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24 Jan, 2024 by Ben amidon
Ryan was very helpful, friendly, and professional!
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15 Sep, 2023 by Linda harrison
Ryan was the only attorney who listened enough to actually help me define what I needed to do. Other attorneys I sought out didn’t listen and just dismissed my situation as too niche, and to go to the Bar Association for a referral (which they don’t do, by the way). Not only was he efficient and effective, he was soooooo incredibly kind and educational. Please go to him if you are the curious type and want to understand legal matters because he’s got a knack for clarity and extremely patient and sensitive, too. He made me feel supported and empowered. Thank you so much, Ryan!!!
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15 Jul, 2022 by Rick ashe
Ryan Bedford has been working with me to close my late father's estate and settle out with my brothers. My schedule is chaotic and Ryan has been patient and worked with me after normal hours. No other attorney has ever done this for me. I recommend him highly.
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10 Mar, 2023 by Luke walker
Hello Friends ! Susan Pai is the REAL DEAL ! She is Brilliant, Beautiful and Genius ! She is caring and deeply thorough. She is extremely knowledgeable, well connected, and an excellent problem solver. Our case was a real doozy and her expertise led the way and she made the impossible , possible !
If you are lucky enough to have her as your immigration lawyer , then the gods favor you. She is the only lawyer in town who personally does all the immigration work from start to finish ( She only takes a maximum number of new cases each month). Susan is a winner and champion and deserves the highest accolades. Her work is immensely valuable beyond words and life changing. Thanks to Susan, my wife can now legally work and live in the United States and is no longer in removal proceedings. Thank you SO very much Susan you are the best and we are forever grateful for YOU and your exceptional talent. <3<3<3
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11 Nov, 2018 by Q. teserak
Thank you for opening my deportation case. You canceled my deportation and fight to get me legal. Now, I can drive and work and support myself and my children. You changed my LIFE for the better. I can recommend Susan Pai to anyone.
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11 Nov, 2018 by Anonymous
I saw Susan Pai in court and was blown away. There were at least 20 lawyers there and not one would stand up for these poor people in court who had no idea what was going on. I’m glad there are still lawyers like Susan Pai around. I enjoyed watching her in action.
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30 Mar, 2017 by Claudia torres
Very knowledgeable, responds quickly and very helpful!
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12 Nov, 2015 by Judy and rod
We would highly recommend Ryan Jacobsen to anyone who needs legal representation with real estate matters. Ryan saved our home and rental properties with his knowledge of the real estate laws, his important contacts, dedication, and hard work. We were victims of mortgage fraud and unscrupulous lenders, and Ryan was willing to take on our very difficult and challenging case when other attorneys had declined. We are so glad they did, because Ryan knew what needed to be done to save our properties, and did so under the deadlines. He always went above and beyond to help us. Anyone would be very lucky to have Ryan in their corner, and would have excellent representation!
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12 Oct, 2015 by Stephanie
Ryan is a very thoughtful and knowledgeable attorney. He listened well hearing out my explanation of what I was looking for and what my situation was. He was sensitive to my emotions instead of being quick to tell me what I should do and what I wanted from his legal perspective. He gained my trust and my faith in his credibility and I believe he represents my best interest based on sound reasoning of the law and on my desire and the outcome I seek. I would confide in him things that I wouldn't with any of the other attorneys I have dealt with.
It really is the first time I can say that I trust an attorney to do the best by me he could. He is skilled and intuitive. I only wish I would have known him two years ago when I could have really used a thoughtful and willing attorney. I would highly recommend him to others.
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05 Feb, 2020 by David
Paul Premack has so many clients but we feel like the only ones. We have let our estate planning go undone for too long because we thought working with an attorney would be hard. Our friends told us such stories. But we found Paul Premack! He made every step of our process go so smoothly. Compared to our friends stories, we feel he undercharged for the fine service we received on the phone, in the office, and the understandable estate planning legal documents we received.
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27 Dec, 2018 by Sylvia
This letter is to recommend Mr.Premack to anyone who is seeking
professional Estate Planning.
I felt very comfortable with him,because he was meticulous and
patient with my several questions. He has an outstanding experience and knowledge in every aspect of Estate Planning.
I would not hesitate to recommend Mr. Premack for your legal advice concerning your Estate Planning.
Sincerely,
Sylvia
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10 Dec, 2018 by Bruce
During the early 1990’s my father-in-law called a family meeting to discuss which of his four children would serve as his executor and exercise his power of attorney. My wife was selected by all to have this duty. My father-in-law read the San Antonio Express-News cover to cover on a daily basis and really appreciated Mr. Premack’s thoughtful articles. He asked my wife to set up an appointment to draw up a Will and such other documents that might be needed.
My wife and I accompanied her father to his appointment in with Mr. Premack to facilitate the interview, as her father was profoundly deaf. We were so pleased with Mr. Premack’s manner and the quality of his efforts, that Ramona and I decided it was time to put our own affairs in order.
Mr. Premack drew up our Wills, Durable Power of Attorney and Medical Power of Attorney in March of 2012. While in his offices, I purchased my first copy of The Senior Texan Legal Guide. Since that meeting I have subscribed to Mr. Premack’s articles for the San Antonio Express-News by email and downloaded his seventh edition of The Senior Texan Legal Guide Texas Elder Law.
Later I found it necessary to move my parents from Florida to San Antonio due to their failing health. As soon as practical, we made appointments for my folks to bring their Wills and Estate documents to Mr. Premack for evaluation and translation into documents that would meet Texas Law and secure their Estate wishes. Mr. Premack developed a Restatement of their Living Trust as well as Wills and Durable Power of Attorney.
In June 2017 we accompanied Ramona’s sister to have her Will, Directive to Physicians, Medical Power of Attorney and Declaration of Guardianship drawn up.
During these many years, Mr. Premack and his lovely wife Ruthie have patiently and courtesy answered all of our many questions.
Robert & Ramona
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23 Aug, 2024 by Kate cissna
Prompt, to the point legal consult, and supportive of our nonprofit work in the community. Wonderful!
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19 Feb, 2024 by Shawn roberts
These guys are the go to guys for any of your legal needs I highly recommend them
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27 Apr, 2023 by Michael taylor
26 Jan, 2017 by Wayne
My legal firm has hired Cynthia to handle both our LLC paperwork, our corporate agreement and to perform our individual estate planning. Cynthia has been top-notch in all accounts and I would recommend her without hesitation.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Shawn sohayda
Other than wanting me to "go with the flow" instead if challenging CPS allegations which I fully regret, I can't blame the lawyer, only my own decision. Mr. Desmond is very professional and an outstanding attorney as well as his team of lawyers.
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16 Apr, 2024 by Lindsey
We found Drew because another lawyer told us he was good at taking cases that are unusual. That he knows how to fight these cases that nobody else wanted to take.
Drew was straight forward with our case and the costs involved during our consult. Drew is straight forward no sugar coating the situation. I appreciated this because I knew he was authentic.
We had to put in work but Drew told us if we did some things on our own it would save us a lot of money. It also helped us in remembering some details that we may have forgotten.
Drew is intelligent and at times I felt dumb not understanding him but not to worry he would break things down in layman’s terms until we got it.
At times I was unsure of communication as he wouldn’t answer emails as often as I would have liked but he is a busy attorney and this didn’t stop him from knowing all the details of the case and looking up laws to fight it. Drew knows his stuff! He was determined to win this case by using his knowledge and knowing the law. I was amazed watching him represent me so well. Literally couldn’t have found a better lawyer. We are grateful we found Drew. If you are searching for the right attorney for you, look no further. Drew is the best.
Oh and we won!
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10 Dec, 2022 by Ashley marie rangel (smash)
08 Jul, 2024 by Shawn sohayda
Other than wanting me to "go with the flow" instead if challenging CPS allegations which I fully regret, I can't blame the lawyer, only my own decision. Mr. Desmond is very professional and an outstanding attorney as well as his team of lawyers.
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10 Dec, 2022 by Ashley marie rangel (smash)
22 Feb, 2022 by Timothy hosford
We want to thank Hye Young Park and (Chris) Desmond Law for standing up for me and getting the ball rolling and my 2 son's home where they belong. I was dealing with false cps reports by scorn ex, my pierce county attorney (Fred Thorne) told me 2 file for dependency and left us right after...no attorney after case switched counties and my case stopped fell thru the cracks and into the system and to the bottom of the pile of 4 socal workers desks for a year.. Abandoned, Single Father, victim of DV with 5,6 y/o boys, kids in dependency due to not being able to keep them safe(from mom) and Hye Young Park accepted my impossible case and got the ball rolling and our nightmare was shortly over. In a matter of weeks Hye Young Park had my kids staying over nights and then their trial return home and then permanently home with their FATHER! Case dismissed! She was attentive, very professional, smart and she came at dcyf with a demanding force THANK YOU! MUCH RESPECT!
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13 Nov, 2023 by Ali
12 Apr, 2023 by Stulin kenworthy
20 Mar, 2023 by Margaret rice
What a caring group of professionals! Highly recommend.
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28 Jun, 2019 by Pat
Brian was great. Really knows his stuff, knew the opposing lawyer and the challenges of working with her, kept me focused and was very communicative. He was the second lawyer I used (dismissed the first) and I only wish I started with him. He was also mindful of cost which I appreciated.
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05 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
Brian helped our family through a very traumatic time. He helped us secure temporary custody of our grandchildren. He was very professional; did what was expected and helped us through a very difficult process. He is a very good attorney and we would highly recommend him.
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23 Dec, 2016 by Anonymous
Brian handledmy case professionally and the outcome was better than l could have gotten with a court appointed attorney
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13 Nov, 2023 by Ali
12 Apr, 2023 by Stulin kenworthy
20 Mar, 2023 by Margaret rice
What a caring group of professionals! Highly recommend.
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14 May, 2024 by Sean taschner
I highly recommend Ms. Motoyama. She is ethical, compassionate and insightful. She took the time to listen to my concerns and help me come up with a plan to address them.
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23 Nov, 2019 by Dan
Stacie-Dee Motoyama was instrumental in negotiating a difficult situation, could not have handled this divorce without her expert knowledge and experience.
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23 Sep, 2019 by Keri
After many, many years of appointments at CTM I am happy to see Stacie-Dee laying down new roots in an environment that allows each case the time and commitment it needs. She is a very hard working representative for her clients. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her. She shows compassion when you're emotionally distressed, and helps you through controversies involving the legal system at the least cost, financially and emotionally. She's worthy of your trust; as well as the trust of opposing parties and their attorneys.
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4.4
7 Reviews
4.6
10 Reviews
02 Aug, 2024 by Dan cooper
It was a total pleasure working with Jim to get my gun rights restored. He goes above and beyond for his clients. After the Judge signed the order, Jim sent copies directly to WASP, so I could apply for my concealed carry permit sooner than later. He is very kind, caring, and incredibly professional. If you are looking to get your gun rights back, look no further. You are in good hands with Jim. Thank you, Jim. My family and I are truly grateful for your business.
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30 Oct, 2023 by Redeemed toremain
BEST ATTORNEY IN HISTORY!!!!!!!!! HIRE YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!!!!
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27 Jul, 2023 by Brian sperry
I had a great experience with james, he kept me up to date on getting my gun rights back and had it done in the time he said it would be completed, his price was extremely fair, I highly recommend him and will always refer him to any one that needs his services!
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16 May, 2024 by Michael van
Brent and his team did a wonderful job helping our family navigate the complexities of estate law. The Dille team gave us peace of mind and confidence to take it day by day. Highly recommend Dille Law!
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15 Sep, 2023 by Leabers oliver (leabers)
17 Aug, 2023 by Meagan olds
4.2
15 Reviews
02 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
My wife and I retained Mr. Rawnsley for a very delicate family law matter. We had been falsely accused of child abuse by my ex wife and an unsuccessful defense of the accusations would have been catastrophic for our family. For reference, I have worked with many attorneys in the past 10 years dealing with my ex so I have an unfortunately large amount of experience in assessing the quality of legal counsel.
Mr. Rawnsley was very professional, highly informed about the relevant statutes and had a good understanding and relationship with the judicial officer (something that is very, very important). All of my previous counsel lacked in some area or another. One may have been less competent, where another may have not had the quickness of wit and depth of understanding of the law to successfully represent my interests.
I can say with total confidence that Mr. Rawnsley was the complete package. He was, by far, the best attorney I have ever hired for a family law matter and it isn't really close. I am grateful for his efforts and would recommend him to anyone else.
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09 Feb, 2022 by Brian
For context: the following stems from a separation/divorce and parenting plan fight that has been ongoing for almost three years.
During the first year, I felt that the firm was doing a great job going to bat for me to help me avoid a "pro se" nightmare that I was facing. However, even after the entrance of the divorce decree and final orders almost a year ago, the opposing party still decided to interpret things her own way.
A year ago, I warned my lawyer that the opposing party intended to take some actions related to federal taxes. The firm either ignored what I said or chose inaction on the matter, and to this day claim not to have any knowledge of the tax situation despite email chains to the contrary from early 2021. I have now lost out on 2 years worth of tax refunds totaling more than $10,000 because of that one single action taken by the opposing party, even though it is contradicted by what is written in the final court order. No action taken in this instance, but everyone knows if I, the father, had done the same thing to her, I would've been dragged through the coals by the court.
Early November, 2021 - I write an email to confirm pickup dates and times for Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. I am told I'm wrong on both and that I won't be getting to see my children until three days after the day Christmas break begins. I re-involve my attorney to help settle things. It goes to mediation, doesn't get resolved, the day of her lawyer finally confirms with my lawyer that I'll be getting them two days late and "take it or leave it" essentially.
The parenting plan was violated when those two visitation days that should have been mine were withheld from me. Opposing party used various excuses and reasonings, but the bottom line is they broke the parenting order. I asked my counsel to hold her accountable, asked if there was a contempt motion we could make. It has been almost two months since those days were lost, and I have been attempting that entire time to get a contempt motion filed against the opposing party, but nothing happened. I tried asking every few days if something had been done; nothing had. It was always "Oh they didn't answer yet" or a message from opposing counsel that said "I just forwarded this to my client, let's see what she says" or "Oh sorry, I didn't see this until three days after you sent it, let me send it to my client". No motion was ever filed, and I have yet to find out if I'm ever going to get my two days back that I lost due to her choices.
I pleaded with my counsel to do something. Take action. If it had been me as the father who had done what she did, she and the court would have already shredded me apart. I begged over and over for almost a month, and finally said if something wasn't going to happen soon that I would retain new counsel.
That's when I received the professional equivalent of "fine I quit". Complete with self-congratulatory claims referring back to the previous work done from a year ago. To clarify with a mechanic analogy: "The car ran great the day I fixed it a year ago, I can't believe you're upset now that something else broke and I haven't fixed it yet!" If they had done what I had asked, I wouldn't have had to replace them. Two months of back and forth. Hours and hours billed for emails and phone calls, and not a single legal action filed despite several written "threats" to opposing counsel about the intent to file a contempt motion. It was as if the mere mention of the motion would've been sufficient to inspire the opposing party to mend their ways. But it wasn't. And it isn't.
By the time I had hired a new lawyer, it felt as if the opposing party had two lawyers and I had none. Don't expect them to explain the reasons why behind the advice they give you.
I learned more in 24 hours with the new counsel than I did over the last two years with this firm.
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11 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
PWR law is the worst I would recommend finding better legal help. Patrick Rawnsley is a terrible money hungry attorney that doesn’t get good results for you if you’re not wealthy and willing to pay out your life savings.
Starting he charge me a $5000 retainer fee then he burned through it in less than a month after only appearing in court for me one time. Supposed to help me with my parenting plan And charge me another $2000 retainer or he would drop my case, he burned through that and then came up with an additional $3000 of more unjustified charges.
He was my attorney for less than 3 months and only appeared in court for me one time. He was supposed to help me get my youngest son into our parenting plan but was unsuccessful in all. He was a waist of $7000 and of course he falsely charged me an additional $3000 then sent me to collections with new charges with a total of over $6400.
He would set up in person meetings with me his legal aid then charge me almost twice as much for each meeting. When I asked if we could just meet with the two of us he would still charge me on the backend to discuss the case with his legal aid which would be more expensive he said.
4 years later and I’m still trying to dispute what he’s done to my credit. He didn’t even care that I was broke and using student loans to pay him to help me be in my kids lives. All of this is true and I would highly recommend you use a better attorney that won’t screw you over when you are already suffering.
Please tell me how an attorney can charge a poor client over $13400 but only show up to court one time and represent them for only a couple months and leaving their client in the same situation when they came to him.
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27 Mar, 2024 by Jennifer carlson
Jonathan Sprouffske, if he can call himself an attorney, does not even deserve the 1 star. The incredible distaste I will have for him cannot be resolved from the horror he put my family through in dealing with my father's estate. It has been over 2 years since his death and my blood still boils with the lack or should I say no communication and manipulation. Do not hire, you will regret!
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26 Mar, 2024 by Becky carver
Amy is a rockstar attorney. No one represents their clients better than Amy. She’s the absolute best.
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02 Dec, 2023 by Andra flint
Great 👠attorney for all your needs. Maybe you should call 📞 them to make your life better.
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20 Oct, 2020 by Brian
After spending tens of thousands of dollars to protect my LLC he failed to properly Represent me. I was forced to bring a malpractice suit against him and his firm.
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09 Oct, 2019 by Milani
We were referred to Scott by a trusted friend to manage a stressful situation created by an unethical professional. He is so knowledgeable, comfortable and easy to be around and offers information and strategic options. He resolved our situation so quickly and was very precise with his prediction of outcome- explaining everything along the way. I highly recommend him!
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31 Jul, 2017 by Tracey
I have owned a handful of small businesses over the past years and have used several attorney's over those years. Until, I hired Scott Kee. Scott has helped with a wide range of business issues from creating new business entities to the sale of my family business after 40+ years in business. Scott is able to boil down complex issues into understandable english and has always responded promptly.
It's my pleasure to highly recommend Scott Kee to all my fellow business persons.
Tracey
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5.0
3 Reviews
2.9
10 Reviews
10 Jan, 2024 by Linda
Susan was very conscientious and guided us with detailed explanations on what each document was for and why it was needed and that our specific situation did not need the added expense of a Trust. And she was kind and caring and listened and paid attention to the stories shared.
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07 Dec, 2023 by Sally
Because of my move from Oregon to Washington, Susan was very helpful revising the Family Trust. We discussed various issues and options for the future. She was kind and thoughtful yet professional throughout the process. She will help you in whatever way she can.
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02 Dec, 2023 by Karl
Ms. Kirkpatrick helped us put together our family trust documents and get our assets into the family trust. She was able to explain the complex laws and system in simple terms that we could understand. She completed it all in a reasonable time and at a reasonable cost. We couldn't be more satisfied.
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02 Aug, 2024 by Jessica
Eric Pilon saved my son's life. If you or your family are ever in need of a attorney 100% I can tell you call Budd Bay law firm in thurston County. " Eric Pilon " worked to find the truth. If It was not for Eric my son was looking at a 20 year sentence. Eric brought the truth and facts . There are no words that could ever explain my greatfulness to you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for giving me my son back. I will forever be greatful to you.
BUDD BAY LAW They get the job done
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26 Jul, 2024 by Andrew bailey
Professional, smart, caring, and honest. Will refer to everyone I know!
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30 May, 2024 by Bradley dodge
Found out today they put a $4,000 judgement against me after paying my down payment of $2,000 they ran up a $4,000 bill without notifying me absolutely do not recommend this firm they went to court one time and fail the during that attempt and continue to charge me after they were let go
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13 Aug, 2023 by Jimormichelle anderson
I was recently watching YouTube regarding lawyers in California who are drumming up business in ADA lawsuits to extract money from businesses in that State.
It's nice to know that Washington has this kind of attorney who can extract money from businesses that try to help guardianship clients, and get a lot of money to do so.
Money first!
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09 Jun, 2023 by Ernesto silva
I had called looking for counseling on some family matters and wanted to inquire of her rate and availability but from the get-go experienced a rude demeanor.
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18 Apr, 2023 by B a
With a little rough start Virginia finished strong. She helped me help my mom during a tough time & I am grateful that my mom has more peace of mind moving forward.
Thanks to Virginia & Luis for the work.
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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.
