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15 Mar, 2018 by Melissa
Susan sat down with my husband and me and was very understanding and informative. She helped us get everything we wanted. We won our case! She is very professional and just having her on your side makes you feel more at ease about the whole process. If we ever need a family attorney again, there is no one else we would even consider retaining.
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16 Nov, 2017 by Michael e. amstutz
Although I have not retained Susan Dodge as of yet, my experience with her was great. I will be hiring an attorney to handle my case and I will only hire the best. Susan Dodge.
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24 Nov, 2015 by Angela
Susan and Jennifer made my whole process run smoother than I could've hoped even tho they were fighting against the grain because of another attorney in my service that never followed thru. She and her staff answered more questions and put my mind at ease. Any future issues she is my go to lady!! Couldn't ask for a better attorney!!!
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02 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
Was very helpful . Helped out in stressful time real professional! We had many changes and times and office handled wonderfully, speak real language were you don’t need a interpreter. Excellent Character!!!
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17 Aug, 2017 by Anonymous
I went to Scott Dunn on a few occasions for consultations and the advice he gave really helped me feel relieved, at ease and in preparation to be prepared for anything. I did hire this attorney. Scott Dunn made me feel more at ease in the courtroom based on what my case dealt with. Any near future child custody issues or whatever the case may be he's honest and helpful as it prepared me to what different types of cases may bring; Long process and long courtroom hours! He's thorough and I was very pleased with the representation I received from this lawyer. Best one hands down. Would I go back to this lawyer? Absolutely!
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18 Dec, 2015 by Lyn
Ms. Shellberg is an exceptionally skilled attorney with incredibly good people skills. We hired her to manage our immigration petition and she was not only wonderfully reassuring throughout the entire process and answered all of our many questions and concerns, but she was also impressively successful in achieving all of our goals. Ms. Shellberg was also hired by us for a family matter and she performed expertly throughout the lengthy process and was once again ultimately successful. She is knowledgable, resourceful and frequently thinks outside the box. She is a pleasure to work with and goes above and beyond to make her clients feel secure and well cared for. Ms. Shellberg is an incredibly skilled writer and prepares accurate and consise documents with great skill. Additionally, she conducts herself very professionally and appropriately in the courtroom environment. I can not possibly praise her skills as an attorney enough, and would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone requiring her services.
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27 Nov, 2014 by Ehabhrieb
As a current client I am very glad that respected lawyer Leah Shellberg accepted to represent my family in an immigration overseas case , very professional knowledgable character, friendly attitudes, powerful studies ideas,
Thanks a lot.
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15 Aug, 2022 by Tichina
During a troubled time for my family and the loss of my mother Matt was terrific and guided my family in every step of every way he could. Broke down everything he could to help us understand. And going over and beyond to get us a settlement! So gracious to have had him on my team!
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28 Apr, 2020 by Beth
had an outstanding experience with the assistance of Matthew Altamura & Shannon Altamura. They are compassionate, knowledgeable and handle everyone with the utmost ease and professionalism. They were incredible with representing me during an extremely stressful time in my life. They are patient, detail oriented, and not afraid to go up against large corporations and insurance companies. When your family has just gone through something traumatic and you meet with two extremely confident people that are willing to fight for you, it puts your mind at ease. If you are looking for legal advice, I would look definitely go with Matthew Altamura or Shannon Altamura. They are a highly intelligent and make a tremendous team.
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28 Apr, 2020 by Anonymous
He took on our case right after the accident & did everything possible to help us. He has always been kind & considerate, & very helpful with any problems that occurred. He is a top notch attorney & I would recommend him to anyone! We will never be able to thank him for everything he did for us.
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27 Aug, 2024 by Lc
Very nice everyone that works there
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27 Jul, 2024 by George clemmons
I used Shaun for a child support case. After explaining my particular situation they helped me one day before my first court appearance. Wendy was excellent she kept me informed she always answered my call and went out of her way to get any extra info I wanted. Best part is I was charged a flat fee upfront. I will definitely recommend and continue to use them myself.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Stephanie brisson
I don’t know what’s worse, the judges and attorneys that are pure criminal, representing and knowingly protecting criminals, or the ones that know all of this, pretend they’re the good guys, act like they want to help, all while taking advantage of you and protecting the other side and their lies at the same time. Fact is, there’s right and there’s wrong. Money makes you believe there’s a ton of gray in the middle, but, that does not matter. You’re either on the right side or the wrong side of things. I paid $2000 upfront for representation and then dealt with my custody case being put off for 10 months while being billed $2-300 every other week. THEN this man did not even defend, speak for me, or speak for my child in court.
I could care less what you’re up against. Lies are lies. Facts are facts. The truth is the truth, & even that will not set you free, once it’s your soul that you have sold.
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25 Jul, 2024 by Gabe white
Mr.Charlie Browne is the man, great lawyer and great service
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24 Jun, 2024 by Shannon freitag
18 Jun, 2024 by Allison nahill
Don't, just don't. We have used Bell and Browne, specifically Mr. Browne and his assistant Tana, in the past. My husband found Mr. Browne years ago to put together documents that any good attorney would have given him advice on. Instead charged around $500 just to type up documents.
Most recently of this current year we paid Mr. Brownes office $750 to go to court and regain funds due to us from an individual (3 payments). We have only received two out of the three payments we paid Mr. Browne to recoup for us from said individual. Upon trying to get the third payment, Note: this has been going on since February. After multiple e mails to their office, we have only received one phone call back, and several ignored e mails as to where our remaining funds are. Use another attorneys office in Asheboro. The high prices here and poor deliveries do not suffice.
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17 Jun, 2024 by Lorin
Didn't have my finace case file for court May 8th doesn't or hasn't communicated well regarding his court case doesn't do her job on a professional level would not ever recommend
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04 Apr, 2024 by Tarheel “stroker” player
07 Feb, 2024 by Bonnie kellam
Very nice & helpful! Would definitely recommend Jane Redding⭐
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17 Jun, 2024 by Lorin
Didn't have my finace case file for court May 8th doesn't or hasn't communicated well regarding his court case doesn't do her job on a professional level would not ever recommend
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04 Apr, 2024 by Tarheel “stroker” player
07 Feb, 2024 by Bonnie kellam
Very nice & helpful! Would definitely recommend Jane Redding⭐
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13 May, 2024 by Donna saunders
Gets nothing done expeditiously. No follow-up. When you call to find out where we are at on the case, he is always with a client or in court. No return call. My sister and I drove 2 hours to get a status April 16. Almost a month later and he has not called or done what he needed to do to close our case. He has had the case since October 2021.
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21 Mar, 2024 by Lauren hayden
If you want a lawyer who will take a ton of your money, make empty promises and then wait until last minute and drop the ball this is the place to go.
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21 Jan, 2024 by Cammie goss
Greatly appreciate Mr. Robins in guiding me through my case. He was kind & insightful on how to handle things while in the courtroom. I would recommend his services
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06 Aug, 2024 by Melinda hallman
He has bn a great help to my other half and he seems to b on top of things and has the clients interest in mind I would definitely recommend him.
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26 Feb, 2024 by 1 step ahead
I must admit Mr. Dotson is a very busy man, but he is the best attorney that I have ever done business with. My last divorce, not being my first rodeo, I had a fairly good idea of the fees to expect and knew better than to run up my own fees with a bunch of unnecessary calls and emails. I took all of my information in when I first met with Mr. Dotson, we discussed my case and he or someone from his office called me when they needed further information from me. My bill at the end was nearly $8000.00 which I thought very reasonable compared to my first attorney on this matter. I can't even bad mouth him as I picked an attorney that did not specialize in domestic matters. In the door I paid $2500, when I in effect "fired" him (the first attorney in this particular matter) there had been NO court documents filed so the only thing I received back were letters between attorneys and a copy of the fee agreement that I signed acknowledging that no initial moneys paid would be refunded. Mr. Dotson then took my case worked with me on payment and gave my ex a good old fashioned spanking plus sued him for the remainder of the attorney fees owed. I wonder if some people understand the process? I also wonder if they consider that when you are paying someone to look after your best interest perhaps you need to step back and let them handle it. NO, the process was not quick and NO he never called unless he needed something from me, but he did an excellent job for me. The bad reviews...I think are bogus, I went from my first attorney offering to settle at $2500.00 and 2 years at $200 per month and ended up with $90,000.00. I think that was a damn good job. Thank you Mr. Dotson
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14 Dec, 2023 by Kim
He represented me and did it exceptionally well. I'm appalled reading the stones others have cast; when I know for a fact this man truly advocates for his people. Ironically I don't believe he judges the mistakes of others - just helps clean them up.
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26 Jan, 2023 by Rebecca
It felt like she was my big sister just taking care of everything for me and making sure I was going to be okay. She set me up for success. She’s perfect. I feel so lucky. Chelsie is exactly the kind of lawyer - the lawyer, that you’d want on your side in any family court case.
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02 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
I hired Chelsie for my custody case. She was very unprofessional. She requested my retainer to be in cash. She did not give me the retainer paperwork to sign until a month before going to trial. I only received one billing statement the whole time and when she did email me one she charged me $350 to review pictures that did not protein to my case. She did not subpoena anyone except my husband. In her prep she wanted me to be untruthful on the stand and I refused to and called her out on it. She refused to submit evidence that would greatly benefit my case. Because she refused to submit evidence other criminal cases were dismissed against my ex-husband who had domestic violence charges and stalking charges against him. I do not recommend her at all. Very unprofessional and dishonest.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Family Law Lawyer Can Do for You
A family law lawyer provides legal services related to family relationships, including marriage, divorce, child custody, and adoption. Family lawyers help clients navigate emotionally charged legal issues, providing guidance and representation in disputes that affect spouses, children, and parents. Whether you're going through a divorce, seeking custody of your children, or drafting a prenuptial agreement, a family law lawyer ensures your rights are protected and your interests are represented.
Family law attorneys often handle sensitive matters and offer objective legal advice, helping clients reach fair outcomes either through negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
When Should I Hire a Family Law Lawyer?
Hiring a family law lawyer is beneficial in several situations, especially when legal matters involve close personal relationships. Common reasons to hire a family law lawyer include:
- Divorce or separation: When ending a marriage, a lawyer can help you navigate issues such as division of assets, spousal support, and child custody arrangements.
- Child custody and visitation disputes: If you and your co-parent can't agree on custody or visitation, a lawyer can represent your interests and work toward a solution that benefits your children.
- Child support: Whether you’re seeking child support or defending against a claim, a lawyer can help ensure the appropriate amount is calculated and enforced.
- Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements: A lawyer can help draft or review agreements that protect your assets in case of divorce.
- Adoption: Family law lawyers guide you through the legal process of adoption, ensuring that all requirements are met.
- Domestic violence or restraining orders: If you're a victim of domestic violence or being falsely accused, a lawyer can help you obtain or challenge protective orders.
- Paternity cases: If there are questions about the paternity of a child, a lawyer can help establish or dispute legal fatherhood.
Hiring a lawyer early can prevent issues from escalating, and they can offer you the best chance of achieving a favorable outcome in emotionally charged situations.
What Does a Family Law Lawyer Do?
A family law lawyer provides a wide range of services depending on your specific legal needs. Their responsibilities may include:
- Advising on legal rights and options: Helping you understand your legal rights regarding divorce, child custody, support, and other family law issues.
- Filing legal documents: Drafting and filing petitions, motions, and agreements with the court, such as divorce papers, custody agreements, or support orders.
- Representing clients in court: Arguing your case in front of a judge if a settlement can’t be reached through negotiation or mediation.
- Mediation and negotiation: Assisting with alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, to reach agreements on issues like custody, property division, and support without going to trial.
- Enforcing court orders: Helping you enforce court orders related to child support, alimony, or custody if the other party fails to comply.
- Drafting prenuptial or postnuptial agreements: Creating agreements that protect your assets in the event of a divorce.
- Handling adoption proceedings: Ensuring that the legal process of adoption is followed, from filing paperwork to finalizing the adoption in court.
How Are Family Law Lawyers Paid?
Family law lawyers typically charge clients in one of several ways, depending on the complexity of the case and the lawyer’s experience. Common payment arrangements include:
- Hourly rates: Most family lawyers charge by the hour, with rates varying based on experience and location. Clients are billed for the time spent working on their case, including consultations, court appearances, and document preparation.
- Flat fees: For more straightforward legal services, such as drafting a prenuptial agreement or handling an uncontested divorce, some lawyers offer flat-fee arrangements.
- Retainer fees: In cases that are expected to require significant time and attention, such as contentious custody battles, a lawyer may charge a retainer, which is an upfront payment that covers the initial costs of legal services. The lawyer then bills against the retainer as they work on your case.
The exact cost will depend on the complexity of your case and the lawyer’s fee structure, which should be discussed upfront.
How Much Does a Family Law Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a family law lawyer varies based on factors such as the lawyer's experience, the location, and the complexity of your case. Here are some general cost guidelines:
- Hourly rates: Family law lawyers typically charge between $150 and $500 per hour, depending on their experience and the complexity of the case.
- Flat fees: For simpler cases, such as drafting a prenuptial agreement or handling an uncontested divorce, fees may range from $1,000 to $5,000.
- Retainers: For more complex matters, such as contested divorces or custody battles, lawyers may charge a retainer ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 or more. The lawyer will bill against the retainer for the work they do on your case.
- Additional costs: You may also be responsible for additional costs, such as filing fees, mediation fees, or expert witness fees.
Always ask for a clear breakdown of the lawyer’s fees and any additional expenses during your consultation.
Top Questions to Ask a Family Law Lawyer
Before hiring a family law lawyer, it's important to ask questions to ensure they're the right fit for your case. Here are key questions to ask during your consultation:
-
What experience do you have with family law cases like mine?
Make sure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, whether it's a contested divorce, child custody dispute, or adoption. -
How will you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, a flat fee, or requires a retainer. Ask for an estimate of the total costs involved. -
What are the possible outcomes of my case?
An experienced lawyer should be able to give you a general idea of what to expect based on the facts of your case. -
What is your approach to resolving disputes?
Ask whether the lawyer tends to favor negotiation and mediation or whether they prefer to take cases to court. This can help you determine if their style matches your goals. -
How long do you expect my case to take?
While it’s difficult to predict, the lawyer should give you an estimate based on similar cases. -
Who will be handling my case?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may do much of the work, so make sure you understand who will be your main point of contact.
How to Check the Credibility of a Family Law Lawyer
To ensure you're hiring a reputable family law lawyer, follow these steps to verify their credentials and reputation:
- Check state bar association records: Verify that the lawyer is licensed to practice in your state and is in good standing with no disciplinary actions.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on websites like Avvo, Google, or Martindale-Hubbell. Previous clients can give you insight into the lawyer’s professionalism and success in family law cases.
- Request references: Ask the lawyer for references from past clients who can speak to their experience with the lawyer.
- Review their website or professional profile: Look at the lawyer’s background, case history, and areas of focus to ensure they have substantial experience in family law.
- Look for professional memberships: Membership in reputable organizations, such as the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), can indicate a lawyer's expertise and dedication to family law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with a family law lawyer, it’s important to come prepared. Here’s what you should bring:
- Relevant documents: Bring any documents related to your case, such as marriage certificates, prenuptial agreements, financial records, custody agreements, or court orders.
- List of assets and debts: For divorce cases, prepare a detailed list of all assets (e.g., homes, bank accounts, retirement funds) and debts (e.g., mortgages, loans, credit card balances).
- Details of the family issue: Provide a written summary of the situation, including key dates and facts related to your divorce, custody dispute, or support issue.
- Questions for the lawyer: Write down any questions you have about the legal process, costs, and potential outcomes.
- Your goals: Be prepared to discuss your objectives, such as custody arrangements, property division, or spousal support, so the lawyer understands your priorities.
Being organized and clear about your situation will help the lawyer evaluate your case more effectively and offer the best advice for moving forward.
