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18 Jul, 2022 by Bilal
17 Jul, 2022 by Roy jones
11 Aug, 2010 by Natasha tx
Seyfarth Shaw, the Attorney for the Marriott, is the worst Attorney that I have seen on record. Overbilling, lying to their client, costing their client $$$$, while they misrepresent, just attrocious behavior and an incompetant law firm. Trying to influence a Federal Judge after they have misfiled pleadings.
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18 Jul, 2022 by Bilal
17 Jul, 2022 by Roy jones
11 Aug, 2010 by Natasha tx
Seyfarth Shaw, the Attorney for the Marriott, is the worst Attorney that I have seen on record. Overbilling, lying to their client, costing their client $$$$, while they misrepresent, just attrocious behavior and an incompetant law firm. Trying to influence a Federal Judge after they have misfiled pleadings.
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25 Feb, 2015 by Joe
I would like to start by saying I highly recommend Attorney Dawn Young.
Dawn has provided me with excellent advise in my custody and removal case in a situation that needed a fresh outlook. She has grasped my highly contested and complex case within a short period of time and has given me dedicated, down to earth, effective and professional advise on how to move forward. I would like to point out that her advise was not only of legal nature but also helped me to understand my emotional challenges in this difficult life situation better.
Her business acumen and her listening skills have impressed me as much as her ability to provide me with a very realistic picture of the 'doable' actions and their possible outcomes. For the first time in two years I left an attorney's office hopeful about my future and the possibilities my case has.
I understand that Dawn is not considered to be inexpensive but I would like to say that her advise has been more effective and realistic than the advise of any other attorney I spoke to who overpromised and underdelivered. I highly recommend dawn as an attorney and an advisor.
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19 May, 2014 by Anonymous
Was not really helpful in my case. I felt like I had to step in above and beyond on many things. My level of involvement would have made most attorney's work easy. The fact that Dawn continued to bill me exorbitant amounts each time was unacceptable. High cost - low output. I ended up leaving this attorney half-way through my case.
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14 Sep, 2023 by Sarah silva
We highly recommend Attorney Andrew Adams. We recently took over the company and Andrew helped us navagite the restructuring. He was always three steps ahead, responded quickly and eased our minds about everything.
What stuck out the most, was how personally invested he was about helping the company's transition.
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25 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
This place is very rude. He don't allow you to speak or even explain your situation. I would never recommend anyone to this law firm. Instead of pointing you to the right direction, He laughs on the phone and hang up.
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08 Oct, 2023 by John yu
Every year Boston magazine publishes the results for top attorneys in Boston from different legal specialties, from business and criminal law to family and employment law. If there are top 100 attorneys; Edward Wayland would be voted as the top 10 WORST attorneys in Boston. I'm very grateful I had made the right decision to terminate him for ineffectiveness of his counsel. About few years ago, To today's day, I never regretted (terminating) firing Edward Wayland.
He almost ruined my life and my freedom. lack of communication, Failure to exercise diligence, ineffectiveness of his counsel, and Incompetence, Incompetence, and Incompetence. I'm in the process of filing a complaint against him to the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseer; Attorney and Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP), I think he should get his license suspended or revoked. (everything I stated here is true except for the top 10 worst attorneys).
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01 Nov, 2022 by Cindy allen
I would like to share with everyone the extremely positive experience we had with Attorney Edward Wayland. We were "in the weeds" and getting "bullied" by opposing counsel. Edward just calmly and rationally cut through "the sideshow" intended to distract and turned the situation around 180 degrees. Most importantly Edward held to his integrity and achieved a "just" outcome. I am happy to speak with anyone directly as this is a real experience. You can contact Edward for my details.
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16 Nov, 2017 by Kevin
I hired John Shea but he works with Grace. She handled my Case. I liked what she had to say in the beginning but in the end she showed her inexperience. Many over charges reviewing the same documents and doing the same work. Not very efficient . I had to pay for hear consulting with another lawyer in the same firm{john} because of her inexperience. It also showed in court , she was not very good.
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12 Feb, 2012 by Anonymous
Mr. Ford represented me in my divorce. All throughout his representation he showed no compassion for me and what i was going through.He continually dragged me through unneccesary steps during the process,and ran up large fees. I, as well as one judge,found him to be arrogant and insulting,putting us at a disadvantage. I ended up firing him and finishing the process myself. After firing him, he sent his final bill and, obviously worried that i may not pay the few thousand remaining, two days later he actually put an immediate lien on my home.
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13 Sep, 2019 by Kevin
I hired Francine to handle my divorce case. Francine represented me through a pre-trail conference and half-way through a deposition of my wife. The relationship had been strained because, in my opinion, Francine did not take the time to listen and lacked empathy. It became more difficult when, during my wife's deposition (Francine questioned her about certain events for the record), Francine spent time texting individuals who were not part of the deposition DURING her questioning. She seemed unfocused and seemed to lose track of her line of questioning. She was interrupted several times by calls and messages on her Apple watch and iPhone that went off during the questioning, causing even more disruption of the proceeding. At one point she left the room to leave her watch in the hallway because she could not operate it to become silent. We could still hear the watch through the door as questioning continued. She seemed embarrassed. Then, she chose to leave the deposition despite the insistence of the other party that they wanted to finish. It seemed Francine had other matters that were more pressing than the deposition. The deposition had been on the calendar for many weeks.
When I discussed this with her the next day, my perception was that she became irate. When I asked about the rescheduling of the remainder of the deposition, she did not have a plan and it seemed that it would be at least several weeks before it would be rescheduled, causing it to be pushed right up against the next important court date. I expressed my concern and she became more irate, making characterizations of me in front of her associate who was also in the room.
Finally, she indicated that she thought that the relationship had broken down and announced that she was going to withdraw as my attorney. For me, this was not a reasonable outcome and I was confused.
Questions I would ask Francine before engaging her:
"How many times has your relationship with a client broken down?"
"Do you consider it important to listen to your clients?"
"Is your concern for how the judge perceives you as important as the representation you provide for your client?"
"Does the personal relationship with your client matter to you as much as your practice of the law?"
"Is your communication with your team effective and does your relationship with them impact your clients?"
"Do you consider it important to keep clients informed about important milestones in the case?"
"Do you always give clients ample time to prepare for events or do you give them short notice because your schedule prevents it?"
"Do you hold meetings with clients to prepare for depositions and pre-trial hearings or do you "wing it?"
These would probably be good questions to ask any attorney and I hope they help guide you to make a decision about working with Francine. The potential costs make investigating your choice very important.
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27 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
I’m undefeated against Kates Barlow as a single parent, representing myself. He and his staff will lie to the judge, while telling their client whatever they want to hear.
All about the money. These people care nothing about family or results.
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07 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
Should not be in family law. Cares nothing about the kids only the good ole boy and the money.
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21 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
Mr. Barlow does favors for rich white men and looks the other way when sexual, physical, and emotional abuse is harming women and children. “How bad could the dad really be?” Well Mr. Barlow, those kids you ignored are almost adults and remember just how incredibly negligent you have been.
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18 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
I hired Jared. He over promised, and under delivered. He was extremely cocky which made me feel confident in our case. We were laughed out of the court. The judge reprimanded him for false information, and the lawyers behind the bench were laughing at some of his claims. Get ready pay Boston prices for someone who is more concerned about telling everyone how important he is Personally, I think he might be a smart guy, but he absolutely craps the bed in court. He takes no responsibility after the courtroom hearing and will try to spin it that you were lucky to have him.
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08 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
Attorney Spinelli did not advocate for me and claimed a bad result was some sort of victory. I am still paying the consequences of his representation.
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23 Apr, 2018 by Anonymous
Marc was my attorney in a contentious child support modification case. He is personable but not terribly ethical. For example, there is a law in MA that if you are over 70 then one is entitled to a “speedy trial” under MA Rule 59F. A year and a half of stalling and delays later; that he could have stopped dead via Rule 59F, I finally got a trial date. Imagine the billable hours he racked up. But wait, there’s more: As we approached the trial, this hot shot decided that we needed his junior associate to help litigate. Again, many more billable hours. In hindsight, associate was essentially useless in the process. Under the stress of the litigation process, I yielded to having his associate join the show. Marc could have easily done what needed to be done - alone.
Save yourself untold sums of money and seek ethical counsel elsewhere.
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26 Apr, 2015 by A probate client
I was extremely disappointed in this attorney's handling of my case. Once he received his retainer, his initial interest and indignation over my situation quickly subsided. In fact, the retainer issue itself was very deceptive. He first told me that his retainer was half of what most firms charge. A few weeks later I got a call from him asking for another ten thousand dollars. Then yet another call of "Hey, when you get a chance can you send us another five thousand". So I was enticed by a lower number (presumably to avoid "sticker shock") and then billed incrementally, ultimately paying the same amount he'd criticized other firms for charging. After a year I was in pretty much the same situation where I was when I'd started but out a tremendous amount of money.
Sadly, there was a young attorney assisting on the case who was smart, energetic and extremely perceptive who I believe would have had a genuine chance at prevailing. I sent her a letter asking if she could handle my case independently, and she responded that she could not as she was still an "associate" and thus not able to take cases independently.
Shortly afterward, I received a further bill from Atty. O'Regan charging me for the time it took her to write her response. I think this last incident pretty much sums up my experience with this individual.
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25 Aug, 2011 by Anonymous
I paid this attorney $450 for an initial consultation over a modification of an existing separation agreement concerning the custody. On our follow up phone conversation the next day she insisted that she wanted to re-write the whole agreement(!) which I did not need her to do. She clearly did not listen to my needs and continued trying to sell me her services I didn't need. I then informed her that I would not go forward with her since she wasn't doing what I needed her to do. She got very resentful. Sure enough, I received a bill from her for $600 claiming that she wrote a new agreement! She never had any time to write a new agreement between the time of the initial office consultation and the phone call and we were still deliberating. When I asked her to email me a copy of the said work she said "she no longer had it"! I continued to dispute the bill then she started to send me nasty threatening emails to go to collection. I ended up paying! Needless to say a divorce is a stressful manner and last thing you need is someone who is multiplying your stress financially and emotionally.
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05 Oct, 2022 by Anonymous
You want someone to destroy your life? She will do that for you! Loves breaking up families. 8 years ago SHE FORCED my child to move to another state with her jackass father. All while my child expressed what she wanted....and that wasn't it. DESTROYED any relationships with daughter with my family. I'm now looking for a lawyer so her stuck up little Andover MA bimbo will see....I only have one life and what she's done cannot be fixed.
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06 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
Phyllis Federico is uninterested in her client's best interests, but only interested in self-promotion and a scorched-earth approach to any legal matter. She works to wall off children from her clients estranged spouses. She discourages settlements when litigation is profitable for her. She is needlessly aggressive when other approaches can bring a matter to a reasonable conclusion.
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19 Dec, 2020 by David
My experience with Elizabeth Roberts, over a four-year period, is that she falls short of basic professional standards in terms of both document management and client representation. She operates with a chip on her shoulder and cannot properly keep organized successive versions of documents. Further, she caused her client significant monetary and material damage by virtue of her lack of skill or ability to engage in productive negotiation.
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23 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
Retained Michelle while she was an attorney at Aceto, Bonner and Cole. Her overall manner, attitude and tone reflected how utterly miserable she was doing her job. She pushed us to settle for small amount of money. We refused and fortunately it was to our benefit as we got more in the end. She wanted to get the case over with and had NO patience for discussing options other than what she insisted we do. Being polite and respectful is not her wheelhouse. She has no interest in her client's perspective. Dictatorial and rude. Very unresponsive to requests for information or updates. Had to chase her down for answers.
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08 Dec, 2021 by Anonymous
Went through a divorce that took almost two years to finish, even though my ex-wife and I essentially agreed to all terms right from the beginning. I thought I had a fighter in Kirsten, and what I got was someone who was happy to churn a bill. Would take weeks to get her to call me back, respond to an email, but she was real quick sending out the bill. Her and Barach Law in Framingham lacked professionalism when I went into their office and her advice was basically nonexistent. Look somewhere else.
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09 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
Ms Vaccarelli was appointed to my family case by the court in Nantucket in July 2013. She was tasked to facilitate visitation between my child & her father. In 8 months & charging $20,000, she failed to even say the word "visitation". She charged $8,000 to write a short paragraph. She didn't invoice properly. I was only able to get an invoice w/the intervention of another attorney's office. She never read any materials she requested, she didn't know the law on even simple questions. Her behavior was bizarre. She would make unexpected (& and unwanted) night phone calls to my elderly parents who live in New York, then she was talk and talk at them, and then make threats about what she could do to their grandchild. AS a matter of routine she would deny that she had said things that she had, even things to other attorneys. Her treatment of my child caused a social workers to tell me to report her to the Mass. Board of Bar Overseers, which I did. They accepted to progress my complaint. But I told Ms Vaccarelli that I wouldn't progress provided she resigned from the case and didn't cause anymore problems to anyone in my family. So she resigned. But people should know about this if they are thinking of having any dealings with her.
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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.
