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25 Jul, 2024 by Alexis poinsett
Nice lady on the phone, cub foods wasn't in her line of business😢🤙🏿
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03 May, 2024 by Cole racek
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09 Feb, 2024 by Reed beckler
Jenna worked diligently during my whole process. She listens and guides the client through the process. She explains the process and is honest as to the outcome. She is well connected as to individuals who will end up working with your family after the legal process is completed. I was very pleased with the final outcome. I would recommend her for assisting you through what I am sure is a difficult time. Just as it was for myself.
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17 Mar, 2021 by Kumar
Jeff was with me throughout the case and supported like a family member not just legally but also emotionally. His knowledge, experience and negotiation skills were amazing. when it comes to protecting His clients, He is the best. I am glad that I was in good hands.
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30 Jul, 2019 by Anonymous
Jeff protected me and my children throughout a complicated divorce. I wanted to be with my two kids at least half of their growth time. Jeff helped me secure my half-time physical custody to father by two kids. He explained my different options very clearly to me and helped me decide the best option (for both short and long terms) and the best approach drawn from his decades-long experience. He negotiated the best settlement I could hope for. Throughout the entire process, he always put my interests first instead of the billable hours. He was understanding, and showed he actually cared. Jeff had his sense of humor at times and ability to calm often tense situations, which was a savior at the heaviest time of my life.
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10 Jun, 2015 by Will
Jeffrey handled my divorce about 20 years ago. He would be my first choice if the need ever arises again.
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23 Mar, 2023 by Nick
Brian was so great to work with! He spent time going over my situation and became very familiar with my case and the needs of our family. Brian went above and beyond to ensure that we had the best possible outcome. I highly recommend Brian!
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10 May, 2017 by Ashley
Brian has been a Godsend to us! Dealing with a perplex and difficult custody battle & child relocation for our little one, Brian has gone above & beyond. He is extremely knowledgeable & knows all the laws. He has won our cases & when other attorneys threw out opinionated statements he was quick to state the facts. He has always been quick to reply to my concerns & questions when I've emailed or called. In court he is aggressive and honest. Brian was great at calming my nerves when I was worked up from all of the stress and the unknown. He is affordable, cares about your situation, and has a great heart. I would never pick a different person to represent me in the future or the well-being of my children. I would recommend Brian Chmielewski to everyone if you want the best outcome for your situation and a great attorney!
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10 Sep, 2016 by Anonymous
Working with Attorney Chmielewski was a complexly positive experience for me, especially after getting off course with the first attorney that represented me. I found myself behind the eight ball on two legal fronts or cases when Brian stepped in. He clearly knows how to navigate the legal system and he cut through a lot of nonsense raised by opposing attorneys. He focused on the desired outcome. The depth of understanding Brian showed about my case or situation impressed me, as hundreds of details were dealt with in a span of weeks. I also found Chmielewski Law legal rates of value as four tier pricing was used to represent me in preparation work or in court. I would and will recommend Chmielewski Law to my friends who may face legal challenges. Quality, value and integrity with a smile come to mind.
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23 Oct, 2019 by Megan
*Revised October 2019* I ended up retaining Ms. Lutz again in July 2019. Yet again Ms. Lutz fiercely advocated for the best interest of my family and I. Ms. Lutz gave a very accurate, tenacious, passionate pleading to our Judge that resulted in the legal matter being ruled in my favor. Ms. Lutz presented a complex case and was able to passionately advocate on my families behalf. I was overly pleased with her legal knowledge and ability to put such a complex case together so precise. I will continue to retain Ms. Lutz on all of my legal matters in the future as well as reccomend her to others in need of superb legal matters. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, passionate, tenacious advocate for your legal matter, I highly recommend Ms. Lutz.
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14 Jan, 2019 by Patricia
She was my attorney a couple years ago shes wonderful ste gets the job done and is very educated and caring.
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02 Nov, 2017 by Megan
I first came to Ms. Jacquelyn Lutz of Appelhoff, Pfeifer and Hart in October of 2016. It was definitely the worst time in my life and she compassionately spoke with me about my options. Ms. Lutz thoroughly explained the laws, statutes, process and what to expect going forward. What was supposed to be one case, turned into three intricate cases that took a huge toll on me and my family. Ms. Lutz represented me in court on all three cases with a vast knowledge of the laws and how to proceed accordingly. During all three cases she kept me informed, calm, gave me resources to utilize, and (most important) gave me a realistic view of what may come next. Ms. Lutz knew each case required a great deal of knowledge and creative thinking on how to legally proceed forward with each case. My family and friends are forever grateful for the amazing representation by Ms. Lutz. I highly recommend Ms. Lutz for anyone needing or considering superb representation for any kind of family law.
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03 Dec, 2018 by Anonymous
Jerry knows the law and nothing escapes him. He is very bright and has a lot of experience - it definitely shows during court dealings and throughout the whole process. He represented me during my highly contested divorce years back and now again after the other party reopened the case. Highly recommended!
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23 Aug, 2018 by Stephanie
I felt very taken care of throughout my divorce. My many questions were answered very quickly and Williams Divorce & Family Law walked me through every step of the process.
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29 Jun, 2016 by Tanuja srilatha
Jerry is my attorney since 2015. I should say I have peace of mind with my highly contested case. I wish I knew about him earlier, I wouldn't have lost all that precious money I invested in other firms.
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03 Feb, 2022 by Oswaldo embus
Their website is very informative, I thought my case was lost due to lack of physical evidence but they help me collect enough digital evidence to win my case.
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22 Sep, 2024 by Zeke21
I had Jennifer Fitzgerald as my lawyer for a workers compensation claim and she was great and resolved the problem with professionalism. She treated me as a person and I felt like she valued my issue even though it was a small claim. She was easy to work with and made the process feel less daunting.
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29 Aug, 2024 by Sani shaibu
First of all i will like to say a big thank you for help and being a good woman to me during your work with me. i will highly recommend your law firm to any one who has a problem with workers compensation, you are compassionate and you do care about your client well being. You are full of respect, passion and honesty. thank you so much Jennifer. i really enjoyed working with you and it is a plessure. Baehman Fitzgerald law. Thank you so much.
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20 Aug, 2024 by Dan carey
I cannot thank Jennifer, Jack, and Julie for everything they did. Easy communication, great knowledge of what they do, and a truly irreplaceable part of my last couple years.
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08 Feb, 2019 by Steve
Michelle was great through my pending divorce. She asked the right questions and gave advice that really helped through the process and focused on what I was looking to achieve.
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07 Feb, 2019 by Kristin
This was my first experience with any lawyer/law issue - Michelle and her team did an excellent job training and helping me through this. Michelle was very straight forward on what to expect with the initial consultation, negotiated extremely well throughout the entire (almost) 2 year process. Amanda is amazing as well. She did fantastic work, quickly responded and was extremely reassuring. As a team they did a great job handling my case. Negative reviews stated that people were frustrated by the lack of response. I will say initially I was frustrated myself, but Michelle and Amanda reminded me that I pay for them to read my emails/answer my phone calls and respond. So know that they are working on it when it needs to be worked on to help prevent excessive charges to you!! They got me involved when I needed to be and kept me updated as there were updates. I was very happy that I had Michelle and Amanda with me to help me through the worst couple years of my life.
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06 Feb, 2019 by Anonymous
I was extremely happy with the legal advice I received. My needs and opionions were heard. Michelle was very friendly and happy to answer all my questions and concerns. Appreciated her being patient with me and explaining all the next steps what to expect and what it means to me. Michelle was prepared and knows the laws well, could tell she was is a experienced lawyer. Invoice was detailed and easy to understand the charges. What can be a emotionally and hard experience was the best experience I could of asked for. thank you Kniess law!
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16 Mar, 2018 by Dimitri
In July 2014, I hired Mr. Taylor as my attorney to represent me in my family court matter. I deeply regret hiring Mr. Taylor. Because of his representation, I incurred many negative consequences that I am trying to cope with today. I attempted to resolve my issues with Mr. Taylor, but he refused. I asked the Minnesota Office for Legal Responsibility for help, and they investigated my complaint against Mr. Taylor. My experience with Mr. Taylor is well documented in the complaint of legal misconduct I brought against him with the Minnesota Office for Legal Responsibility, dated September 7, 2017. The Minnesota Office for Legal Responsibility agreed with my complaint against Mr. Taylor of legal misconduct. The office issued a decision to discipline Mr. Taylor for his misconduct in my case. The Minnesota Office for Legal Responsibility issued a decision of private admonishment. For more information on the specifics of Mr. Taylor’s misconduct as documented by the MN Office for Legal Responsibility investigation, and resulting decision, please inquire about this action to Mr. Taylor directly.
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05 Jan, 2015 by David
Mr. Taylor is seriously a miracle worker. When I hired him I was denied visitation with my child for 2 very long years. With in a few weeks I had daily phone calls with my daughter. With in two months I was reunited with my daughter and given an parenting plan schedule with over 41% custody. When my daughters mother decided to not follow that schedule we got a court date with in the next month. With out him I still would not have met my daughter. We have a new court date coming up this week but so far I am very thankful for Mr. Taylor. Also, I live in Florida so every part of this other than court has been done via telephone and email. He has done a great job for our family. He is also very responsible with your retainer. I feel like any other lawyer would have eaten up my retainer alot faster but Mr Taylor was very frugal with mine. I would highly recommend him to represent you in a family matter.
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02 May, 2012 by Rich
Having Mr. Taylor on my legal team is truly a blessing from God. Through his representation of a complicated family law case Mr. Taylor has continuously expressed a level of knowledge, wisdom, truth, honesty and patience beyond exceptional. Although family law cases can seem to last for eternity, take unexpected twists and turns, spark many emotions to surface, etc., Mr. Taylor takes the time to listen and understand his clients while crafting the best possible strategy. Of course every case and situation is different, but if you're in need of an excellent family law attorney I highly recommend you add Mr. Taylor to your team. Thank you Mr. Taylor for representing me in my case. ~ Rich
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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:

  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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