little about estate planning and will drafting. She was very good at explaining and helping us design our estate plan to avoid probate. her charges were lower than I expected. I highly recommend her as a professional in every sense of that word.
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21 Aug, 2017 by Melissa
Ms. Dickey was a blessing to me in such a hard time. I had a situation with my deceased husbands life insurance policy and with the help of Ms. Dickey it was resolved quickly and with such professionalism. I would highly recommend Ms. Dickey to anyone needing legal help.
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11 May, 2024 by Jim blume
We are longtime volunteers in the foster system and adopted a child who sought to kill us and our autistic son. After 8 years of really trying to guide this child, with therapists, schools, and much more than this review can hold - Attorney Kimberly Garno represented us as we struggled to protect everyone involved. Kimberly Garno read through our extensive documents, understood how to move forward without wasting time and the judge applauded her decisive and unconventional direction. She responded to the calls and questions we had and truly listened to all of our concerns. Her legal acumen is brilliant, non nonsense, and unexpected. My impression of most attorneys is uncaring and only wanting easy money. But Kimberly genuinely looks at your case and sees through the clutter and gets right to the best legal approach. If you are facing any dependency issues, I highly recommend hiring Kimberly Garno as your attorney.
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12 Nov, 2021 by Joshua
I was appointed Ms. Garno to my Child Dependency case in Pinellas county. I had parted ways with my previous attorney, and had no more money to hire another attorney. So the judge appointed Ms. Garno to represent me. She is a private attorney who was appointed to me on a Pro Bono basis; and I'll be honest I was worried about the level of service I was going to get from an appointed attorney... But I shouldn't have been...
Ms. Garno represented me better than the attorney that I paid thousands of dollars to. Her professionalism and expertise was so good that she did something that is very rare, and she won a trial against DCF/Eckerd... My case was dismissed by the judge on a directed judgement, before we even had to plead our defense!
If you're thinking about hiring Ms. Garno, stop thinking about it and just do it. You WILL be happy with her representation!
Thank you for getting my kids returned to me and my wife, Ms. Garno.
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19 Jul, 2022 by Tony
I would recommend Antonio Dowels to anyone he is hands on with me always returns my calls he breaks everything down so that I understand exactly what is going on and I can't say enough how happy I am the he's working my case.
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24 Mar, 2021 by Katelyn
I cannot thank Antonio enough for the amount of time and effort he put into my very unusual case. He did exactly what he was supposed to do to help me every step of the way. I will highly recommend Mr. Dowels to anyone I know who needs counsel.
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28 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Over the years, Mr. Wolfson has consulted me on a labyrinth of legal issues, ranging from healthcare to employment law, and he has represented me on multiple occasions. When you call, he will always be the one who answers the phone.
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28 Aug, 2014 by Steven
Mr. Wolfson, has been my attorney on multiple healthcare-associated legal matters. I was impressed by his wealth of knowledge and tenacity in pursuing these difficult cases. No matter how complex the case was, Mr. Wolfson strived arduously to resolve the matter in my favor.
Although there were multiple lawyers involved with one particular case, Mr. Wolfson graciously took a lead position and successfully managed these lawyers resulting in an expeditious as well as a successful conclusion to the case.
Despite being a solo practitioner, Mr. Wolfson has demonstrated an uncanny ability to gather and analyze the legal facts of the case so as to effectively and efficaciously manage the healthcare matter and to minimize his billings.
To date, I have not been able to find any attorney, notwithstanding the specialty of law practiced, as capable as Jay Wolfson in assessing a case as quickly and as thoroughly in order to complete the matter at hand so that his client will be spared the usual and inordinate cost of litigation. Therefore, I unhesitatingly recommend Mr. Wolfson to anyone seeking a competent and knowledgeable attorney who serves his client with compassion and understanding unequal in today's legal arena.
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05 Jul, 2013 by Brian
Michelle Garcia Gilbert and her team have handled my company's foreclosure and related creditors' rights litigation matters for years with great knowledge and understanding. I am continually impressed by the deep, file-level knowledge possessed by anyone who works on anything for us at this firm. Michelle is tremendous leader as exhibited by the great work her team does.
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09 Jun, 2016 by Kaileen
Mr. Diecidue has been my attorney,since I was referred to him my Aida, My personal attorney. After the dead of my husband, we obtained him to oversee my estate. I am so very pleased of all the work that he has done with my case and all the other legal matters, I needed him to help with. He is an amazingly Superb lawyer. There is no question to big or to small for him to take his time out and contact you for. I recommend him to anyone as an excellent attorney. From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank you for everything you have done for me, may God bless you and thanks you for all you have done.
-Kaileen, kyle
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31 Oct, 2013 by Anonymous
Best attorney to work with in Ft. Myers. He put in an extended amount of effort to win my case. Very prepared and professional. Highly recommend him.
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17 Nov, 2022 by Angel p.
My mother passed away and I reached out to several attorneys in order to begin the probate process. I knew as soon as I started speaking with Lorien that I was going to hire her. She was extremely knowledgeable, kind and compassionate. The probate was handled quickly and she kept me informed every step of the way. Lorien is amazing and gets the job done! I highly recommend her and would definitely hire her again.
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08 Oct, 2019 by Mary
Our 8 year old child was coached by their counselor to be Baker Acted just a week after same counselor had his twin Baker Acted. Children with normal life and mental health patterns before beginning with this school counselor at the start of the year.
Adam was by our side within 4 hours of contact, working with his partner to get our Writ of Habeas Corpus together on a Friday afternoon and document gathering from others as well as our family's doctor and put in play a judge at the ready. He even handled the cops when they were called on us as the administrator couldn't get her story straight. Our child was released within the next 4 through Friday night to our and our doctor's care thanks to the quick thinking and firm hand Adam used to bring our Baker Acted son home to us.
I'm deeply grateful to his quick actions and quick thinking to prevent our son from being held against his (and our) will creating traumatizing memories.
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09 May, 2017 by Dana
Natalie provided us wonderful service and guidance for developing our estate plans. She provided excellent council and information on all of our options and helped us create a family trust plan that was customized for our family needs. I would highly recommend Natalie for representation.
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17 Sep, 2010 by Anonymous
I have worked with Jeff any many different matters and know him to be a trustworthy and dedicated lawyer. He is extemely knowledgeable and does great work.
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20 Feb, 2019 by John
Amy Stoll is a wonderful, knowledgeable and professional attorney! She is always accessible and responsive. I recently had a complex issue with a very short timeline that we needed her assistance with. Amy literally worked all weekend on the project staying in frequent contact with me and everything turned out perfectly. I strongly recommend Amy Stoll for Labor and Employment Law!
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10 Aug, 2016 by Ryan
All I can say is "What a great experience"! Ian was extremely informative and very helpful to all of my questions and concerns pertaining to wills, probate, trusts, and my estate planning. The process to get my revocable trust set up was very seamless. I highly recommend Ian's services. This is an attorney you can trust! After doing my due diligence, I came to the conclusion that anyone who meets one or more of the following factors should consider a Revocable Trust: 1. Owns all or part of their own business; 2. Has a life insurance policy; 3. Owns real estate other than their homestead 4. Has children; 5. Does not want their assets passed to their children in an immediate lump sum but rather over a longer period of time to ensure creditor protection and proper money management; 6. Wants to avoid a formal probate that could take over a year to complete and can cost 3-4% of the gross value of all assets subject to probate administration. Thanks again for all of your help Ian!
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20 Jun, 2018 by Audrey
She is a respectable attorney who is always there when you need her. She represented me with confidence and guided me along a difficult path. I highly recommend her.
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15 Aug, 2011 by Mike
Mr. Rosin was very helpful with my bankruptcy case. He gave me a specific timeline, as well as info post-bankruptcy and everything that was told to me was true. He did not sugarcoat anything, just stated the facts. Would strongly recommend.
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25 Aug, 2011 by Keith
Sandi helped me get my child support reduced to what it truly should have been, My monthly payment was cut in half, and she did this without having to go to court, Always returned phone calls quickly. Made me feel like my case was as important to her as it was to me. I hope i never need a lawyer again but, if I do Sandi will be the first one I call.
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19 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
Mr. Delaughter has helped my family in many ways. My husband got charged for something he didn't commit. Mr.Delaughter was very informative, respectful, and kind hearted! He went above abd beyond. Thank you for blessing my family!
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What an Estate Planning Lawyer Can Do for You
An estate planning lawyer helps individuals plan for the management and distribution of their assets after death or during incapacitation. Their services involve drafting important legal documents, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Estate planning attorneys work to ensure that your assets are transferred according to your wishes, minimize tax liabilities, and avoid probate court. They also help clients plan for potential long-term care needs and protect their estate from being diminished by healthcare costs.
By working with an estate planning lawyer, you can have peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will be cared for and that your estate will be managed efficiently and according to your desires.
When Should I Hire an Estate Planning Lawyer?
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is beneficial in many situations, especially when you want to ensure that your assets are handled properly after death. Common reasons to hire an estate planning lawyer include:
- Drafting a will: If you want to clearly define how your assets will be distributed after death, an attorney can draft a legally sound will.
- Creating a trust: For those looking to avoid probate or provide for loved ones over time, setting up a trust can help manage the distribution of assets.
- Planning for incapacity: An estate lawyer can help draft powers of attorney and healthcare directives so that your financial and medical decisions are made by someone you trust if you become incapacitated.
- Minimizing estate taxes: If your estate is large, a lawyer can help create strategies to reduce or eliminate federal and state estate taxes.
- Special circumstances: If you have minor children, blended families, or complex assets like businesses, an estate planning lawyer can create tailored solutions.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: If you want to designate guardians for minor children or ensure proper care for incapacitated adults, an attorney can help.
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is especially important if your estate is complex or if you want to ensure that your wishes are properly followed.
What Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Do?
An estate planning lawyer provides a range of services designed to help you organize your affairs and ensure your estate is managed according to your wishes. They can:
- Draft wills and trusts: Creating legally binding documents that dictate how your assets will be distributed and managed.
- Create powers of attorney and healthcare directives: Appointing someone to make financial or medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
- Minimize taxes: Developing strategies to reduce estate taxes, gift taxes, and other financial liabilities for your heirs.
- Help avoid probate: Structuring your estate plan to avoid probate, which can save time and money for your beneficiaries.
- Advise on long-term care planning: Helping you plan for potential healthcare needs in the future, including Medicaid planning and protecting assets from being depleted by nursing home costs.
- Assist with beneficiary designations: Ensuring that life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other financial instruments are correctly designated.
- Handle probate and estate administration: If a loved one has passed away, an estate planning lawyer can help guide you through the probate process or act as an executor.
How Are Estate Planning Lawyers Paid?
Estate planning lawyers typically charge for their services in one of several ways, depending on the complexity of your estate and the type of services you need. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many estate planning services, such as drafting a will or trust, are charged on a flat-fee basis. The fee covers all work related to preparing the document.
- Hourly rate: For more complex planning, such as estate tax strategy or trust administration, lawyers may charge by the hour. Rates vary based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: Some lawyers require a retainer for more complex cases, such as ongoing trust management or estate administration. The retainer is an upfront payment that covers future legal services.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer upfront to avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an estate planning lawyer depends on the complexity of your estate and the services you require. Here are some general guidelines:
- Simple wills or powers of attorney: A straightforward will or power of attorney may cost between $300 and $1,500, depending on your location and the lawyer’s experience.
- Trust creation: Establishing a trust, such as a living trust or revocable trust, can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your assets and estate planning needs.
- Comprehensive estate planning packages: Some lawyers offer packages that include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, which may range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the estate’s complexity.
- Hourly rates: For ongoing services like estate administration or tax planning, lawyers may charge hourly rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience.
Always get a clear estimate of costs during your initial consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask an Estate Planning Lawyer
Before hiring an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to ask questions to ensure they are the right fit for your needs. Here are key questions to ask during your consultation:
-
What is your experience with estate planning?
Ensure the lawyer has substantial experience drafting wills, creating trusts, and handling other estate planning services. -
How will you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or by the hour and ask for a detailed estimate of costs. -
What strategies do you recommend for my estate?
A good lawyer should be able to explain the best strategies for minimizing taxes, avoiding probate, and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. -
How often should I update my estate plan?
Ask how frequently you should revisit your estate plan, especially if your financial situation or family dynamics change. -
Do you offer ongoing support or updates?
Some lawyers provide periodic reviews or updates to ensure your estate plan stays current with changes in your circumstances or the law. -
How will you help my beneficiaries if something happens to me?
Ensure the lawyer is willing to guide your heirs through the estate administration process or help manage your trust after you’re gone.
How to Check the Credibility of an Estate Planning Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a credible estate planning lawyer, follow these steps:
- Verify their state bar license: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing, with no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for estate planning certifications: Some lawyers are certified as estate planning specialists, which indicates they have extensive knowledge in this area of law.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Online reviews on sites like Avvo, Google, or Martindale-Hubbell can provide insight into the lawyer’s professionalism and client satisfaction.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from previous clients who can speak to their expertise and client service.
- Check for membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of organizations like the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) or the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) often have a strong reputation in the field.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first meeting with an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to come prepared. Here’s what you should bring:
- List of assets and liabilities: Provide a detailed inventory of your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, retirement funds, investments, and personal property, as well as any debts you may have.
- List of beneficiaries: Be ready to discuss who you want to receive your assets and in what proportions. This includes naming guardians for minor children if applicable.
- Existing estate documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or other relevant estate planning documents.
- Questions about your estate goals: Write down your goals, such as avoiding probate, reducing taxes, or setting up charitable donations, so your lawyer can tailor a plan to meet your needs.
- Information on medical and financial decision-makers: Be prepared to discuss who you want to appoint for healthcare and financial decisions if you become incapacitated.
By being well-prepared, you can ensure a productive consultation and begin building a comprehensive estate plan that meets your needs and protects your loved ones.
