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04 Jan, 2022 by Brian tomasello
Went to this firm to help set up my franchise. Honestly was a horrible experience. Communication was terrible (I'd have to email the same question 4-5x before finally getting a response) and the quality even worse.
They literally took a generic franchise template, charged me thousands and then sent it to me with numerous mistakes throughout (citing anything from construction to nanny's - both had absolutely nothing to do with my business.
I went to a new firm who couldn't even use the FDD they created as there were so many mistakes throughout. Complete waste of time and money.
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01 Mar, 2019 by Lourdes minueza
30 Nov, 2018 by Valerie millar
If you need a Family law firm give them a call a wonderful staff and compassionate lawyers!
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23 Jun, 2021 by Anonymous
I called to get an appointment for a modification, I have already given this office my SSD case and existing CS/custody case, this was going to close out the custody/CS case (existing), informed her of my TBI/disability, requiring some extra help with my circumstance due to the sensitivity of my ex abusing me, she was rude, abrupt & ended the call with disconnecting the call, not giving me a consult (which I would have paid $300 for), in the profile online it says she “specializes in stressful family dysfunction” and helps people in “stressful situations” & advocates for Children’s rights & so on… this description couldn’t be farther from the truth. She is rude, zero compassion, and whom ever I spoke to? Is NOT the person that is described to online as this “wonderful” person to represent clients in need. I wouldn’t pay for this mental distress if you gave me the $$$$… she made me physically sick & added to my stress levels.
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28 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
I used Anne Grenier for my divorce, and had an awful experience. Twice paperwork that was supposed to be filed with the court were "lost". I was charged for her to draw up a settlement and send to my ex's lawyer. After waiting about a month for a reply, I called Atty Grenier to check and see if they had responded. She tells me no. So I call my ex and ask why he has ignored my settlement offer. He says he doesn't know what I am talking about, he never received and offer....he even confirms with his lawyer. Atty Grenier calls me back and tells me that she forgot to send it. So she finally sends it, and charges me AGAIN to do it. She had already charged me for it even though she forgot to send it! And she charged me for the phone call to tell me that she forgot to send it!!
Then the court sets a date for my divorce hearing. She does not notify me about the date at all. I find out that it's ten days away from my ex! I call her to find out about it...and she says "oh yea, I didn't even notice." Then she charges me for the phone call that I made to let her know about the court date!!
After all is said and done, she waits three months after my divorce to send me another invoice with an additional $450 worth of charges!! She went back through and double charged me for emails and phone calls that she had already been paid for!! And what can I do?? It's a law firm and they didn't care one bit when I presented proof that I had already paid for those services. The attitude was pay or else. I would definitely not recommend this law firm. The process of going through a divorce is bad enough without feeling like you are being stabbed in the back by your own lawyer the entire time.
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31 Dec, 2016 by Anonymous
Anne won an equity case for me and I actually collected the money
Unbelievable!!!
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20 Aug, 2021 by Joni campos
27 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
Nancy reviewed and charged me for inventory of accounting for individuals who received nothing of monetary value from the estate and had zero entitlement to any of the funds documented in the inventory. Despite being made aware of this, she was not understanding or empathetic and refused to discuss with the other attorney involved until she was paid. She didn’t listen to what I had to say, she wasn’t solutions oriented, and she lacked any sense of customer service skills.
Furthermore, shortly after I received her bill, she called me and I explained it was not a good time, she told me I needed to make time and it would be brief as we needed to discuss her “getting paid”. I responded by letting you know that I had just lost two very close family members and she abruptly hung up on me offering no condolences or compassion.
No one should be treated the way she treats people with this kind of inhumane behavior, especially the people who are paying her for services. This is not the right way to conduct business
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04 Apr, 2010 by Julia
my husband and I hired atty weissman when we bought our house. she saved the deal! she is smart and kept us totally informed at every step so we could make good decisions. we are very happy with her services, and highly recommend her.
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27 Jan, 2015 by Susan
My partner and I went to Mr. Bak's seminar and we were so impressed with what he said we scheduled an appointment with him. He was very patient and explained everything so we could understand everything. We hired him for our Trust and he helped us Deversafy our finances then we were invited to a great Christmas party at the Delaney house loved it and loved the help and attention we received. Thank you Margie and Mr. Bak.
1/27/2015 Ms. Susan and Diane
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15 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
Dear Woloshin and Attorney Bak I appreciate the individualized attention paid to a very small investor it is really all I have. Your attention makes me feel special. Thanks
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09 Jul, 2014 by Nancy
From the moment I walked in , Mr. Bak spent most of his time trying to convince me that I should switch all my investment planning and my mother's to him.I kept trying to redirect him back to the business at hand, redoing my Will and Revocable Trust without any success. At one point I told him if he mentioned switching assets to the annuities he handled I would walk out, he settled down. BUT, it took a long time to get the papers done, He also required 50% deposit which I was a fool to give him. I go in to sign the papers with my partner and to talk about how to deal with our joint property as we are not married. He again, began with his talk about having the smartest method of investing . My partner is a very savvy investor and he basically told Mr Bak to tone it down . We left planning to return when the additional trust document was completed. Over 6 months passed and I get a letter from Mr. Bak at the end of the year asking us to return the documents and come in to sign them ( we NEVER received any documents ) I sent him a Certified Letter stating we were done with his services. But, for these simple docs I ended up paying $1200 AND worse, this year I had them looked at by another attorney and they were not even done correctly. Basically $1200 down the drain !
I only wish there were other sites to rate this man and his practice ... STAY AWAY !
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02 Jun, 2022 by Ray
I contacted Paul do handle a sensitive matter involving my disabled brother. He couldn't have been more accommodating, driving several miles a to meet with me at his nursing home. He was polite and caring and accomplish the task without any difficulty.
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23 Jul, 2020 by Bob
Paul was recommended to me by a colleague for estate planning. He was wonderful to work with. I worked with him again during an unexpected difficult time for my family and he went above and beyond for us. Not only is he good at what he does but he is caring.
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19 Nov, 2015 by Jerry
We engaged Paul to settle an Estate. He was very difficult to get in touch with, never provided updates on the status of the case, we had to go to Probate Court to get necessary papers. He was friendly and nice on the phone, but must be way overworked as it took almost two years to settle a simple estate with a valid will..... I would not recommend him.
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18 Jul, 2022 by Bilal
17 Jul, 2022 by Roy jones
11 Aug, 2010 by Natasha tx
Seyfarth Shaw, the Attorney for the Marriott, is the worst Attorney that I have seen on record. Overbilling, lying to their client, costing their client $$$$, while they misrepresent, just attrocious behavior and an incompetant law firm. Trying to influence a Federal Judge after they have misfiled pleadings.
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11 Aug, 2020 by S
Diane represented me in a case that went to trial. Her litigation skills were impeccable. I doubt any other attorney could have gotten me the result she did. I was thrilled!
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21 May, 2020 by Laura
I was very disappointed in the results I was getting on my divorce progressing. In less than 1 year three paralegals left the office of Attorney Long. I had to repeatedly supply her firm with the same documentation. I feel that I overpaid tremendously because of personal problems in the office. Keep shopping for an attorney.
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24 Jun, 2010 by Elizabeth
Diane was terrrific. She was assertive and fought for my rights. she also made sure I understood the divorce process. Becasue of her I got a great deal in my divorce and we settled amicably and my kids are still happy.
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26 Sep, 2023 by Michael dipon
Unprofessional...
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02 Oct, 2021 by Peter houser
Great group of attorneys
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12 Mar, 2020 by Bobby oconnor
24 Jun, 2023 by Andre leblanc
Never got a call back.
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16 Feb, 2022 by Joey c
24 Aug, 2019 by Terry catalano
Excellent lawyers
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18 Jul, 2022 by Bilal
17 Jul, 2022 by Roy jones
11 Aug, 2010 by Natasha tx
Seyfarth Shaw, the Attorney for the Marriott, is the worst Attorney that I have seen on record. Overbilling, lying to their client, costing their client $$$$, while they misrepresent, just attrocious behavior and an incompetant law firm. Trying to influence a Federal Judge after they have misfiled pleadings.
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25 Feb, 2015 by Joe
I would like to start by saying I highly recommend Attorney Dawn Young.
Dawn has provided me with excellent advise in my custody and removal case in a situation that needed a fresh outlook. She has grasped my highly contested and complex case within a short period of time and has given me dedicated, down to earth, effective and professional advise on how to move forward. I would like to point out that her advise was not only of legal nature but also helped me to understand my emotional challenges in this difficult life situation better.
Her business acumen and her listening skills have impressed me as much as her ability to provide me with a very realistic picture of the 'doable' actions and their possible outcomes. For the first time in two years I left an attorney's office hopeful about my future and the possibilities my case has.
I understand that Dawn is not considered to be inexpensive but I would like to say that her advise has been more effective and realistic than the advise of any other attorney I spoke to who overpromised and underdelivered. I highly recommend dawn as an attorney and an advisor.
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19 May, 2014 by Anonymous
Was not really helpful in my case. I felt like I had to step in above and beyond on many things. My level of involvement would have made most attorney's work easy. The fact that Dawn continued to bill me exorbitant amounts each time was unacceptable. High cost - low output. I ended up leaving this attorney half-way through my case.
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07 Mar, 2024 by Miguel alves
27 Oct, 2023 by Byron portillo
17 Sep, 2022 by Listen
Very informative and helpful.
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05 Nov, 2022 by Isandra cuba
Great lawyer
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09 Jan, 2019 by William sicard
29 Aug, 2016 by Anonymous
Without Maria, the years we have spent in court would have been much worse for our family.
Maria is always honest & upfront with us about what to expect in court. She explains the reasons for everything she suggests, and the outcomes we might be able to expect as a result.
She is personable and knows how to help keep emotions in check so we can focus on the problems at hand.
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24 Aug, 2016 by Anonymous
My Husband and I hired Maria for a nasty custody case and divorce. His ex pulled out all the stops and lies to try to gain the upper hand in court. I couldn't have asked for a better, more professional and knowledgeable attorney to represent us. Maria discredited all of the ex's false accusations and handled the craziness with grace. Maria always came in very well prepared and kept us informed as to all the options and outcomes that were possible. She never pressured us to pursue one option or the other but instead provided guidance to help us make our decisions. She also never promised us an outcome, but instead advised us based on the facts of the case and prior experiences in court with our specific judge. Years after the case was closed (with an outcome we were very happy with) Maria still stays in contact and offers us advice and sounding board to bounce issues off of. I have recommended her to several friends who have found her equally amazing.
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17 Apr, 2015 by Carlos vagnali
I hired Ms. Ortiz to represent me in my divorce and other legal matters she claim she was capable to handle. I paid Ms. Ortiz 25,000. Ms. Ortiz not only did not do any work on the case she never even showed up to court the day of the scheduled hearing in my divorce. Finally the judge forced Ms. Ortiz to come to court and she showed up poorly dressed and in fact her clothing was dirty. When the Judge asked why she missed the hearing Ms. Ortiz told the judge she forgot about the court hearing which is a completely different story than the one she gave me. In the end Ms. Ortiz made me lose my case. I was not able to hire another lawyer because I had already given all of my money to Ms. Ortiz.
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02 Feb, 2021 by Patti
Waiting over one year for my estate plan to be finalized. Multiple inquiries made and I continue to get excuses and the runaround The office iis very unprofessional and unresponsive. I am still awaiting a response to my most recent follow-up on 1/27 and it is now 2/2/2021.
Of course he was paid in full over a year ago.
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06 Nov, 2014 by Ludwig
Attorney Pellegrini has served my wife and me very thoroughly in covering all bases, while updating our existing estate planning documents. We have learned much from him and his assistants and appreciate the talents that exist within his office.
His staff have all been very helpful as well and, it has and continues to be a
a fine association we are enjoying with their office.
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17 Apr, 2018 by John
My experiences have been different.
Tracey has helped us with six real estate transactions.
The first two they initially did, they were extremely helpful; Not only did they do their jobs, but they also educated me along the way in the real estate process.
On the last 4 transactions, I insisted that I work with them again because of their excellence on the first two.
It has been the same experience as the last time....excellent.
I have worked with all kinds of attorneys and it is extremely rare to be able to call and have the attorney present and available to share their knowledge.
5 Stars and I look forward to working with the practice again.
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09 Feb, 2017 by Louis
First time home buyer ,took our money ,no guidance whatsoever and never notified us on a addendum made to the purchase agreement .rushed thru the buying process ,only met her at closing and still not one word on a addendum .she worked in calaboration with the agent to make the buying process fast and furious ,when Tracey and her real estate partner should of cautioned us ,nothing was mentioned and 60 days after closing we just found out there's a addendum and Tracey hangs up when I call her.She screwed us ,my family.Her words to me were you signed it ,that's it.But what I thought I was signing is not even close to the reality I signed .i hired her to protect me as I did her good friend from voldwell banker to protect us,but both royally screwed us and won't answer calls
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07 Aug, 2015 by David
We needed to Probate my father's will. Little property, no dissension in the family. Of course or initial meeting went well. We met the attorney, she took our money. That is the last you hear from her. The motivator to do this was so that we could establish the value of the estate before it gained value and set the lien by the nursing home. We agreed. 5 years later,. I am still waiting.. "We mailed the documents", Weeks later I get some random invoice instead. "Ok, we will email them since the originals are lost", a week later and no email. Can I get a detailing of our payments and charges? "I'll email". Nothing. The basic premise of the contract, to establish a value of the nursing home lien? "That isn't possible". So, unless you wish to spend money, for years, with zero result, take your money elsewhere.
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26 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
My family went to Kathleen for Trust Planning for my parents. She made them feel at ease and carefully explained what we needed to know about protecting mom and dad's assets. A few months later, when my father passed away, she was there every step of the way.
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20 May, 2015 by Elizabeth
We met Paul as one of the attorney's of the day at the probate court. We had visited several times and had spoken to several very rude attorneys. Paul treated us like human beings and had empathy for our difficult situation. Every staff member in that office was rude and detached, which is probably the only way the place could run efficiently, but nevertheless Paul was amazing and offered hope. We will never forget his services and will try hard to seek him out for future needs if he is available.
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12 May, 2011 by Anonymous
Unfortunately, after Paul was paid by our lead counsel, we never heard from him again. We called on 8 different occasions over a 2 month period, and he NEVER returned even one call. Upon consultation with a more communicative attorney, we found out that some of the information that Paul had told us were "facts of law" were not necessarily, facts at all. Upon further arbitration of our case, we received additional compensation and distributions that Paul said was not going to happen. He picked the low hanging fruit, and when it required him to roll up his sleeves, he ran away from the heavy lifting.
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08 Mar, 2011 by Anonymous
My initial meeting with this attorney was pleasant and subsequent follow-up emails were usually timely, but as my meeting day approached, I'd not received the promised final materials necessary to be prepared. Even after contacting him about this, I did not receive the items for my meeting in a timely fashion (at least the day prior) so that I could study them, become familiar with the materials and be able to respond intelligently. Since I received them only just prior to the meeting, my stress level made it impossible for me to perform well in the situation and the meeting was a complete failure. I was forced to start over with new representation and subsequently learned that Mr. Jacobi had missed a major flaw in the materials, which could have cost me dearly. To this extent, I paid two attorneys to do the same job, thankfully with the latter performing excellently and in a very timely fashion. I later approached Mr. Jacobi based on his lack of timeliness and major oversight and asked that he re-visit what he charged. Things became quite ugly soon after.
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15 Apr, 2008 by Anonymous
Handled a real estate transaction. Incredibly professional and timely as to our needs.
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19 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
Attorney Rickie Weiner represented me in a car accident. He always informed me of the status of my case and gave great attention to work hard to get me what I deserved & a great settlement. Very professional, knowledgeable, and personable. I would highly recommend!
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25 Dec, 2020 by Anonymous
I left a lengthy review explaining my experience with this guy on Yelp. I wouldn't wish this kind of representation on my worst enemy. I witnessed him and the insurance CO's attorney in some extremely suspicious behavior directly after he convinced me to agree before the judge to settle for a tiny settlement. You must read my Yelp review for a full explanation of my experience. If you don't , then please for your own good PLEASE JUST STAY AWAY!!!!
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04 May, 2018 by Anonymous
Nick represented us in the sale of our home. He kept constant communication, and it resulted in a smooth transaction.
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31 Mar, 2016 by Anonymous
Nick seemed to be overwhelmed with other matters, missing the deadline for discovery, waiting for over 2 months to give my discovery requests to the other party. The "kicker" was him missed a pre-trial conference, at which time opposing attorney strategically moved for a default judgement, which the court granted, leaving little issue of the facts to be contended at trial. Subsequent efforts for the judge to set aside her ruling were to no avail. I protested to Nick and received a full refund, but I still lost in court.
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07 Dec, 2022 by Susan
Barry was my mother's estate attorney after my father died in 2010. My father wrote (yes, my father--not an attorney) a living trust and will for his estate (I was a trustee) and my father wrote a living trust and will for my mother's estate. Barry came on board and helped us navigate through ambiguities in my father's version of his trust and then rewrote (unambiguously) my mother's trust along with her will, POA, and living will and health proxy. Then when my mother died two years later, he helped considerably with selling the family home. His charges were very fair. Most of all, he was the kindest person to my mother and me and to my siblings. He did house calls! To this day (10 years later), I consider him to be a ray of sunshine in those dark days of losing my mother, father and family home of 50 years within a relatively short period of time.
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25 Nov, 2016 by Anonymous
I hired Barry to prepare legal documents to acquire a new property
I was purchasing. For 3 months I called him weekly to follow up why he hasn't prepared any paperwork for me. Barry used every possible childish excuse as to why I had not received any documents I hired tim to prepare. 2 times in those 3 months he even told me that he had mailed them out to me, which I did not receive. I was advised by another attorney to let him know that I had lost on collecting 3 months worth of rental income because of his incompetence. When I finally had enough, I informed Barry of all my rental loss because of his negligence, he miraculously produced all necessary documents I had hired him for that same afternoon. I also want to add that as you speak to Barry regarding your legal needs he has a habit of rolling his eyes back making you feel you are not of equal intelligence as him. I was not not impressed by his work ethics and will never recommend his services to anyone
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04 Aug, 2010 by Jane
Jim is one of the best lawyers I have ever had the pleasure to deal with. I can not speak highly enough about this compassionate man. He was very devoted to my husband and I, he helped us out in every way possible. HIGHLY RECOMMEND JAMES SCOLA for whatever your real Estate issue may be.
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31 Mar, 2010 by Dana
Sorry but how can you recommend someone who took the most straightforward practice of refinancing a home and turn it into a ten month saga between two banks, title insurer, bar association and two lawyers? Jim Scola handled the refinance of my home in 2008. A month after signing the paperwork, my old lender still did not receive the payout. Lots of excuses later Jim finally revealed to me that he screwed up and lost the money from my new lender. His accounts were a total mess and he was way overdrawn. This violates many regulations for handling mortgages as I understand it. Mr Scola left me with TWO mortgages both who wanted to be paid. I hired another lawyer and lost more then $4000 in legal fees and a lot of sleep over this. We filed a complain with the Massachusetts Bar association and I believe that he was given some kind of legal warning but that is it.
Mr Scola on many occasions said he would pay me back for the legal costs but he did not come through and is now ignoring my phone calls.
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19 Jan, 2024 by Charles p.
How glowing of a review do you give someone who saved your life? Bad, short duration (3 years), too quick marriage for all the wrong reasons. I had the house (free and clear), wife had the credit rating to get a home equity loan so we could pursue a business venture. I quit claim'd the deed to a joint tenancy one (bad mistake) and she got a HELOC ON MY HOUSE!. Wife soon soured on the business venture and emptied what was left in the HELOC account after significant home improvements. Relationship went to hell and I reached out to Ms. Ryan whom I learned of through a friend. Best call I ever made. Talk about nasty divorces. Wife wanted 1/2 the house and relief from the HELOC. Ms. Ryan successfully parried ever motion wife's attorney filed and I got my house back (wife got no part of it), and I took responsibility for the HELOC - fair since the bulk went into the house. To me it is apparent that Ms. Ryan has the knowledge, experience and judiciary relationships in SE Mass like no other divorce attorney on the South Shore. She and her staff are worth every penny. My divorce became final two weeks ago and I'm back in my house pursuing my business venture with the help of my brother (should have reached out to him rather than marry a credit rating). If you are in the Massachusetts South Shore area (read Plymouth) and your spouse is contesting the divorce, Ms. Ryan is likely the lawyer for you - she will save your life like she saved mine.
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19 Jan, 2024 by Jeanne
Susan did not represent me she was my husbands lawyer. My husband and I spoke though our whole divorce process. We still speak today, just saw him yesterday. Susan intentionally changed his Financial statement, all through email (We laughed). I’m not too sure who she knows in the courts that has gotten her to where she is today. The judge seems to be in her back pocket. Scumbag move on your part Susan (again we laughed and it ment nothing) but youll pay for your nastiness somewhere. Lots of love ❤️ sincerely Jeanne Farrar.
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09 Jan, 2024 by Workerline worker
Bulldog that destroys families!!! She is your worst nightmare and will not fight for your children's interest - I haven't seen my children in months. By the way, I have no criminal record, DCF involvement, pay for the house he left me with and now I will become homeless, lose my children to a liar who is just after money and anger. She made up lies after lies, she will try to get you to sign custody without your knowledge of the law. She fought for a a guy with a DUI to be able to drive children around.
She will fight for all substance abuser parents so if you are one of those hire her, she will fight for you and abuser spouses - she supports and parent alienation, no communication of vital information between parents as well such as medical - there is no reason for both parties to know about the children - one is always dirt and doesn't matter and has no rights.
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09 Nov, 2017 by Anonymous
I was asked to sign a release on a distribution of an estate. One paragraph was an issue, Ms. Winkler clearly explained why it was a problem and suggested how to have it deleted. Other attorney promptly deleted the problem paragraph and the issue satisfactorily resolved.
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24 Jun, 2015 by Nancy
Attorney Winkler created what I thought was a simple trust for me. The problem was she omitted a required form for the state of Delaware and the trust was not able to be finalized without it. Attorney Winkler was unapologetic and actually rude when I pointed out her omission. I had to finish it myself. Very disappointed to say the least.
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23 Jun, 2013 by Anonymous
Ellen Winkler was used as the probate lawyer for my fathers estate. Just to give you an idea of how good she really is, she will charge you up. and today 4 years after my fathers death I just found out she missed 7200 of back taxes which now are out of my pocket. THANKS ELLEN. TERRIBLE LAWYER
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12 Apr, 2016 by Anonymous
i hired this lawyer to represent me in a divorce and it was the worst decision I could have made. She did absolutely nothing for me and charged me an arm and a leg. She is not knowledgable about divorce law. My advice, hire someone who cares. She doesn't.
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22 Apr, 2013 by Joshua
This attorney took over $20,000 of my money and was a complete failure. She is so old she can't even pay attention to her case and so in the sack with the other attorneys that even if she could put up a fight she wouldn't! STAY AWAY!!!
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23 Jun, 2016 by David caira
Mr Loughran handled a Workers Comp case for me - Motor vehicle accident at work - In the beginning, he was good, professional, and got the job done but as soon as he was paid he refused to continue with the follow-up on my case. I still have damage (broken teeth) which was in all the reports. My employer refuses to fix them. I have been calling for 4 years, leaving messages - and have been completely ignored by this attorney. If you have an open and shut case, I would recommend him but if you think that you are going to have problems in the future - seek someone else.
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08 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
She has been in so many firms in the last 2 years she stopped listing them on her LinkedIn profile. Cervizzi, Kajko, Callahan Barraco, Halks Firm, Blue Fort, Melcher (no longer on website). Probably more. She will burn through your hard-earned money and waste your time and everyone else's including the judge.
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03 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
Please do your due diligence before referring this attorney. She ghost calls and is not responsive.
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05 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
This Aggressive lawyer Took 500.
00 from me and when I met her she refused my case. I asked for refund and she gave me her personal check that bounced for last year and half to this day. This Aggressive attorney stunk of booze at 10am in morning and slurred through whole "meeting " Sent to Bar Association via Rep. Mark Montignys office
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15 May, 2024 by Anonymous
Not an effective lawyer. All about taking your money with no true value in return. Won't do what you ask her to do. Never met a attorney like this one. Would not recommend this attorney.
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07 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
I would not recommend this attorney at all. Will not return calls, does not do what you hired her to do, and will outsource your case to other not competent attorneys that will drain your assets.
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09 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
hired David to help me with a divorce and he didn't show up to the court hearing. send another lawyer from another law office instead. fails to respond to calls and tests for weeks at a time.
Has done nothing to help me so far and is overcharging for services that he has not rendered.
do not use this guy
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28 Jun, 2018 by Joseph caron
Attorney LaPointe was often late and even failed to show up once I had to call him to find out where he was. He never gave us specific facts and the direction of my case and where it was headed, just gave me the next date and never called me once during my entire case. On my court dates when I talked with him I often left confused after a conversation with him and really didn't fully understand what was going on. He often seemed overwhelmed and I didn't feel he was prepared for court or my case. I hired a him instead of going with a public attorney because I felt we had a case that I could possibly win at trial, he boasted about only loosing one case, but in the end he suggested that we settled on the plea bargain the DA was suggesting because it would cost another $3000 to go to trial and you may not win. After 9 months of going to court and not really wanting to pay more money but also not having the confidence in his ability to go to trial, or not wanting to start the process over again by hiring another attorney I took the plea deal. I am disappointed that I spent $2000 when I probably would have gotten the same result if I went with the public defender.
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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.
