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Sharon A Williams, experienced Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 10 reviews
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24,55
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3.6/5
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2.8
4 Reviews
Google Maps
4.2
6 Reviews
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11 Sep, 2021 by Rachel g
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06 May, 2021 by Ken corbin
Google Maps
star star star star star
24 Mar, 2020 by :adam
He's an attorney, he serves nobody but the states interest.
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Mark Kramer, experienced Civil Rights, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 17 reviews
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23,87
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3.9/5
Avvo
3.9
17 Reviews
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03 Sep, 2024 by Patricia
Mark Kramer has no integrity. I hired Mark: he represented me for over a year, and sat on his *ss for 12 months, when it came time for the trial, the bottomline is, - - he was unprepared and a slam-dunk situation became the other parties' easy win...
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02 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
Find any other practice than Kramer and Associates. When I paid my fee to discuss my case Mark came late to my appointment and was unprepared to discuss. He had me believing we had a chance to fight my case. If I would have known this was all a waste of time, I would not have spent the time, effort and emotional toll on fighting. I had to pay a second time to have a different Lawyer in this firm to look at my case. This one at least listened and was prepared to discuss my case. The worst I dropped my case and had to fight to get any sort of refund remaining on my retention fee. Mark told me refund would come in to 50% installments. Absolutely unacceptable as the client we are REQUIRED to pay their fee.
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17 Mar, 2016 by Brad
Upon hiring Mark I had a critical filing deadline to contest a fraudulent restraining order, which he missed. I was instructed to direct contact through his assistant, who did not respond. I had very sporadic returns from Mark's office throughout my case until near the end. When his assistant, who seemed perpetually distracted, finally returned my emails she had botched paperwork enough to where I felt it necessary to physically visit her at the office, then when we met she seemed very agitated, and needed calming and reminding to give me copies. From this point forth all my pertinent contact was directly with Mark, who usually seemed disinterested and intimidated by a female opposing counsel (or too close). Contact was so degraded at times that I was accused by the opposition of deliberately delaying, among other allegations of obstruction, insult tactics, and slights, but I was never defended by Mark. When I contacted his office by phone or visited, the office receptionist was very unfriendly and unaccommodating. She came to be known as The Gargoyle at the Gate. Come to find out that the assistant I tried to depend on had quit during my case. There was eventually a settlement that was essentially what I had originally offered prior to involvement of two lawyers, and a ridiculous amount of time and extraneous expense for no worthwhile assistance. I believe I could have negotiated this case, and representing and defended myself as well or better pro se.
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Alex Patton Sutton, experienced Child Custody, Child Support attorney in Portland, OR with 7 reviews
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23,11
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3.8/5
Avvo
3.8
7 Reviews
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08 Jun, 2022 by Anonymous
Like the comment below, he was not worth what I paid. He often required that I wait way too long for responses to emails and calls and clearly was always preoccupied by somethings. Divorcing my wife cost way more than it should have.
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25 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous
Look. If you want to spend top dollar for mediocre results then this is your guy. I found him incredibly disengaged with the process.
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02 Oct, 2017 by Allison
No one wants to get divorced, and certainly no one wants to have a contentious divorce and custody battle. Walking into court, I never felt more confident thanks to Alex's hard work, preparation and caring communication throughout the whole process. Alex is incredibly smart, measured, thoughtful and has a personal nature that will make you feel at ease. But it's also his tenacity and doggedness that makes you feel confident you're in the right hands. I interviewed numerous lawyers before final landing on Alex and I am very thankful to have him on my team.
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Jacqueline Lizeth Alarcon, experienced Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 3 reviews
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20,95
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3.7/5
Avvo
1.0
1 Reviews
Google Maps
5.0
2 Reviews
star star star star star
15 Mar, 2024 by Mariana
She’s weird and sexist against women. Watch out. Drops restraining orders when the defendant used hard drugs around a baby and has threatened to shoot me.
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07 Oct, 2019 by Adam blagg
Bob Bonaparte knows his stuff
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17 Jul, 2016 by James bonaparte
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Kirkland T Roberts, experienced Car Accident, Criminal Defense attorney in Portland, OR with 3 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
19,50
star star star star star
3.7/5
Avvo
3.7
3 Reviews
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13 Jan, 2025 by Vania
It was a delight working with Mr. Kirk. He kept me updated with the progress in my case and whenever there were updates with the legal document he made sure I had a chance to review them to ensure my personal information was disclosed correctly. He kept me reassured we were making progress in my case and I entrusted him completely that we would arrive at a satisfactory result. I highly recommend Mr. Kirk for his legal service as he has great attention to his clients.
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22 Dec, 2024 by Anonymous
I have worked with hundreds of attorneys all over the nation. Robert is one of the most detailed consumer orientated attorneys nationwide. He is always very respectful of his clients and If I needed an attorney he would be one of the first ones I would hire.
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29 Nov, 2024 by Anonymous
First two interactions with Kirk Roberts, he was rude and unprofessional . He made easy some easy money of me, and didn’t add any value. Later, he got really nasty and dropped another case.
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Nathan Christopher Holtey, experienced Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 9 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
19,16
star star star star star
3.6/5
Avvo
3.6
9 Reviews
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09 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
Mr Holtey lied to me to suit his own purposes. AVOID this attorney. He did not review paperwork from the opposing attorney and it cost me money and harmed the relationship with my child.
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23 Jun, 2021 by Anonymous
I was really concerned that Nate Holtey forcefully advocated to do something that was harmful to a child (a fully professional review by medical professionals had been done of the care, but Holtey apparently could not care less about the well-being of the young people whose lives he touches). Also, he refused to consult with another attorney, sloppy work indeed.
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25 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous
Lacking any creativity or original ideas and his office had a foul odor when I visited. I would not recommend if your life and child depend on it. And they do.
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Chance Austin Fewel, experienced Child Custody, Child Support attorney in Portland, OR with 8 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
19,14
star star star star star
3.6/5
Avvo
3.6
8 Reviews
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28 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous
i WAS GIVEN A REFERRAL TO GOLDBERG AND JONES. I DECIDED TO GO DESPITE KNOWING THAT ANY FIRM THAT POURS AD MONEY INTO A PRODUCT LIKE THEY DO TYPICALLY IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A POOR PRODUCT, I PAID MY 200 DOLLARS FOR CHANCE TO MAKE JOKES REPEATEDLY ABOUT MY BEING DUMB ENOUGH TO MARRY THE SAME PERSON TWICE.. I HAD DONE A FAIR AMOUNT OF DUE DILLIGENCE PRIOR TO VISITING HIM,, HE WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH MAKING FUN OF ME AND TELLING ME THAT I SHOULD JUST SETTLE MY CASE FOR HALF.. HIS PARTING COMMENT WAS TO HAND ME A CARD AND TO LET ME KNOW WHEN I WAS GOING TO RETAIN HIM.. AND A FINAL JOKE ABOUT MARRYING THE SAME PERSON TWICE.. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY RETAINED A COMPETENT ATTORNEY AND AM HEADED FOR TRIAL..
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05 Dec, 2017 by Anonymous
It has been several years since I dealt with Chance but he appears to still be with Goldberg and Jones. Coming in the door Colin Amos promised me the moon, then passed me off to Chance. Most of my funds were spent sitting around chatting it up with Chance. He never developed a legal strategy to move forward with my case, even refusing to even attempt to research the value of narital assets. Valuable time was lost and, consequently, money. I wasn't sure if Fewel's failure to perform his duties,as my attorney were more due to professional incompetence, ineperience or a lack of passion for the job -- perhaps all three? Anyway after re-uping their retainer once too often and expending thousands of my dollars for legal services of questionable value I cut hi m loose and hired another lawyer who as she said "cleaned up the mess" he had made of my divorce. Lesson learned,even if a little late.
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22 Aug, 2017 by Matthew
Super honest and helpful- got my case settled!
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Daniel C Lorenz, experienced Criminal Defense, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 6 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
19,10
star star star star star
3.6/5
Avvo
3.6
6 Reviews
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13 Sep, 2019 by Kevin
Extremely disappointed with how Dan has managed our estate case. It has been nearly two months since opposing counsel has requested to close the estate, but Dan continues to ignore any email from my wife or myself. The estate is not worth what he initially thought it would be, and he is no longer motivated to do the right thing by me or my deceased father. TRUST ME when I say a detailed review of this matter and Dans neglect will be posted to this site and sent to the Oregon Bar Association after the estate is settled.
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29 Apr, 2018 by Anonymous
Dan was initially referred to me 30 years ago and I saw him for a divorce and a couple of other matters along the way...then out of nowhere I was indicted on 10 felony counts arrested and humiliated ...so I called Dan who immediately took my case and went to work. One of Dan's biggest strengths is his personal integrity which hasn't gone unnoticed within the legal community. When he says something to a judge or other attorney then they listen and believe him...and rightly so. Dan took less money in order to hire an investigator that would prove to be the difference between winning and losing. I wasn't guilty which always makes it alittle easier but they had wound the net around me pretty good. Dan is an expert of working within the system to get things done. Ive sent him lots of clients throughout the years because I believe that strongly in this guy ...he saved my life because he is really good at what he does.
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02 Oct, 2017 by Mark
I've retained Daniel Lorenz for numerous legal purposes. I have referred several others to Dan as well and he's been very successful on their behalf also. He has successfully litigated every issue I've had. He's successfully won 2 jury trials and efficiently handled several other legal matters on my behalf! I would strongly recommend that you contact Dan if you ever need a a strong and experienced trial attorney! With 40 years of successful trial experience you would be doing yourself a disservice not to at least have a consultation with him! Thanks for everything Dan!
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Sara Lynn Allen, experienced Adoption, Estate Planning attorney in Portland, OR with 3 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
19,04
star star star star star
3.6/5
Avvo
3.6
3 Reviews
star star star star star
15 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
Crook. Doesn’t pay debts. Writes bad checks. Crook. Crook. Crook. Crook. Crook. Crook.
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08 Oct, 2011 by Anonymous
Sara allen  I absolutely hit the jackpot with this wonderful, approachable and reliable attorney.  Sara Allen went way beyond my expectations, not only solving my issues but at the same time putting me at peace while spending her own personal time (which I know she must have very little of) to take care of me. Ms. Allen's incredibly knowledgeable and has a confident and reassuring demeanor. I would entrust this attorney (person) with my most personal, life matters.  I have never had an experience as streamlined and efficient as it has been with Ms. Allen. It's not always a pleasant experience when one feels the need for an attorney, but somehow she always makes me feel much better about everything. The drop done only allows one area of law to choose from, but she's handled multiple areas for me. It's obvious she's just a wonderful human being and I appreciate all she's done for me. Involving any kind of legal matter
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22 Mar, 2011 by Debra
After a contract agreement in which I was owed a substantial amount of money could not be resolved, and getting no results from another lawyer, I went to Sara Allen. She was very thorough, did not waste time, and clearly stated with the offending party's representation the terms of settlement. When they other side failed to responded and tried to employ stall tactics, Ms. Allen was prepared to go to Court to protect my rights. Recognizing Ms. Allen's extensive court room experience and winning record, at the recommendation of their well known law firm the offending party settled for the full amount. I can highly recommend Ms. Allen as a lawyer and will not hesitate to contact her again, should the need arise.
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Andrew J. Bobzien, experienced Child Support, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 3 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
19,04
star star star star star
3.6/5
Avvo
3.6
3 Reviews
star star star star star
09 Sep, 2017 by Brian
Mr Bobzien represented my in a very contentious divorce case, and if there ever was an ethical representative- he is it. He worked hard at keeping costs down and had a great deal of empathy toward my situation, I wouldn't hesitate to hire him in the future and would highly recommend him if you are looking for a true professional.
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05 Aug, 2014 by Anonymous
Andrew Bobzien is an outstanding lawyer with an outstanding reputation. He specializes in Domestic Violence cases. He is an expert in Family Law. Keep in mind that no matter what Family Law Attorney you hire, there will be challenges. Getting a Divorce or dealing with custody issues is highly emotional. A great example would be the review below. I know her and she actually recommended Drew to me. She unfortunately was emotionally unstable at the time and took advice from her mother instead of from Drew. I know this because I was with her during this time and couldn't believe how unreasonable she was being. I on the other hand trusted his advice and direction and came out winning my case. The best advice I can give on finding a good lawyer is to meet with them in person to see if you and the attorney are a good fit. Someone like Drew who has been practicing for many years and has a great reputation amongst his peers would also be something to consider. The other thing I appreciated about Drew is he kept the cost down as best he could and he allowed me to make payments once he worked through my retainer. Thank you Drew for outstanding representation. I wish you well.
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16 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
I made the mistake of hiring this lawyer to represent me. I am in a very vulnerable position as my husband is a high wage earner and I have been a stay at home mother for many years. Mr. Bobzien does not know how to represent women and children who are trying to escape domestic abuse. I recognized too late that Mr. Bobzien was not advocating for me at all. It has been a costly mistake and I regret hiring him. I believe he is complete untrustworthy. For Mr. Bobzien, what comes around goes around in life.
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Lawrence L Taylor, experienced Criminal Defense, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
18,57
star star star star star
3.5/5
Avvo
3.5
2 Reviews
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27 May, 2022 by Anonymous
I hired Lawrence for my criminal case out of Washington County. At first things were OK. But at the end he was really unprofessional, even rude. Told me that If I didn't take the deal offered to me I was going to go to prison. Which wasn't true. He didn't really care about my concerns. He was impossible to get a hold of. Normally lawyers call you a couple days before court just to remind you, he didn't call me until the morning of, which was about 1.5 hours before I had to be in court. Thankfully i was already on my way otherwise i would have been late. And after my case was finished I contacted him asking for clarification on something and it's been 2 months and still haven't heard anything back. And it involves my fines being paid, so petty important. I wouldn't recommend spending your hard earned money here. I ended up getting free legal advice from Ryan Scott #1 criminal defense attorney in Oregon. Who had a seminar recently on subjects very related to my case. But Lawrence didn't attend. When I told Lawrence what Ryan told me too, he didn't handle it well, that's when he was the most unprofessional.. He ended up having to call Ryan to discuss what he told me. Unfortunately by then it was too late. And I was stuck in the deal he recommended. The deal I had only 10 min to decide if I should take it or not.
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24 Oct, 2016 by Amanda
If it was not for Lawrence believing in me and fighting for me like he did...I would be sitting in prison right now... I was facing 36 months in prison with no programs and no good time and because of Lawrence and his wonderful ways...he really saved my life and gave me an opportunity at having a second chance at life. If you have the pleasure of having him fight for you..embrace it..because he is an amazing lawyer!
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Benjamin J Evans, experienced Child Custody, Estate Planning attorney in Portland, OR with 16 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
17,48
star star star star star
3.2/5
Avvo
3.2
16 Reviews
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20 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
Avoid this lawyer and his law firm AT ALL COSTS. We hired Ben Evans to help my mother through her divorce from her abusive ex-husband, and let me tell you: working with him was one of the most infuriating and aggravating experiences of our lives. Not only was this illiterate, degenerate lawyer unresponsive with laser-consistency, but he was always wildly impatient and rude to my mother. He never did any of the paperwork that he said he was going to do; my mother ended up doing most of it herself. He tried to convince my mother to give up most of the very reasonable things she was asking for from the divorce judge. It almost seemed like Ben Evans was colluding with my mother's ex-husband. Ben Evans never once showed even so much as an iota of care for his client. Ben always behaved as if we were a massive drain on his life and as if we should worship every breath he exhaled. He acted like a pretentious, defiant pre-teen. My mother's English isn't the best, and we're a very poor family, so we dug deep into what little money he had left to hire this clown. He caused my mother so much additional stress to the point that we ended up paying Ben Evans the full amount just so we could fire him on the spot and rid ourselves of the malignant tumor he had become in our lives. If you are a woman, or an immigrant, or struggling financially, and seeking help from a lawyer: do NOT hire this arrogant insect of a man. He will only cause you to lose tens of thousands of dollars with ZERO results.
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06 Sep, 2018 by Thomas
When I got divorced a couple of years ago, it was Awful. I am so glad that I spoke with Benjamin. He gave me great advice, and steered me in the right direction. Even afterwards, he often will ask about it if we see each other. I highly recommend Benjamin Evans!
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04 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
After 13 years of directly paying my exwife child support for our 2 children, per a verbal agreement, she decided to take me to court for more money. After trying to talk to her and settle situation out of court, as we have for last 13 years, I realized she wasnt going to compromise anymore and simply wanted everything she could get. I knew then that i needed a lawyer. I was given Ben Evans name as a referral from my roommates EAP. This being my first experience with a lawyer, I had no expectations. After initially speaking with Ben on the phone, I felt comfortable about moving forward with him representing me. I brought in everything regarding my divorce and explained what had changed since the final verdict years ago. He was quick to decipher everything I had and the situation I was in. By my next visit, he had every bit of paperwork ready to fill out and a rough time frame of what to expect. Every question I had was answered. Every bit of the paperwork I didn't understand or needed quidance on, Ben was there with an answer that related to what I was looking for as my final result. During the whole process, there were a couple hiccups with a difficult judge, Ben was adamant about rectifying the situation and wasted no time contacting the judge so we could move further on closing my case. All the while, keeping me up to date on everything transpiring. There were a couple things that I had to take care of on my own, which he informed me of where and how to handle. Including raising the eyebrows of child support division to the alterations in my case, making it easier for me to do what I needed to do. In the end, my support was lowered, to the surprise of my ex! Ben was easy to work with and communication was spot on. Any problems throughout my case, were handled quickly and on track for ultimate goal. Every aspect of my case was addressed and tended to. Regardless of my unexpected, pleasant outcome, I pray I don't have to go through this again but will definitely be calling Ben if the situation presents itself. I would recommend him to any person in need of a thorough family lawyer.
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Austin Batalden, experienced Child Custody, Child Support attorney in Portland, OR with 4 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
17,24
star star star star star
3.2/5
Avvo
3.2
4 Reviews
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09 Mar, 2024 by Jason
I am the custodial parent and was being challenged on my behavior with my 12 year old. Child protective services were called to investigate an accusation of withholding food. The case was deemed unfounded. My child’s mother apparently desired a second opinion. This is when I called the firm Austin Batalden worked at. Batalden was happy to meet with me and my wife for the consultation fee. While speaking with her, she exuded a confidence to handle our legal situation. Based on her appraisal, Batalden estimated the cost would end up being a few thousand dollars if things went smoothly, and perhaps ten thousand dollars or more if they did not. Once Batalden began working on my case, I began to lose confidence in her. I tried to encourage Batalden to be more assertive with the facts already available, and I kept getting the sense that she did not want to be too strong with the opposing counsel. The opposing counsel was being quite strong however, and when I had spent about four thousand dollars, I decided to seek out a different attorney. I hired a new attorney. Batalden’s firm, aware of my disappointment, transferred my case for the associated clerical fees. I was quite relieved once I began to work with my new attorney. What I learned is that attorneys can often sound intelligent, and indeed are intelligent in terms of law, but that does not inform clients as to their competence other areas related to their job. My opinion is that Batalden was disinterested in my case and my perception was that my case got away from her before she realized it. I also perceived and felt that she was not interested in me and my well-being as a person experiencing a difficult situation evolving into a crisis. My mental health and that of my wife and whole family suffered through the next two years to have our matter eventually go before a judge. I believe this could have been avoided. I remain my child’s custodial parent and my child’s mother was ordered supervised visitation and mandatory professional coaching. I would not recommend Batalden for any matter that had more nuance than simply navigating the legal system. The total cost of my court ordeal was around 50 thousand dollars. I believe this too could have been avoided.
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27 Feb, 2024 by Meeta
I hired Austin for my divorce and recently for my custody case. Austin is one of the most genuine people I have ever met - she is very knowledgeable about family law and puts the childs interests above everything else. She is not only a great lawyer, but a very patient, strategic advisor on how to proceed with your case. She responds quickly and communicates very well.
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17 Jan, 2024 by Hannah
Austin Batalden has been an incredible attorney for my family and I. Austin took amazing care with my case. She made sure that everything was done correctly. She communicated everything clearly and easily. I really appreciated her realistic approaches to a turbulent situation. If you are looking for a family law attorney, you cannot do better than Austin. Knowing that you have someone competent and empathetic handling a sensitive issue brings priceless peace of mind.
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Daniel E Russell, experienced Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 3 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
16,44
star star star star star
3.6/5
Avvo
3.6
3 Reviews
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01 Feb, 2018 by Posh
He is all about set overs and making unnecessary court hearings just to waste everyones time so he can get paid. I have been against every set over from the beginning, its a simple case, but mr russell wouldnt make money if it was an open shut case therefore he drags it out half a year. He's lost documents that I'm still trying to get back. Why were we in the court room shuffling for the papers that I gave him. He tells you he's going to do something as in gather evidence for your case and then just doesn't do it and doesn't give any explanation as to why he failed to do so He lies about court proceedings. Mr Russell told me he set a status hearing with the intention of the opposing party failing to appear and said we would be able to then present our case, I show up to the status hearing prepared to present my case and the judge was like no that's not how this works. So I don't know where Mr Russell went to law school where he thinks things happen a certian way when they don't at all. I filed a complaint against him and when the cao emailed him asking for documentation so they can review everything, the next morning he put in his withdraw, yet it says when you file a complaint the cao tries to help the attorney and client resolve the issue. Instead Mr Russell backed out probably because he knows I'm right.
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28 Jun, 2016 by Samantha
I am young and safe to admit, pretty naive when it comes to anything law related. I am happy with the decision I made to hire Mr. Russell. He is informative, timely, organized and professional. Lots of experience in all areas of Law. Was honest with me about the case, no sugar coating. I appreciated it.
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22 Mar, 2012 by Anonymous
Everything you hope for in an attorney- a good listener, a great strategist and strives to serve your best interests without compromise. Mr. Russell achieved a settlement and Parenting Plan when the deck appeared somewhat stacked against us- I was, of course, not the "one with the money." Very satisfied to be successfully divorced at long last.
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Thomas A Bittner, experienced Appeals, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
16,29
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
3.0
2 Reviews
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07 Dec, 2020 by Anonymous
I met Mr Bittner last year to discuss my confusing and emotionally charged divorce case that only few attorneys would consider taking. After our initial consultation, he expressed willingness to move forward in spite of the mess I was in. I decided to hire Tom because he handled me like a bowling pin and I needed a good negotiator (I wasn’t interested in trying to burn my X but protect my family). My case took almost a full year to resolve, and through that time I had the freedom to proactively work together with him; he was always there as a voice of reality to temper ideals and help me refocus. Tom won’t tell you what you want to hear. He knows the system and will help you to see where justice is blind to your case. If you’re a vindictive person he’s not a good match, but if you need a strong advocate who really wants to help people work things out, I highly recommend his services.
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18 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
Mr. Bittner did not explain that he is an attorney that wants a positive result for both parties. I used him as my divorce attorney and he did not negotiate a fair settlement for me during my divorce. I felt I was rushed during the entire process.
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Sarah E Denner, experienced Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
16,29
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
3.0
2 Reviews
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13 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
Hired for the initial divorce. She likes talking at slow pace and killing time and creating excessive documentation and evaluation adding billing hours. Costed 90k with initial divorce- the case was straight forward with property, custody and parenting- no complications. Relies on clients to provide analysis rather than being creative and strategic. Had multiple issues post divorce and I had no choice but to continue to retain as she knew the case history but attorney clearly missed the key details in trials, misguided with incorrect judgment language interpretation and lacked proactive and firm standing against opposing attorneys. I guess after making big fat check it was a matter of how to get pocket change! Good at being empathetic but not thorough when it comes to attention to detail and presentation in court. Unable to process judgment language and provided contradictory advise, after being directed by opposing attorney she changed her initial advice. Likes to followup with opposing attorneys on trivial issues(unnecessary) but consistently missed the real issues and left them unaddressed. When these concerns were brought on table and around invoicing hours she said her job is to ensure that invoices match billing and clearly the intent is to accumulate hours to charge. During recent trial, Failed to discuss and consent with client on any strategy until the weekend the night before ( trial on monday) and then over the weekend created different documentation (for same issue) for submission to court and opposing attorney-when asked why 2 different sets were created, there was no reasoning then only 1 set of documents were not submitted to court. All her bills$90k have been paid on time but when questioned on the most recent act of unnecessary hours and lack of how loosely the case was handled she opted to withdraw and threatened to get collections involved. Further when asked about open issues and followup (since my ex is not abiding by the court order) she ignored and shoved them on the side and those still remain open on my file. Overall the firm is a big name but needs more matured and smart to the point attorneys who are more transparent and keep client interest first over increasing the quantity of hours. Overall good at being counselor but provides weak arguments, excessive documentation, missing key details, lack of timely and to the point communication.
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07 Sep, 2020 by Estella
I was referred to Sarah Denner at Gearing, Rackner & McGrath LLP when it became clear that my path to divorce was not going to be straight forward. Sarah is amazing! She handled every turn of my case with expertise and creative solutions to get the best outcome for me and my kids. Her compassion and patience helped me process complicated matters without getting overwhelmed. The rest of the staff at Gearing, Rackner & McGrath were all super supportive and professional as well. I felt taken care of and prioritized. I highly recommend Sarah Denner and her team and feel lucky to have been referred myself
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Craig M Cowley, experienced Child Custody, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
16,29
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
3.0
2 Reviews
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05 Sep, 2010 by George
Craig sorted out what was a difficult mixed-property dissolution and obtained a favorable result in a settlement. Craig was my first and only attorney in this dissolution. Craig was consistent during the transitions. He explained the law to me and at critical times during settlement provided good, sound, conservative advise. I was confident after being educated by Craig that I could stand firm on certain issues, while giving on others.
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05 May, 2009 by Anonymous
We hired this attorney for my son's divorce and found him to be passive and quiet. He let everyone walk over him in court and didn't represent my son's best interests. We felt he was siding with my son's wife and he didn't get us a court date after asking him frequently for one. We feel he was just stringing us along to bring in money for the firm. As we hadn't dealt with a divorce in our family before, we didn't realize how bad things were until my son was about 30 thousand dollars in debt and he still didn't get a divorce after over 2 years. My son fired him and hired another attorney. The divorce wasn't a difficult one so there wasn't any reason why it wasn't finalized much sooner. We don't recommend this attorney for anyone.
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Marlene E Findling, experienced Estate Planning, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
15,97
star star star star star
3.5/5
Avvo
3.5
2 Reviews
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27 Feb, 2020 by Ml
Marlene wrote our wills years ago and we are using her again to update them. She was professional, efficient and pleasant. She asked the right questions so we would know what to include and exclude in the wills.
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18 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
Incredibly hostile and unprofessional. Acted very arrogant and entitled in her opinions. Will not work with again.
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Todd R Worthley, experienced Child Custody, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 13 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
15,15
star star star star star
2.7/5
Avvo
2.7
13 Reviews
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13 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
Hired him to represent me to win my SSI. He guided me through the process with much empathy. Unfortunately I was presented with a disagreeable SSI judge at my hearing and didn't win my award. Fortunately I didn't have to pay for his services unless I'd have won my case.
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29 May, 2021 by Nik
I also believe that Todd was intentionally working against me. Possibly forwarding emails. Giving bad information. Giving terrible advice. And possibly lying. Either Todd is a court dodger or not truthful. Either way I feel betrayed. Beware!! Run away!!!
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18 Apr, 2021 by David
To be fair to Mr. Worthley, he did suffer a death in his family at the time, but still, I wasn't contacted by him or his staff for two months after I and my advocate consulted with him in person. (I'd been referred to him by the Oregon Bar.) After those two months, he said that he'd called the other person's lawyer, and that he didn't think I needed any legal help or even mediation. He then gave me a solution that we'd already explained to him wouldn't be possible. With all due respect, Mr. Worthley didn't remember any of the key issues in my case, and then only offered me a solution that would not only not work for my case but had nothing to do with the core issues which we presented to him at our meeting in person. He refunded only part of my retainer and wrote me a letter saying I had "mischaracterized" him (whatever that means). I was surprised and disappointed, and I would definitely not recommend him.
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Laura Rackner, experienced Child Custody, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 5 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
14,53
star star star star star
2.6/5
Avvo
2.6
5 Reviews
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31 May, 2021 by Jamason
I’m sad to see that someone else has had the same experience that I had with Laura and the rest of her pathetic scum of the earth firm. These people are leeches and will turn your life upside down out of sheer incompetence and bad breath.
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25 Oct, 2018 by Jason
Laura Rackner is by far the best attorney I've ever worked with. She is fair, firm and extremely knowledgeable. She was very comforting during a very difficult time and always gave me confidence in her answers and approach with my case. I would highly recommend her to anyone.
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27 Aug, 2018 by Anonymous
Had hired her but ended up getting her junior partner when it came for court time who could not even write a decent court document for the case. Also she kept giving bad advice putting my children and myself in danger. After finally switching to a less known but very competent and effective lawyer who listened to my concerns. Ms. Rackner would not believe all the things I was telling her and had to get 2 witnesses to talk with her who were professionals to have her even consider that going back to an abusive home was out of the question. She would not be my choice for an abusive situation or if there is any mental health problem in a divorce case.
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Lucy G. Heil, experienced Business, Criminal Defense attorney in Portland, OR with 5 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
14,53
star star star star star
2.6/5
Avvo
2.6
5 Reviews
star star star star star
29 Nov, 2023 by Robert
Lucy demonstrated she is not capable of representing those who desire anything other than to throw themselves at the mercy of the court or are simply willing to settle for mediocrity about their representation. Lucy takes on FAR to large a caseload and in turn does not communicate proactively or effectively. She does not answer phone calls, she returns emails and texts when it appears she feels that she has no choice.  She does not follow reasonable client requests regarding providing discovery, exhibits, etc.  She only takes the time to communicate when she knows she has dropped the ball.  Her lack of initiative and professionalism cost me unnecessary time in jail, money, and more importantly frustration.  I am VERY calm and reasonable.  I understand professionalism and attempt to do the best job one can.  I essentially represented myself.  In the end, she provided nothing to my situation.  She added insult to injury by not following through with disputing Lake Oswego Municipal Court from billing me for her court-appointed attorney services.  Short of having a license with the bar I don't know what aptitude she brought to the table. I discourage anyone from placing their future in the counsel of Lucy.
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10 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
Felt like her case load was to big and she didn't have the time to work on my case let alone respond to my questions I sent in emails or provide me with my full discovery. I felt like she just wanted me to take a plea bergen and be done with me. She might be a good attorney if you hire her or if she believes in your case.
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25 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
As a first nation I struggle with identity and acceptance of the populations in the Americas in simply making jurisdictions in-laws to over substance substantiate what has happened in history in America does not negate any of the facts on how political framing exist I pray for every first nation in America and I pray that Lucy also heals from stating she had enough hearing about my ancestors for all court-appointed people in the biracial Community we are in a period where our ancestors are and will always be allowed to be discussed. I had to end the relationship a d engagement due to cultural reasons and hope her clients are happy yet in my 1st nation life, we talk soind act and are different. It was very clear in meeting face to face and speaking as a Native only western nows! Not in truth of Our boarding schools some acknowledgements must be done by those whom hold those same standards, that have covered up our peoples stories. I have ptsd anxiety and generational trauma. None of my emails were ever responded too, and I am sorry but our Ancestors abuse is handed down And taught. In reality I pray over understanding of this period in a non western conflict.
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Brett E Engel, experienced Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 11 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
14,01
star star star star star
2.7/5
Avvo
1.0
5 Reviews
Google Maps
4.2
6 Reviews
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18 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
I hired Brett for a divorce matter and not only did he drag the case on for way longer then it needed to but he made sure to have it cost as much as humanly possible. He lost me everything and then proceeded to tell me it’s the way it is. Awful lawyer and does not represent his clients in a decent manner. Skip over Brett, you’ll be very thankful you did!
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18 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
Mr.Engel is a waste of money and will only make your case worse! He will try and pinch every last penny he can by over charging, not communicating, and refusing to represent ethically on the matter. Not only did I waste my entire savings with this guy but he resigned before it even mattered. My Ex won everything and I was left high and dry! Don’t worse your time, Mr.Engel is about himself and does not represent his clients in good faith. I suggest using someone else absolutely on all matters!
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11 Sep, 2021 by Rachel g
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Cordelia Hodges Tilghman, experienced Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
Below Average
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
13,69
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
3.0
2 Reviews
star star star star star
31 Oct, 2024 by Kelsea
This lawyer came to court ill prepared and literally would say who did her assistant have via email as witnesses on my behalf. She DID NOT KNOW THEM or care to know why my son was taken and was NOT solution oriented as far as getting him back. I would have been better off defending myself bc at leastI would have had the facts straight and the right people involved. She’s ruined lives. A child does not love foster care, it’s best they be with their parent. All this attorney was hung up on was an evaluation that was mainly based of of hearsay from a disgruntled Nurse Practitioner that I had last spring after my son was born. Please do not hire this attorney if you are wanting your child back. REQUEST A NEW LAWYER. She and her team do nothing to help. They literally just requested trial date after trial date. No solutions. Yet I did ask her the last time I saw her before court, “are you my prosecutor or my defense attorney?” It seemed like she was against and not for me in any way.
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14 Jun, 2011 by Anonymous
Cordelia, aka "cordy", is a very smart, very skilled attorney. She is a fighter at the right times, and smart/calculating at other times. She knows when to go which route to get results. She is very down to earth, and not afraid to tell you or anyone else how it is - Which is A GOOD THING. Would you want an attorney who beats around the bush and is "ho hum" about things? I know I did not, nor do want. I feel very lucky to have been assigned her as my attorney. If you are having a difficult go of things no matter what you do, and really need a skilled attorney for complex issues - she is the person to have on your side. I cannot say enough good things about her. Her support staff is also outstanding. Top of the line in my opinion. They got back to me on the rare occasion they did not answer their phones even know they are very busy. I could also get ahold of Cordelia just about any time I needed her, and if not, she too would get back to me that same day; even if she was running out the door. She always listened to me, never talked down to me for my ideas, and really tried to make my voice heard. She could go anywhere and make the BIG DOLLARS, but she is working at Multnomah Defenders - that should speak alot about her, too. She obviously cares alot about families and helping them navigate this so-so system we have. A++++++++++++++++++
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Robin E Pope, experienced Adoption, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
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info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
13,69
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
3.0
2 Reviews
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18 Sep, 2015 by Anonymous
I sent Robin an email for potential representation and she responded immediately. She was very knowledgable about the process and fair in her pricing structure.
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04 Sep, 2014 by Suzanne
She was suppose to represent us as Intended parent and she does not return emails or phone calls within 48 hours! What kind of attorney does that? Whether she's good or not, there are other attorneys who are better! Don't go to her! She may be good before but this is 2014 and she's no good and her reviews are outdated.
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Theresa I Soto, experienced Business, Car Accident attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
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info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
13,69
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
3.0
2 Reviews
star star star star star
17 Mar, 2010 by Anonymous
Ms. Soto neglected to inform me about the other attorney's motion which cost me thousands of dollars and a financial mess. She did not complete her work as requested and basically dumped my case.
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13 May, 2009 by Anonymous
Ms. Soto represented me in traffic court in 2008 and the ticket was thrown out. I was satisfied with her representation and she was very affordable.
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Olivia Godinez, experienced Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
13,69
star star star star star
3.0/5
Avvo
3.0
2 Reviews
star star star star star
04 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
when I need lawyer I contact Olivia. she great.
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06 Dec, 2012 by Anonymous
She told me one thing, then told others a different story. Took too long to return calls and seemed to lose interest in the case. This case ended in a hugely traumatizng event for a really big family and several young children due to her incomptence.
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Christine R Costantino, experienced Family Law, Litigation attorney in Portland, OR with 2 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
11,74
star star star star star
2.0/5
Avvo
2.0
2 Reviews
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02 Aug, 2022 by Anonymous
Five years and $10k later (plus the $20k paid to her company), and I’m still cleaning up her messes on parenting time and child support. Support for two kids calculated as lump sum rather than per child, and so I’m fighting to get my 18 year old’s portion paid directly to him. Younger child cries over parenting time, but Chris’s poor advice and poor choice of parenting coordinator continues to make our lives miserable.
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16 Dec, 2019 by Anonymous
Chris is a delightful person. I had a high conflict divorce which she was not equipped to handle. I expected her to be a stronger advocate for a woman in a abusive relationship.
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Matthew J Washchuk, experienced Criminal Defense, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 1 reviews
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Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
11,72
star star star star star
2.0/5
Avvo
2.0
1 Reviews
star star star star star
22 Jan, 2012 by Anonymous
lack of communication, no return phone calls, did not fight for me and my case, lack of personable interest,
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Nicole L Deering, experienced Child Custody, Child Support attorney in Portland, OR with 1 reviews
Below Average
info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
11,72
star star star star star
2.0/5
Avvo
2.0
1 Reviews
star star star star star
11 Jan, 2025 by Anonymous
I hired Nicole for my divorce in mid 2023. This should have been an easy divorce not many assets no children. The issue my spouse is a divorce attorney in the same small pool in Portland. My ex spouse refused to turn over discovery, dragged the divorce along for over a year and caused me to pay lawyer every time. Nicole did nothing to further the divorce proceedings. When I asked her to be more aggressive I did not see any action. Over all my divorce took nearly a year to complete and I am still navigating issues that my ex spouse was able to slither her way through because my legal guidance was subpar. Items that I didn’t think about (because she was not forced to actually produce discovery) resulted in me taking on more debt than I should have. I continued to have to keep my ex spouse on my health care the entire time and pay lawyer fees the entire time. I believe if my ex-spouse was not a lawyer in the same field I would have different and better representation. I can’t recommend this firm.
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Robin Merle Runstein, experienced Criminal Defense, Family Law attorney in Portland, OR with 3 reviews
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info
Lawyer credibility rating system is an internal lawyer evaluation system developed by the company based on a comprehensive analysis of more than 10 indicators. The rating can range from 0 to 100.
10,53
star star star star star
2.3/5
Avvo
2.3
3 Reviews
star star star star star
23 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
Unprofessional! Does not meet commitments including scheduled calls and meetings multiple times. Have had to go over same information multiple times.
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19 May, 2018 by Gabriel
After long hours of work travel and caring for my elderly parents I returned to a restraining order and found myself without my home. I shopped around & scheduled meetings with 5 Lawyers. Ms. Runstein was the only one who told me that she will do her best to win/mitigate the accusations. Robin had a firm handshake and an On-Point attitude. She tackled the issue without hesitation and intended to resolve it within our first meeting. She presented me with all possibilities in a layered approach. Robin Runstein carefully planned against each allegation, and Beautifully executed in the court room. Needless to say, the Judge was convinced to reject the restraining order. I would HIGHLY recommend Robin Runstein to anyone looking for a Great Lawyer. I only wish her Father (Ted R.) could have seen her flawless performance.
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17 Mar, 2018 by Karyn
I want to inform other abused women of my experience with Robin Runstein who served as my divorce attorney from June 2013 – June 2015. In my opinion, Ms. Runstein’s significant and consistent lack of preparedness and legal accuracy, combined with her inability/unwillingness to communicate effectively in a timely manner with me (her client) and with opposing counsel, made an already dangerous situation for my children and me, far worse. I do not believe I was well represented and I would not recommend her.
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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:

  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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