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18 Aug, 2016 by Kristina
Tina was amazing. I had a case ongoing for 7 years! My last Attorney did nothing but waste my money. Tina was able to get me divorced finally and my entire custody situation worked out in only a year! On top of that she turned what was an extremely emotional and stressful time into something that was more bearable. She LISTENED to me and provided honest feedback. She was there whenever I needed her. Her and the entire team was responsive and wonderful. I wish I would have hired her from day 1.
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04 May, 2016 by Anonymous
I hired Tina Talbot as a QDRO attorney. I cannot express how difficult I found her to work with. She seemed to either forget or ignore requests/direction that I and others gave her, and never seemed to pass important information along to the accountant, so that the calculations had to be redone 3 times. As a lawyer, I felt she communicated poorly: the process, my choices, answers to my questions. And to top it off she kept reminding me how little she was making for the amount of work she was doing.
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05 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
We can always count on Tina for great advise and to set our minds at ease with any concerns. She really knows her stuff, the system, the court staff (and judge or other attorney you may be facing). She has a great heart but is a PIT BULL in court. She has worked with our other family and friends and all are very happy with her. Stop looking, she's the one. -C & F
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23 Oct, 2024 by Steve
Buddy went in on a restraining order for me. My ex wanted to leave the state with my kids and he put the stops on it. Not only did he do that but he got me full custody of my two kids. Because I'm a man I always thought the courts favored the woman in a case but he put on a solid argument for me and we won. He also accepted payments from me because I didn't have the funds to pay all at once. He also didn't charge me for phone calls and emails like many attorneys do for their time. He's a little harsh at times but I didn't hire a therapist. I hired a fighter and that's what I got. Thanks Buddy. You rocked it Bro!
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03 Feb, 2019 by Jason
He was very affordable and aggressive in court. He helped me get custody again. Highly recommend.
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13 Oct, 2017 by Doug
After four attorneys, I finally picked the right attorney. Buddy got my kids back from Tennessee. I am very grateful. Highly recommended. Very competent.
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23 Jan, 2018 by Courtney
Ms. Beckman did nothing to fight for me. She never called to tell me that the divorce was finalized. I called for an update one day and she screamed at me...not raised her voice, not yelled but screamed. The next day she sent me a bill for her services.
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11 May, 2015 by Anthony
Karen is an EXCELLENT Attorney. She is well versed, well spoken and detail oriented. She thinks of the unthinkable as it relates to defending her client. Keeping her client well informed of all possible outcomes appears to be a motto of hers. Then she strategically and systematically fights for you with everything she has. As a client, her rating should be changed to 9.9 without question.
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24 Apr, 2015 by Trish
I had a one year marriage and two year divorce. This happened a decade ago. I never doubted that Karen was on my side and doing her very best for me and my child.
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21 Aug, 2024 by Jenny
Giovanni, was very helpful he took the time to listen and explained the process moving forward
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09 May, 2024 by Angel davis
Choosing Mr. Milan was the best decision I made for my family's well-being. Co-parenting with a narcissist felt like an insurmountable task, but his unwavering support and expertise provided a beacon of hope during a tumultuous time. With his guidance, I found strength I didn't know I had, and together, we crafted a plan that put my child's happiness and stability first. Mr. Milan didn't just represent me in court; he became a trusted ally and source of comfort throughout the journey. For anyone facing the daunting challenge of co-parenting with a narcissist, I wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Milan for his unparalleled dedication and genuine compassion.
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05 May, 2024 by Allison wooldridge
I cannot recommend the Law Offices of Giovanni Milan highly enough! From the moment I stepped into his welcoming office in Tustin, California, I knew I was in good hands. Giovanni is not only incredibly kind but also a master at breaking down complex legal matters into simple, understandable terms. His fun and relatable personality made the entire experience surprisingly enjoyable. Giovanni is a stellar communicator who kept me constantly updated throughout the process, ensuring I was never left in the dark. Thanks to his expertise and diligent work, he got me the result I desperately needed and truly saved me in a bind. If you're looking for a lawyer who combines professionalism with a personal touch, Giovanni is your go-to. I’d highly recommend him to anyone in need of legal assistance.
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21 Aug, 2024 by Jenny
Giovanni, was very helpful he took the time to listen and explained the process moving forward
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09 May, 2024 by Angel davis
Choosing Mr. Milan was the best decision I made for my family's well-being. Co-parenting with a narcissist felt like an insurmountable task, but his unwavering support and expertise provided a beacon of hope during a tumultuous time. With his guidance, I found strength I didn't know I had, and together, we crafted a plan that put my child's happiness and stability first. Mr. Milan didn't just represent me in court; he became a trusted ally and source of comfort throughout the journey. For anyone facing the daunting challenge of co-parenting with a narcissist, I wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Milan for his unparalleled dedication and genuine compassion.
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05 May, 2024 by Allison wooldridge
I cannot recommend the Law Offices of Giovanni Milan highly enough! From the moment I stepped into his welcoming office in Tustin, California, I knew I was in good hands. Giovanni is not only incredibly kind but also a master at breaking down complex legal matters into simple, understandable terms. His fun and relatable personality made the entire experience surprisingly enjoyable. Giovanni is a stellar communicator who kept me constantly updated throughout the process, ensuring I was never left in the dark. Thanks to his expertise and diligent work, he got me the result I desperately needed and truly saved me in a bind. If you're looking for a lawyer who combines professionalism with a personal touch, Giovanni is your go-to. I’d highly recommend him to anyone in need of legal assistance.
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19 Sep, 2023 by Brian schram
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07 Aug, 2023 by Richard hutchins
I had a fantastic experience working with Justine Dell as my family lawyer. Her fairness, attentive listening, and dedication to addressing my concerns and needs were truly commendable. I am extremely thankful for everything she did for me.
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24 Apr, 2023 by Monica martinez
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19 Sep, 2023 by Brian schram
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07 Aug, 2023 by Richard hutchins
I had a fantastic experience working with Justine Dell as my family lawyer. Her fairness, attentive listening, and dedication to addressing my concerns and needs were truly commendable. I am extremely thankful for everything she did for me.
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24 Apr, 2023 by Monica martinez
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27 Mar, 2023 by M
Charged me over $40,000 came to court unprepared every single time did not have the proper documentation that I provided to him months in advance. Take copies of your own documents to court if you decide you want to hire him. The only thing he did, that was good, was the deposition, but he was not able to use it in court, because he forgets things and he’s very rude. He promised me everything and delivered nothing, failed every single time. Other lawyers called him a showman.
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13 Jan, 2023 by Anonymous
Look at all of the reviews. I have a similar experience as one of the reviewers. My case was also passed off from father to son. Great experience with the father (Milo), horrible experience with the son (Mathew). The attorney failed to close out my case administratively. I didn't even get a final judgement (of course they charge you for every document, "even emails"). My issues are deep with this office and I'm about to go file a complaint and enter into some litigation behind the outcome of my past case. Just like the prior reviewer stated they don't return calls (at least Matthew doesn't, father is now retired). Most importantly is the lack of respect.
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22 Mar, 2022 by Kate
Best attorney you can ask for in criminal/family law. He manages your expectations so you know exactly what to expect. In serious matters like this, I greatly value how straight forward he is. He as also referred me to the best traffic lawyer that I have now used for years. He is also very reliable and answer your questions and concerns with urgency. You really get what you pay for with Matthew!
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27 Oct, 2021 by Larry
I’ve been Ms. Ja Suh’s client and I don’t normally write reviews. But when I read the one review previously posted I thought something was terribly wrong-not with Ms Suh but with the author of that review. Ms Suh has always returned my calls and done so mostly on the same day. She copied me on all written communications. She gave me copies of all the pleadings. Most importantly, she recommended the right experts (forensic accountants) and the best mediator possible. When in the court house in Santa Ana/Orange, not only did every attorney know her, heck, even the bailiffs knew her by her first name. Best of all were the results: I won hands down.
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27 Jul, 2018 by Anonymous
This attorney has no business practicing family law in Orange County. Made a huge and very costly mistake of trying to go with a bilingual lawyer. First, Ja is nearly unknown in the family law community in OC. When dealing with any matter, you want a lawyer with an established reputation and professional relationship with the legal/accounting community. I spoke to over 20 firms when looking for substitute counsel and not one had heard of her or her firm. Ja is not cheap, but she is certainly not worth her pay. For her hourly, you can easily find a certified family law specialist. She communicated no strategy and was reactionary most of the case. She made horrible recommendations regarding RFOs. I found myself going over the same information 15 months into the case. We got absolutely nowhere with her and paid tens of thousands of dollars -- not even a single issue settled. Ja has no presence in a court room, spoke with no authority, and couldn't garner the respect from opposing counsel or the presiding judge. Tactically, Ja missed the mark big time. She is highly disorganized and missed the basics like notice of fiduciary duties, litigation holds, etc. She failed to depose the respondent. She subpoenaed key documents a year after filing, after the preliminary forensic accountant report was drafted. She failed to provide the accountant with court orders pertaining to income and records of key money. After switching attorneys, it got even worse. Her office delivered a file that was in dismay. Highly unorganized and missing large chunks of files. Missing most of the outbound correspondence to opposing counsel. I had to pay new my attorney hard-earned money to organize the mess she threw in a box. Talk about unprofessional. She is pleasant to deal with but is an absolutely horrible family law attorney.
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30 Jul, 2024 by Annie
Believe what the review says about rebecca and brian!! They are horrible they deserve no star in 2017 i was referral by another attroney and paid retaining fee and never used them since then! They just take your money and when called to get information the evil rude rebecca would answer for phone with attitude!!! If you want to loose your case, throw away your hard earn money, and have headache from your own lawyer hire this firm! If not run away as fast as you can!!!!! For those whom have bad experience with them come warn others!!!!!
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15 Sep, 2023 by Robert
He just wants to take your money, he never returns calls. His assistant is a rude sociopath. Dont let him represent you. Stay away.
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16 Apr, 2023 by Stephanie
Mr Baron was assigned to my case for a contempt that he never investigated. Dragged out case for 2 years and gave the parent who's been alienating me away from our more time! Never returned my calls, and only called me one day before final hearing
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07 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
We hired Vicky Tran in 2016 and were very disappointed. Ms. Tran didn’t represent us in how we wanted to be represented inside the court house. Instead of fighting for our child (whom had at the time lived with us 100% for years) she wanted us to just take a plea because it was easier for her. She was not looking out for the best interest for our daughter whom at that time had no relationship with her father. This has by far been one of the most life changing events that I will never forget. I hope Ms. Tran knows how heartbreaking this was for us. I hope it was worth every penny of that $3,000 plus other fees made her happy.
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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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