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05 Feb, 2024 by Will white
05 Jan, 2023 by Anonymous
Under no circumstances should you consider asking David Donner to help you. He will milk your case while trying to assert that he's discounting his billing, and he will leave your divorce, custodial matter, and relationships in far worse condition than he found them, after wasting years (more than you expect at the outset) and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hiring David is a guaranteed defeat for your family. The only winners will be him and his cronies that he will seek to bring in or refer you to. I know from over two years of experience working with him. The outcome could not have been worse. Relating to my divorce, retaining him was by far the worst decision I've made. He sounds like he's going to help in the beginning, but his work is poison and will leave a wake of discord. If you could buy him for what he's worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth you'd be the richest person on the planet. He loves to hear himself speak. He thinks he's paid by the syllable. He could draft a one page memo in 40 pages at $600 an hour. Good luck to you. Seek help elsewhere.
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20 Jul, 2020 by Austin morris
True passion for the law and customer/client.
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16 Oct, 2024 by Preston marks
What great strategists. Homophobic slurs and robbery are just few of the directions they give to their clients. Disgusting
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11 Sep, 2024 by Mark b
Nixon Peabody were exceptional to work with, their team understood all the complexities of our case. There is always some anxiety when dealing with these things but they kept their hours low and cost within reason.
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23 Mar, 2023 by Nishit prajapati
16 Oct, 2024 by Preston marks
What great strategists. Homophobic slurs and robbery are just few of the directions they give to their clients. Disgusting
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11 Sep, 2024 by Mark b
Nixon Peabody were exceptional to work with, their team understood all the complexities of our case. There is always some anxiety when dealing with these things but they kept their hours low and cost within reason.
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23 Mar, 2023 by Nishit prajapati
09 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
Jeff is a very smart and capable litigator who lacks the time and bench to be the four or five star that he could/ should be. If you work with him you can expect moderate/ inconsistent client management and lower quality execution on the day to day ground game. When he has the capacity to pay attention you can get quality court docs
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21 Jul, 2013 by Bobbi
Jeff Riebel was the answer to my prayers when I was going through a complicated and difficult divorce while I lived in San Francisco. I would never claim to be knowledgeable about laws, but with Jeff explaining everything to me along the way, I was never worried and always prepared for what was going to happen next. Even when I called him and couldn't speak with him right away, he always returned my call and was pleasant and ready to answer my questions. I even started to consider him a friend because he went through the entire process with me and always looked out for my best interest.
Things turned out well for me and I don't think I could ever repay Jeff for his help. He is definitely someone I will be keeping on speed dial even though I moved out of state. I recommend him to all of my friends who are still in the area.
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27 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
Mr. Riebel is an intelligent lawyer who is focused on developing his own career and establishing himself as a family law litigator. His energy, effort and loyalties are divided and in conflict, between those of my own as his client and those of his own to avoid challenging established attorneys and judges in the lucrative community he desires to establish himself. He failed to advocate for me, his client, where there might be risks to his own benefit. Specific matters were obscenely obvious. If Mr. Riebel litigated for Roe, Voting Rights, Civil Rights, Title VII, Korematsu, Brown, Dredd Scott, Gideon, Miranda, or any matter that requires his fidelity and courage over expediency and ambition, our judicial system and society would be worse for it, but his own interests would be well served. Do not let his college alms mater or billing rates fool you, he is working for himself first. This opinion comes not from bitter rejection by him to pursue a novel legal claims, but a total failure to secure the most basic rights and protections that are guven divorcing parties and that were specifically requested, then forced into compromise through Mr.. Riebel 's coordination with the court, opposing counsel, the court, and worst of all, a mediator who his client paid for but he used to coerce a compromise that served primarily his own purposes for his longtime gain. Very specific, mechanical issues where I was clear and consistent needed ti be done were promised and never done. Structuring litigation and settlements around anticipated problems of compliance were never managed, dismissed by him and all came to pass after he was satisfied with a conclusion, and he then refused any effort to correct his actions, responding that a deal is a deal. His quick departure from an establushed furm if highly regarded attorneys should be noted and carefully considered regardless if his explanations and encouragement that his loyalties and efforts supersede his own ambitions and desires. Do not expect more than a barely passable standard of loyalty, fidelity and professional ethics from this attorney. After 100's of hours of billable legal work, I cannot recommend him for a single skill or insight or legal understanding that a client could not do for themselves. And without animosity but with knowledge of this legal professional, he will give ten times the effort to clear his name from poor recommendations than he would in working diligently for his clients. His fidelity and loyalty are with himself.
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22 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
If you're looking for a divorce attorney who is not above lying, playing tricks, refusing to meet and confer with opposing counsel before hearings, and frequently interrupting, talking over and essentially bullying the judge into getting his way, then Eric's your guy. Eric is representing the defendant (my ex) in our divorce case. I have wondered why my many attempts at settlement over the last several months were getting nowhere, despite my ex complaining about the 6-figures in fees he has paid Eric. I now understand why. Using these weasely tactics, Eric has successfully ducked and dodged any spousal support order (we've been separated 2.5 years after a marriage with domestic violence). I wouldn't consider this behavior ethical, but some don't care. Your choice.
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23 Oct, 2017 by Julie
Eric did an outstanding job with my divorce settlement. He understood what was important to me, he worked effectively with the other counsel and he worked to a peaceful negotiation without having to go to court.
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14 Dec, 2018 by Jolen
Carroll Collins did a great job helping me finalize my divorce. He worked long hours and some weekends as my divorce was complicated. He was expensive but worth it. I appreciated his patience and wisdom.
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22 Sep, 2009 by Anonymous
Carroll Collins totally screwed up my divorce. he charged me a ton of money for leaving messages and sending one line e-mails, in addition to charges for work that was not done. i am going to be dealing with the state bar , his company and the referal i recieved to try to get my money back. hiis unethical behavior is unethical and was similar to the movie "Wall Street".
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04 Apr, 2019 by Robin
I needed an experienced, committed, fight for your client, litigator. Those were the reasons I hired Ms. Shindell and those were the qualities she promoted. Unfortunately, she possessed none of those qualities. She was clearly unprepared, evasive, self-justifying and outrageously expensive.
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08 Feb, 2011 by Anonymous
Ms. Shindell is a very experienced hard working attorney who dilligently looks after the needs of her clients.
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04 Jun, 2024 by Anonymous
Terrible lawyer. Does not follow the law and is horribly sloppy. Contradict himself in legal filings and always looses in court. Can’t hit a deadline and misspelled clients name. Avoid at all costs
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16 May, 2024 by Jerry
Tried to Pro Bono for months in a divorce and was getting nothing accomplished in court, missing out on time with my children, and getting constantly harassed by the other parties attorney for this and that and slowly getting more and more in debt. From my first phone call with James he was upfront and came up with a game plan.
From then on he ended the constant emails from the other party, got me almost 50 50 with overnights that I hadn't had in almost a year, spousal and child support reduced dramatically and other huge factors that I had been dealing with.
He was the best decision I've ever made. He's professional and reliable weather it be phone calls, emails and even texts. He has a plan and any updates or other ideas he lets you know. YOU WILL NOT FIND ANYONE BETTER TO REPRESENT YOU.
I can't thank him enough.
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02 Jun, 2021 by Anonymous
Promises everything....delivers nothing! Does not respond to emails, text messages or phone calls. Tries to brush off major issues and has zero follow through.
Does not contact you until the day of the court hearing and comes ill prepared. Should NOT be hired in child custody situations!
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29 Dec, 2019 by Jose espinal
They are the best. I recommend all lawyer
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08 Oct, 2019 by Ariel green andersson
The team at Jewell, Stewart and Pratt made our transition from Czech Republic to California go remarkably well. A large amount of paperwork, all very clear and thorough and timing was exactly what they told us and better. Claire, Monique and Mable made a great combo and we highly recommend hiring them when you are looking for results beyond the basics, special requests and international managing of affairs across borders, oceans and mountains of red tape. In 1st moments we thought to do it on our own. Then, realized there were some surprises along the way and that our team got results we were not able to get on our own and we didn’t want any mistakes during an already stressful period of change. This was the best investment in our future we made, by far. No regrets. No surprises. Professional and straight forward. Exactly what you need when moving yourself and family to U.S. Crossing the border with confidence is the best gift you can give yourself.11 minutes at the airport border crossing/special room, amazing. Do yourself a favor and relax into a professional team who knows what’s needed, so you don’t.
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20 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
I consulted with Gretchen before my custody battle. She told me that Hersh Family Legal will do anything to win. She said she is good friends with all the family court attorneys in the Marin County Court and if I hired her I would not only get full custody, my x would never see our our kids again.
She wanted $20k upfront. Her hourly is $650, which could possibly go up.
Need I say more?
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12 Oct, 2024 by Anonymous
Lorie is amazing and has great expertise! She walked us through the legal processes very clearly and spent time to explain each step and every question. She is very familiar with the California laws and negotiated well on my behalf. It was a pleasure working with Lorie!
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21 Feb, 2024 by Brian
This is not something I typically do - writing a review for an attorney - but thanks to an “unhealthy” and highly litigious ex-wife, I’ve had more lawyers in my life than I care to admit. Since I unfortunately have a lot of experience within the family law system, I can say with the utmost confidence that Lorie Nachlis, without question, is the best family law attorney you will ever find.
My case had a little bit of everything but, from the moment I met Lorie during the search for representation process, I knew she could expertly handle it all, and she most certainly did. I worked closely with Lorie for years - yes, it took years as my ex had us in and out of court as if it was a revolving door - yet Lorie remained invested, focused, and vigilant through it all.
Lorie is ultra-professional, super organized, highly experienced, brilliant and a very compassionate attorney. Never once did I ever question her preparedness or performance; she is always nothing but top tier across the board. But what I find almost important as her courtroom prowess is her caring heart. Lorie is as tough - or tougher - than any lawyer I’ve ever seen in action. Yet she is every bit as gentle and caring as she is strong and aggressive.
My three kids are my world, as I’m sure yours are for you and, as a family law attorney, Lorie knows it and will fight with all she has for you and your kids. Lorie genuinely cares; even after our work together concluded she still sporadically checks in. How many attorneys out there can the same be said of?
She fought for my world and got exactly what we were asking for. Lorie is worth every penny. If you are where I was a decade ago: hurt, confused, scared, and searching for the best representation, your search should stop here. Lorie is the absolute best lawyer and a gem of a human. I am so fortunate to have had her represent me, and my kids, during the most challenging time in my life. I am eternally grateful for her, and her wonderful and supportive staff.
I simply cannot possibly recommend Lorie Nachlis and her firm highly enough. Hiring her will be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.
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25 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
[Disclaimer] I did not hire Nachlis Cohade Lopez-Whitaker LLP (NCLW) for family law services, I am only sharing my experience in their evaluation/intake process. I was searching for family law services and reached out to NCLW via website, email, and phone 4 times over a two week period before getting a response back from them. Once I was able to connect with someone from NCLW, we set about scheduling a consultation but communication & expectation-setting around their process was piecemeal. I characterize my overall experience with them as unresponsive and unprofessional.
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15 Feb, 2013 by Leland
Dennis advised & prepared my divorce which was very horrible & complicated. He was fair to my ex-wifes demands & explained "in detail" various options available. He was stellar in predicting behaviors of all concerned & the need to me to calm down, take the emotions to a neutral level & create an atmosphere of trust & goodwill for all concerned.
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03 Dec, 2012 by Anonymous
Never returns phone calls. Promises to get things done and never does, even after months of requesting. Is not on top of anything, in the slightest.
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11 Jul, 2022 by Rose merree
Update
Better Business Bureau complaint against Severson & Werson due to Joel C Spann lying went UNANSWERED. Stay away from this law firm.
It has no problem with its attorneys committing deformation of character. 28 U.S.Code 4101.
Joel C Spann helped Bank of America commit
18 U.S.Code 371.
Joel C Spann from Severson & Werson is lying to everyone to protect Bank of America.
In 2016 Bank of America stole from the United States & lied to judges faces to cover that up.
I told the 2016 White House. It sent everything to the CFPB. Cases were opened & investigations were started.
When the 2017 CFPB took everything over, it closed all the cases.
I sent the full details to the Biden Harris administration. That resulted in the FTC filling a complaint against the CFPB with the CFPB.
I also forwarded the communications Joel C Spann
sent to me to the CIA.
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08 Nov, 2019 by Another face
#rachet
Buried my parents this past weekend. I needed $475 to finish paying for the arrangements. On Friday I got an Arbitration Award against this bank. They have 30 days to pay the award. Checked with a lender to sell the award so i can settle up on the funeral cost and need their attorney to simply verify the facts and get the info for the eventual funds transfer. Their lawyers (#Severson&Werson) silently said FY! Wait had this bank not taken my money in the first place I wouldnt need them now. So i cant even get a loan to pay for the burial?
Just plain Rachetness! There are evil people in the world.
The attorney LASZLO LADI could care less about anything or anyone outside himself. Thank you Jesus for social media!
#WellsFargoBank
Take all the time you need. Hope you decide to appeal!
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07 Jun, 2019 by Rra construction
Our construction company, RRA Construction, had to sue a non-paying client and Thomas came as a referral from another attorney for our case. If you are going through or have gone through a case, then you would know how imperative it is to be armed with a winning attorney. Even though we were stressed out of our minds, Thomas reassured us. He helped keep us calm throughout the process. RRA Construction was impressed with Thomas's extensive knowledge and in utilizing his services, we have become a better company in the end. We have Thomas to thank for helping us with our case.
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08 Feb, 2022 by Christopher hall
25 Jun, 2017 by Loves traveling
The Bar Foundation does amazing work for our judicial system.
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10 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
Kent took 3 months to go back and forth to creditors with no outcome whatsoever and no paper trail, just word of mouth to the work he was doing. He would send weekly excel sheets of his "work" and would charge 10 minutes for an email that was one sentence long when it literally does not take more than 30s. After a couple thousand dollars and ending up back where we started, we ended having to get a different lawyer.
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18 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
I was desperate, paid this fraud at least $1000 to represent me to my creditors, and he never did. None of my credit card companies were contacted. I was trying to avoid filing bankruptcy and losing my house, yet this sleazy guy steals $1000 from me. Do not hire!
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25 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
Kent cannot be trusted to have any of your interests in mind. He shamelessly inflated his timesheet on what, even her claimed to be, was a very simple case. He conveniently inflated his timesheet to complete his entire retainer. Once the case was dismissed in my favor, he took a call from the opposing party, charging me for that, and then setting up a meeting with her which he would further charge me for. There was no reason for him to take the call or create a meeting, it would extend a case that was over, essentially working against me. He also charged me for filling out paper work to pursue the prevailing party's clause which he never actually submitted. truly fraudulent.
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02 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
Michael is a nice guy but he is not an effective trial attorney for divorce cases
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13 Sep, 2024 by Anonymous
DO NOT HIRE MELISSA POLK! She is an extremely dishonest person who doesn't know how to do her job. She frequently makes mistakes and instead of accepting responsibility to fix them, blames everyone else except herself - the judge, her paralegal, and worst of all, her own clients. It's unbelievable she is still able to practice law. As is apparent in the reviews, she has harmed many people, ruined their cases, abandoned them at critical moments, and still refuses to admit any fault. My favorite is that she claims on some negative reviews that her clients "were happy with her work". So why would someone write a negative review who was happy with her work? Absolutely disgusting. She cares only about billing her clients high rates for terrible work, with zero empathy or consideration for the outcome.
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22 Aug, 2024 by Linda
Melissa Polk has handled my Restraining Order matter and the subsequent ongoing divorce case with all the professionalism, attention to detail and clearly defined goals necessary to handle two very contentious situations.
I have worked among many other attorneys for 14 years while managing my (ex) husband's law office: Ms. Polk is better than any other lawyer I know. Melissa far exceeds my expectations and she has the compassion and knowledge of the law that I needed when I became desperate and highly stressed.
I trusted her from the start; she came into the midst of me trying to represent myself and file my own court documents against the man I put through law school and had supported for 28+ years.
I can't give her more stars than Avvo allows; I would if I could.
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15 May, 2024 by Anonymous
Worst attorney ever! Melissa lied to my face. You cannot trust a word she says. She obviously doesn't know the law because I found out later that much of the "advice" she gave me was completely wrong! Why tell a client something as fact when you don't know what you are talking about??? She didn't help me with my case and in fact, made it far worse. Her bills contained many errors, including billing me for discussing the mistakes she made which she never fixed. Rude, unknowledgeable, and a complete waste of money. I wish I had never, ever hired her. Don't make the same mistake I did!
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31 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Research Arlo Hale Smith's state bar record before you hire him. I was unaware of his prior suspensions when I hired him to handle a few cases for me. He was also representing my ex husband and his business partner at the same time without having anyone sign conflict waivers. Needless to say this arrangement had a negative outcome for me. I do not recommend.
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02 Apr, 2010 by Anonymous
He took one month to review and modify an agreement that another lawyer drafted. Other lawyers that I've worked with have taken hours or at most, a couple of days to do the same level of work. I do not feel that he was responsive. I would not recommend him.
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19 Aug, 2024 by Oliver smith
A lot of money lost paying for their inefficiency, I ruined my case when trying to defend myself only got stuck
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11 Aug, 2018 by Anonymous
I do not know why his name is under Juvenile Law, Family, Personal Injury. We used him for Special Need Education Lawyer.
I got his name from PHP and attended one of his class held by PARCA. I liked him. When I was in need of a lawyer for due process, I talked with him beforehand and decided to hire him. He attained a lot of information for prior IEPs and CCS reports. He asked me what I wanted. I asked him the strategy how I proposed my requests as some parents were telling me to ask for more because district only gave a part what parents/lawyer proposed. He said if my requests were reasonable, he would get what I wanted. So I wrote my proposal and asked him if it's reasonable. He probably just copied and pasted. And then filed due process. He was contacted by the district lawyer. I forgot exactly how long, I think it was about one month after we filed due process. He asked me what to do about the case as it's law requirement we had to indicate what's our next step, drop the case or continue the case. I asked what is his suggestions. He said we could drop the case as the case has started. So I dropped case. Then the district gave me a counter offer which is about 60-70% what I want. He suggested me to accept the offer and see how it work. If it's not working, we would start another due process. He did not even counter offer once. I did not agree. He said he could not work for me if I do not accept his suggestion. So I fired him after that.
I agree with the previous reviewer said he retained his attorney fees on obtaining IEPs and other information. He asked me to get a Psychology report. I did and forwarded report to him. I was charged for all the time reviewing all the information. But when I had conversation with him, I am not sure how much he knew about the case. I have to repeat a few times where the law was broken in this case. I do not feel he knew much about the case nor he had much intention to fight for the case. He did not counter offer at all after the district's offer although I was charged a lot of money.
I would not get a lawyer if I was not frustrated enough by the school/disctrict. His act added salt to the injury. I felt so helpless and hopeless at the time.
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01 May, 2015 by James
Retained attorney for a due process hearing about our son's IEP. Had to pay the attorney an upfront retainer of about $3,400, I believe. Attorney gave the case to an associate who worked from home with a crying baby.
Attorney referred us to a specific pediatric development specialist for an evaluation (expert witness opinion). Had to get on a four-month waiting list for s for that. During the wait, attorney deducted $500 from the retainer each month for "reviewing the file."
We eventually get our son's evaluation. It did not support our case-- in fact, it supported the school district's position more than ours. Attorney was caught by surprise, case was dead. We spent $3,400 for about 1/2 hours of the attorney's time, and maybe 1.5 hours of the distracted associate attorney's time.
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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.
