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16 Apr, 2024 by A j
My experience with the Gill Law Group has been exceptional! All the Staff members are kind, respectful and knowledgeable. The Attorney representing my case is fully committed to me and answers all my questions in a timely manner. The Gill Law Group made me feel valued and important from the very first call. The attorney's are very honest and transparent, always willing to go the extra mile for the clients. I'm very pleased with the services I receive from the Gill Law Group, where they firmly advocate for each and every client! Thank-you all for your professionalism and legal representation.
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11 Apr, 2024 by Amanda a
Gill Law Group subbed into my case last minute due to a previous attorney being negligent. They stepped in and started working right away. Everyone is super professional and on top of their stuff making sure everything gets taken care of and quickly as well as answering any questions along the way.
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11 Mar, 2024 by Maria luna
I am very pleased with Gill law group, I had the pleasure of working with Gill and Mara who are very knowledgeable and was able to have a positive outcome in my divorse.
Thank you Gill Law Group
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31 May, 2024 by Grace m. stinson
The gentleman who recommended Mr. Brian Mullen to me shared how Mr. Mullen successfully resolved his case expeditiously. According to his feedback, Mr. Mullen found simplified and effective ways to reach a good resolution for his matter, which meant minimal legal fees to this individual. This feedback spoke volumes to me. Like many, I was concerned about the cost of representation and finding a trustworthy lawyer. I am so happy that Mr. Mullen lived up to the expectations I had, which was a good lawyer with honest fees.
From the initial meeting, Mr. Mullen was an unmitigated professional. He listened to the details of my matter and offered his expertise on how we could resolve my issue. My case was atypical and we faced complications during the process that were beyond our control. Yet, Mr. Mullen kept finding solutions to every challenge we faced and we finally prevailed as a result of his expertise and steadfast persistence.
Getting the outcome I specifically hoped for by itself was a great victory. This victory was heightened when I found a competent and skillful representative with honest fees in Mr. Brian Mullen. I am smiling from ear-to-ear. Thank you also to Cheryl and Nuha, who were part of the winning team.
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30 Jul, 2018 by Crv classic properties
I rarely write reviews because they are normally not warranted. In this case, I feel I need to share my experience of over 6 years working with Wilkinson and Finkbeiner law firm, specifically with attorney Brian Mullen and his para legals and secretaries on many family law matters. He has diligently guided me through several family law issues ranging from questions on the my original divorce settlement, child custody issues to child support issues etc. Brian's calm demeanor and excellent knowledge of the law has saved me time and money, however best of all positive results. His abilities have enabled me to stay in my daughter's life and fulfill my responsibilities of being a dad which I cherish and enjoy. He understands the emotional issues that come along with family law matters and fought hard for me using his legal knowledge and his staff. I always felt comfortable that they were on top of every issue. He always took time to listen to my goals and planned accordingly with great legal advice at a reasonable price to get to my goals. I am more that pleased , I am grateful for all this firm and especially Brian has done for myself and family. I highly recommend this firm and especially Brian Mullen.
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11 Mar, 2018 by Tee zaang
I must say I’m definitely glad to have found Andrew and Brian from this firm to help me. They are awesome guys! They took the time to truly understand the inner kinks in my case and analyzed my case from every angle, not just telling me what I wanted to hear. They took the time to explain to me my options instead of pressuring me into taking a position that I would end up regretting.
I must say this office is a well-oiled machine! They do things quickly and efficiently without sacrificing detail. The staff was also pretty awesome! Especially Cheryl! She was very helpful and was able to hone me in on the details that were very important in my case.
They never went a few days without updating me as to new occurrences and kept me in the loop at all times which I loved! I can’t say I have any complaints about my experience with them. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who needs family law help. There should be more attorneys like them out there. 🙂
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19 Apr, 2022 by Alise
I had a particularly difficult case to say the least. Jessica is extremely knowledgeable, and was able to navigate the system and deal with my case expertly. I would HIGHLY recommend Jessica. She is communicative and explains everything when things inevitably get messy. She is amazing!!!!
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20 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
Ms. Lesowitz is beyond knowledgeable when it comes to the convoluted ins and outs of CA family law. She is so passionate about the rights of those involved that she gets details in your arrangement that you would never have thought of adding in. She is efficient and fantastic at multi-tasking to keep her client's needs ahead of her own. I have absolutely no regrets when it comes to how she handled my case and would highly recommend her to anyone at any stage of their divorce or custody case.
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25 Apr, 2018 by James
My attorney with whom I had been working with for over a year on my divorce was unexpectedly called away to court right before my final hearing with the judge. She said she asked her mentor, Jessica Lesowitz, if she could step in last minute. She assured me I would be in even better hands than her own.
Well, after one conversation with Jessica I was blown away. She had an amazing understanding of the entire history of my case and really understood the situation better than I could have ever imagined.
The next day in court she helped me feel calm and prepared.
She handled herself in the court room like a true master. I could have not been more pleased with her representation and the judgement was a landslide in my favor.
Jessica was a dream to work with. Friendly, confident, charismatic, professional and highly skilled.
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13 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
I knew when he told me how sorry he felt for my ex that I should've walked out, but I didn't listen to my gut. I felt like I was working with a brand new attorney. He knew some things, but sometimes it seemed like he didn't know what he was doing. He failed to file a document on time which impacted the money I was asking for and lengthened my time in court. Instead of combining everything into one filing, we had to do it in two. Just ridiculous.
The lack of attention was bad, but what made it worse is that I always felt like he wasn't on my side. Several times I had to advocate for myself with him. Why exactly am I paying someone if they aren't on my side? I was in a bind and I will always regret not walking out.
I don't recommend this office. He's a nice enough guy, I'm sure, but he didn't represent me well. I should have been able to relax a little and I couldn't. Not impressed.
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13 Jan, 2017 by Jevon
Andrew and his firm and his family are great at what they do. I've met with him many times on behalf of my own clients and have found him very knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant to work with, even in the midst of very unpleasant circumstances. He and his firm have decades of experience in family law and I'd wholly recommend him.
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29 Jul, 2016 by Jean-laurent
We engaged Andrew’s father’s services almost 8 years ago and started using Andrew to represent us about 6 years ago. If one has to employ the services of a family lawyer for this long, it had better be from someone in which they have great confidence. For us, this is, without a doubt, Andrew. Andrew has masterfully represented us through a plethora of family law issues ranging from custody matters to complicated spousal and child support litigation. It does not seem there is anything in family law he cannot competently and expertly handle. Andrew is as smart as they come, a problem solver and a strong negotiator. He is always calm, composed and speaks with confidence and authority. While he is a “no non-sense” man who will always be candid with you, he is also compassionate and genuinely cares about the welfare of his clients, particularly their children. Andrew wants justice for his clients and he will tirelessly fight for it. We unequivocally and without reservation recommend Andrew for anyone’s family law needs.
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07 Aug, 2024 by Angelina davinci
It best and only family law lawyer ever. It's been a long time since I have been ignored by the court's System as well as all the other systems, my ex-husband knows all the way to get custody of 3 kids.
My ex-husband lied to the court and hid me from social workers! I've been in the house taking care of my kids while he was running to the court and making fake accusations. Of course, I couldn't check the mailbox because he was the only person whoa person who had access to read all the mail, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, all he had done to me and my kids! Finally
My freedom could happen upon AMAZING LAWYER:
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13 Aug, 2023 by Sara
Two years ago I posted on a fb group desperately seeking an attorney to protect my children. Candice was recommended by many and I took the advice. She did NOT disappoint ❤️❤️❤️.
This woman has a heart of gold and is a fireball in court. It’s rare to find an attorney these days who will use their heart as a shield. Many push paper and do the bare min if you’re lucky, then charge you an arm and a leg. Or they don’t see the games being played and aren’t prepared. Candice knows the games they play, always a step ahead and ready to go. Every hearing we have gotten remarkably closer to our goals. Last week the outcomes in court were life changing and my kids are finally safe. There’s nothing like an attorney that wants to see your ex behind the line as much as you do, wants justice and wants protection just as much as you do and bends over backwards to make it happen and is truly relentless in their pursuit for goodness.
Hiring the right attorney is a costly gamble. I’m only sorry I didn’t have her sooner. I’m thankful to her and thankful to those who pointed me to her- she’s a total badass! ❤️❤️
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15 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
I hired this person to help me out of a hi conflict divorce while I was fighting for my life during the lockdown. I was diagnosed with recurrent cancer and unwell. My ex-husband attempted to use my cancer diagnosis to take custody of the kids. my ex and his lawyer tried to claim that I was held under a psych evaluation when I was actually suffering a medication allergy. Candice never used my own medical file as evidence of the false claims. She failed to do her due diligence/job to submit my medical file to the court - which is malpractice
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02 Jul, 2022 by Marc brennan
Fraud! Was awarded a 22K settlement and received fraudulent paperwork claiming Epstein credits of 21K to my ex. The law firm stole 21K. For this you will be disbarred and indicted. Contacted the ex and she said she sent a check to the attorney for 22K. I do not endorse this law firm for anyone seeking legal services. Contacting the California Bar first thing Monday. Right up there with Michael Avenatti
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03 Jan, 2019 by Cheryl sheik
Ron was amazing! He was thorough, fair, calm, and not easily provoked. He handled the opposing counsel with amazing tact and skill. I highly recommend him!
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05 Dec, 2018 by Jason kelley
Rios and Rios is by far the most ethical and compassionate Family / Divorce law firms I could find. Ron Rios did an excellent job representing me in one of the most stressful times of my life. He was strategic yet conservative. He did not take advantage of the situation by over-billing and dragging my case on as most attorneys do. Ron consistently tried to work toward a quick resolution. Also, Sarah (the secretary) was patient and calm while directing me in gathering proper documents throughout the process. I would recommend anyone needing a Divorce / Family law attorney to consult with Ron as he is a Top Notch attorney in his field.
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24 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
Mr. Sullivan took a 7,000 restrainer from me and then doesn’t know who I am when I call. I have had to repeat facts of my case to him multiple times and it seems as though each time he is hearing these facts for the first time. His receptionist, Briley is unprofessional and rude over the phone and hard to deal in person because she dresses so innapropriately and has an angry demeanor. I blame myself for not looking into this attorney further before hiring this office for such an important matter. My only hope is that someone else will see this know better before hiring Mr. Sullivan.
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08 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
Rick is a professional, and a former boss. He is kind, yet assertive, and he cares about his clients. He takes his cases seriously, and he is helpful, and empathetic. He is an excellent choice during difficult times.
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19 Aug, 2016 by Mason
I was falsely accused of domestic violence and several other accusations. Mr. Sullivan was able to prove my ex was lying about everything at family court trial. My custody rights were restored and I was able to use the family court testimony and get my crimal case dismissed. Thank you for saving my sons life! I have 50/50 custody.
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04 Feb, 2016 by Sally
John did our trust. He was responsive and answered every question and made recommendations as to how to best protect our children as beneficiaries of the trust. He was also glad to answer legal questions we had that were unrelated to the trust. He always answered my emails and I had no difficulty with reaching him by phone.
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19 Sep, 2015 by Anonymous
For fixed-fee services, John is UNRESPONSIVE and LACKS ATTENTION TO DETAIL. I strongly urge avoiding hiring John as your attorney.
I hired John for a prenup. He offered a fixed rate of $650. My fiancee and I did not have a complex situation; I even had a pre-written draft of the prenup ready to review on Day 1. John assured me his fee covered counseling, advice, negotiation, and attorney certification.
1. John does not respond to email in a timely way. He takes 1-2 days to respond to every email. Not a huge problem, except:
2. When he did respond, his emails were a mere 1-2 sentences long. They frequently failed to answer the question asked. When I emailed back clarifications, it would take 1-2 days for every round-trip of clarifications. This quickly burned time as my fiancee and worked toward our deadline.
3. John never answers the phone. Ever. It's always his assistant, even when you call back moments after he left a voicemail, or seconds after he sent an email.
4. When you schedule a call with John, he often calls early or late. Sometimes, he called 20 min early of our scheduled appointment, other times an hour late. I am a busy professional. I'm not just waiting around for my phone to ring, able to hop on 20 min early or an hour late. John's failure to adhere to his schedule disrespects his client's time.
5. On phone calls, John doesn't "lead." A good attorney leads by saying: "I noticed in your draft, clause A and B. Here are things to keep in mind about clause A. Btw, do you really want to phrase clause B like that? Here's the implication." That's helpful. By contrast, John would say: "What questions do you have for me?" You as the client must have all the questions, or else he has nothing to advise you. But as a client, you don't know what you don't know. That's why you hire an attorney -- to advise. John was almost worthless in this regard.
6. John does not draft anything, even minor word changes. John would say, "you need to include XYZ in your contract." Then I'd have to search on Google for examples of that contract language. Then I'd have to send it back for review, which (from 1-4 above) resulted in more delays and unhelpful emails / phone calls.
7. John doesn't read opposing counsel markup. When opposing counsel sent over document edits, I reviewed them in detail and asked questions, like: "what does this legal reference mean?" and "should I be worried about that clause?" -- John's responses were: "that's boilerplate, don't worry," or "I don't know, I have to look that up," or simply "I have no idea." What the hell are you paying for with these kind of answers? Even for boilerplate, if it FEELS MATERIAL to the client, it's the attorney's JOB to EXPLAIN it. Thoroughly. That's what an advisor does. John utterly fails at this.
8. John does not frame options; YOU must come up with all the options. John just says, "You could do that," or "Yes, that's an option." For example, negotiating spousal support, John provided no assistance either framing or recommending options. A good attorney says: "Here are some ways to structure this. Of these 3 options, I recommend X, because of Y reasons." The client WANTS this. Sure, I may not ultimately follow it - that's my choice - but a rec gives me a better understanding of the issues. That is the difference between advisor vs. scribe. John is NOT an advisor. He's more like a computer program that spits out errors with no helpful explanations, or "Yes, that option is acceptable."
9. John does not negotiate. His fee includes it, but he never once picked up the phone to negotiate for me. I had to communicate directly to opposing counsel, or through my fiancee.
10. John makes REALLY careless mistakes. When sending opposing counsel his attorney certification, he sent the wrong freaking document. He was slow to respond to emails. When he did respond, he sent the wrong damn document. This CAUSED US TO MISS OUR DEADLINE.
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26 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
I had interviewed several attorneys before I decided to have Mr. Morkos complete my Prenup agreement. He was professional, knowledgeable and very accessible. Being a professional myself, it was important to find an attorney who fully understood my concerns. I highly recommend Mr. Morkos.
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20 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
Background: This was a complicated divorce case ( 4+ years of working with Bonnie)
In our experience, she was great at the beginning, however, when opposing side changed attorneys and tactic, she appeared occupied with other cases and didn’t keep up with the opposing side’s latest approach. This lead to irreversible negative impact on my case and consequently my minor children. For someone of her caliber, disappointing, to say the least.
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25 Sep, 2014 by Maggie
I highly recommend Bonnie Rosen to anyone needing a divorce attorney. Bonnie is extremely professional, experienced and ethical. She kept me fully informed throughout this difficult and emotional process. She really fought for what was best for me and my children. I would also like to express my gratitude to her firm whom was very kind and supportive when needing information from me for the preparation of my case. Thank you Bonnie ! Eternally grateful.
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03 Jul, 2014 by Marie
Bonnie helped me through the most difficult time of my life. My soon to be X Husband had me falsely arrested on a Domestic Violence charge to gain an unfair advantage in our divorce proceedings not to pay alimony and keep the children from me. It was a vigorous battle to show the truth but Bonnie revealed his premeditated plan and saved me and my kids from a future of heartache.
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13 Apr, 2024 by Anisha alston
Great life changing lawyer, highly recommend.
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11 Apr, 2024 by Jessica allec
08 Apr, 2024 by Ultra_ alfredo
Thanks for your service
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11 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
Mr. Gerald Maggio is very polite during consultations, and he made me believe that he could help me with my case. I paid twice for his consultations. He said he was going to take on my case, but when I went to sign the agreement another lawyer was waiting for me. This was a meeting that Mr. Maggio agreed to and was supposed to show up at, in HIS offices.
Julie Ringquist was waiting for me, who apologized for his absence and explained that she could help me. I didn't think that he would approve for anyone for a meeting in his offices who was not a part of his company. I was misled, I ended up hiring her being. She ruined my case, I lost so much time and money. When I confronted her about her misleading me, she completely denied that she did anything like that. She did nothing for my case; she wasted my time, money, and ruined my case. She was unresponsive for weeks at a time. She used her entire retainer toward emailing back and forth what I already knew. She was supposed to prepare a counter offer for the settlement the opposing side sent. After months, she still didn't do it. All she had to do was edit the problems with the already drafted settlement. She claims she's spent 5 hours on my case doing absolutely nothing. I am worse off than when I hired her. Do not hire her. If you want to waste your time, money and add extra stress also trouble in your case you could hire her.
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27 Jun, 2013 by James
Julie took over my complex case from another attorney who didn't represent me well and she has done a wonderful job sorting it out. She is impeccably professional and ethical. She truly cares about her clients and has their best interests in mind. She is very detail oriented and focuses on doing the things that matter most to progress your case to settlement or conclusion. If I could give her 10 stars I would!
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18 Sep, 2011 by Anonymous
I retained Julie three weeks before the settlement conference day because of a friend's recommendation.
My case had lasted more than a year and half and my former lawyer didn't do anything and did not respond to requests from me or the attorney from other side. My case was in a mess. Julie quickly assessed my case and came up a plan that is practical and with my best interest in mind.
She reviewed my case documents and contacted opposing attorney before the settlement conference day.
The original one afternoon settlement conference session dragged on to became a day and half back and forth intense negotiation. Julie handled the whole process with professionalism and passion for fairness in practice law. She used many negotiation techniques and ultimately reached the settlement for me.
Julie also uses technologies to make her business practice cost effective. I am very pleased with her service and will recommend her to anybody in Orange County who needs a family lawyer in a heartbeat.
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11 May, 2022 by Anonymous
I was forced to work with Vince by association with other lawyers as a collaborative suit. Instead of respectfully addressing my concerns, he became very upset and accusatory. When I tried to clarify and quote him on things he stated to me that I found problematic and upsetting, he decided to tell me that I was hateful, angry, creating things that weren't real and that I needed to talk to my therapist and not him. Absolutely refused to have a mature or respectful conversation. Really made me regret associating myself with this group of attorneys, though others in the group were very capable of calmly discussing concerns and issues and making sure clients were comfortable.
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26 Sep, 2011 by Anonymous
Mr. Finaldi represented my legal interests in a Jane Doe sexual abuse civil litigation case. He is professional, responsive in addressing concerns, intelligent, and strategically aggressive with opposing council when needed. It was a long road, yet I always felt comfortable entrusting my case to Mr. Finaldi/Manly & Stewart and was additionally pleased with the outcome of my suit. Consequently, I feel confident in giving my strong recommendation for Mr. Finaldi as a civil litigation attorney in these matters.
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03 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
He never tried contacting me about my case or if there were any news about my case and when i tried contacting him he never responded my calls or emails. I wouldn't hear from him for over a month and when he would finally answer he always came up with excuses. All this guy ever wanted was money. My case ended up getting closed and he never once told me about it. I ended up hearing it from someone else. He is very unprofessional. I never ended up getting what i needed from this case because of his unproffesionalism. This man is undependable. Dont ever use him as your lawyer.
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24 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
Joshua responded to my question very promptly. I really appreciated his thoughtful reply, and I encourage anyone who wants a good lawyer to work with him.
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07 Feb, 2024 by D
Keith Dolnick is unprofessional at best. Initially felt hopeful for resolution after retaining his services for what should have been a very simple divorce.
His lack of responsiveness and care for paying clients is disappointing. Unsure if it was "too small" a case for him to care or if he maintains a lackadaisical tempo in every area of life, but if you want your case moved forward or resolved- 10/10 would not recommend Keith.
Ethically questionable and I wish I'd paid more attention to warning reviews online prior to wasting time and money only to retain an attorney that was competent and thorough enough to close my case.
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02 Jan, 2019 by Emily
In addition, he is withholding my file from me. After several attempts and promises that he would provide it, he is not willing to cooperate and provide it to me. He blocked my cell phone number after sent a text message requesting it in the next 3 business days.
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09 May, 2023 by Chris
"If anyone needed a firearm to defend himself, this thin bundle of sticks does." Was a Facebook comment in reference to David Hogg. I've never hired this lawyer however with comments like this, I believe it would be best to stay away
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20 Feb, 2014 by Anonymous
I do not recommend Stephen Trella. His concern is more about his bill than your case and he will calculate his work according to your savings account. He let us down and destroyed our faith in honesty and accountability. We would have been better off doing the work ourselves.
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26 Jul, 2020 by Anonymous
I hired Amy Neshanian to work on my child custody case ,after several month a mysterious person starts emailing me saying he is Amy's Husband ,he sends emails without signature or phone number or anything ,She never clarifies that her called husband works for her ,He is Very rude ,then he stops his wife ,Amy Neshanian from working on the case .Don't hire this firm ,they will leave you in the middle of the road .Not professional at all.
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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.
