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13 Feb, 2025 by Alicia orleski
I would highly recommend RIW, and more specifically Eric Sigman, for legal services. We are a multi unit operator of two franchise brands and have been working with Eric and RIW for all business legal needs with a large focus on corporate real estate and franchise law. Eric handles our portfolio with a high level of care and professionalism, but most importantly works alongside us as a partner. We wouldn't have been able to scale our business as quickly as we did without Eric and the RIW team. We are grateful for his support and would recommend RIW to anyone.
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13 Feb, 2025 by Nancy hamblet
Eric Sigman is amazing! He has helped us through multiple complicated and sometimes exasperating business deals. We highly recommend this firm and Eric.
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15 Nov, 2023 by Nathan wagner
17 Nov, 2024 by M m
29 Oct, 2024 by Marnie botelho
I 100% agree with Mel. I gave my banking account number and was told they'd be a deduction on the 1st and the 15th of each month. (which I agreed) The problem is I was never told how much those withdrawals would be. My husband is a disabled veteran and only gets a check once a month. We never even appeared in court. The opposing attorney was not contacting my attorney for 4+ months, yet my balance was never known by me and was growing somehow. It wasn't until I requested a statement that I received a few through email. I have never once spoken to Peter on the phone. Although the attorney who was working with me was very nice, he told me he had no part in the billing. He told me it was Peter. Basically, I gave a $4500 retainer in case we needed to go to court, which we never did, and I never received regular monthly statements from Mr. Calabrese. Due to my experience with the billing of this attorney, I would NEVER recommend them. This morning I see an email saying he will not represent me any longer because of my large outstanding balance (which I knew nothing about). As soon as I emailed him, all of a sudden I receive all these statements. Lol! And a balance that was insane.
I agree with Mel. Do not sign any contract that involves giving your banking info out.
This is not ethical and I intend on reporting to the Bar. These are examples of bad practices. People are already hurting in bad land situations, and the last thing anyone needs is to be taken advantage of. Beware people! Read Mel's review, and others on several sites before you use this firm. If you don't believe me, read others.
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17 Oct, 2024 by Meredith chambers
I've had a positive experience dealing with Peter and associates. All have been very responsive, honest and timely with findings. I highly recommend and am pleased with their service.
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14 Aug, 2023 by Sean king
24 Jul, 2023 by Roger rook
03 Jan, 2023 by Spikes legrice
Completely Unprofessional dealing with Chris Flanagan, was assigned to represent my businesses insurance company then when assigned the case was "out of the country" for weeks. Finally get to discuss the matter with him we begin what i thought some sort of resolution mediation then disappears for another 3 weeks then emails me Saturday Decemeber 31st to deny our claim. Granted a vehicle was stolen off of our property, Zero diligence carried out on their part never contacting our police department inquiring to neighbors nothing. Deplorable professionalism. Plenty of reputable firms around please do your research and find whos going to fight for whats right.
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23 Jan, 2025 by Susan gorny
Stuart is knowledgeable, highly experienced, generous with his time and counsel. My husband and I are very grateful that he was recommended to us.
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07 May, 2024 by Laurie clancey
Unprofessional, unethical, rude, frivolous attorney who believes he is above the law. Good luck to anyone with the misfortune of dealing with or hiring this attorney. I have never dealt with a more corrupt human being let alone attorney of the law. He represents every single thing an attorney should not. He has only bad intentions and gives attorneys everywhere a horrible name.
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02 Nov, 2023 by John joseph
This dude is ignorant and thinks he's the best at everything but in reality he's a shady scumbag
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04 Feb, 2024 by Jack p
13 Jun, 2023 by Gugga dugga
Oldest, not best.
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18 Jan, 2023 by Geraldo hodge
04 Feb, 2024 by Jack p
13 Jun, 2023 by Gugga dugga
Oldest, not best.
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18 Jan, 2023 by Geraldo hodge
04 Feb, 2024 by Jack p
13 Jun, 2023 by Gugga dugga
Oldest, not best.
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18 Jan, 2023 by Geraldo hodge
16 May, 2024 by Luke
10 May, 2024 by Nancy mcdonough
Mr. Bigelow, has done a few cases for me, he is an excellent Lawyer. He knows his business. So if your looking for the best in the business, call Blair Bigelow.
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28 Jan, 2024 by Edward kennedy
04 Jan, 2022 by Brian tomasello
Went to this firm to help set up my franchise. Honestly was a horrible experience. Communication was terrible (I'd have to email the same question 4-5x before finally getting a response) and the quality even worse.
They literally took a generic franchise template, charged me thousands and then sent it to me with numerous mistakes throughout (citing anything from construction to nanny's - both had absolutely nothing to do with my business.
I went to a new firm who couldn't even use the FDD they created as there were so many mistakes throughout. Complete waste of time and money.
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01 Mar, 2019 by Lourdes minueza
30 Nov, 2018 by Valerie millar
If you need a Family law firm give them a call a wonderful staff and compassionate lawyers!
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18 Jul, 2022 by Bilal
17 Jul, 2022 by Roy jones
11 Aug, 2010 by Natasha tx
Seyfarth Shaw, the Attorney for the Marriott, is the worst Attorney that I have seen on record. Overbilling, lying to their client, costing their client $$$$, while they misrepresent, just attrocious behavior and an incompetant law firm. Trying to influence a Federal Judge after they have misfiled pleadings.
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25 Feb, 2015 by Joe
I would like to start by saying I highly recommend Attorney Dawn Young.
Dawn has provided me with excellent advise in my custody and removal case in a situation that needed a fresh outlook. She has grasped my highly contested and complex case within a short period of time and has given me dedicated, down to earth, effective and professional advise on how to move forward. I would like to point out that her advise was not only of legal nature but also helped me to understand my emotional challenges in this difficult life situation better.
Her business acumen and her listening skills have impressed me as much as her ability to provide me with a very realistic picture of the 'doable' actions and their possible outcomes. For the first time in two years I left an attorney's office hopeful about my future and the possibilities my case has.
I understand that Dawn is not considered to be inexpensive but I would like to say that her advise has been more effective and realistic than the advise of any other attorney I spoke to who overpromised and underdelivered. I highly recommend dawn as an attorney and an advisor.
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19 May, 2014 by Anonymous
Was not really helpful in my case. I felt like I had to step in above and beyond on many things. My level of involvement would have made most attorney's work easy. The fact that Dawn continued to bill me exorbitant amounts each time was unacceptable. High cost - low output. I ended up leaving this attorney half-way through my case.
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18 Jul, 2022 by Bilal
17 Jul, 2022 by Roy jones
11 Aug, 2010 by Natasha tx
Seyfarth Shaw, the Attorney for the Marriott, is the worst Attorney that I have seen on record. Overbilling, lying to their client, costing their client $$$$, while they misrepresent, just attrocious behavior and an incompetant law firm. Trying to influence a Federal Judge after they have misfiled pleadings.
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02 Feb, 2025 by Anonymous
My personal experience with Attorney Sweeney's office was excellent. From the beginning of the litigation to my case all the way through to the end after my trial, I was very satisfied with my results. The judgment order had mostly everything I wanted. My case is with a narcissistic co-parent that involves high conflict, poor communication, history of domestic violence, and polar opposite beliefs. Attorney Sweeney and his team Susanne and Lilly always communicated to me the best course of action (recommendations) and they helped me every step of the way. The team always kept me up to date and they always answered all of my questions. Attorney Sweeney and his team are knowledgeable, efficient, respond in a timely manner, and have a lot of experience. My child is currently 3 years old, however in the beginning of litigation she was just a one year old. My child and I have a long journey ahead of us. However, I will forever be grateful and thankful for Attorney Sweeney and his team's hard work to be successful in the beginning of my journey.
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18 Dec, 2024 by Anonymous
My experience with attorney Sweeney was disappointing. Communication was extremely difficult, as he has no dedicated email address or direct phone contact. Reaching him directly was nearly impossible. Beyond that, there was a clear lack of effort and guidance on my case. As someone unfamiliar withthe legal process, I relied on him to navigate my divorce, but it became evident he or his office were not taking necessary steps or providing critical information. Only when I realized he wasn’t handling the case appropriately did I seek new representation. I strongly advise others to consider these factors before hiring him.
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23 Apr, 2018 by Anonymous
Marc was my attorney in a contentious child support modification case. He is personable but not terribly ethical. For example, there is a law in MA that if you are over 70 then one is entitled to a “speedy trial” under MA Rule 59F. A year and a half of stalling and delays later; that he could have stopped dead via Rule 59F, I finally got a trial date. Imagine the billable hours he racked up. But wait, there’s more: As we approached the trial, this hot shot decided that we needed his junior associate to help litigate. Again, many more billable hours. In hindsight, associate was essentially useless in the process. Under the stress of the litigation process, I yielded to having his associate join the show. Marc could have easily done what needed to be done - alone.
Save yourself untold sums of money and seek ethical counsel elsewhere.
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26 Apr, 2015 by A probate client
I was extremely disappointed in this attorney's handling of my case. Once he received his retainer, his initial interest and indignation over my situation quickly subsided. In fact, the retainer issue itself was very deceptive. He first told me that his retainer was half of what most firms charge. A few weeks later I got a call from him asking for another ten thousand dollars. Then yet another call of "Hey, when you get a chance can you send us another five thousand". So I was enticed by a lower number (presumably to avoid "sticker shock") and then billed incrementally, ultimately paying the same amount he'd criticized other firms for charging. After a year I was in pretty much the same situation where I was when I'd started but out a tremendous amount of money.
Sadly, there was a young attorney assisting on the case who was smart, energetic and extremely perceptive who I believe would have had a genuine chance at prevailing. I sent her a letter asking if she could handle my case independently, and she responded that she could not as she was still an "associate" and thus not able to take cases independently.
Shortly afterward, I received a further bill from Atty. O'Regan charging me for the time it took her to write her response. I think this last incident pretty much sums up my experience with this individual.
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19 Dec, 2020 by David
My experience with Elizabeth Roberts, over a four-year period, is that she falls short of basic professional standards in terms of both document management and client representation. She operates with a chip on her shoulder and cannot properly keep organized successive versions of documents. Further, she caused her client significant monetary and material damage by virtue of her lack of skill or ability to engage in productive negotiation.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Probate Lawyer Can Do for You
A probate lawyer assists with the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. This often involves guiding executors (if a will exists) or beneficiaries (if no will exists) through the probate process to settle the estate according to the deceased’s wishes or applicable laws. Probate lawyers can help validate the will, distribute assets, resolve disputes among heirs, handle outstanding debts or taxes, and ensure the estate is legally and efficiently administered.
Whether you’re an executor of an estate or an heir facing probate proceedings, a probate lawyer can help you navigate the often-complex legal process to ensure the estate is settled correctly.
When Should I Hire a Probate Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a probate lawyer when you are responsible for managing the estate of a deceased individual, especially in the following situations:
- The estate has substantial assets: If the estate includes significant assets like real estate, investments, or business interests, legal assistance is often necessary to handle the distribution properly.
- The will is being contested: If there are disputes among heirs regarding the validity of the will or the division of assets, a probate lawyer can help resolve the conflict.
- The estate includes complex or unclear provisions: If the will contains complicated instructions or there are no clear beneficiaries, a lawyer can ensure that the estate is administered according to legal requirements.
- There is no will (intestate estate): When a person dies without a will, the estate is subject to intestacy laws, which determine how assets are distributed. A probate lawyer can help navigate this process.
- Debt or tax issues exist: If the estate owes significant debts or is subject to estate taxes, a probate lawyer can help ensure debts are paid appropriately and taxes are minimized.
- Probate disputes: If family members or other parties are disputing the distribution of assets or challenging the executor's actions, legal representation is crucial to defending your rights and ensuring the estate is handled properly.
Hiring a probate lawyer early in the process can help avoid costly mistakes and ensure the estate is settled efficiently.
What Does a Probate Lawyer Do?
A probate lawyer provides a wide range of legal services to help manage and settle an estate. Their tasks can include:
- Validating the will: Filing the will with the probate court and ensuring its legal validity.
- Guiding executors or administrators: Advising the person responsible for managing the estate on their duties, including inventorying assets, notifying creditors, and paying debts.
- Filing necessary paperwork: Preparing and submitting the legal documents required to initiate and complete the probate process.
- Resolving disputes: Mediating or litigating disputes among heirs or between beneficiaries and executors, including challenges to the will or disagreements over asset distribution.
- Handling debt and tax matters: Ensuring that outstanding debts, taxes, and estate taxes are properly calculated and paid from the estate’s assets.
- Distributing assets: Ensuring that assets are distributed to the beneficiaries according to the will or intestacy laws, and that all legal requirements are fulfilled.
- Closing the estate: Completing the final steps of the probate process, including filing a final accounting with the court and formally closing the estate.
How Are Probate Lawyers Paid?
Probate lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the estate and the nature of the legal work involved. Common payment structures include:
- Hourly rate: Most probate lawyers charge by the hour, with rates depending on the lawyer’s experience and the complexity of the estate. Hourly rates can range from $150 to $500 or more.
- Flat fee: For simple estates or straightforward probate tasks, some lawyers may charge a flat fee that covers all of the necessary legal work.
- Percentage of the estate: In some states, probate lawyers are allowed to charge a percentage of the estate's value as their fee. This percentage typically ranges from 2% to 5%, depending on the size of the estate and state regulations.
- Retainer fee: Some lawyers may require an upfront retainer fee, which is billed against as the probate process progresses.
It’s important to clarify the fee structure during your initial consultation to understand how you will be charged and avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Does a Probate Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a probate lawyer depends on several factors, including the complexity of the estate, the type of legal issues involved, and the lawyer’s fee structure. General cost estimates include:
- Simple estates: For estates with straightforward assets and no disputes, probate legal fees can range from $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the lawyer's fees and the state's probate laws.
- Complex estates: For larger or more complicated estates with multiple properties, business interests, or disputes, probate costs can exceed $10,000 and may reach $20,000 or more.
- Hourly rates: If charged by the hour, expect rates between $150 and $500, depending on the lawyer’s expertise and geographic location.
- Percentage fees: In some cases, a probate lawyer may charge 2% to 5% of the estate’s value, particularly for larger estates or those involving complex legal matters.
Always ask for a clear estimate of fees during your initial consultation to understand the total cost of probate representation.
Top Questions to Ask a Probate Lawyer
Before hiring a probate lawyer, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure you’re hiring someone qualified to handle your estate needs. Key questions include:
-
What experience do you have with probate cases like mine?
Ensure the lawyer has experience with estates of similar complexity, especially if disputes or high-value assets are involved. -
How do you charge for your services?
Ask whether the lawyer charges an hourly rate, a flat fee, or a percentage of the estate, and request a cost estimate. -
What is the likely timeline for my probate case?
While it’s hard to predict exactly, an experienced lawyer can give you a general idea of how long the probate process may take based on the specifics of your estate. -
What steps will you take to manage and distribute the estate?
Ask about the lawyer’s approach to handling debts, taxes, and asset distribution. -
Will you be handling my case personally?
In larger firms, junior attorneys or paralegals may handle some aspects of your case, so it’s important to know who will be working on your probate case. -
What are potential challenges we may face?
A good lawyer will be able to anticipate possible issues, such as will contests or creditor claims, and explain how they would handle them.
How to Check the Credibility of a Probate Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a reputable probate lawyer, follow these steps to check their credentials and experience:
- Verify their state bar status: Check with your state’s bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed to practice and has no history of disciplinary action.
- Look for probate experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in probate law and have experience handling estates of similar complexity.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for online reviews on platforms like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell to see what past clients have said about the lawyer’s probate experience.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who can vouch for their professionalism and expertise in handling probate matters.
- Look for membership in professional organizations: Membership in organizations like the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA) or the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) can indicate a lawyer's commitment to estate and probate law.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most out of your first consultation with a probate lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- A copy of the will or trust (if applicable): Bring any estate planning documents left by the deceased, including wills, trusts, or powers of attorney.
- List of assets and debts: Prepare a detailed list of the deceased’s assets (e.g., real estate, bank accounts, investments) and outstanding debts (e.g., loans, mortgages, credit cards).
- Death certificate: Bring a certified copy of the deceased person’s death certificate.
- Contact information for heirs and beneficiaries: Have a list of all individuals or entities named in the will or who are entitled to inherit under intestacy laws.
- Questions about the probate process: Write down any questions you have about the process, costs, and potential issues you might face.
- Relevant financial records: If available, bring any relevant financial documents, such as bank statements, property deeds, and tax returns.
By coming prepared, you can ensure a productive consultation and allow the lawyer to provide the best advice for your situation.
