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06 Aug, 2023 by Andy reynoso
Used Nathan 2x in 23 years. Both cases were totally successful. He is all business and just gets it done. You may only need a lawyer in your lifetime a few times, sure, but when you do, he's the right guy to call !
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08 Dec, 2022 by John
I highly recommend Mr. Anderson as a lawyer. He is very knowledgeable and experienced in his field, and he always provides sound legal advice. He is also very responsive and attentive to his clients' needs. In my experience, Mr. Anderson was able to quickly assess my situation and provide me with the best course of action. He was also very professional and respectful throughout the entire process. I am extremely satisfied with the results he was able to achieve for me, and I would not hesitate to use his services again in the future.
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08 Dec, 2022 by George jouflas
Mr.Anderson is the best lawyer I've ever had the pleasure of working with.
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08 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
I went and did a consult back in 2015 and hired Jill. She jumped the gun, filing all these restrictions, causing issues with the judge as well as my common law partner. In the end, she charged me 3000$ for less than 5 hours of "work" the consult, phone calls, and 30 minutes in court, no refund of excess funds, which I've hear is her MO,- "there will never be a refund"- I heard she is gone, which is to the benefit of the community of Montezuma county.
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17 Jan, 2020 by Katie
I went to Jill for my divorce and domestic violence case. My ex husband was stalking me across the country. She didn't take the situation seriously. She was rude, FORGOT that I also needed a divorce, not just a restraining order....I had to remind her when our second consult was almost over.
She told me I needed to hire services that were unnecessary and expensive. Very unprofessional. I feel like if I kept her on my case, it would not have helped me at all. I didn't end up hiring her, i represented myself instead. Saved a lot of money and learned a lot. I definitely feel like she would've extorted me more than help.
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20 Nov, 2018 by Anonymous
I paid a $150 consult fee for a habitability issue with landlord. Carlson took all my organized paperwork, advising me of a $1500.00 fee to rep me in a civil "trial" for habitability. Carlson advised me "If we do not go to trial she would return most of the $1500.00", I paid Carlson $1500.00. Instead of copying my paperwork and returning all my original documentation, she kept it. I had a sheriff at the place in question , I could not produce my lease as she had it. Charging me over two hundred dollars to send me a SMS picture message of my lease. As tho it is my fault she kept all my documentation. From there it got worse. Not wanting to hear me she continued to advise me that our time in court is only 30 minutes, she expressed she felt I would fold under pressure! On and On she went NOT listening another $300.00 gone. At the courthouse she arranged a deal without the other sides permission coming at us we accepted the deal. She went to their lawyer then came back saying "They don't accept the deal". What? It is their own deal. Railroading another deal that we expressed NO to. She did not take us to trial. Yet at this point $1100.00 was gone and how did I know this? Carlson kept using terms "I don't know where we are in the fee" "We haven't used all the fee" " You will get some money back: since we didn't go to trial". What exactly is the remainder? Hesitate to disclose this as it "is calculated at months end" I got an e-mail next day stating we were at $1100.00. I replied shocked and expressed I felt as though I was being robbed. Quickly Carlson met us in court to withdraw from the case and leave us in dire state of chaos. In the end our habitability issue was never litigated and due to the misrepresentation of Jill Carlson and the outcome of the case I am left in a hopeless financial bind. Suicide was considered as an only option due to the nature of blatant UN just abuse we endured in the three & one half hour trial (3 1/2 hours a far cry from 30 minutes Jill Carlson) faced without an attorney, I would never do that to anyone I pledge to assist. Looking for a competent attorney? I recommend Anybody But........Jill Carlson.
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09 Jan, 2021 by Sondria terra
Never picked up, Never called me back
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24 Jun, 2020 by Jonathan garcia
Excellent resource in the community for disadvantaged single parents. Great people running the legal night and lawyers donating their time! Thank you all!
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22 Feb, 2020 by Nawal thompson
09 Jan, 2021 by Sondria terra
Never picked up, Never called me back
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24 Jun, 2020 by Jonathan garcia
Excellent resource in the community for disadvantaged single parents. Great people running the legal night and lawyers donating their time! Thank you all!
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22 Feb, 2020 by Nawal thompson
21 Apr, 2020 by Anonymous
Charles Reams was very helpful with a business purchase contract and took care of some difficult debt collection matters. I would recommend him to anyone in need of legal assistance.
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06 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Horrible communication. Made promises he did not follow through with. Would claim one thing and turn around and do the opposite. I trusted that he was on my side and told him from the beginning I did not want to exceed a certain amount and did not want to go to court for that reason, but he convinces me the other party would pay attorney's fees and court cost if they lost and he told me I should keep going for that reason. After the other party failed to prove their case and they did lose he explains, after I have thousands in court cost, that "technically" the other party is not required to pay. Talked me into filing yet another court case to "fall back on" because he would technically be filing for mediation, does not file and decides to pull from the case, After he has filed for another court hearing that I am now supposed to complete on my own. Not an attorney that has your back. During his representation he would noticeably run up the bill with multiple email conversations and tetious phone calls that he would drag out and charge by the 15 min. Asked me to set an appointment with a witness and 2 hours later after the witness talked about many other subjects and described random events not pertaining to my case, he Allowed this witness to run up a Huge bill. Wolf in sheep's clothing. Such a shame when I had so much more invested into who I thought he was.
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29 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
Kris helped us with an estate plan and was very helpful and thorough. She knows special needs trusts and helped us understand how to move things into the trust and what to leave out.
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10 Dec, 2020 by Anonymous
This Attorney was very cold,unproffesional, and even lied to me. She created a problem between my family because of her lies and misconduct toward me and my sig. Other.
My father in law had hired her. She milks the client stretching out things in an unecessary way.
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12 May, 2022 by Anonymous
I had hired Alison Zinn Sheahen at Lathrop GPM - Denver to contest my stepfather‘s will/trust when I found out upon his death that he had changed it prior to passing away but 22 years after the initial one was written. This was a multi million dollar estate so there was a lot of money involved.
I believe he had changed it due to undue influence and lack of testamentary capacity and I needed medical records to prove the latter. Alison had given me hope of at least a settlement and had told me that people settle all the time. I asked her to start the process so that we can get copies of my stepfather‘s medical records. (He was most likely going through cancer treatments and there were some signs that he might have had dementia/Alzheimer’s – he wrote Merry Christmas on the birthday check he had sent to me in the month of May.)
She however did not do that. Instead after she had spoken with the other attorney (my Stepfather’s attorney who was handling the estate), Alison did a complete 180 and told me that my stepfather had every right to change his will. If that were the case, then the right to contest a will would not exist. However, the right to contest a will does exist and people are able to contest wills based on undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, etc..
Also, after Alison Zinn / Sheahen had spoken with the opposing attorney, she told me that the opposing attorney told her that my stepfather was of sound mind when he changed his will. I had asked her to start the process of contesting the will so that we could get my stepfather’s medical records…… not get the opinion of the opposing attorney on the soundness of my stepfather’s mind. He is a lawyer, not a doctor. His word is an opinion, it is not fact.
This was a case I believe in which lack of testamentary capacity would’ve been easy to prove if I had been able to obtain my stepfather’s medical records. However, once again, Alison did not start the process of contesting the will for me and she did not start the process of obtaining my stepfather’s medical records like I had asked. She had only proceeded to tell me that my stepfather was of sound mind because the other attorney told her so and that my stepfather had every right to change his will.
I had one shot at this and unfortunately I trusted this attorney and this firm to do as I had requested and to help me contest my stepfather’s will/trust and to help me obtain my stepfather’s medical records and they did neither. Alison is a lawyer who was supposed to have fought for me on my behalf and she did not.
When I filed a complaint with Lathrop GPM corporate, after telling my side of the story, I was told that I was well represented. I cannot believe that taking the word of the other attorney on medical issues and not doing what I had asked her to do, was being well represented.
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10 Nov, 2017 by Pat
My husband and I hired Alison Zinn at a very difficult time in our lives. We needed immediate action and did not know what to do next. Alison outlined an effective plan or us and started execution immediately. Almost two years later we are on the other side of our crisis with all positive outcomes. I hate to think of where we would be today if we hadn’t met Alison. I very highly recommend her.
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11 Aug, 2021 by Soojina
Heather is awesome with consulting and coaching for your divorce case. She was aggressive when fighting for your family and getting a fair settlement. Heather is very knowledgeable about legal cases and expect realistic outcome of your case. She answered calls and emails even late weekend nights. She is definitely worth the money.
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14 Oct, 2016 by Bret
Been trying to get her to start my claim for over 14 months, she's received $1000 and not done a thing. So many promises and NEVER A THING DONE??? If you can just give her money and expect NOTHING she's your lawyer
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25 Apr, 2024 by Blia yang
22 Feb, 2024 by Jessica ryan
The women at the Colorado legal services are phenomenal. They really went the extra mile to provide the legal documents I needed.
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26 Jan, 2024 by Joy corley
I'm not sure how professional this is. But I just got hung up on after being on the phone for an hour by one of these ladies that works in this office. I will be there on Monday to valid a complaint if that even matters. But I thought that that was completely completely out professional.
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16 Jan, 2022 by Katie davis
Terrible legal services. Literally charged me to PRINT paperwork, like that’s hard and time consuming. You can tell she doesn’t have children, and yet she’s practicing Family Law, with no clue what it takes to raise a child. If I could give a zero star rating, I would.
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20 Sep, 2021 by Shelby bruce
She won my case ( I won my case it was a slam dunk). But she charged me for every thing she could.
Buyer beware.
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19 Jan, 2020 by James james
Do not use Catherine Tieman for legal needs. She represented me in a complex case. She does not understand the laws or the application of them, and does not take the time to understand her client's needs. I recently met with other past clients of hers, who have had the same experience. While she is quite pleasant, she will charge you for every second of her time, even though some of her communications are written in a manner that don't make sense (so require follow up calls or emails to clarify). Billing for poor communication is a very effective money making strategy on her part, but will leave you frustrated, especially when adding her lack of ability.
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01 Jul, 2024 by Jerry hershfeldt
"Who knows why we were taught to Fear the Witches
And not those that burned them
Or those who stood by, watching."
Hertz paid $168 million two customers who we're wrongfully arrested and prosecuted. Some of them by this office. Hertz paid- U-Haul is next. Shame on the DA.
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25 May, 2024 by George mac
The DA's office lets child abusers off the hook with no consequences of any kind if they are white women. DPS also allows the same white women to stay on the job, working in proximity to other children and their victim.
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13 Apr, 2024 by N lang
14 Dec, 2023 by Delores
Do not hire Bruce Danford. He is unprofessional and unethical at best.
1. He has billed me hundreds of dollars for items he refuses to clarify for me.
2. I had to call him to tell him the email he sent to myself and opposing counsel was blank. Then he blamed opposing counsel stating that something was wrong with his email. Well there was nothing wrong with my email and I received a blank email as well. Guess who paid for that phone call. His mistake he should pay for it.
3. He billed me once for having some papers notorized. If his wife would have been there on time there would have been no need to have a conversation with Bruce. In addition he stretched out this time by speaking to his wife about traffic.
4. He states he has made and received calls and will not clarify who these conversations were with.
5. He billed me for research but won't tell me what was researched. If an attorney needs to research anything that's not my problem you don't know what you are doing.
6. He billed me as he needed to consult with another attorney. Again not my problem if you don't know what you are doing. Again I asked for details on this by email before I fired him and he still won't respond. I don't believe he ever consulted with another attorney.
7. On one invoice he billed me 2x for the same service so watch these charges closely.
8. Bruce failed to respond to opposing councils email. After 2 weeks I called to remind him. He told me he was busy with court. I do not appreciate looking like an idiot because you won't put in overtime to respond to opposing council. Guess who paid for that as well.
9.
10. He missed a entry on the closing documents made by opposing council that would have been put in escrow over an entirely separate matter. He called me and was pretty angry that I would not sign the closing documents. After I explained it to him he agreed. That was his job to look over the closing statement. Guess who paid for that call.
10. Bruce way overestimated some rental income that kept this case going. I explained to him several times the figure he estimated was way overinflated. This resulted in hundreds of more dollars being billed to me.
11. I had to keep calling him as he would not update me on the status of my case. I have since fired him and now he won't tell me if there is a court date coming up. Now I have to clean up his mess again.
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01 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
I saw Mr Danford to get the name changed on my will after a divorce. He said it would be easier to make a new will. He was just out for money. He made a draft will which was incomprehensible. I told him I couldn't use it. Even though he had not completed the process, he charged me the full price.
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31 Dec, 2015 by John tinder
Bruce is an excellent attorney. He is knowledgable about the subject matter which he works in and tries to stay on top of changes to the law to better help his clients. Better than that, he is a good person. Bruce tries even harder to help his clients 'get it right' the first time. He cares about the people he is helping. Bruce's whole focus is the client and this saves his clients money and time.
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13 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
We hired Sherri to help us with getting an APR for my brother’s child who was in my care. Our case, not unlike others, had a fair amount of small details. I would sit down with Sherri and explain the situation or answer questions she asked, watch her take notes and then a few days or a week later, she would tell me she needed the same details we had already gone over and stated that I hadn’t given her yet. She often misspelled names or got a DOB wrong, even after being corrected and that still made it’s way into the final document. She sent an email at the conclusion of our case stating she would return the retainer and then a week later, she said there was nothing to return (she would bill when the retainer had run low, so it felt as though she had intentionally found enough to charge to keep the entire retainer).
After consulting with an attorney who mainly works on custody/adoption, we’ve found our APR is boardline illegal based on the way it’s been written.
Overall, Sherri seemed polite and professional, but in regards to our case, she felt scatterbrained, spread too thin and not well versed in family law. I respect her as a person but would not hire her as an attorney again.
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27 Dec, 2019 by Jeffrey
Ms Murgallis made repeated mistakes that cost me several thousand dollars. She was incapable of even getting the basic court ordered documents, despite repeatedly telling me she could. She then made sure there were no consequences to the opposing party for not turning them over. She refused to present evidence of serious legal infractions of the opposing party. Undermining my argument and strengthening that of the opposing party. She made sure that the case cost as much as possible to the point that I had to send her an email telling her to stop wasting her time and my money until she got the documents she said she would be able to obtain.
You will need to know the laws so that when you try to stand up for your rights she won't be able to force you into a bad situation.
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14 Feb, 2017 by Laura
I will definitely hire Sherri again if I ever need legal assistance. She was straightforward, compassionate yet professional, and represented me well. She gave my case the amount of attention it needed, but no more -- which kept her fees reasonable as well.
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27 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
If I could give no stars I would. He’s a fraud and scams elders! Waste of time and money. Steers you in the wrong direction but happily takes your money!
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16 Nov, 2022 by Pitrone
Rickey has done magnificent work for myself, family and friends over the last 25 years. In this age when honesty and integrity aren’t the norm Rickey has these qualities in abundance!!!
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26 Jun, 2022 by Anonymous
If I could give a 0 rating I would this man should have retired 10 years ago all he does is talk to you like you're a friend and he gives you advice but never actually helps you with your court case. He sat in on a mediation with me and talked to my sister the entire time about her living in New York and then turned around and tried to charge me thousands of dollars for it. I ended up having to complete my entire case alone with the courts. He should be disbarred if you ask me and he should give his services away for free.
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09 Aug, 2024 by Patti
Contacted them to fill in and file 2 petitions. Paid for it. One was changed and fee schedule switched after I notarized them without telling me but filed them anyway.
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20 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
It's been 5 months and she's done absolutely nothing. I tried calling her every day for a month and still not reply.... If you want someone to care about you and your case, please go somewhere else.
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26 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
Almost all communication, I waited an average of a week for a response. I received all the excuses as to how she missed my emails. Any filings that had to be done were done under the wire at the very last minute. She would submit documents to related parties past the requested deadlines. The other attorney made remarks in regard to her disregard for timing. I received the outline for my trial the night before adding to my stress and frustration. When I asked specific questions, she gave a roundabout answer that avoided actually answering. It was obvious she briefs herself 15 min prior to a call or meeting and our phone calls were always repetitive as were the emails. Waste of my time & my money.
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04 May, 2022 by Simon
I hired this man to take over my divorce case after my previous lawyer became very I'll. This man took every advantage he could of my situation knowing that my case was difficult and I didn't have the opportunity to hire any one else at the time. He was totally focused on the money, always asking for more retainer while at the same time not preparing at all for my hearings. I did most of the work for him. Mark Reider is totally unprofessional. He will not stay quiet long enough for you to have your own say in the matter. Going into final orders hearing he was not prepared at all. I'm lucky to have got what I did out of the settlement.
Mark Reider is now located in Fremont County Colorado and for your piece of mind, DO NOT HIRE HIM.
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26 Jul, 2021 by Caroline
I hired Mr Reider as my attorney and it was a huge mistake!!! After over 6 months of him dragging out his services he resigns as my attorney taking my retainer of $2000. Do NOT hire this man !!!! The other review on him is accurate !!! Highly not recommended
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06 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
This guy is a fraud! He lies and schemes and abuses the privilege of his license to do as little work as possible. He will scam you out of your money and say he needs more to finish the case and then drag it out and file all sorts of crap to pad his bill. Stay away from Mark Reider. I later found out after hiring my new attorney that he has a reputation for doing this.
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09 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
He did nothing for me in my divorce case. He literally did NOTHING!!
I lost because of his incompetence and lack of actually caring.
Do not use this attorney for anything if you plan to win.
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27 Feb, 2022 by Kristen
Brian missed deadlines, neglected to inform me that the Initial Status Conference was changed from courtroom to conference call, went dark on communication with me for a month, and then withdrew my case. Bad lawyering in every aspect. I would look elsewhere.
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15 Aug, 2019 by Bob
At the start Brian seemed competent and confident, but sent me on a course in a custody battle that costed me more time, money, and loss than I could have ever imagined. I sent him everything he needed to pursue my case but he showed up to the hearing unprepared, sweating profusely, and as the judge described "woefully inadequate." Please look elsewhere. He says he cares, but only about billable hours.
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26 Jan, 2020 by Anonymous
My wife and I retained Ms. Conover to do our Estate Planning. We needed to have some changes made to our plan. We left many voice messages and emails for her. She did not return any of them. Finally, I was able to get through her on her phone. We set up a meeting with her. While always friendly, she informed us that she no longer did estate planning. But, as a favor to us, she would make the changes. She did not do anything. We had no further communication from her nor, did she respond to any of our messages. We would never recommend her.
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25 Feb, 2017 by Sheri
I received bad advice after my father died. She told me to leave his accounts for a year, that Medicaid would take the estate. When I tried to contact Tammy Connover to clear up some confusion, she never answered phone or e-mail messages. Now I am stuck trying to clean things up.
I had worked with Tammy prior to this when my father received an inheritance. She seemed nice at that time. I wouldn't work with her again.
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07 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
this dude is a real piece of $hit....he has purposely convinced his client to commit perjury to the court numerous times, he has falsified financial documents in order escape child support. Unprofessional Lacks morals lies to the court.....nothing more than a ambulance chaser
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07 Dec, 2010 by Anonymous
The only positive thing I can say is that it was a difficult estate from the beginning. However, we signed the final papers in May and as of December 7, still don't have the estate finished- and I can honestly say that only maybe 3 weeks of hold up was on our part. I worked in the court system for almost 5 years and I know that most lawyers have standard forms, but this doesn't seem to be the case here. I was unable to repeatedly get paperwork in a timely fashion. We are currently waiting on tax forms to be completed and talked to the lawyer today and was told that it would take his office several days to finish the forms on their end once they received the official tax forms
from our accountant. Howevever, our tax accountant told me that she had sent over all of the pertinent information that he would need to finish the forms.... so we are waiting again.
I would NOT recommend him to anyone and he was recommended very highly.
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07 Oct, 2015 by Denise
I have had the exact same experience as another reviewer. As a Personal Representative I hired Carl to represent myself and the estate. He has repeatedly failed to act timely, gone months without doing anything and does not respond to emails or phone calls from me as his client. It is beyond my understanding, he is has a lot of knowledge but it does no good at all because he clearly doesn't care about representing his client. My advice is to find someone else, after 10 months and a very simple estate not being settled I am going to have to fire him and get a new attorney.
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07 May, 2015 by Anonymous
She and her staff failed to keep all of us informed of important actions. They have spent years closing the estate. She outsourced some work to another firm at even more costs. The estate was a "three month to four months tops" issue. They went over two years. Once they got their big payday (we have yet to get ours) they completely ignored and avoided all attempts to move the settlements forward. They left the estate/trust incomplete and became antagonistic when asked about promises made but not delivered. Their billable hours are exorbitant too.
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07 Apr, 2020 by Anonymous
I have filed a formal complaint against this firm with the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. At first Mr Hutchins said he could help me but he needed the $2,000 retainer before he could say anything to me. After I paid the retainer, I never received any substantive advice or direction from Mr Hutchins, but somehow they came up with almost $2,500 of fees. It has been almost 2 months and they will not return emails or calls. I even got a revised statement with an additional $1,200 of fees from the initial statement. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THIS ATTORNEY!
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13 Mar, 2018 by Heather
I hired this Mr. Newman for a probate issue after my boyfriend's death . The most awful experience of my life. He and Aaron Case did nothing but string me out for 8 months and after their lack of attention to my case had the nerve to charge me thousands to read my emails. I was told that my insignificant case did not warrant thier time or attention but they were so hopeful and attentive when they wanted my retainer!
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07 Mar, 2018 by Geoff
I hired Michael to put together a will and trust several years ago. He assured me his fees to do the work would cover any changes in the future. He specifically mentioned that a change in marital status would be covered.
The reason I give him a low rating is that he did not keep his promise. Several years later after getting married, he wanted to charge me full price to modify my will and trust. While I’m unsure if this is industry standard, it is irrelevant as he baited me with the promise of a comprehensive package. He specifically explained that the initial fee was high because it was a one time, lifetime fee.
The last thing I want when hiring an estate attorney is to be taken advantage of after I’m essentially “locked in”.
I spoke directly to Mr Meurer about this and he said he’d “cut me a deal” for the misunderstanding - which after comparing to other attorneys was more than double what they charged. Very frustrating.
Stay away from this operation!
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19 Apr, 2015 by Paul
Douglas Manley completely failed to properly represent me in a bankruptcy case. When we got to court he clearly had not reviewed the materials relating to my assets. A few minutes before court he informed me he "didn't know if we can save your lots (I owned some property I assumed would be considered part of my residence). Immediately at the beginning of the court the trustee in the case was angry at me "for declaring the wrong kind of bankruptcy." Rather than take responsibility Douglas Manley lied to the trustee and blamed my former attorney, who had suggested I hire a bankruptcy lawyer as he did not have that expertise. Because Manley had not properly reviewed and evaluated my case, we had to fill out all of our paper work again to satisfy the trustee. Manley also failed to help us protect our mortgage, which was up to date with no missed payments. The bank put us on the bankruptcy list and Manley failed to help us get us off and failed (if he knew) to inform us that this was even a possibility. After threatening to file a complaint with the Colorado Bar Association against him, he did finally resend our information to the bank reiterating our intent to pay the mortgage, to no avail. It was his job to protect us from a predatory lender, that's why we hired him instead of filing ourselves. Manley also repeatedly failed to respond to my letters and e-mails asking about my case, and continues to do so. He has offered no explanations for his failure to properly advise and represent us.
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29 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
Iwashco was hired to handle a small estate of less than $200,000.00. Rather than represent all
heirs she aggressively represented the young and inexperienced personal representative against the other heirs. Final legal fee was nearly $40,000.00 when it could have been handled for $1,500.00.
She did a terrible disservice to our family and accomplished nothing except to balloon her fees, also costing us heirs another $40,000.00 in outdide representation.
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18 Jul, 2020 by Erica catalapsy
Pretty shocked at the level of unprofessionalism, childish responses and attitude. I'm confused as to how this is a real business run by adults with degrees. It can't be possible. Such creepy people, so rude.
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FAQs
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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:
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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.
