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21 Mar, 2018 by Seneca
I hired Mr. Greenberg after my previous divorce attorney and law firm failed at protecting and representing me. The first day I met with him, he explained more to me about my case and the process than the original law firm did in the four months I was with them. Since then, he has done an excellent job thoroughly working on my case and has shown sincere respect and concern for me and my financial welfare. He has been very kind hearted to me and my significant other. He may have poor reviews on this site but I believe he was mis interpretated and/or unfairly evaluated because I have seen a professional, experienced attorney that actually cares about his client.
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11 Oct, 2016 by Anonymous
Hired for a family law issue. Although he wanted to take a stand and be forceful, his approach wasn't working with the county of the judge. We wasted thousands of dollars with no end result. Case lasted well over a year when it could have been resolved much more swiftly.We finally stopped providing him with information and started handling the case ourselves and the case was resolved so much faster.
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05 Oct, 2014 by Anonymous
Robert Greenberg was paid to do what I asked him to do and he ignored me and did it his way, the result was exactly as I had told him it would be if he did not follow the judges instructions , The result was I wound up being arrested because Greenberg did not follow my instructions which came directly from the judge. He also told me he was a probate atty and he is not and I still have not gotten any money from a trust worth millions.
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04 Apr, 2024 by Megan nauer
I sent 5+ emails and left 5+ voicemails over the corse of about 2 months, after initially speaking with Mike Hyland, and no one ever gave me a response. Completely unprofessional. Would not recommend.
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14 Feb, 2024 by Steve boswell
Went through a bankruptcy with them. I recommend.
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03 Dec, 2022 by Elisa backaert
11 Jul, 2022 by Mj
All my paperwork were done all ready. All I needed Thompson was to be their and speak on my behalf. The worst lawyer!! He never showed up in court keeps on asking for continuous. The only paperwork he and his paralegal Adriana Duenez did was copy some of my old court paperwork that was filed and still managed to screw that up. Adriana can’t spell. There’s autocorrect spelling how can you mess that up? Thompson is quick to promise results but never delivers. The only quick thing he ever did was to take my payments. DO NOT HIRE THIS LAWYER HE IS A JOKE SO IS ADRIANA DUENEZ. The only 5 stars he gets is from his employees.
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22 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
We used Mr. Thompson for a child custody case. In my opinion, he was very unorganized and just wasn't the aggressive lawyer we thought he would be. In fact, we got further with my fiancé representing himself, we lost time after hiring Mr. Thompson. He never told us when he wasn't going to be present in court, which happened on multiple occasions. He didn't always have his paperwork prepared or readily available. In fact, one time he said he didn't have the necessary paperwork that the judge asked for even though we had turned it into his office via email and in person. This resulted in us being served with a sanction to pay the other parties attorney fees, luckily he ended up taking care of that since it was his fault. If you're looking for an aggressive lawyer who will fight for you and is organized, keep looking.
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16 Jun, 2021 by Vlad
I have retained Mr. Thompson several times over the years for different cases involving criminal and family law matters, both times the work was excellent.
Thank you.
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19 May, 2022 by Anonymous
With good reason, Stanley Hartford is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. A joke of an attorney!
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15 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
He is not qualified or up to date on current laws and new regulations. He does not return phone calls or emails in a timely manner. He has to be told he is missing important documents. He is sloppy. Because of his incompetence, we had fines and fees. He should be disbarred. He causes conflict within families. I could see through him and would never have hired him. I had no say in the matter.
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02 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
Stan did a great job for me mediating a very involved situation that could have ended up in trial which would have been very costly to me. He is a great mediating attorney and very positive, and trustworthy.
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04 Mar, 2019 by Ibrahim yilmaz
He is very rude, dishonest ,person.i had so much respect for him for being lawyer for long time.I am very dissatisfied with him ,When you signed with him in beginning he acts like very professional make you feel good then he will suck your blood slowly then he will disrespectful to you and he will hide your proof of evidence from court.
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25 Jan, 2017 by Laura
I have had dealing with Mr. Courtney for well over 15 years. So issues bigger than others. All I know for sure is I can always call him. He gets back to me right away and has always given me the best advise. My parents have used him and couldn't be happier. My daughter got professional direction from him and things turned out very well for her as well. There is no one else I would use even if we didn't live in this town.
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30 Aug, 2014 by Anonymous
He handled my parents trust and he really lacked when it came to explaining terminology and the process to follow after our folks died. He was quite rude to them, that's what irritated me the most. He wouldn't give us the time of day after my folks died, but was quick to ask for a huge retainer. We did a lot of homework, asked the banks, real estate agents and IRS a lot of questions, we saved ourselves another run in with this guy and lining his pockets.
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17 Sep, 2014 by Rene
I wouldn't recommend this attorney to my worst enemy!! I went to see this horrible attorney in 2009 for a CH.7 bankruptcy. I had a very large property judgement due to my ex wife and asked him if it could go in the bankruptcy. Mr. Gillet assured me me that he was the best attorney for my case and said that he could have the judgment dissolved in the bankruptcy as well. He let me know he was very well known by the Trustee that would review my case, and had nothing to worry about. Mr. Gillet asked me to make an appointment with his paralegal to begin the papers. Before I could proceed with his paralegal I had to pay his retaining fee ( around $2500.00). I paid the fee. My appointment with his paralegal was the following week. His paralegal was 40 mins late to our appointment. Instead of being apologetic for her tardiness, she was completely rude and acted as if her having to meet with me was such a inconvenience for her. As we attempted to fill out the bankruptcy papers she started telling me the complete opposite of what Mr. Gillet had told me 4 days prior. We did not fill out any paperwork and I asked the girls at the front desk to have Mr. Gillet call me asap regarding the meeting I just had with his paralegal. Mr. Gillet never called. I called him every day 2-3 times a day for the next week. There was always an excuse why he couldn't talk, or he was out of the office. I finally went down to his office one morning since I couldn't get a return call. Supposedly he was out of the office and once again the girls said they would have him call me. During that visit, one of the receptionist asked me to give them another copy of the requested documents that I had already turned in. She said they had lost my file!! 3 1/2 weeks later Gillet finally returns my call. He basically let me know that he is a very busy man and didn't have time to return my call. The next couple of weeks continued with this type of behavior. His receptionist continued to lose documents and the filing papers never even got filled out! I finally had a enough with being blown off, and submitting multiple documents due to his secretary's lack of organization. I requested a refund of the $2500 and wanted to find a different attorney. Mr Gillet said I could find another attorney but he would not refund me my money. He acknowledged that besides a consultation no services were rendered to me,but that didn't matter because the contact I signed. Phillip Gillet's only goal is to get you to sign his contract and pay the retainer. After that he could care less. I also learned that Mr Gillet was totally incorrect when he told me the judgement to my ex could go in the BK. In 2005 the law changed and any judgements from family court can not be dissolved in BK. Good to see that Mr. Gillet really knows the laws of bankruptcy!! I highly recommend NOT using this attorney even if he was the last one left to use. I can't wait for the day karma comes back around to this sorry accuse for an attorney,
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20 Aug, 2013 by Nickolas
Phillip Walter Gillet Jr, was the third attorney I interviewed, I knew I needed to file for Chapter 13, the Mean Test for Chapter 7, requirements are extremely low. The other two local Bankruptcy attorneys, wanted me to pay 100% ($2,500.00 per month) of my debt with no interest, after Gillet, reviewed my case we agree with 40% ($1,465.00) with no interest for a five year period. The Trustee did not questioned any issues, the case was confirmed my second mortgage become unsecured. I kept all my property with no issues. I am extremely happy.
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26 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
Use any attorney but Mr. Gillet. He wouldn't return phone calls, almost cost me my house, and made a huge mistake causing us to have to file a Ch 13 only 3 months after filing a Ch7. He was reprimanded by a judge for falsifying documents while representing another client right before our case was called. Run from his office!
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23 Mar, 2015 by Jk
I hired this guy thinking i would be able to get my alimony from spouse who threw all my belongings out. He didnt take the time to review our paperwork and judge awarded the spouse didnt have to pay any alimony due to an error that was made by the attorney. He is not aggressive enough
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03 May, 2012 by Anonymous
Dubious at best. She has some good qualities and knowledge. But, I question her integrity, sincerity, and her ulterior motives. At times she misrepresents facts to the court to her personal benefit, not her client.
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27 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
Do not set the bar high. Do not expect a win. No matter what . It may never happen. After he takes a lot of money from the client(like most attorneys) he makes promises and he never delivers and says things at the start and then down the line says he never said that .
At first he acts like he is your best friend and is out for your best interest and may very well get one task done to impress the client and win their faith to make you feel like you can trust him. He seems likeable in the beginning.
When the dust clears and the client asks questions about what was said in the beginning about a future lawsuit , he gets angry and defensive. Guess sometimes attorneys talk too much.
He does know Trust Law very well so that may be a selling point, but tread cautiously. Who knows if he has Actually won cases.
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16 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
I used amy for some very basic estate planning a few years ago. She did an ok job with a very basic plan. I needed to do some updating to my plan and called several times, left messages and even asked (via VM) if she was too busy to possibly refer me to someone else. I NEVER got a response. I would never have gone to her in the first place if I knew she wouldn’t be responsive to my updated needs/requests. Wish I would’ve gone to someone else.
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19 Jan, 2012 by Anonymous
He's an older guy that uses this to make easy money. He's not so concerned about his clients, but more so kicking back and letting the papers process. God forbid you have an issue after the bankruptcy has been filed, you'll get a fancy sentance meaning "wow that sucks". Personally i wouldnt recommend. I want someone thats willing to stand up for me.
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22 Nov, 2023 by Eduardo
Andy does good work while you are alive but Proskauer as a firm, not entirely his fault, takes an aggressive attitude once the benefactor dies in that they bleed the estate in fees, for many years, until not much is left for your descendants. The modus operandi was developed by their Chair of Private Client Services, David Pratt, a brilliant legal mind who realized that once a person is dead they don’t have rights, they don’t complain, and there’s nothing they can do but watch from heaven above while their estate is made to disappear.
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03 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
It’s been three years since this law firm was hired for my case. In the three years they have not returned calls, were not prepared for hearings, and passed off to other attorneys in the firm. Everything was finalized 2 months ago and
Merianne is holding on to the distribution I believe to collect more monthly money. The most unprofessional law firm I have ever dealt with.
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30 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
I felt she didn’t have time for me even though she takes all cases It seems. Maybe cut down on your cases please and do a better job. She seemed to take the easy way out whenever she could. Didn’t read my input or questions until we were chatting so it cost me while she read and she wasn’t prepared with answers. She knows the law and could pass any law exam today I’m sure but not good at helping people. She allowed the other side to guide the case to my detriment. For some reason she decided she was done although I wasn’t. I believe things got more complicated than she wanted.
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28 May, 2022 by Anonymous
COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND LOST MY CASE. SHE TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER NEGLECT AND DID NOT EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO MY CASE UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE.
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07 Aug, 2015 by Anonymous
So hired him to get custody of my daughter,he seemed to be very good during our consultation,our first court date he brings me a response letter from the mother of my child for the papers I served her, a response that was 10 pages long and I had no clue about until 5 minutes before I went into mediation.nothing was resolved until the next court date ,he didn't really say much .he seemed confident yet he didn't step in to enforce the law when drugs and sex are being brought into the face and home of a child. for my next court date which was only a few days apart he was on vacation and ruby his Secretary said he didn't have any papers saying I had court,yet I sat there telling her I have court and i hired him to represent me in this case,she said since she didn't have the paper work ,he would not be going or sending any one,so I ended up going by myself,this court date was one were everything was resolved without any of his help,I called his office to let them know the case was closed and asked if I would be receiving some money back since he wasn't there for the actual date I needed him,they said I would be getting a call back.well I never got a call back. two days later I call again,ask to speak with him,he tells me he will look the papers over and call back.I never got a call again. I called two days later,receptionist tells me he's on vacation, I told them I had just talked to him how is he on vacation Twice in one week?she tells me she will leave a note on his desk to call me back,a week and a half later still no call back,so I go to his office to pick up any of my paperwork I would need in the future and ask about my refund since he only spent 3 hours in court with me and I paid him way over 1*** Cash upfront,I received would not ever recommend him to anyone who's trying to get help with legal family matters ,waste of money,they do not care at all about the outcome of your situation,ive hired excellent lawyers including eddy cash cuddly,I heard Kenneth was comparable but from Turlock,that was really a huge lie,his secretary's that were in charge of my case were clueless to anything that was going on not to mention the lack of education for working in a lawyer firm
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08 Sep, 2014 by Anonymous
I hired Ken on a recommendation from another firm he works with. At first he listened and told me not to worry, but then in mediation for custody of a 4 month old infant he did not even fight for me (the mother) while the mediator was being a bully towards me. I was so disappointed with the outcome. Then when I tried to get in contact regarding my divorce no one would call me back. Finally when they did his paralegal said that they were waiting on me to fill out the paperwork....what paperwork? I wasn't given anything. She said she would resend it and once again I received nothing. I felt like I was just another case, when my child means the world to me.
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08 Aug, 2009 by Anonymous
Ms Potts was extremely unresponsive. It took her months to respond to letters from my opponent lawyer. I had to follow up with her 5 to 6 times before she would return a phone call. Each time she had an excuse. She was ill, her staff was ill, she was out of town, etc. My case was handled so poorly that I would have been better represented if I acted as my own lawyer. Please, the only satisfaction I have from using this lawyer is warning prospective clients not to use her.
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04 Feb, 2009 by Anonymous
I agree with the previous review. I had a very poor experience with this attorney. She did not return calls or keep me informed. There was excessive billing for very little accomplished and I had to go elsewhere. I would not recommend this person.
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02 May, 2008 by Anonymous
In our family's experience, we have had a devastating experience with this person and her firm, and have lost thousands upon thousands of dollars in the inheritances our parents left to us, as a direct result of her legal maneuvering, and exorbitant bills. In our experience, she avoids communicating, hides from telephone calls and correspondence, and has billed our trust 10 times the national average for an estate of this size (fairly small size estate). Our family is heartbroken, and our poor deceased parents would be sick to know what has occurred with their hard-earning life savings and family property. Do not assume because she is associated with the board of the Sacramento California Bar that this is a seal of approval or a verification of her qualifications. We did, and we were wrong. Do your homework and find an attorney who is reputable and honest.
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08 Sep, 2023 by Anonymous
When I got a clue pretty quick and fired him he charged me $237.50 for the 30 minute consultation that he claims are free and he charged me $118.75 for a 15 minute phone call between myself and one other person. I know I spoke to him for 1 min 12 seconds
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31 Aug, 2023 by Lawrence
I hired Jeffery Vanderveen, January 2015. Upon my first few conversations with him, he came out of the gate as a very strong and competent Probate litigator. He stated that he knew Att'y Noel Allen, the attorney assisting my brother / Trustee and who had 'illegally' assumed the role as Successor Trustee when I was, as stated on the 'cover page', as Successor Trustee. He further stated that Att'y Allen was incompetent and not an attorney that he would hesitate in litigating my case with.
Att'y Vanderveen required a $4,500 retainer, which I provided in January 2015. He filed my case, and a hearing at the San Diego Probate Court was scheduled June 30, 2015.
Approximately July of 2015, after the June hearing I was notified by Atty' Vanderveen that my retainer was 'expired' and that I needed to deposit additional funds into his account. To say the least, I was livid. He basically filed the case and appeared at that June 30 hearing, and my retainer was 'gone' !!!
Basically, I refused to pay him another cent, until I saw results. In March of 2016, and after multiple senseless continuances, I was told by Att'y Vanderveen, that the upcoming July 2016 hearing was going to be the 'win' for us, and demanded the additional $5,000. In that hearing, Att'y Vanderveen did not show, but appeared telephonically and said nothing regarding the issues at hand. No defense whatsoever !!!
The case was continued to Dec. of 2016, where Att'y Allen was 'ordered' that he 'must' show the 'court mandated' accounting, or would be removed as Successor Trustee. On Dec. 20 and Dec. 28, 2016, I sent two letters to Att'y Vanderveen, requesting the status of my case.
Att'y Vanderveen ignored my requests. I then, in February 2017 contacted the Probate Court, only to find that my case was 'Dismissed w/o Prejudice. This communication w/ the Probate court was two months after that Dec. 2016 hearing, and not a word from Att'y Vanderveen.
After 'firing' him, he refused to give me my 'complete' file, physically pushing me in his attempt to extricate the 'complete' file from me. I did eventually get my 'deleted, edited, expurgated' file from him. Why did he find it necessary to literally remove articles from my file before handing it to me, stating, "And don't come back!"
You get the picture !!! Stay as far away as possible from this Attorney !!!
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09 Dec, 2015 by Deborah hignite
Two separate times he over charged me. When I questioned him about the charges he immediately and abruptly responsed "if I'm going to nit pick his fees then get another attorney". I said to him "but I have questions" and he said get another attorney and hung up on me! That was it! Very rude and abrupt! He was so nice during the initial consultation. He fired me for questioning his fees but he was more than happy to have a conversation with me concerning those fees before they occurred! Rude, unprofessional, untruthful concerning fees and extremely arrogant. As his client, he failed me because refused to speak to me again concerning his fees -- after he charged me. This is my experience with him. I only retained him for 3 months. He has forced me to drop everything to find another attorney immediately because I have to have one retained by court order. My husband is very sick and close to death and this attorney knows this. He is a very cold person to put me in this situation and as his client I feel he treated me very badly.
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08 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
Hired him, got overcharged for his own mistakes, his assistant is so rude she shouldn't be dealing with the public.
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25 Oct, 2014 by Erika
Stay far away from this guy, he is way over priced, breaks the rules of Professional Conduct. On many occasions he charged me $90.00 to answer some questions by e-mail with one liner answers saying basically " I m working on it" completely avoiding my questions. He is very arrogant, and even had the audacity, after I had informed him of something I had done, to say "Nope never happened". Unbelievable! I am sick about the amount of money he has been able to get from me to my detriment. If I could change things he would not have gotten 1 dime of my money.
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15 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
Marshal is a nice guy but a terrible attorney. While representing me in a trust dispute he neglected to include stipulations for both the estate increasing or decreasing in value. As a result I was protected only for an estate that remained the same or increased in value. Unfortunately it decreased. My adversary was protected in either scenerio by a more experienced attorney. In addition, Marshal recommended using a conservator, without explaining the "true cost." I would have been better off accepting my adversary's initial offer and never hiring Marshal! This was a VERY expensive lesson. Don't make my mistake!!
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08 Sep, 2016 by Danielle cote serar
My husband and I asked her to review our trust. When she came back and said it was out of date, some areas were not legal or no longer legal due to new law, we decide to have her update our documents. She prepared a boiler plate agreement with my step children and our names thrown in, arbitrary ages for our children to inherit, nothing of our intents for how we wanted our estate handled and numerous errors. When we emailed her letting her know that we would be emailing her corrections based on the intents we wanted for our trust - one specific example that the estate be preserved until the youngest child turn 21 - she wrote back and I am paraphrasing but if you don't like my document and what I included, then don't use it. When I emailed again saying we hoped this was a misunderstanding and that all we were wanting was to make sure the trust reflected our desires not hers, her assistant sent us an email saying Ma. Martindale would no longer be working with us because we were not willing to work within the confines of the law. For the record, I repeatedly said we wanted to be legal but wanted to discuss how to meet our desires legally. For the record other than althe review of our former trust, a two minute meeting on the tag end of a meeting with my mother and a two minute phone call, not once did Ms. Martindale inquire as to what my husband and I wanted. Other than one email from her directly basically saying go pound sand, no communication with Ms. Martindale took place. I would never recommend her. I found her unprofessional and disrespectful.
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05 Nov, 2012 by Anonymous
She is horrible. She missed court dates, always got confused on what she was suppose to do, and tried to have us pay her an extra $1000.00 which turned out to be a mathamatical error (guess she doesnt own a calculator) Do your self a favor and DO NOT hire her. It seems all she wants is a lot of money and if your settlement isnt enough she will be rude and non professional.
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19 May, 2017 by Anonymous
I wish I had read the reviews on AVVO before working with him. I concur with the previous review - Overcharges and Underdelivers. Takes advantage of clients. Charges you for Secretarial tasks at attorney rates. Never once stepped foot in the court system for me. Misguided me on case strategy. Could not produce the timesheets he was to use when billing me? Does not represent the practice of law in good faith. Poor example! Horrific experience!
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21 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
He estimated it would cost a maximum $25K of his time to get a corrupt trustee removed from his position.
He ran up a bill of about $50K. He accomplished nothing.
We had informed him early in engaging him that our financial resources for pursuing our interests were very limited, yet he didn't even alert us to the fact that he was running up was way exceeding what he had estimated and give us the option of backing out before the bill got too high.
Of course no lawyer can guaranty results in an adversarial situation,
but he and/or his staff dropped the ball in at least these specific ways.
## He was impolite in responding to client emails, having been heard in the background to a call I was having to his staff making denigrating comments about me, the client, and complaining that I was making an inquiry.
## He filed a critical court response pleading just _barely_ short (hours short) of the absolute deadline for the judge's staff to receive it. As a result there is reason to believe that the judge did not really read it and as a result what should have been a slam dunk judgment in my favor it appears the judge was uninformed of the issues. And in court, when it became clear the judge had not really read our arguments McCullough did not verbally attempt to correct the judge's misunderstanding.
## When the party we were opposing made to the judge an out rightly false statement about an action he had taken, even though McCullough had in his papers documentary proof that this was false he said nothing and produced no counter evidence.
It is extremely disappointing to do all the hours of background research and provide one's lawyer with the ammunition he needs in a hearing, have him standing there earning $400+ per hour and then have him stand there like a dummy and say nothing while events unfold against your interests.
I could likely have represented myself more effectively in that court than he did.
## Mr. McCullough's billing policies are draconian and unreasonable.
Specifically: I would send and email with information he requested.
I would be billed a minimal period of time (about $100) for him sending me that one line email.
When I supplied via email the information he requested I would again be bill that minimal charge when he received that email from me.
It is important to understand the information he requested was already available in papers I had supplied earlier, and essentially I was being asked to catch the ball for him not finding the info he already had AND being double charged for his or his staff's failure to do their own clerical work and filing properly.
# He also made a bad judgment call by counseling us to not make a reasonable/palatable settlement offer to the other party involved. Any lawyer can make a bad judgment call, but when he does it should be duly noted.
Mr. McCullough is not unknowledgeable of estate law. And he or his staff did clearly put in substantual time on the case. That was not the problem.
He just didn't seem motivated or interested enough or alert enough to do what he needed to do to represent me well, and interms of cost/benefit ratio I could not recommend him as a good bet.
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01 Oct, 2016 by Anonymous
Took my deposit of many thousands of dollars and spent it all very quickly on unnecessary research . Once those fund were consumed continued to charge in the following ways.
1) I also needed counsel in another state and told Triano and partner I had a lawyer there already. Then to my amazement I was charged by them for finding a backup counsel in the other state. 2) More research without asking e.g on individuals on title in a certain property which in my opinion was completely irrelevant to the case and by the way information I could have provide if asked for or told why it was needed. 3) Advising me on issues via long emails that had already discussed then charging me a second time. When challenged he became defensive. 4) asking me to prepare a time-line to discuss with one of the assistants. The assistant read my time line, charged me, but never followed up to discuss it with me. The list goes on... . A very frustration and expensive ordeal. The last thing I needed when seeking professional expertise under duress.
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08 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
Worst experience ever with a lawyer. Triano and Byrne are about milking the client. Confuse and delay is their working strategy. Worked with them for over a year. They confuse you and delay so they can send grunt lawyers to court hearings and bill you. DO NOT HIRE THIS LAWYER. They come across so nice and caring, then they rack up the fees.
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04 Nov, 2017 by Anonymous
For starters, she was always weeks late with drafts of our divorce settlement agreement. One of her drafts included the names of someone else’s children! My now ex-husband should have been paid because he did the research and corrections to her extremely shoddy work. I found our later that she did not represent my interests and I lost thousands and thousands of dollars due to her inability to realize that one of my two lucrative jobs has varying levels of income. Do not hire her!
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25 Nov, 2014 by Anonymous
Would I recommend this lawyer?? Never. I would never recommend this lawyer, ever. Unless you are a masochist prepared to lose your case while expending ridiculous amounts of money in padded fees, to an over rated attorney. I spent THOUSANDS of dollars to have this attorney turn my case upside down. Literally. Unless you work well with attorney' who are cold as ice & appear to have no compassion for her clients. Nothing like the Carolyn, attorney I interviewed. It was evident she operated from the school of; Clients will pay what you project your image & worth to be. Even false image & worth. I've read former client' reviews not only on this attorney , but Jarvis Krieger & Sullivan on other social media sites, (Yelp, Superpages.com/lbp, AVVO & various legal forums). It's important for potential clients to have this open forum to review when researching as they have the right to know. I felt validated after reading this attorney's & firms' negative reviews especially my exact suspicions and issues. I recall questioning this firm's negative reviews during my consultation meeting only to receive a well prepared and thought out response blaming the client who posted their review and not to pay much attention.
Throughout retaining this attorney, there were EXCESSIVE fees billing even billing fees that were questioned if work had even been performed. This attorney's demeanor & perception was that of someone who is burned out longing to retire soon. This attorney was shockingly unprofessional in how she conducted business and treated me, forgetting I was the client even AFTER signing her retainer & forking out way, way too much money. This attorney used the same consistent tactic the firm she works for; Jarvis Krieger & Sullivan's; asking you for double digit thousands dollars to pay "in addition" to the thousands already paid, towards your retainer fees, otherwise, they will threaten and often follow through on withdrawing from your case, leaving you abandoned without any remorse. There are other client written negative reviews on Jarvis Krieger & Sullivan for this same complaint along with the same threats they all received. One of Ms. Martin's clients negative reviews wrote; "Carolyn' peers had warned her Carolyn was steering her on a suicide mission. " This is the exact experience I encountered with this attorney. Majority of my calls as sporadic as they were completely ignored. I was kept in suspense on case matters especially conversations she billed me for with opposing counsel', to the point I was never briefed. On smaller matters, she would debrief you at the very last moment. This attorney's feedback, responses & advice was vague to say the least. I was never updated at ALL activities and matters & shamed me for asking. I often wondered; which side of my case is this women on?! Mine or opposing?! Why am I paying this women thousands of dollars within a brief period of time, when neglect, & irreversible damages are being made to my case by my own attorney?! The partners of Jarvis, Krieger & Sullivan seem unconnected & could care less what the client' satisfaction level was towards their attorneys or staff members. If disputes are brought up, you were mocked against by internal staff members & other attorneys. For me, the wool was pulled over my eyes once they figured out how green I was to the whole legal process. I was billed excessively for lack of actions, work and results, which have major impacted my future and they honestly will defend themselves and try to make you feel like you're the problem. We pay too much money and trust these attorneys to represent and fight for our best interests and what is right. This attorney's only concerns appeared to be that of obtaining money and aligning herself politically with peers. Buyer beware.
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08 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous
Not satisfied with this guy at all. He lost the deed to my house & when I went to pick up my file there was someone else’s deed in it. Zero personality & secretary is no better.
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20 May, 2022 by Anonymous
Save your money do your research and find another option. This man was nothing but issues.
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08 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
Roma couldn’t be more backwards when it comes to an attorney who is supposedly held to an ethical standard as a person who “fights for justice”. She has no respect for the law and has backdoor deals up her sleeve more than you can imagine… just to win a case. The level of misogyny coming from another woman is incredible. If anyone has anything to say about the patriarchy please add Patricia Roma on the list of complaints. She knows people all over half moon bay that she grew up with that seem to owe her “favors”. She would throw her own mother under the bus just to win a case. If there were hypothetically a Satanic witch coven of half Moon Bay she would be the high priestess. It’s interesting to see someone in family law being so anti-family and further abuse in abusive situations.
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26 May, 2023 by Antoinette
In the wake of my mother’s death, I was the victim of a confidence game. I filed a complaint to the CA State Bar Association on October 9, 2022 regarding Mr. Hyatt. On their Attorney Misconduct Complaint Form, I checked yes to the following questions: Does this complaint involve allegations that the attorney has abandoned a client? Does this complaint involve theft? On May 2, 2023, the CA State Bar, Office of General Counsel, requested my assent to have an attorney review my complaint. I consented.
In our initial conversation, Mr. Hyatt stated that he would represent me, for $2,000.00, to submit a Probate Petition (DE-111) to the Sacramento Superior Court on my behalf and attend court hearings. Citing me as the petitioner, the Petition would request my choice of a professional fiduciary (PF) to serve as the administrator for my late mother’s estate. The Petition Mr. Hyatt filed with the court never included my name as the petitioner. The PF was named the petitioner. The PF, as the petitioner, requested that he be the administrator. The Petition was signed by Mr. Hyatt and the PF. Prior to the first hearing, when the judge would make a determination based upon said Petition, Mr. Hyatt emailed, to me, two signed contracts which stated that the PF was the administrator of the estate: Probate Service Agreement and Conflict Waiver. The Probate Service Agreement stated that the PF had given Mr. Hyatt $2,000.00, not me. At that hearing, no decision was rendered and a second hearing was scheduled. Mr. Hyatt informed me that the second hearing had been cancelled. He requested that we initiate a new contract whereby he would retain the remaining funds plus a request for me to send additional funds. I discovered that the second hearing had not been cancelled and declined. I listened to the hearing telephonically. Unbeknownst to me, Mr. Hyatt withdrew the Petition. I was never reimbursed and had to hire another attorney.
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18 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
Ms. Nelms was hired by my mother with me also representing her as her Attorney-in-Fact. My mother wanted a letter written to my sister to resign as a Co-Trustee of a Trust B, so my mother could resume that position. I was the other Co-Trustee, so in effect, Ms. Nelms represented us both for Trust B. Ms. Nelms agreed after talking with my mother and a $500 retainer was paid. We then received a letter requesting $5,000 from Ms. Nelms. When called about this, it was stated Ms. Nelms had called my sister in lieu of sending a letter as retained to accomplished. A letter was sent Ms. Nelms to just send the letter to my sister asking her to resign as directed. Ms. Nelms then withdrew and sent a billing statement for $1,200. A letter then had to be sent rejecting her requested fees and to refund $400 of the retainer. We were dunned for payment and had to respond once more to file a lawsuit, as the requested payment was denied. The letter Ms. Nelms was retained to send never was sent, so in fact Ms. Nelms did nothing but become a nuisance to both my mother and me.
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17 May, 2021 by Anonymous
Huge mistake hiring paulla mcintire to handle my trust and estate planning. Words can't accurately convey how unimpressed I was with her. She does not come across very well and is highly unrefined in the way she speaks and conducts herself. I will never seek her service again nor will I recommend her under any circumstance. As a matter of fact, I'm telling all of my friends about my experience with her.
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09 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
We paid Mr Watkins to process a small living trust and life insurance policy over 8 months ago after my grandmothers passing during this time he send inaccurate documents has avoided repeated phone calls and emails . He is a crook! He took our families money to complete this simple task and close to year later it has not be resolved.
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31 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
I wish there was a zero star to use. After multiple text, call and confirmation of the firm location w/him by text, he made an appt for 2:00 pm for me yesterday. I arrived 1:50 pm and let him know that I was in his office( no secretary). at 2;00 pm he texted me back "I am on my way, and be there in 20 min. I thought that your appt was in Anaheim office" I took a pic of his personal cell phone text message to me confirming Laguna hills office and sent him along a w/ a text saying that I would leave sharp at 20 min later( I knew it would be min of 55 min from there to the location and didn't like him to play the game of 10 more min constantly w/me till he arrives probably at 3:00 pm. My time is more valuable than he thinks). He replied "then leave ) so I was right he was going to keep me waiting. An hr later he send me a text and apologizing for not being at the appt made by him, himself and offered me a discount which was another trick. He raised the agreed fee up 35% and gave me a 12% discount from the increased fee( very generous of him)! He also asked me how I got his contact b/c I wasn't in his system( third issue, he made the appt for me himself confirmed it and didn't even enter me to his scheduling system). Of course, I did not accept his offer. How could I trust him that the next time he doesn't forget about the appt again? My time was already wasted about an hr and 15 min. How could I believe him that there would be a 20 min wait the next time and not an hr? He didn't even remember while we talked on the phone and communicated by text messages a week ago( selective memory loss of course). In general as a business owner, I never trust anyone( especially an attorney) who didn't keep his word for just once. This issue happened about him multiple times. How a forgetful Estate attorney who can not remember his own words to a client from the last week, could remember her long after her death to execute the will? I kept the entire exchanged text messages in case someone need a proof of my statement.
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21 Jan, 2024 by Daniel
My review about Attorney David Louis Brown Jr, is proven by supporting documentary evidence that I have in my possession, and my account of what happened is in chronological order as the events occured.
(#1) On November 1st 2018 my Mother and I each signed a retainer agreement for 5,000 dollars for a certain probate attorney to represent us both on a upcoming December 6 the court proceeding
(#1)
This is when I read in a report that opposing counsel stated that there was a potential conflict my mother and I being represented by the same attorney, and opposing counsel stated that my mother would benefit from a court appointed attorney to represent her on the upcoming December 6th court proceeding.
(#2)
This was when I decided to retain the Law Firm where Attorney David Louis Brown was a associate for 9,000 dollars cash to work with the first attorney to remove the conflict that was brought up by opposing counsel and to give my mother the benefit if a private attorney.
(#3) This is what occured next
On November 2nd 2018, First Attorney notified me that he received the report from opposing counsel that requested that my mother be represented by a court appointed attorney.
(#4) On November 2nd 2018 The evidence shows the first attorney sent a message to the head attorney where Attorney David Louis Brown, was a associate and stated that it seems on December 6th you will he representing my blank on the December 6th court proceeding and you or your partner Attorney David Louis Brown, will be representing blank on the December 6th court proceeding then he states likely a substitution of attorney would be appropriate as I filed opposition on behalf of blank.
(#5) Now on November 28th 2018 Attorney David Louis Brown was instructed by the head attorney he was a associate at to obtain my signature on a substitution if attorney stated that they received a message from blank needing the substitution of attorney because he wanted to represent my mother on the upcoming December 6th court proceeding, so I signed the substitution of attorney.
(#6) Now this is when there whole scheme started Attorney David Louis Browns Paralegal filed the Substitution of attorney without the signature of the first attorney who requested it, and wrote where he was suppose to sign signature was on next page which it wasn't, so she filed the Substitution of attorney without the signature of the first attorney.
(#7) Now on December 4th 2018, the first attorney prepared a second substitution of attorney forged my signature on the substitution of attorney and used it to release himself from representing my mother on the upcoming December 6th court proceeding.
(#8) Now on December 6th the first attorney failed to show up to court which allowed the court to appoint a court appointed attorney to represent my mother.
(#9) Now when this occured I tried multiple times to get in touch with the first attorney but he kept avoiding my calls and visits to this office,
(#10) Now on January 13th 2019. I got a message from first attorney telling me that I never retained him to represent my mother or myself and then he stated that Attorney David Brown asked the court if he could represent my mother and as expected the court denied hus request. and he kept the 10,000 dollar retainer.
This is what I found out when I reviewed the substitution of attorney. The Substitution of attorney states that I released the first attorney and my mother's new attorney was Attorney David Louis Brown, but was really disturbing on the December 6th court proceeding Attorney David Louis Brown showed up to court representing me not my mother and he allowed the appointment of a court appointed attorney to represent my mother, abandoning my mother when he knew he was here new attorney.
Every thing I just wrote is supported by documents , this is exactly what happened
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13 May, 2024 by Alma
My mother and I hired Charles Des Roches in the fall of 2019 to create a trust for my mom. He did a fantastic job with the trust. We both liked him very much. He would comment on the wonderful relationship my mom and I had. Sadly when things became complicated he failed miserably. I tried to explain the complexities of abusive nature of my family but he did not get it. When my brother insisted on becoming a co-trustee with my mother and I, he blocked that. I thought he would protect me from this crazy family member instead, he delivered my mother right into the abusers hands. Not only did I get removed as a co-trustee (brother accused me of abuse without providing evidence) my brother moved her back to Texas. Des Roches sided with my brother whom he had no interactions with. He ignored the pages and pages of vile abusive emails he sent to me and my mother. And it gets better, he convinced my mother that I did abuse her which added to her confused state of mind. My mother is 85 years old with a history of dementia and trauma!!! My brother has brainwashed my mother to the point that she no longer talks to me. Had this spineless lawyer stood up to my brother to protect my mother, she would still be under my care. I had cared for her for 6 years here in Salinas and it was the happiest I had ever seen her in my life. Now she has a paid fiduciary AND care giver!!! I did all that for her and was happy to do it for 6 YEARS. My brother has now isolated my mother from everyone including her brothers who live in Texas. Please, whatever you do, do not use this law firm. It has taken me over a year to put my life back together and it is trauma is still not over. The abuser will likely fire Chuck and the fiduciary and do what he wants with her estate. Thank you for nothing Chuck.
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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.
