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19 Oct, 2018 by Miranda
She was an amazing lawyer walking me and my husband through the whole process step by step & keeping me informed in what’s all happening as it happens.
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18 Oct, 2018 by Terra
Amanda was extremely easy to work with. Her and her office staff were extremely accommodating and always answered my questions in detail. I appreciate her honesty and integrity; and would recommend her to anyone who needs legal advice.
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11 Oct, 2018 by Gabby
Amanda is a lawyer with a personality, a heart and integrity. She is efficient at gathering the information needed to meet her clients needs. She is a go getter and passionate about what she does. She is very professional and knowledgeable. I appreciate that she is upfront about her costs, time estimates of projects and can identify protential delays and roadblocks. We couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer!
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25 Mar, 2021 by Tara
I went to Brett for a personal injury from a car accident. He took the time to know me and my case to get the best outcome! He always made sure to communicate and ensure I knew the steps. Brett is a great person and it shows through his work! Thank you so much for helping me in a time of need!
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05 Jun, 2019 by Grant
Had Brett represent me on a child support issue. He was straight up honest and fair and requires the other party to be also.
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03 Jun, 2019 by Nathan
Brett was always attentive and made sure to be part of the solution. He was willing to listen to my ideas and help steer me in the correct path to help obtain the outcome I desired. He was very good at making sure I felt like more than just a client and showed he cared with follow up after everything was done.
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08 Oct, 2020 by Juliette
Initially contacted Chris to handle my divorce and he surprised me with his knowledge of what could possibly be happening in regards to my spouses behavior. He was excellent with his communication and if he couldn't answer the phone he always called me back in a reasonable amount of time. He did an excellent job at explaining both sides of issues that I didn't understand giving me a wide angle view of my paticular situation. He always had solid, practical and logical answers to my questions. He is competent, compassionate, an amazing advocate who will "tell it like it is" when you need the facts. Hire him you won't be sorry!
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02 Oct, 2017 by Tanner
I had a pretty complex and tough case as far as winning goes, He knew my final go was to see my daughter more, and He did that and so much more, I can 't thank him enough for all he did, He was extremely detailed, he gave great advice, and always got back to me a.s.a.p. and went above and beyond his duty, as well as when you talked with him in person or on the phone it was like talking to a friend. I would recommend Chris to anyone anytime with no doubts.
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12 Dec, 2016 by Krystal
Chris represented me in a matter. Although, Chris did not always return my calls or emails on the drop of a dime, he did return them. As a paralegal, this is more than I can say for many attorneys. Sometimes this is because they are avoiding you and sometimes, it is simply because they are busy and/or have a case that has a sooner deadline than yours. Family matters can take years to resolve. Although mine was not a family matter, Chris did a great job in Court. Chris knew all the right things to say and when to say them. He was great with communicating with me and my family during the hearing. Chris had such a passion for what he was doing and was very knowledgeable about the laws and how they were to be applied. In the end Chris kicked butt for me and won my case. One of the best days of my life. I just wanted to hug him when it was all over!
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12 Jun, 2015 by Anonymous
Robert is a very knowledgable, thoughtful and caring professional. He is very understanding, supportive and encouraging during difficult times in a divorce case with custody dispute. With his psychology background he has a great intuitive sense for people and situations and his advice is immensely helpful.
Robert prepares thoroughly for court dates and his responses are prompt. He truly has his clients' best interest in mind and I would highly recommend him.
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22 Feb, 2018 by Bob d
After putting myself in a tough situation, Jan was the absolute right choice for me. She and her office were very responsive and supportive. Jan's advice and counseling was spot on. Jan was able to get my charge reduced and prevent the possible loss of employment for me. I can't thank her enough! And, this was all done without my having to attend court, as I am not local.
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5.0
11 Reviews
4.8
188 Reviews
14 Sep, 2024 by Daniel uhrich
Very honest and professional l. Understanding and compassionate about tough conversations.
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13 Sep, 2024 by Jordan vanmaanen
Nicole and Yelena handled our custody relocation case with empathy. They listened to our concerns and crafted very respectful and professional affidavits in our case.
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11 Sep, 2024 by Alicia van maanen
I worked with Nicole and Jelena at Griese Law Firm for our child custody / relocation case. They answered all of our questions, really listened to us, and presented to the court in a very eloquent and professional manner. I hope I never have to hire a lawyer again, but if I do Griese Law Firm will be my first call. They were absolutely fantastic to work with and I very highly recommend them.
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29 Aug, 2024 by Carly rahn
I had the pleasure of working with Nicholson Law, and I can't speak highly enough about my experience. From start to finish, Melissa and Erica were incredibly organized, making what could have been a stressful process smooth and manageable. I always felt heard, and it was clear that my best interests were their top priority at every step. Trust is crucial when it comes to legal matters, and I felt completely confident in their guidance and expertise. They were also prompt in responding to any questions or concerns I had, ensuring I was always informed and had autonomy. I highly recommend Nicholson Law to anyone in need of reliable, compassionate, and professional legal support.
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29 Aug, 2024 by J j
Very professional and helpful.
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29 Feb, 2024 by Katie obrien
Melissa and team were great to work with! I would highly recommend her. I needed someone who could explain the process I was about to embark on and give me the advice and patience I needed during a really difficult time. Melissa and her team showed me early on they were reliable, compassionate, and knowledgeable. It made this process so much easier knowing I could count on her to represent me. Melissa and team did an amazing job. Thank you!
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05 Jan, 2021 by Anonymous
A public defender would have done just as much, if not more, helping me with and defending my case for probably less than $1000 instead of the $10,000 +tax that I paid John. He came and visited me at the jail soon after he was hired. Was very polite, friendly and professional. Talked alot about his experience at trial and cases won. Then he finally asked about my case and after telling him everything I could, all he said was, "Well, there are some problems with the State's case against you and I will use that to see what kind of deal I can get you". He didnt say what the problems were or anything about possible defense. He just figured me guilty and needing a good deal. That meeting lasted a half hour maybe. I patiently waited in jail for news from John. I wrote him numerous letters with more information I remembered that I thought could be helpful and asked him what was happening but no response. I think it was 9 or 10 months before John shows up and says if I plead guilty to one felony count they will drop the 14 other counts against me and cap my sentence at 5 years. My charge carried a maximum of 10 so I specifically asked if they might try to be sneaky and tack on an extra 5 years suspended to that 5 year cap and he said "no, it's a 5 year cap". So I told him I'd do it then ^ then another 5 months goes by and when I finally go to court to plea, my plea deal magically changed from a cap of 5 on one count to 3 counts alltogether and all time would be suspended on counts 2 & 3. I told John I didnt feel right and was worried about all that suspended time he said I wouldnt get. He told me not to worry about it and that since they reneged on the plea deal that I didnt have to take it but then he would have to start all over. It had been over a year and I wasnt going to sit in Jail another year waiting for him to lie to me about another plea deal. At my sentencing I got the 5 years PLUS 5 more suspended on count one an additional 10 years suspended on each of the other two counts which weren't even supposed to be part of it. So, John lied to me twice, never intended from the get-go to try and fight for me in court, went months without any response to my letters and when he did visit the two times probably were less than 1 hour together. Two court dates which would be an hour(rounded up) each. One hour(rounded up) talking on the phone with my Father. And I highly doubt any more than a half hour negotiating a deal I never got. So, for $10,000+tax I got 4 1/2 hours work(if you can even call it that). The only reason I'm giving two stars instead of one is because I was originally looking at 150 years alltogether and ended up doing 2, most of which was in county not knowing what was going on but the outcome could have been way worse. And because the first two attorneys we called wanted $20,000. So John was half price. But I guess you get what you pay for and in this case, I think that was as little as possible. Nothing more than what a public defender would do and maybe even less. I would suggest getting a public defender. Sure they might be somewhat inexperienced and have a high case load but they respond to letters and visit whenever needed. They are always around. And, for less than $1000 attorney fees (if found guilty) you probably get the same amount of effort, possibly more attention(wouldnt take a whole lot) and probably the same exact outcome in the end so I wouldnt waste your money. Put it in a savings account and have a nice head start at getting your feet back on the ground and to a new & better life once you get out of jail.
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31 Jul, 2019 by Anonymous
He helped me and got the outcome that I was looking for. I felt he was easy to understand and to talk to and that's important and the way he talked with the judge was very open and honest.
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04 Mar, 2019 by Anonymous
I am so grateful for having John and his team he got my dui dropped,a felony ingestion charge not picked up and got me a suspended imp. For pocession of marijuana charge thank you so much I can finally move on with my life highly highly recommend him!!!
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02 May, 2023 by Kyle
Beth overcharged me multiple times while working on my case and was not very good in court. When I hired a new attorney he resolved my matter quickly and used information Beth ignored to our advantage in court. If you want someone who has a reputation from bouncing from firm to firm while overbilling in the Sioux Falls area you should call Beth.
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22 Oct, 2015 by Jana
I live in Colorado and had a very difficult custody case in S.D. Another attorney referred me to Beth. She was professional, knowledgeable, sympathetic, helpful, and in the end did exactly what we needed to have done. I have never met her; we have only corresponded via phone calls and emails, and I look forward to the day when we finally meet! I would highly recommend her to anyone needing a great attorney. If we lived closer, I would use her for all of our legal needs. I cannot say enough good things about her.
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25 Feb, 2015 by Anonymous
I thought it went well. The only hang up is the $2500.00 retainer. If that wasnt in play until after the divorce was finalized i eould have rated higher.
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11 Nov, 2017 by Trenton braby
Because this is the 21st century big corporations in ag ageing farmers its transition time it will be achieved by conqueror or conquest co-op big team.
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30 Oct, 2017 by Chelsea muller-miller
I lost my son after taking the advice of this retained attorney.
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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.
