Lawyers map
>17
experienced lawyers
Filter by
29 Nov, 2022 by Huong
Michael is a wonderful attorney and a warm hearted person. He and his team did a great job with my case.
Read more
22 Nov, 2022 by Alice
I hired Michael to help me resolve an ongoing fight to receive child support and reimbursement for expenses that my ex simply refuses to pay. Prior to engaging with Michael, I spoke to other family law attorneys who seemed uninterested in taking my case. It made me feel that my case was hopeless. Then I spoke to Michael and he took the time to listen to what I’ve been through and how I was not being paid anything. Michael asked me some really good questions that other attorneys failed to do. He understood the problem and offered to help me. He then worked with another attorney in his office (Holly Price) who is an expert in child support and they were not only able to get current support paid but also arrearages and attorney fees. Thank you Michael and SVLO Team. You guys are truly the best!!!
Read more
24 Sep, 2015 by Jan
Michael represented me in a heated dispute involving accusations that were not true and a claim for money that was simply unjustified. It took several rounds of negotiation.
However, in the end I was very pleased because we settled for a fractional amount of what was originally requested.
Michael was very skilled in how he communicated with the other attorney and in working out a favorable outcome. Thank you Michael.
Read more
26 Jun, 2024 by Christine
I had a chance to work opposite Sara a few years ago. I have worked with many lawyers in the past, but Sara stands out as the one of most professional, ethical, knowledgeable, and intelligent lawyers out there. She is sharp, quick on her feet, and she puts her client best interest above anything else. She is a fierce advocate and at the same time a fair and reasonable negotiator. It was my pleasure to work with her and I highly recommend her. She's not only a top-notch lawyer but also a great human being.
She is the one who gives lawyers a good name. You can't go wrong with Sara.
Read more
4.6
10 Reviews
4.8
135 Reviews
05 Aug, 2024 by Aibo sun
Alcorn Immigration Law is an excellent company. The staff are very patient, highly professional, and respond to emails promptly. They proactively arrange meetings to help address my questions. With their assistance, we successfully completed an H1B transfer and an H1B extension. Thank you very much.
Read more
15 Jul, 2024 by Vishal juneja
26 Jun, 2024 by Christine liu
Sara is one of the most professional, conscientious, knowledgeable and smartest lawyers out there. She’s not only a top-notch lawyer but a wonderful human being. She’s empathic and ethical, and at the same time she can be a fierce advocate. You can’t go wrong with Sara.
Read more
14 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
I thought his man cared about his clients, he doesn't. I am a mother who lost her rights due to him saying I should just go along with the program that he had planned for me to get my son back. It's almost like I was representing my self. Please people do not deal with peninsula law firm because if Montgomery is shady then there whole firm has to be. Im 35 grand less richer and I don't even get to see my son in visitation. Save your money look elsewhere
Read more
05 Aug, 2024 by Aibo sun
Alcorn Immigration Law is an excellent company. The staff are very patient, highly professional, and respond to emails promptly. They proactively arrange meetings to help address my questions. With their assistance, we successfully completed an H1B transfer and an H1B extension. Thank you very much.
Read more
15 Jul, 2024 by Vishal juneja
24 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
My experience with bay immigration law and this attorney wasn’t great- I wouldn’t recommend
Read more
31 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
Communication was consistently poor; they were difficult to reach and often failed to return calls or emails in a timely manner.
Read more
04 Oct, 2023 by Tony
My wife and I couldn't be happier with Anita and the team at Alcorn. Anita and the entire staff are some of the most professional and empathetic people you'll ever find to trust with something as important as navigating through the immigration process. No question that retaining their services was worth every single penny not just because of their comprehensive knowledge of immigration law and efficiency in preparing all our papework, but in terms of reducing our stress and ensuring the smoothest possible immigration experience possible. I could go on and on about how they adeptly handled every part of the process, but just the amount of preparation support and having Anita actually there with us to get through the immigration interview alone was worth far more than the fee. Anita, we'll forever be grateful to you!
Read more
29 Jan, 2024 by Piya
21 Jan, 2024 by J w
I do not recommend hiring the lawyer Mr. Michael Pascoe, who works at this law firm – and this is coming from a lawyer.
For context, I rarely post reviews and up until this review, all of them were 5 star reviews because it can be hard to run a business and I have real sympathy for business owners. However, a recent conversation with some friends inspired me to post my first and likely only negative review on Google – I’m speaking up because picking a meal is one thing, picking a lawyer you’re spending thousands of dollars on is another. People can have a hard time finding a great lawyer at an affordable price, especially as it’s hard for them to evaluate the quality of legal representation, and I hope my perspective can help out those that are looking.
First, some background on my interactions with Mr. Pascoe: my partner and I were looking for lawyers to draft a prenup – I hired one lawyer based on a reddit rec while my partner hired Mr. Pascoe. However, we both agreed that if given the choice again, my partner would never have hired Mr. Pascoe.
I’ll refrain from going into detail on everything I saw that concerned me, but suffice it to say that I would not recommend Mr. Pascoe to anyone based on what I saw of the prenup drafting, his interpretations of the law, how long it took to get things done, and more. Here’s just one example of a major problem in the prenup drafting - Mr. Pascoe (or someone working at his direction) had removed and then inserted clauses into the prenup that actively hurt their own client’s financial interests. In a few different places, their revised prenup stated that after marriage our assets would be community property rather than separate property – what this meant was that my partner, who makes more money than I do, would have had his post-marriage income, stocks that vested to him, his retirement money, and more split 50/50 with me in the event we both divorced rather than considered his own separate property which I was not entitled to. This was not what either of us wanted (plus if we wanted that, it’s the default in CA so there would be no need for a prenup), and I was genuinely astonished that Mr. Pascoe’s revision changed the correct delineation of these assets as separate property in the original prenup draft my lawyer sent to Mr. Pascoe. If I were to be charitable, perhaps they would have caught this massive error in the second (and last) revision they made – however, I’m doubtful they would have noticed an error of 3 words in a 20 plus page document given other errors I saw in their revisions (including their last one).
Again, I emphasize that my review is specific to Mr. Pascoe. Every lawyer is different and this review is not meant to be about lawyers whose legal work I’ve obviously not had the chance to see.
Hopefully my experience and perspective will be helpful to anyone who reads this review.
Read more
26 Nov, 2022 by Huong nguyen
Michael and his team did a great job.
Read more
29 Jan, 2013 by Anonymous
Worst mistake off my life. Not only did he not listen, he was only worried about how he looked to the other lawyers involved. He left me high and dry before the trial was even done. I found a new lawyer and he promised to get in touch and send all needed information, he did not do anything including fill the needed paper work for the new lawyer to take over the case. This angered the judge so much he would not hear anything more and we lost our duaghter.
Read more
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
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.
