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13 Sep, 2024 by Judith welsh
Eric and his team handled my real estate closing, they made the whole experience easy and stress free. Any questions I had they answered promptly and efficiently, the entire process was pleasant and I was confident that I was in good hands Thankyou Eric, as always the Law offices of Vogel showed they care about their customers and you can depend upon them I would recommend Vogel law
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13 Sep, 2024 by Eva baker
A short time ago I made the decision to retain an attorney to file for back child support post divorce. When looking for an attorney I wanted to hire someone who was well respected within the McHenry County court system, someone who was experienced and exuded confidence. I reached out to several friends who have worked within the court system and the person they recommended was Angelo Mourelatos. I found Angelo to be a great communicator, compassionate and pragmatic. I also found him to be assertive and not aggressive. His strategy is well thought out and he definitely knows when the time is right to put on a little pressure. His office staff reflects the way he conducts business. They are kind, friendly, compassionate and always treat the client with the utmost care and sense of importance. I highly recommend retaining Angelo for your legal needs.
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03 Sep, 2024 by Jennifer riebock
Angelo has gone above and beyond to help me with my post decree divorce representation. He is the first attorney I have worked with that I TRULY felt not only listened to me but heard and understood what I was feeling. Many attorneys are cold and hard- not Angelo, his compassion is par to none. He never comes across as bossy or “do as I say” you are honestly a team when you work with him- and you really do work with him to accomplish your end goal. His communication is phenomenal along with his staff. Vicki and Julie were also just as amazing. In the almost 2 years I’ve worked with them they have always been positive and encouraging. I would HIGHLY recommend Angelo to everyone who is looking for an honest, caring attorney.
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12 Oct, 2016 by Ms. a
I was fortunate enough to hire Ms. Koch after consulting with 4 other attorneys. None of the others felt they could help me, but within days of our first consultation, Ms. Koch had me in court pursuing the Order that I so desperately needed. This was the beginning of a yearlong pursuit of a bitter divorce. Ms. Koch tenaciously defended my rights, and the rights of my children, and was extremely sensitive to the hurts and scars that each of us were feeling from the situation at home. Her kindness and compassion, coupled with excellent legal knowledge and advice were invaluable throughout the entire process of the divorce. Initially - I sought a strong and capable attorney to guide me through one of the worst periods of my life. With Koch and Associates, I was so fortunate to find a gifted attorney - and so much more! Compassion, a protective spirit, understanding, and tenacious dedication to obtaining what was right for me and my kids. Highly, highly, recommend Koch & Associates!
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23 Aug, 2016 by Anonymous
I sustained a shoulder injury at work . My shoulder continued to be a problem and the Dr that I was seeing ordered an MRI. The MRI showed a possible rotater cuff tear and the Dr felt I needed surgery. This is when work comp wanted a second opinion from a Dr of their choice, who said the MRI was inconclusive and thought I should get a cortisone shot and more therapy. After another month of therapy and the shot I was still having pain and they did not want to approve surgery. This was when I spoke with Patty and retained her. She was always available to answer my questions and was able to get them to approve the surgery and I did have a full tear of my rotator cuff. So then I'm looking at a long rehab and not sure if I can go back to my mechanics job or if it will even be there. Patty got my checks back on time when they started suddenly forgetting to mail them on time. She made sure I got all the therapy I needed to get strong enough to go back to my normal job when they tried to say I didn't need more therapy. I ended up being able to go back to my job and also got a very nice check at the end of it all. Patty was always there and had a positive attitude when I was really scared and frustrated with the whole situation. I would recommend her without hesitation.
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22 Aug, 2016 by Marsha
Patti is an attorney that goes above and beyond to help resolve your case. She is one of the most caring and passionate attorneys. Patti has been working with us to help resolve a custody case. She makes you feel likes she cares about you and the people involved. It is more than a job to her it is an avocation. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an excellent family attorney.
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13 Sep, 2024 by Judith welsh
Eric and his team handled my real estate closing, they made the whole experience easy and stress free. Any questions I had they answered promptly and efficiently, the entire process was pleasant and I was confident that I was in good hands Thankyou Eric, as always the Law offices of Vogel showed they care about their customers and you can depend upon them I would recommend Vogel law
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star star star star star
13 Sep, 2024 by Eva baker
A short time ago I made the decision to retain an attorney to file for back child support post divorce. When looking for an attorney I wanted to hire someone who was well respected within the McHenry County court system, someone who was experienced and exuded confidence. I reached out to several friends who have worked within the court system and the person they recommended was Angelo Mourelatos. I found Angelo to be a great communicator, compassionate and pragmatic. I also found him to be assertive and not aggressive. His strategy is well thought out and he definitely knows when the time is right to put on a little pressure. His office staff reflects the way he conducts business. They are kind, friendly, compassionate and always treat the client with the utmost care and sense of importance. I highly recommend retaining Angelo for your legal needs.
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03 Sep, 2024 by Jennifer riebock
Angelo has gone above and beyond to help me with my post decree divorce representation. He is the first attorney I have worked with that I TRULY felt not only listened to me but heard and understood what I was feeling. Many attorneys are cold and hard- not Angelo, his compassion is par to none. He never comes across as bossy or “do as I say” you are honestly a team when you work with him- and you really do work with him to accomplish your end goal. His communication is phenomenal along with his staff. Vicki and Julie were also just as amazing. In the almost 2 years I’ve worked with them they have always been positive and encouraging. I would HIGHLY recommend Angelo to everyone who is looking for an honest, caring attorney.
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29 Oct, 2024 by John v
I was represented by Justin in my divorce proceeding and found him to be friendly, funny and helpful. Despite paying more than I thought I would, I kept my pension, and essentially received full custody of my 4 minor children despite being married for 24 yrs. I'm not saying or trying to mislead anyone to believe that I got out unscathed but keeping a pension and getting custody of your children is not very common. Justin litigated my divorce as well as he possibly could under the circumstances and I would highly recommend his law firm. You get what you pay for.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Cody schue
Justin is refusing my calls, won’t set up a meeting after 6 months of no contact, took my money and withdrew from the case without any warning! I’ve called the office multiple times, the last time I asked for all my paperwork and they said if I call again they will call the cops for harassment! Absolutely ridiculous!
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08 Jul, 2024 by Tom jenrette
I've been represented by Castlebrook Law for nearly 4 years. 2 lawyers in particular have worked on my cases. Justin Hastings, who unlike a lot of attorneys, is practical and passionate about his client's situations. Bryan Sullivan, aka the "Baby Faced Assassin," is a dude I'd want guarding my legal backside in any engagement. I watched him thunder away with carefully crafted arguments and carve up the opposition in a trial this year with delight. These 2 gentlemen are among the finest litigators I've ever encountered. Trust them, trust Castlebrook.
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29 Oct, 2024 by John v
I was represented by Justin in my divorce proceeding and found him to be friendly, funny and helpful. Despite paying more than I thought I would, I kept my pension, and essentially received full custody of my 4 minor children despite being married for 24 yrs. I'm not saying or trying to mislead anyone to believe that I got out unscathed but keeping a pension and getting custody of your children is not very common. Justin litigated my divorce as well as he possibly could under the circumstances and I would highly recommend his law firm. You get what you pay for.
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19 May, 2024 by Karleen
I had the privilege of working with Jason recently, and I couldn't be more impressed with his professionalism, expertise, and dedication to his clients. I needed some legal advice and Jason was more than happy to listen and give me advice on this matter. He demonstrated exceptional legal knowledge and a genuine commitment to achieving the best possible outcome of the matter. I highly recommend Jason to anyone in need of legal assistance. He is someone who goes above and beyond for their clients and I will be using him in the future.
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21 Feb, 2024 by Liberty moritz
I had a fantastic experience working with Castlebrook Law. Bryan Sullivan was diligent, compassionate, and informative in his handling of my case while managing an unprofessional and non-communicative opposing counsel. The office staff was great, and everyone I worked with in the office was very responsive.
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09 Aug, 2023 by Christine fuqua
Julie and her team were easy to work with while closing on the purchase of land.
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11 Jul, 2023 by Chris reed
Julie has always been amazing to work with. It is great to have someone you can completely trust when navigating important life circumstances. Highly Recommend!
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16 May, 2023 by James lee
Julie Pirtle was an instrumental representation of my divorce. She laid out the plan and how to execute each step with ease and confidence. Her knowledge of the law, as well as her legal advice, resulted in a fair proceeding where all the parties involved walked away with closure. Her transparency involving billable hours and ways to cut costs was extremely helpful in staying within budget. There were no surprises in all aspects of her work and she delivered above and beyond her call of duty. She communicated as needed and answered all questions I had and beyond. She knew when to press the pedal and when to back off on certain requests and indifferences during the divorce. I didn't feel rushed, had no anxiety, and completely trusted her with everything. I highly recommend Pirtle Law Group as all of her staff are a direct reflection of her integrity, transparency, and hard work. I am impressed with her knowledge of the law. Rest assured, having Julie as your counsel is a vote of confidence that you want when it is most needed. She is a powerhouse with poise and elegance. As long as she is practicing law, she will forever be on my speed dial.
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29 Oct, 2024 by John v
I was represented by Justin in my divorce proceeding and found him to be friendly, funny and helpful. Despite paying more than I thought I would, I kept my pension, and essentially received full custody of my 4 minor children despite being married for 24 yrs. I'm not saying or trying to mislead anyone to believe that I got out unscathed but keeping a pension and getting custody of your children is not very common. Justin litigated my divorce as well as he possibly could under the circumstances and I would highly recommend his law firm. You get what you pay for.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Katlyn mcbride
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08 Jul, 2024 by Arron schifferer
Justin was a great attorney
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08 Dec, 2023 by Anonymous
I do not recommend working with the Pucci law team. I am extremely disturbed by how my case was handled and I would highly encourage you to look elsewhere if you want your case handled ethically and timely.
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07 Sep, 2022 by Sarah
Divorce is never easy but Julia and her team made things as simple as possible. She helped me navigate custody with a difficult ex and guided me through the entire process. Highly recommend.
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16 Jan, 2020 by Jon haas
Experienced attorney, standard pricing, nice guy.
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15 Jun, 2023 by Linda
Way over charges. Lets you close without having all your money. Then when it comes time to get your money, he has to put a lien, on the property. Then that cost goes to you, even though it was his fault. Stay away from him!
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06 Apr, 2011 by Mike
I've used Jim for 2 closing's over the past 5 years. I'm a young adult and have learned a great deal about closing from Jim. Both times, there was a last minute issue in the closing room and Jim advised and handled it, which led to me saving a great deal of money. My last closing was so convoluted from the builder that I was beyond frustrated, however Jim was the solidity that I needed. He infromed me of my options and the probability of which direction it would go. In the end, the builder and I reached an agreement, but it was because of Jim that we got there. I plan to work with Jim for my next closing as well.
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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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