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02 Sep, 2024 by Trina donnelly
It has been an incredible experience working with chase, who is exceptionally intelligent, punctual, and welcoming. Chase makes you feel like family and instills confidence. I highly recommend Chase, who successfully secured full custody of my daughter on my first court appearance. Thank you, chase!
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25 Feb, 2024 by Autumn
Mr. Medeiros provided invaluable assistance during a challenging period of my life, ensuring I understood all aspects of the process without using confusing language.He demonstrated exceptional professionalism by prioritizing both mine and my daughter's best interests throughout his work. I would highly recommend him.
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23 Feb, 2024 by Anthony infranca
Chase Medeiros is a great divorce lawyer I had a great experience with him everything I told him he took into consideration chase helped me beat two cases one for my divorce and one for a restraining order I highly recommend him if you a need a great lawyer chase would be it he affordable and make you feel like your family I give chase a 5+ rating.Ty for everything chase.
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06 May, 2024 by Trevor
During a difficult personal time, Shawn's expertise as a certified family law specialist proved invaluable. Shawn's professionalism and deep knowledge of family law made the process much smoother and less stressful. Highly recommend!
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04 Jun, 2023 by Mondo kunz
She took over my work comp case and I saw results quick. She's a good choice 👌🏾.
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11 May, 2022 by Doc martin
Company does not assist local native American tribes with workman compensation. If you work in a local tribal community and need a workman's comp attorney , this business can not help you and rather discriminate.
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13 Feb, 2024 by Giuseppe pennisi
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19 Jan, 2024 by Diane gill
PATRICIA SAVAGE AND HER TEAM ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CARING. THEY WILL LISTEN CLOSELY TO WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED AND WILL DILIGENTLY RESEARCH HOW TO BEST LEGALLY FIGHT FOR YOUR CAUSE
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01 Dec, 2023 by Christopher robins
Nicole and her associates are highly detailed, attentive, and able to meet your business needs. Nicole and team got us through a tight deadline AND helped improve our knowledge and comfort in doing business.
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13 Feb, 2024 by Giuseppe pennisi
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19 Jan, 2024 by Diane gill
PATRICIA SAVAGE AND HER TEAM ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CARING. THEY WILL LISTEN CLOSELY TO WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED AND WILL DILIGENTLY RESEARCH HOW TO BEST LEGALLY FIGHT FOR YOUR CAUSE
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01 Dec, 2023 by Christopher robins
Nicole and her associates are highly detailed, attentive, and able to meet your business needs. Nicole and team got us through a tight deadline AND helped improve our knowledge and comfort in doing business.
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23 Jun, 2024 by Jonathan stolarski
I was initially put off by the consultation, but upon further reflection of my situation involving child custody and visitation, I realize Mr. McHugh was honest and straight to the point, not wasting time on frivolous talk. If you need some professional advice, it's well worth the consultation, just make sure you write questions down in advance because he cannot read your mind. His opinion was valuable to me and I appreciate his honesty.
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19 Mar, 2024 by Janelle cutrer
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21 Jan, 2024 by Zak schulps
Definitely one of the best, if not the best family law, practice and lawyer in Butte County 😉👍🏼🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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18 Sep, 2024 by Laura lopez burgdorf
Tara and the team at Dana L Campbell, Attorney at Law provide great care for clients that need estate planning. Providing peace of mind is such an important aspect of their work, it can really make a difference for clients navigating these important decisions for their families.
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30 Nov, 2023 by William g. apger
Smart, caring attorney. Her assistant, June, is the best in the area!
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11 Jan, 2023 by Daniel mauldin
Dana is great! I can always be assured that my clients will be well taken care of when they are referred to Dana. She specializes in estate transition and special needs.
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02 Jul, 2020 by Tracy cahn
Bakke was good for divorce. Unfortunately, for a second situation this firm did not handle the case well for me. I hired a new lawyer who was able to get the results needed for myself and my family.
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08 Jan, 2020 by Lisa schumann
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04 Apr, 2019 by Jon fry
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02 Jul, 2020 by Tracy cahn
Bakke was good for divorce. Unfortunately, for a second situation this firm did not handle the case well for me. I hired a new lawyer who was able to get the results needed for myself and my family.
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08 Jan, 2020 by Lisa schumann
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04 Apr, 2019 by Jon fry
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19 Jun, 2024 by Alycinlorayne corte'
Krista had to come clean up the mess that my past attorneys had left me in. She is educated in psych. and family law, so she truly understands and is compassionate to the cases she takes. Very friendly, very professional, and I have had the pleasure/ been working with her for years now and she has always quickly responded to all my questions as well as gave a straight-forward and thorough answer. She’s great representation, a woman of justice and honor, honesty, family, compassion and kindness. I am blessed to have found such an attorney!
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27 Jan, 2023 by Anonymous
After my disabled son’s wife filed for divorce and exploited his impairments by tricking him into signing all community property to herself - as his Power of Attorney I retained counsel. After six months of her deceptive/deterrent tactics - despite being sanctioned $1500 for them - we switched lawyers in December 2021. We retained Krista based on all of the 5-star reviews about her successfully fighting for other clients; but after ten months of giving her the benefit of the doubt, and wanting to avoid starting over with a third attorney, we ended up having a zero-star experience. She did disclose that a few upcoming medical procedures might slow progress, but they caused major delays and seriously compromised her performance. Due to COVID, she was working from home with no staff. Lacking support, her communications with us and the petitioner were mostly via informal emails which were often delayed. There were also significant enough errors in emails to the petitioner, that I began drafting them for accuracy myself so she could copy/paste and send them. Due to the thousands resulting from the petitioner’s non-compliance, I told Krista that I wanted to ask for legal fees in the settlement - but she said we shouldn’t since the petitioner didn’t have an attorney, and a judge would see it as bullying. When it came to making timely repairs to the neglected marital home to maximize profit and list it during a sellers-market bubble, Krista kept making allowances for the petitioner’s ongoing deterrent tactics, which postponed our ability to list it until the market was on the decline - diminishing potential proceeds. Once there was an offer and a closing date set for the end of September 2022, a critical document requiring my son’s signature was emailed to her at the end of August 2022; but with only a few days til closing, our panicked real estate broker was asking where it was. When I called her about it, Krista found and forwarded it to us [with no apology for the oversight or stress/inconvenience], and we had to scramble to get it to the buyer’s broker in time. After the sale of the house, she rescheduled a phone appointment last minute - only to no-show us at the re-scheduled time! When she missed calling by 15 minutes, I texted but got no reply. At the half-hour point, I called and left a voicemail, but she didn't call back until a few hours later. With no apology, she said that the appointment didn’t show up on her calendar, that she had been at the Verizon store all morning, so could we reschedule again! At this point, I terminated her services. Since the majority of her 5-star reviews included her then assistant and go back to 2014 - I am posting this to save others from the frustration, stress, expense, and lost time that we experienced.
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21 Sep, 2022 by A a
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10 Oct, 2023 by Andrea duncan
If I could give Lori no stars I would. She's a liar in open court. She does not have what is best for the children in her heart....if she has one. Helps liars take away children from the other parents all on her own opinion. God forbidden should she have done what she was appointed to her and not focused on her pockets getting bigger by the opposite side. She was supposed to be minors counsel as appointed. But if you pay her enough she'll do whatever you want regardless. She's judgemental, rude, stupid (could not tell the difference between a pit bull and a Boxer). She acts as if she god and can do as she chooses. Oh how the universe always turns and when it comes back around her good friend Karma will be riding alone. Just know if you don't pay her enough she becomes your enemy greed is a sin
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17 Aug, 2023 by Rebecca hammer
Lorie is an amazing child custody/adoption lawyer. She protected my daughter when it was needed most, and stood by our side through every moment. Definitely recommend.
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11 Oct, 2022 by Joe aasved
Laurie Brooks is expensive. But you get what you pay for! She genuinely cares about what is best for your children. She’s a no nonsense attorney. She accomplished in our first appearance what I have been trying to get done for two years now. She is honest and straight to the point and she’s not afraid to tell you the client when she thinks you are making a mistake. If 10 stars were available she would get All 10.
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19 Jul, 2023 by Anonymous
I has assumed my daughter would get advice and assurance when we hired Ron it’s seems these days he so busy he can barely return phone calls or emails. Have had two appointments by phone both of which I had to call because he apparently was running late. My daughter has been left without communication and a timeline we have spend our retainer and nothing has been finalized and have no direction as to how this might end. Frustrated and sorry my daughter retained Ron when he is so busy with his other cases. We hired him expecting advice assurance and resolution. Still waiting in limbo. He’s a nice man and other reviews appreciate his skills . I had hope for similar experiences.
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28 Oct, 2020 by Anonymous
Ron Marquez was assign by the court to be the Child's Advocate Attorney for my 2 pre-teen kids. This was a heavily litigated case over the past 2.5 years. Ron barley glanced at the court files and spent less than 20 minutes with my children. On the date of the trial Ron was reprimanded multiple times by the judge for not knowing the details of the case. Ron simply wanted to maintain a 50/50 custody timeshare. Ron made no attempt to represent the wants or needs of the children he was hired to advocate for. At the end of the trial the judge relieved him of his duties involving the case. I have seen many child custody cases of the years and Ron was the least prepared and knowledgeable lawyer I have seen to date. He was unconcerned for the wants and needs of the children he was suppose to represent.
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17 Oct, 2017 by Anonymous
Mr. Marquez seemed to have the right things to say but it was obvious that he takes the short road to end a case. Frivolous meetings, expensive email and phone charges and change of venue at court time make it very expensive and fruitless. He did not support the case when it was court time, manipulating his client with nonsense and pressuring his client to settle in the opposing clients agenda. Attempts to talk to his boss or anyone in his office was impossible, no return calls or emails to resolve this issue. He also has a pending issue with the CA State Bar that he did not disclose.
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28 Aug, 2017 by Sadhana
I hired Kimberly Henderson to handle my divorce recently and she did so, expertly, efficiently and affordably. Kim and her wonderful staff returned my calls promptly and updated me on the progress of my case, as needed. Kim seemed genuinely concerned that the settlement was fair and she explained the details of my case and my options clearly, enabling me to make informed decisions. I found Kim to be extremely ethical, as well as competent and have, without reservation, recommended her to clients and friends.
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11 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
I used Mrs. Henderson for my divorce mediation. From the get-go, I could see she favored my ex, which in mediation isn't good. She did not do a good job. I feel I lost a lot financially in the divorce and did most of the work for myself. In the end, when I had questions, she was rude and not helpful. I never felt fully informed and wish I hadn't stuck with her for mediation.
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10 Feb, 2012 by Anonymous
went to her husband for dissolution of marriage and was turned over to her after he was disbarred. Did almost nothing, sent associates to court in her place,told me she would do things with no follow through. Wasted money except to say I had attorney of record. I di most it myself.
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22 Jun, 2015 by Anonymous
When I was interviewing lawyers, they asked me who the opposing council was for my divorce, and I told them Les Hait, more than one said, "let me tell you what is going to happen with Les Hait. He will drag things out for as long as possible until all of the money is gone or until his client threatens to fire him". And sure enough he dragged out the divorce for over 3 years. When we finally settled with the Judge in conference, the judge said he was appalled to see how much had been spent on legal fees. He told me that he has seen doctors who did not spend that much on legal fees. Everyone I have spoken to that knows of Les Hait, knows that he has this reputation, but it seems like Les has taken acting lessons because he is so good at pulling the wool over the eyes of his client to make them think he is helping them. But in my case, literally every document they filed with the court had claims or statements which they KNEW were lies. Any crazy thing my ex would say, he would just type it up and file it even though they knew it was false, like claiming values in an account were much higher than the true amount - which was on the account statement we both had copies of. He seems like a nice man when you meet him, but but if you want a lawyer who will help you get your situation resolved in a fair and reasonable way, go anywhere else.
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02 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
Well lb for me this journey started along time ago. I first TV contacted Mr Ryker to helpme with my divorce in the beginning, he aasked for a $500.00 retaretainer and of course i I gave it to him, however when I wasnt able to come up with more money for him, I did not receive my retainer back. And i spoke with this man for maybe 30mins in total!! However I ended up needing a lawyer again about a year ago and since i no longer live in Chico, and I already have dealt with him that i woild go ahead and give him a try. I've given more money than i had, to the point of taking loans. And I've only actually spoken with him, as in hearing his voice, it's been twice possibly three! And when I call it's got to be at the exact right time because thry dont answer and when they do it's a pain in the ass to get a direct answer from him or his assistant's they say they will call you back,,, yeah right! Anyway keep looking if it's divorce your looking for!
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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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