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08 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
Raymond Paparella pleaded guilty after being charged with an alleged fraud lasting 15 years. They are accused of forging works of art (by artists like George Ault and Ralston Crawford) and the signatures of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Cy Young on sports memorabilia. (Chicago)
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10 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
We retained the services of The Law Firm of Raymond Paparella to determine if a “Will” and “Trust” could be contested. Mr. Paparella informed us that he had 11 years of experience in the field, his demeanor was friendly, and he was eager to help us resolve our issue. We chose him because he was flexible in his terms to accommodate us financially, due to our very limited financial means. After our conversations, I became concerned that I had taken on more of a brainstorming role with Mr. Paparella instead of being reassured that his experience had already determined a clear cut course of action to resolve the matter. Mr. Paparella wrote two (2) letters on our behalf; one was approximately 250 words in length to a probate attorney, and another was approximately 160 words in length to a realtor. The response from the probate attorney concluded that the Will and Trust in question could not be contested. Mr. Paparella recommended that we proceed no further and that he would provide a refund from the $5,800 retainer. We received an $800 refund by check by mail but there was no accounting at all for the $5,000 billed (approx. 11.7 hours) and the retainer rate of $425 per hour equates to a bit more than $7 per minute. The previous legal services we retained included meticulously detailed records of activities and time spent on them. Due to the value of the Trust, we had no option other than to attempt to question it. Needless to say, we were very unhappy and disappointed that the two letters and any other undocumented and unaccounted work performed added up to a very round and convenient number of $5,000. To be exact-- $5,000 at the rate of $425 per hour equates to 11.7647 hours or 705.882 minutes. We could understand any round number in relation to time spent, but, in my opinion, the likelihood of 11.7647 hours of undocumented time is highly questionable. Due to this aspect, which we consider to be highly unprofessional, we cannot recommend the services of The Law Firm of Raymond Paparella.
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08 Jun, 2017 by Anonymous
Richard Milstein is only about enriching himself at his client's expense. I received a bill the first month that was double the outrageous retainer that I paid him. During that month, nothing happened except he billed me for our several conversation asking him why nothing was being done.
Richard Milstein knew he was not going to work on my behalf when he took my money. He gave me a dozen excuses. Each day of delay left me further in a legal hole that he exploited. After several months, I was going backwards and faced with exorbitant bills for services that were not provided. He filed a lien on my case after I fired him and charged me interest. It was unbelievable the manner in which he could destroy his own client.
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26 Dec, 2015 by Anonymous
This attorney placed a lien on me before even billing me! He exaggeratedly overcharged for everything, met with me only once and didn't even finalize my divorce. I had to go find a new attorney to represent me, thus leaving me burdened financially. I deffinitely DO NOT reccomend this man, nor the law firm he works for.
He should be ashamed!
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23 Jan, 2016 by Betsy
I will just reiterate the last review. The firm was very nice to my mother as she set up their estate but when she died and left my Alzheimer's ridden father and me to find our way through the next few years I can only describe it as a nightmare. Mr Mazzeo was largely unavailable and midway through Shelley his paralegal quit so it extended things further. When my father died I tried to keep a better handle on things but it took a year to close an estate worth less than 20k!!
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30 Sep, 2013 by Susan
My review is simply in regards to the settlement of my parent's estate. While my parent was happy with the advice they received in regards to their elder care needs, my family was very dissatisfied by the time and effort made in finalizing the estate. There was poor communication and mistakes due to lack of attention to detail. It seems like we had to continuing follow up on the status. There were extensions filed and excuses offered (the old "computer glitch"). My parent's estate was very simple and all the information in regards to his investements were in the law firms' file so there was no need for it to take over 2 years to complete.
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29 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
I reached out for a custody case because of a reference from my employer and I have been left with no response every step of the way. I’ve called and emailed and after a month I can’t even get an update. This heartbreaking at a time when my family really needs help in a situation like this they won’t give any information other than just wait because we have no answers.
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13 Jun, 2023 by Anonymous
I paid for legal insurance through my employer. I called my legal insurance plan and was given this firm as a reference to have my Living Will and Last Will redone. I literally just needed to have a couple of things changed/updated from my previous Wills. Every time I reached out, I would have to follow up NUMEROUS times to get any response. My legal plan covered me and my dependents to have our Wills done and a Trust set up at no cost to me. I provided my previous Wills and other legal documentation along with notes on what needed to be changed. My legal insurance began April 1, 2023. I didn't get an appointment to sign the Wills they drew up until May 23, 2023. This was not because what I wanted was complicated but because their response time was one level above non-responsive. I asked constantly for them to email me the Wills to review BEFORE I came in so that changes could be made ahead of time. I had an 11:00am appointment and they sent me over the paperwork to review only an hour before my appointment. I sat in their office trying to review all 116 pages as fast as I could. I was there for almost 2 hours and sent numerous changes via email before signing. However, there were items on my original Will that needed to be included that were left out. I also emailed changes that were never done. I made the mistake of signing everything without FULLY reviewing one last time but I had already been there for several hours and was on a time crunch at that point. Later that night when I was scanning them into my computer, I noticed the items that had never been changed or included from my original Will. I emailed them and after having to follow up on my emails several times, they want to charge me for the changes. Even 3 weeks now after signing, they STILL haven't given me pricing on what it would be. I am so disappointed in this firm. I feel like I could go to law school and become an attorney myself before getting something as simple as a correct Will fully executed by them.
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22 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous
No communication. Poor customer service. Not at all friendly or helpful. Would avoid at all costs.
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13 Sep, 2018 by Anonymous
I filed a complaint with the Florida Bar regarding this attorney and his staff. Not only did he reply with a letter full of provable lies, his wife/paralegal is suing me for libel even though the complaint is still pending with the system regardless of the fact that her suit is pure retaliation of my justified complaints against her and her husband. The continued lies from him and his staff should be enough for anyone to be very cautious when dealing with him and his staff. You are much better off with a real attorney that cares about you and your case. Douglas J Amidon is NOT that attorney.
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14 Jul, 2016 by Anonymous
Unfortunately, I hired James Banks for a divorce and child custody battle. Or shall I say there wasn't a battle because he couldn't misrepresent me fast enough. He mislead me with every question he was entrusted to answer. Awful results because of his advice and counsel. Never again and I'd never recommend.
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12 Mar, 2012 by Anonymous
I was a client of Mr. Banks on a family law matter. To be fair, I must say that a colleague of mine, who had gone through a divorce two years before, had recommended Mr. Banks. In my case, I found Mr. Banks not prepared, unwilling to listen and communicate what is important, and the office was not well run.
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01 Sep, 2017 by Dan
Not a good lawyer. I had him for a probate/estate lawyer Not interested in devoting time into your issues. More interested in getting cases turned over to move onto to the next case. Won't fight for you, even if he know the other attorney is being dishonest. I find a common issue with bad lawyers are when you have to tell them the same thing numerous times. This was definitely the case with Mr. Eskin. I sent him numerous emails both in a folder and a via email and he never took the time to read them. Because he would acted surprised when the issue would arise again after the other attorney prepared his papers. Extremely frustrating.
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15 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
Harold S Eskin is a poor lawyer who shouldn't be practicing law because he is INCOMPETENT. He thinks he knows what he is talking about but apparently does not. I hired him for two cases and BOTH times he failed me so, I fired his ass. Why? My first case was regarding a family member suing me regarding inheritance. Eskin told me that the case would be difficult because he is not friends with this particular judge. Seriously? You need to be friends with the judge? They teach that in law school? Whatever happened to law being impartial and "blind" to bias? Did I miss something? The second case I hired him for was for a tenant dispute which again, he failed me. Instead of fighting the plaintiff in court, he decides to issue motion to dismiss over and over until finally, the judge sided with the plaintiff and I LOST thanks to Eskin trying to win a case on default instead of fighting. There is a reason why he charges less than other regional lawyers----he SUCKS at what he does. He is first and foremost, a lawyer who specializes in adoption and surrogacy. Go help those who do not need substantial help, Harold. The profession needs you in that regard because as they always say, someone had to graduate last, right 'Hal'?
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23 Oct, 2020 by Patience good
This cretin is an ambulatory turd and little else. Walks like a turd, acts like a turd, smells like a turd, demonstrates numerous turd like qualities, and , of course charges like a turd.
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16 Oct, 2018 by Angelia
Mr. Linsky deserves no stars , but this review application requires at least one!. He was the most rude and abrupt attorney, heck for that matter, professional person, I have ever experienced. He asked me to come in 15 minutes early, then wasn't there and made me wait for about 25 minutes for him to come back from where ever he had gone. He wouldn't let me speak and after perusing my paperwork called me everything short of a criminal. He stuck his finger in the air and shushed me when I would try to talk to him and told me I was only trying to cause problems and create litigation. Now I am a professional and strong person. I can take productive criticism and know how to communicate. But this man is flat out rude. He said things like "you know you did this on purpose to cause litigation didn't you, didn't you, huh you know you did, didn't you!" Please know that my mother passed last year and dad passed a month 1/2 ago. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I was furious this man. He should not work with families! I wish I could lower myself to his standards of unprofessional-ism and rudeness so I could tell him what I thought of him, but my time and breath are too valuable to waste on him. Additionally, please understand, I went in there for advice. He could have simply given me the same information without the opinions and condemnation.
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28 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
If there's no sellers signature no price on alleged contract just trick by 18 month delay get UNSERVED order deeding land by robbery delay 6 months getting order signed USE TRICK FLORIDA LEGISLATURE CRONIES"NO APPEAL AFTER 10 DAYS TRICK " ROBBED LAND
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09 Mar, 2019 by James
Mr. Ramunni was hired by my wife and I to handle my Mother in laws estate. About a month later he sent me a text message telling me he hadn't filed with the clerk of Lee county. My wife and I promptly hired a new attorney and they requested the retainer and documents from Mr. Ramunni. Approximately a week later he mailed (not fed-ex or by courier) his check, a color copy of her drivers license, a color copy of her social security card, and her banking information. My wife and I realized that he was not only not up front with his agenda, but that he or his office run out of his home does not know or follow safe guidelines on sending information sensitive documents. Not all documents were forwarded or returned.
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17 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
I hired Natasha Shaikh for a Guardianship/Probate Litigation matter. The negligence this case endured was astounding. Missed deadlines which resulted in financial loss to her client we also lost this part of the case to the legal technicality of missing a 90 day deadline. Ms. Shaikh appeared zealous in her pleadings however, that quickly waned once she entered the courtroom to advocate for those pleading where she was quickly overwhelmed. Ms. Shaikh has a nice demeanor that is not an asset in a highly contested case. Is this what you want in an attorney?
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20 Jun, 2011 by Anonymous
Mr. Mednick was hired to challenge a will and trust. At the start he said the case was good and he was paid a large sum of money. Once he received the money he appeared disinterested in the case and despite repeating myself about what happened, he did not take it onboard.
He filed against the will and trust on my behalf, but did a poor job and due to his lack of care I lost the case. I have a new lawyer who reviewed what he filed and it was found that had he not filed the challenge the way he did I stood a good chance of winning. Now, the new lawyer has been doing damage limitation that has cost a lot of money in litigation. He showed a lack of due care and professionalism.
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16 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
She gave wrong advise, that too outside her field of expertise. I merely went for consultation, did not sign any retainer, and she still tried to manipulate my file (without my permission), so that I would have no option but to go back to her.
Its like you go to a heart doctor, who is not qualified to operate on your kidney, but regardless starts operating on your kidney, without your permission. Highly unprofessional.
In fact, I am thinking about reporting her to the bar, so she could not continue such behavior with other innocent clients.
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01 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous
Took my money to handle a probate. He did not complete the probate and would not return my emails, texts or calls. I had to hire another attorney and the new attorney had trouble locating Batton to have him sign a release to transfer the probate to the new attorney. I probably should have reported him for this. He is very unprofessional and I would not recommend him for anything.
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01 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
I do not live in Florida and needed advice on an Irrevocable Trust that was prepared in Florida, by my mother and her second husband. I met with Attorney Brown for advice and guidance on what needed to be done. The Irrevocable Trust, made by my mother and her husband, involved his two children and my mother’s three children.
After meeting with Attorney Brown, I retained her services. She felt it was necessary, because the trust involved two separate families, and she informed me that Florida law is very different than MI law.
Once I retained her, there was absolutely no communication unless I initiated it. She had taken all the paperwork I had given her, copied them and sent them to all five of us, even though all of us already had copies (the trust papers, prenup, etc.). I was charged for the copies, for sending everything by registered mail, and for the time spent on all of this. This is an example of so many things that I was charged for. There truly was nothing that was done that was helpful.
I requested a telephone call, once I finally received an itemized bill, to express my concern on all the charges totaling over $3,000. She took off $300 and said she was protecting me from being sued by “his children” or my siblings. After that conversation, I told her I did not want her to do any more until she heard from me. We did not speak again. After being charged almost $3,000, I was done! I would not recommend Attorney Brown at all!!
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10 Jul, 2016 by Anonymous
Court appointed lawyer to my DCF case. He had me sign a consent to dependency, which was basically admitting to be a child abuser, neglect, and/or abandonment, or the potential for being one. I had not idea I was signing that, he presented that to me a few minutes before pre-trial and told me he negotiated with DCF to get my kids back, and that it would make the case close out and I would be with my kids again, and long as I signed I would be the best father I could possibly be, and when I tried to read the rest, he pulled the paper from me after I signed it, and would not let me catch the most important part. He did mention answer yes to all the judges questions, which was the final nail in the coffin of me admitting to being something I never was.
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07 Mar, 2022 by Tabitha
This lawyer refused to addressed a
white lawyer that lied in court about me talking to my kids and my husband and a safety plan was put in place and I provided all the evidence and knowing the damage that has caused myself and my kids she worked in the same field as the dcf lawyer and to continue to let Mrs Barren to misuse her position to lie in family court and not to act shows favoritism and towards the white lawyer that remain un punished for lying she worse then the lawyer because she has delayed investigating this matter because I'm sure she going to say Mrs Barren didn't do anything wrong so I can let the high court review my complaint and then she if they feel that this attorney working for the bar grievances intake handle it correctly
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13 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
I hired John in March because a neighbor's tree had fallen and was suspended over my fence and shed. The owner was clearing the property and I was concerned it would make the partially fallen tree fall the rest of the way ,smashing my fence and shed and possibly rolling and bringing down other trees causing even more damage. John took a $750 retainer and said he would call the property owner. The neighbor continued clearing and working on the property and, in fact, did not slow down disturbing the tree at all. In April the tree fell further but still had not smashed my shed. I called John again and he said he would call the property owner again. The property owner continued working on the area around the tree and in May the tree then fell, smashing my shed and fence. I contacted John and asked for the retainer back minus an hour for the phone calls he made. John refused to return any money and in fact BILLED ME $300 MORE for my request for an itemized bill. I could have used that $750 to just have the tree removed but John assured me that he could help me. John will take your money, not do the job and charge you MORE.
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28 Sep, 2012 by Habits
Don't be fool like I was. When I contacted Mr. John Revis, he appeared to be very competent from the initial meeting; however, this illusion fell apart shortly afterwards. Let my mistake be your learning. There are plenty of other lawyers who ARE competent. Look elsewhere. Do not go down the same road as me.
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03 May, 2021 by Anonymous
Stay away from this lawyer!!! We hired him to handle double citizenship. Very responsive before payment, but after he send the initial application we didn’t hear back for a year, despite us following up, again and again, asking for an update. Emails were read but never responded. Now further clarifications are required for this initial application by the German government. Same thing, no response, despite reading all the emails. We now hired another lawyer. Do yourself a favor and stay away. There is a whole bunch of other clients with the same experience.
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30 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
Ms. Knee did an overall very good job for my friend whene he was alive but a large oversight in language In documennts relating to the estate cost me more than a year in labor and management and my share of the estate. I was fortunate to recover the $39000
of personal money invested In the cleanup and repairs that enabled the sale of the property. That oversight cost time, life, mpneu, and and health.
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24 Jun, 2022 by Anonymous
Horrible unprofessional lawyer shady and misleading. How can these people live with themselves.
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01 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
I would NOT recommend this attorney to anyone. She is incompetent, not to mention very cruel and mean , , , which would be fine except that when children are involved you would think it would be her to make decisions based on what is in the best interest of the child instead of punishing the children because she "doesn't like" the parents (she needs to GROW UP). Please, avoid this attorney if you have children!!!! I have also read other bad reviews of her, she is a very poor attorney, not a nice person and makes basic spelling mistakes (just to name a few of her short-comings). She should be ashamed of herself.
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18 Sep, 2009 by Chris
Jason was out probate lawyer after my father passed away. There was not a large amount of money that was being distributed amongst myself, brother, sister, and mother, however, after 3 months, the process continues. In short, it started when Jason has gave horrible instructions in his letters and emails, (ex: requiring "signature guarentees," yet not even knowing what they are), he has gone out of his was to be rude to my mother who recently lost her husband, but this final action put me over the top. I called to clarify a couple things in his initial letter that he sent out, wondering how the stock was going to be distributed. He said he honestly didn't know and it would be upto the Mutual fund owner to decide this. I was fine with this, honestly I was just curious. This was about a 3-4 minute conversation. A week ago, he sent a copy of an invoice to my mother and myself. Sure enough, the first item on the invoice was a phone call we had. Jason had charged me $50 for this phone call. In a follow up phone call, he couldn't have been less understanding. I work at a Investment Broker-Dealer and have conferred with several lawyers that work within my office. They confirmed that Jason's practices were extremely unprofessional and frankly pathetic.
In closing, I would like to say that I have never written one single review on the internet until now. If you ever think of using Jason as a probate lawyer, please think again. Thank you.
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07 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
Terrible attorney. Not trustworthy at all. I would highly detract from using her for any and all matters.
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07 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
This attorney takes days to return calls and emails. He then will give you a piece of information to hold you off only until you need to follow back up with him again. He miscalculated info given to court, then filed motion to correct in turn was denied. It almost feels as if you have to do some digging for your own case. He failed to give me options leaving me to assume what I was faced with was my only choice. I felt like he did not fight my case; too laid back with lack professionalism. I had to plead for certain documents be forwarded to me plead for him to contact me to instruct me after a hearing. I was awaiting almost 2mos for a final judgement and during that time I felt like I was leaving msgs begging for a return call, text or email. He finally submitted and closed out case without any further instruction or regards.
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17 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
The lawyer filed all of our legal documents incorrectly with the state. We had to hire another lawyer to help clean up the mess. It was a 3 month delay. He still kept the retainer and charged fees. However, everything he did had to be redone. Unprofessional, made appointments and didn’t show up.
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20 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
Cut me off while trying to convey what and why I felt my suit was valid. I truly mean with in 10 words of speaking he began talking over my talking, and I MEAN talked OVER me. Normally when someone does that I let them speak...after a few times I decided to keep talking. Yup, he kept talking over me. I had to refresh his interest with each phone call. Felt no genuine respect for me as a client, felt his admin was patronizing towards us.
He IS a gentlemanly attorney, but if you NEED a tough litigator, not sure he is the one. IF someone needs an attorney to obtain what they are entitled to by law by a simple request, then the suit is valid...the opposition refused and so I needed an attorney. Yet I had to keep reminding Mr. Miller WHY I felt Opposing was not at all trustworthy...At the end of the suit, Mr. Miller dared to defend the opposing counsel to me....I spent over $6k to obtain what should have been provided freely and with out any problems, and yet the opposing counsel isn't a bad egg? Seriously? He really just did not respect this client or suit.
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19 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
In my opinion, this lawyer cares only about himself and couldn’t care less about his clients. I would never recommend him to anyone under any circumstances.
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20 Jul, 2023 by Christine peacock
On July 19, 2022, after a recommendation by an esteemed attorney friend, I, as POA, contacted Randall O. Reder via email to represent a docketed motion with associated filings in place already. A hearing needed to be set for an impending August 24. 2022 sale of our paid in full inherited property after a fraudulent foreclosure done with manufactured documents, without joining my 100% DAV son. The summary story was provided via email with attached statements by the Clerk of the Court, Orange County that my son and co-owner had not been joined in the case (after a previous one had been dismissed for lack of standing/no allonge or ratifying documents). Not only had there been no Service of Process while he was serving his country, there was no summons issued to effect a Service of Process. A wealth of other exhibits were available and the Unjoined Co-owners Motion to Quash False Claim of Service as well as an Affidavit reviewed and notarized by a prominent local attorney (the case was reviewed by 3 other attorneys who were interested but not affordable) and a Trial Transcript that my finances did not provide for the Trial Transcript that was now docketed with everything needed for an easy win. This was a slam dunk case for any competent attorney. By July 20, attoney Reder accepted the case and the retainer, 3 times his ask was soon banked to insure expeditious action... but NOTHING HAPPENED. The sale date came and went with no hearing even attempted, no Motion to Cancel of Continue, no effort to get the disbursed funds. I demanded to know what he would do after being the proximate cause of loosing our property. He filed a Verified Motion to Vacate Sale, sans verification, sans the Exhibits and Affidavits he was remined 3 times to add (provided!!!) but nothing. The hearing came with no appearance by Reder. Opposing council called and an oblivious out of it Reder answered and had forgotten the hearing. Unprepared, he abandoned his motion to my utter shock and dismay. It wasn’t until AFTER this debacle that Reder filed his Notice of Appearance, twice… for me, not his client!! Finally he filed one for my son. Time had tolled and it was time to Notice for Appeal, but he did not (as contracted). In the FINAL HOUR my son got a Notice of Appeal in place followed by a Motion to Withdraw by Reder. Immediately prior to his withdrawl hearing he filed a Verified Statement (Affidavit) with 19 statements, 13 which were utter fiction… why we have no idea. These material facts were matters of docketed evidence which we will easily prove false when we move for negligent malpractice, fraudulent concealment, perjury and a series of ethics violations. I don’t know what’s up with this Florida address because his business has a GEORGIA ADDRESS. BEWARE!!!
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17 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
This so called lawyer was disinterested in my case from the start. She requested that the best way to contact her was through emails, yet she would take several days to respond to correspondence, she was slow to file simple paperwork, and she was not straightforward about the work that she was doing on my case. In addition, when I asked her a simple question about a filing error she became upset, loud, and hung up the phone without answering the question. Professionalism was not a part of her repertoire as this was not the only incident that she responded to with a bad attitude. I would think twice before hiring this lady.
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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:
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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.
