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12 Nov, 2019 by Ryan helms
They wont help if its too hard for them
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10 Jun, 2019 by Daniel ashmore
29 May, 2018 by Ilma dizdarevic
Sean and his team kept a consistent line of communication and made me feel comfortable through the duration of my case. He went out of his way to make me feel like my case and concerns were important and kept me informed of everything that was going on. I felt like he was reliable and I would definitely recommend Utah Freedom Fighters to anyone who needs legal assistance. Thanks!!
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28 May, 2024 by Jessy b
I hired Jonathan Thomas for a custody case. He talked big but when it came down to it, he never got anything done. He wouldn't ever stick up for me in court when he other party would say unfounded things as facts. He wouldn't file things on time. Trying to get anything from him was like pulling teeth. But the worst part of all: Our case was closed for inactivity. And he didn't inform me. I was paying him for an entire year to "work" on a case that was closed. I had paid him thousands over a 3 year period. For nothing. I fired him immediately and hired a new lawyer just to help finish up. I ended up conceding to my ex because I had no more money to fight. The new lawyer was amazing (Chris guymon) and made sure the custody agreement was fair for both. But things would have been much different if I had had anyone other than Jonathan Thomas. 0/10 would never recommend.
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19 Jan, 2024 by Salala painting
23 Oct, 2023 by Meghan s.
I found Jonathan Thomas to be condescending, unprofessional, and unhelpful.
On multiple occasions, I was mocked and reprimanded for my feelings, and for expecting any effort to be made on my behalf as a client.
We ended up paying several thousand dollars on a very simple case with absolutely no outcome. And we are worse off than when we hired him.
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01 May, 2024 by Britt herman
24 Apr, 2024 by Brie sesso
24 Apr, 2024 by Kenna orgill
We used Kirton McConkie to finalize two adoptions, and they were excellent! Larry Jenkins and Kelly Land are kind, quick to respond, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful. Both experiences went quickly and smoothly, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice!
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01 May, 2024 by Britt herman
24 Apr, 2024 by Brie sesso
24 Apr, 2024 by Kenna orgill
We used Kirton McConkie to finalize two adoptions, and they were excellent! Larry Jenkins and Kelly Land are kind, quick to respond, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful. Both experiences went quickly and smoothly, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice!
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08 May, 2023 by Autumn
During a custody case, I needed him to help me file paperwork and get things going. He was terrible at communication, I had to call every day multiple times a day just to get a response. I had to call the court on numerous occasions to figure out what was going on in my case. After one phone call with the court, I found out that he made a mistake on the paperwork and had to refile but he never did. This was back in February it is now May and still hasn't been filed. I was told that they would be closing the case shortly if there was no action done by the attorney. I am severely disappointed as I had to pay the fees upfront and now I am essentially ghosted. I am a struggling single mom and I am not happy with him at all. He should just stick to estates and not do family law at all.
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31 Aug, 2020 by Anonymous
I hired him in November 2018 To get some clarity on some divorce decree issues. He bid the case at under $2500 and estimated it would take 2 or 3 months. 15 months later and after nearly $10K I fired him. Thru this process he was was unable or unwilling to have things happen that he promised. His billing was random in timing. I handled the case pro se and had it settled in 6-7 months. I would never hire him again. Complete waste of money and would not recommend him to anyone. Completely dissatisfied client
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11 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
Used his firm for an adoption case and it was a nightmare. From the beginning he was horrible at sticking to timetables and keeping us updated. With it being a family law case and one that was highly sensitive anyway, there was not a lot of understanding on his part for that. He never bothered to even remember the children's names, or my last name for that matter. There was always misspellings, mistakes, etc. My biggest problem with was him keeping his word, filing correct documents and keeping us informed. We had better luck getting updates from the court house and eventually went with another firm that did the job he swore wasn't possible.
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17 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
He was great at getting back when I first contact him. However I have emailed him and texted him and now 3 weeks later I have still not had any reply. I will update this when this case is done. Thus far he is not earning my endorsement which is pretty easy to earn.
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06 Jan, 2017 by Lynn
Used Mr Silverzweig on the recommendation of a friend a few years ago and reached a successful conclusion to my legal issue. Currently attempting to utilize him again, but encountering poor planning, redundant meetings and little to no responsiveness. Sadly, may have to start all over and hire someone else...
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25 Apr, 2016 by Anonymous
My wife and I have a young family and we wanted to organize the paperwork of our wills and other such things. We hired Joseph to get that done and he was very attentive and helpful. He walked through our options. He's very knowledgable not only about our options but what typically happen for families like ours. We would definitely recommend him to others.
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02 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
This attorney avoids returning phone calls, text messages, replying to emails, and has a tendency to disappear when you need help.
This attorney is quick to believe non-credible people and non-credible information about his client and jump on the bandwagon / false narrative without getting the other side of the story or prematurely before getting the proven facts.
If you communicate to him how you feel things are going with his "services" and improvements you would like to see, he is quick to dismiss your concerns, act in a rude manner by calling you a name and/or make false assumptions about you based on no evidence. He doesn't like getting constructive criticism.
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31 May, 2021 by Anonymous
I was in an extremely messy divorce process with a spouse who was making false allegation. I went from having supervised visitation to joint physical and legal custody, defended me successfully in mediation, he got me a good deal in spite of the negative experience a divorce is. Mr. Cahill gave me lots of advice before the divorce filed which was a huge help for me as a client in the legal issues I faced in the process. Highly recommended.
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26 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
Trent Cahill seemed like a nice professional guy when I first met him; however, during the process of him representing me, there were many times where I felt he was representing the opposing party. He tried pushing me to make decisions that would help the opposing party. He would sometimes send time sensitive emails later than I would expect something of time sensitive nature to be handled. I tried to communicate that I would prefer to receive emails sooner. But I continued to receive emails late. I would recommend Trent Cahill if you want to spend a lot of money for subpar performance and results. I would not recommend Trent Cahill if you want to be strongly represented.
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21 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
One star is too many, zero should be an option. The amount of damage Tamara did to my case is unforgivable. She made glaring errors, completely forgot to file orders, would ignore emails/calls/texts for months and months on end, and gave advice that has harmed the lives of many, including children.
She made no efforts to take accountability for what she did or try and fix the damage done, withdrawing when the full scope of her mistakes became apparent. It will take years to attempt to undo what she did, and more money than I can imagine.
Tamara should not be a licensed attorney. She has been reported to the office of professional misconduct with hundreds of pages of documented evidence. I will take all necessary steps to hold her accountable for her actions so she cannot do this to another unsuspecting client.
Do not consider her in your search for an attorney if you are looking for competency and professionalism, or even just an attorney you’d like to be able to get a hold of within a month two. There are bad attorneys, then there are attorneys who will ruin your life. Tamara is the latter.
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01 Feb, 2021 by Ashley
She helped me through some incredibly hard times this last year. I have PTSD and she did everything for me concerning my ex so I didn’t even have to speak directly to him. She helped my divorce go through and made me feel incredibly comfortable the entire time. She listens attentively and was always comforting and never judgmental. I can never thank her enough for all that she has done for me and my family.
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27 Aug, 2016 by Leslie
Our homeowners association hired Curtis as general counsel to help us (the board) with several issues, including rewriting our old, outdated CC&Rs and bylaws. He knows every bit of the laws that apply to our HOA and the new documents are excellent. We couldn't have asked for better work. After using attorneys for years that don't specialize in HOA law (because we didn't know any better), we can't believe the difference. It's so much more efficient, helpful and valuable using an attorney that knows this area of the law so well. Thanks!
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21 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
Hired Curtis to represent me in court. He was unable to express himself, allowed many obvious lies told be the opposing party to go unquestioned and assured me that there was no legal liability in the contract under dispute. Did very little preparation, likely none, for the court appearance, and thus lost the case. Lacks eloquence and persuasiveness, both of which can be verified on your first meeting with him. Find someone else.
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28 May, 2020 by Anonymous
I worked with McKenzie for several months. She is nice and helpful, but i was disappointed in her grasp or recall of the details of my case. I should have recognized the signs. I corrected the details in the case many times, in fact each document sent to me for approval needed corrections. At my hearing, while the opposing counsel was dressed professionally, spoke confidently and knew all his facts, McKenzie did not meet those same standards of professionalism. In her presentation of my case she often looked up and to the right, a sign that she was trying to remember or trying to formulate what to say. She even stated some facts of the case incorrectly in front of the judge. Part of our request was allowed to go to trial (which my ex wanted completely dismissed) and part of the opposing party's request was granted. The outcome wasn't all bad, but I was disappointed in the way she represented me. I spent a lot of extra money correcting the documents over and over.
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19 Aug, 2024 by Leslie
Heather Seegmiller is one of a kind Attorney ! She came dedicated, focused and even worked over the weekend to give me her all! What was going to be a catastrophe? Heather turned around and literally saved the case. She works extremely hard and is meticulous with details. Me and my family always talk about what miracle she has been!
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05 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
After scheduling what I thought was a paid consultation that should have lasted 1 hour, I learned I was unknowingly scheduled into a 15 minute free consultation. Heather rushed through the consultation continually reminding me she was losing money every minute we spoke. Completely unprofessional, zero compassion, zero fighting skills & capability. If you need a bulldog of an attorney who is willing to fight for you, this attorney is not it. I had $23,000 I was prepared to give her just to start my case. Her loss.
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20 Sep, 2024 by Nicholas heaton
18 Jun, 2024 by Isaac pratte
06 May, 2024 by Danny
Trevor Fugate took over my divorce case after my previous lawyer, whom I'd only worked with for a couple weeks, left the practice for another firm. He caught up quickly with the particulars of my case, was great at responding to my emails, and explained everything going on clearly. He was also quite personable and easy to chat with for the five to six hours we were together in mediation. And last but not least, when my soon-to-be-ex-husband's lawyer kept (repeatedly) dropping the ball and stalling progress on the case, Trevor took it upon himself to do the other lawyer's job for him, pro bono, and push my divorce through the court. Great guy all around.
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12 Jan, 2024 by Irene kramer
16 Oct, 2023 by Gail christensen
I have called his office six times in a week and left three messages that were very lengthy. So he has all the information needed. Ihave given him my phone number several times and has not called me back. This message says he will get back with you shortly but I don't think he understands what shortly means.
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19 Jul, 2019 by Fran caughlan
I have been using Jim for 15 years! I recommend him.
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20 Sep, 2024 by Nicholas heaton
18 Jun, 2024 by Isaac pratte
24 Jul, 2023 by Kati
I am grateful for those who faithfuly manage the lord's assets. Grateful to be a part of a church that does so much for the world and they do it all without major fame or publicity. I pray for those who have lost their faith due to the materialistic and vain things of this world.
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20 Sep, 2024 by Nicholas heaton
18 Jun, 2024 by Isaac pratte
24 Jul, 2023 by Kati
I am grateful for those who faithfuly manage the lord's assets. Grateful to be a part of a church that does so much for the world and they do it all without major fame or publicity. I pray for those who have lost their faith due to the materialistic and vain things of this world.
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24 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
Mr. Jensen is emotional and irrational. He seems to completely misunderstand the court's procedures. He went on an extensive diatribe bashing the character of one of the other parties during a preliminary hearing. The court was simply determining whether or not litigation should commence, and trying to determining the scope of discover. The judge had to tell him that his remarks were unnecessary and outside the purposes of the hearing that day.
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29 May, 2019 by Anonymous
He’s very irrational and emotional. He was unprepared and frankly I think his age may be hindering him.
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26 Oct, 2015 by Anonymous
Mike Jensen is excellent. I was involved in a family dispute. On a recommendation of another attorney, I hired someone else. I came to regret it because the other attorney(s) let things get out of hand. Plus they passed the case between three attorneys in under two months ("oh, he's suddenly really busy") while charging me fees for getting each of those attorneys up to speed, but letting the other side gain advantage. Mike shut the other side down. He knows statute and case law and uses them efficiently. My only regret was not hiring him from the start.
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07 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
Garbage, trying to start a name for herself. She's in cohoots with the judges , especially judge boham. Do not hie her, she cares nothing besides herself, and money.
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07 May, 2022 by Jackie
Debbie was my attorney for my 1st trial. I didn't know the law like I do now. I feel ripped off by her. She forced me to settle the day if trial. The ex didn't file anything for trial, forced me to go all the way to trial, and still walked away with a settlement that Debbie wrote up that was fair for him, not me. He got half custody walking out that day with no attorney, and he filed nothing with the court for trial. She even charged me $20,000.00 and said she prepared for trial. I regret having her as my attorney. She said she would fight for me, but I felt I got the short end of the stick. I would not recommend her.
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13 Nov, 2015 by Nan
Debbie was my life saver. She came into the case after a bad attorney, and she got what I feel was a great settlement. She fights hard for you, and more importantly, she cares for her clients. She is fast to respond to calls and emails, and she was there for me at the hardest point in my life. She was firm in telling me what she believed she could get for me. She is a trustworthy attorney, and this this business- that is hard to find. She was worth every penny! I would highly recommend her for anyone going through a divorce and having custody issues.
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27 Apr, 2022 by Hilaree
We contacted her to possibly represent a divorce case with domestic abuse and who had left with the children. Without even hearing all the details she told a domestic abuse victim that she would lose her home and her children if she didn't go home. She was so aggressive and basically sided with the abuser. It took two days of reassuring a severely traumatized mother that she wasn't going to lose her children and she did not have to go back to the abuser. If I could give her negative stars, I would.
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16 Jun, 2021 by Stacy
She does not listen. She is not timely in responses. She falsely represented her degree of what she would do. She takes your money and does not deliver. When given feedback of expectation of what she said she would do for me she quit. I trusted her words and paid her money which she took gladly and then never delivered. And then had the nerve to charge me more money for her not following through and her quitting. She bad mouthed other attorney to get my business and then did the exact same thing she said the other attorney did wrong. Very untrustworthy. She is a terrible attorney. Stay away she is not worth the money.
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01 Jun, 2018 by Bianca
Lorraine has been my attorney for many years and fought diligently, empathetically, and professionally for myself and my children. She was personally invested in the outcome that was best for my children and always insured every attention to detail was intact. I had an attorney prior to Lorraine and went to court several times to protect my children with that attorney to no avail. The first time and every time there after that I went to court with Lorraine we prevailed and my children were protected. Lorraine will always be in my heart as she saved my children's lives. How many people play that part in your life? She's my hero and an incredible source of comfort knowing if anything comes up again, she's on my side. Thank you Lorraine always and forever for everything you've done for me and my children!
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02 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
Amy was hired to represent my elderly Mom. She assured us she could help with our case because it was a large firm & if she were out of the office another attorney would help. It went to mediation, she did not intervene on our behalf, did not speak up for my mother. My brother & father took over $600,000.00 of their joint money from sale of a cabin & annuities. Amy said nothing. She was preoccupied with her sick mother. While understandable, I was also dealing with a sick mother. Amy forgot key points & was unavailable most of the time. Not once did she publicly stand up to the judge or the opposing lawyer. In fact her correspondence with him was usually asking about his family. If she did bother to offer advice & we followed it, we ended up paying some of the opposing attorney’s fees. A years litigation can not fit in this tiny review. We will never use her again, nor will we recommend her for any litigation. Since she is a partner, we will not recommend this firm.
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06 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
I initially hired Katie after meeting and feeling a positive connection with her, as well as knowing she had the full backing of Rebecca Long Okura, who has a good reputation. I was in a 20 year marriage that had become controlling and quite rapidly deteriorated.
My then husband and I had made the decision in 2001 that I would stay at home with our daughter when she was born. I had no income of my own whatsoever. I had spent time helping out with my dad when he moved here to Utah in 2014, and became his main caretaker after a stroke in 2016 when I was given his power of attorney until his passing in late 2018. Our daughter graduated high school in 2019.
I was given an ultimatum and forced into being the one to file for divorce in early 2020. At the time that I hired her, I felt that Ms. McLain was really going to go to bat for me, as a 20 year unemployed, 55 year old woman, facing off against a husband who made an average of $25,000 per month and had been with the same company for 25 years, and would continue to have that earning capacity.
There are a lot of things that did not play in my favor, the pandemic being one of them, and an attorney that wasn’t aggressive and assertive enough to fight for what was really right for me is another. In the middle of April 2020 we attended 9 brutal hours of mediation and I was convinced to settle for nearly $100K less equity than what a mortgage broker’s comps placed the value of the marital home at, half the monthly alimony asked, no equity in several marital assets, no accounting for my future, my health, my children. Basically, I got hosed. My ex was having the best month of his career to date (I found out later from a co-worker) while he told the mediator that he was going to lose $150K of income in 2020 and was not made to show proof of current income. The best month of his career to date meant something like $40K. In April of 2020, mid pandemic. He had probably the best year of his life, and I paid Ms. McLain nearly $15,000 to walk away with so much less than I deserved. And now, to top it all off he just bought, in August of 2021, a nearly million dollar house without even having sold the previous one. Clearly he has had a change for the better, while less than 1 1/2 years ago he claimed he would not be able to afford to pay alimony and survive himself. I feel that if Ms. McLain had really gone to bat for me, she would have advised me to wait for mediation to take place, even though it was to the point where I just wanted it to be over. Or at least advised me to call his bluff and say I wanted to go to trial and see what might have happened. All of the hours that I spent going over finances, bank and credit card statements, etc, just for her office to charge me to go over the same things, nickel and diming me over emails and phone calls with me and his attorney, even months after the divorce was final.
I am absolutely devastated. All I want to do is get healthy and buy my own little home, start fresh, but I’m still paying medical bills from last year, and am struggling with financing because I don’t make enough. I am left feeling like I should have hired a different attorney, and maybe will have to now, even though I can’t afford to, to get what I should have gotten in the first place if Ms. McLain had lived up to what she had promised from the start.
Bottom line, I would not hire her again, and I really would not recommend her or her firm, as I was told that everything ultimately went through Ms. Long Okura, if you really need someone to fight for you. I feel like there are better attorneys and better firms out there.
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02 Feb, 2018 by Anonymous
We were referred to Travis to build trusts for our family and to transfer our business to more secure holdings. What a colossal mistake. After our initial engagement fees were paid, we were expecting to have a little extra money due. But bill after bill kept coming and wouldn’t stop. We tried to get an explanation on each charge, but to no avail. We finally had to contact another lawyer to stop all “work” being done for us and to transfer all our files away from them. The new lawyer had us done quicker, cheaper, and better than we could have hoped. Don’t make the same mistake my husband and I made. Steer clear of Travis and his firm.
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16 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
We went to Travis to try to settle a $11,000 tax debt. We jump through hoops, spent thousands of dollars, and discovered that there were no calls or attempts made to lessen our debts. My husband and I finally called and got the relief we were looking for. Much to our complete surprise and disgust, we received another $2500 bill for "services rendered". When we attempted to call to discuss this we received the runaround. No one would speak to us. Not Travis or any other attorneys, accounting, paralegals; no one. Clearly they are in some financial issues and in doing further research which we should've done in the 1st Pl., Travis has been reprimanded by the state board. It's absolutely astonishing that someone like him and someone like this company is still in business.
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03 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
We were looking for a reliable trust attorney to get our affairs in order and ensure our business was properly taken care of. When we sat down with Travis he went through this "system" that he has in which he attempted to get us to sign a $10,000 Engagement letter which would assess all of our assets. All we were really looking for was to tighten our trust and affairs. After we explain this to him we continue to get extremely annoying and unprofessional calls from his office weekly if not twice a week. Absolutely a terrible experience. Keep looking elsewhere!
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07 Feb, 2021 by Tammy
I signed a retainer for $1000 and was told, if work needed to be done over that amount that I would be informed and I would have to sign a new retainer. I was NEVER kept informed of hours being charged. They billed my credit card for $6031. They will not return my calls or emails. Will not do anything now that they have my money. I have contacted BBB & filed a complain with the Utah State Bar.
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07 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
He was the leading attorney over my case. When I asked for my money back because of the lack of work that his junior attorney had not done; he wouldn't give me my money back. He claimed he did work for me that was not done. This firm, as well as this attorney, is not to be trusted.
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27 May, 2018 by Anonymous
What if your lawyer waived you off when you are about to respond to a judge's request as to who will be testifying in the court hearing that day? And you do so because you believed the lawyer when he told you just the prior evening that you may be able to speak?
But then when you try to speak again, the judge saying that the lawyer can let you do so, you get reprimanded by the lawyer, let alone him going back on his word?
Brent Wamsley, on that evening, said it was even a maybe that I could testify that day even though he would be the one responsible for me not being able to do so.
Consider also that Wamsley told me one thing but said something else on the same matter to others -- or me -- on at least three other occasions (there are words to fit that definition, aren't there?). Consider also that there were 21 total reasons in that hearing that disappointed me, I do not in any form or fashion recommend Brent Wamsley to be your legal counsel.
I actually recommend against it.
You may think I'm this upset because the hearing was relatively recent, but that is not so. The hearing was two-and-a-half weeks ago.
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18 Jan, 2023 by Peter
I hired Brian A. Taylor, now with Ascent Law LLC to help reduce my child support. I provided him with all my evidence (job applications, denials, tax filings, current income, my debt, my financial declaration, you name it. As an experienced family lawyer, you're supposed to share those evidence with the court and opposing lawyer. Brian claimed to have reviewed my documents and charged me for it, but failed to to send evidence to the court.
On the day of the hearing, I learned that Brian forgot to send over the evidence to the court and opposing party. During our breakout session, I asked him what happened to the evidence? His response, it didn't make it to the court.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!
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04 Dec, 2021 by Anonymous
Jay Bell has been a very poor attorney he does not return phone calls he does not represent you well he does not care about protecting your Family Trust. We are very disappointed and everything he has not done to help us. He has collected our money to the amount of $15,000 which was a waste of time and money by hiring this horrible attorney. He won't even give a current update of how he spent the money when we asked for it. For your own protection be sure you make a contract in your favor before you do anything with this attorney beware and be cautionary.
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30 Nov, 2018 by Raelene penman
11 Apr, 2016 by Sam
I retained Mr. Knowles and his law firm, Smith Knowles to assist me in some legal work. He promised to meet certain deadlines for documents that I needed. He failed to meet those deadlines (missed them by months) and failed to take or timely return my calls. On top of that, the bills he sent to me were incredibly high and seemed to include work that I had not even asked for. I tried to speak with the President of the firm (Mr. Knowles' partner) and had my voice messages with my concerns not returned. In my experience, Mr. Knowles greatly over promised and significantly under-delivered.
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02 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
Worst attorney ever. Incompetent. Drags on case to pad his bills. Bills 6 months later springing huge fraudulent bills on you, then hides behind his office who bullied you & jeopardizes your case. Get your checkbook out. His reputation is renowned in the area. RUN don’t walk away from this attorney.
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30 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
Failed to represent me and my interests as he charged me through the WAZOO / $$$$$$$$$ and did N O T deliver. Dismayed with his ineptness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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04 Feb, 2019 by Buyer beware
In April of 1988, I retained David D. Jeffs, of Jeffs and Jeffs, Provo, Utah, to create a trust in order to protect my real property and personal assets against potential legal claims and to save them for my offspring when I died. Mr. Jeffs assured me that the assets placed in the trust would be protected. Over the years, I needed to file amendments to both the trust and will. At first, Mr. Jeffs would quickly get those changes made. However, there came a time that after THREE (3) months after a request and he had not made a much needed change, I created the amendment, signed it and had it notarized and then sent him a copy for his records. From that point on, I created any amendments to both the trust and will where Mr. Jeffs had failed to preform the task he was retained to do. I would send Mr. Jeffs emails during the interim which he would not reply to. In March of 2016, I contacted Mr. Jeffs to check on a rumor that I had heard that trust law had changed significantly and my assets were no longer protected. Mr. Jeffs told me that on July 1, 2004, Utah adopted the Utah Uniform Trust Act that changed the protection of assets and in fact, did away with any protection against potential legal claims. Mr. Jeffs indicated that he as a trust attorney had known of the proposed changes for sometime and changes to my trust could have been made to protect my assets under the proposed trust act changes. Yet, Mr. Jeffs failed to notify me of the upcoming changes so that working together, we could have made changes to the trust and protect those assets that were in it. Mr. Jeffs' lack of due diligence and professionalism to me, his client, needs to be made known to the public. He has violated several Rules of Professional Conduct including Rule 1.4, of Chapter 13, Communications with his client.
I am posting this negative review on Avvo so that anyone looking for a trust attorney will be warned that David D. Jeffs lack of due diligence and professionalism and his inability to communicate with his clients. Due to my personal experience with Mr. David D. Jeffs, (#1654), of Jeffs and Jeffs, Provo, Utah, I cannot recommend him for any type of legal work especially if it is regarding a trust and will.
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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:
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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.
