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28 Sep, 2012 by Serena
Before meeting Attorney Cari Brownlee I didn't have a positive experience or opinion of lawyers. Well she changed my mind completely. She is extremely thorough, professional and trustworthy. I appreciated most how she made sure and kept me informed and spoke to me on my level. I HIGHLY recommend Cari Brownlee to anyone looking for a great lawyer.
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08 Feb, 2011 by Monika
I'm so glad I had Cari for my Divorce Lawyer. She helped me in every way and made me feel better about myself. I'm doing great now and looking forward to my future. Thanks again Cari. Monika
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07 Feb, 2011 by Sheila
Cari will make you aware of everything to expect and everything that is happening in your matter. She was my attorney in a case against me where I was ticketed and she got it dismissed and we won. She's very easy to talk with and will do everything she can for you relative to your case.
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22 Jul, 2021 by Bridget
She handled my divorce and I can't say enough how professional she was during the whole process. Ms Creel always communicated about the status of my case and was very prompt on responding to my questions. I was very worried about the whole divorce process, but she made it very smooth and took a lot of the worry off me. I would definitely recommend her!
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02 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND MICHAEL D. WEST AS AN ATTORNEY. HE WORKED ON A CASE, CLIENT WANTED A TRIAL BY JURY, BUT HE ACCEPTED TRIAL WITH ONLY JUDGE MAKING DECISION. DURING THE COURT PROCEEDING HE DOES NOT BRING THE EXPERTS TO PROVE THE CASE WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CASE. CANCELLED THE MAIN CHARGES OF THE CASE, ADVISING CLIENT THAT IT WAS FOR THEIR BENEFIT. LOST THE CASE SINCE THE ESSENTIAL CHARGES WERE CANCELLED FROM THE CASE. LOST A HIGH VALUE SUIT BECAUSE OF THE ABOVE
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01 Jun, 2017 by Anonymous
Michael represented me in a civil matter that could have been decided either for or against me. He studied the facts and applied the law in a very competent, effective way which yielded a positive verdict. I was very pleased with his performance and would recommend his service to anyone.
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15 Oct, 2013 by Anonymous
I have retained Mr. West's legal services for the past two years. His representation through my divorce and subsequent proceedings have been quite exceptional. His knowledge of law, insight and counsel has been instrumental to me throughout this transitional period. He has earned my complete confidence and sincerest respect. I highly recommend him and his staff at West and West!
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14 Nov, 2023 by Marisa villarreal
Shari is special, after all the doors were shut for us to adopt she came through. She kept us in the loop of every step and was there to help and advise, I recommend Shari for any legal issues. She’s prompt when responding no matter what time and day it is….
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08 Nov, 2023 by Irene vega
08 Nov, 2023 by R.d
19 Sep, 2022 by Anonymous
Absolute minimal effort on her part once she realized we had a "high dollar" case in the sense that there were many factors/moving pieces, she let it run, sending minimal information via email to where you would have to further inquire and use your retainer just to know what was going on. She has no heart.
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02 Jun, 2021 by Diana
Shari is Amazing Attorney after hiring several Attorney's that just took my money and didn't care to help me because they felt it would be Impossible to try and Gain primary custody back. Shari was the one that gave me faith and believe we had a good chance. She never let me down and always respond immediately. I feel very blessed to have found such a wonderful Attorney Thanks to shar I am finally the primary custododial parent again.
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16 May, 2018 by Rosalyn robinson
This attorney has the attitude and the know how to get the job done. I was going through a nasty divorce and she came in with a great attitude and make sure that I didn't have much to worry about. She is heaven sent and I would definitely recommend her to whomever is serious about hiring an attorney for divorce. She is great!
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29 Feb, 2024 by Afool4trusting
I have been employed all my life since I was out of High School. I have graduated from UH. I never been court before at all so I am the first one to admit my experience in this field is very limited. Understand the laws and I follow them. I suppose it was my fault I let this be known to her right off the bat. My case was not a divorce but a simple child support enforcement/ modification to visitation orders. Her words were No worries I'll see you through this advise all the way beginning to end I've been doing this for years...etc All you have to do is provide me with docs, info, and let me do the rest no need to checkup or worry I'll call you/ email. Worry free limited invested time on my part once I provide with all items bang for the buck. I had already researched a bit in advance had all ready those first 2 days of service. I was a fool. At the end after a year with 3500 of advance she was late unprepared on the 1st court day dressed very casual. I felt uncomfortable bc she did not have her documents with gave excuses. She let go of one of her employees etc. 2nd court casual hand written draft to sign late again. At this point I was calling emailing no response wanted to understand and be advised on what the law expected out of me. No answers no tips no important info to have on hand in the future. Nothing before, after, and during communication provided, I did get charged however for every call, letter, email I had made during the last of last of it. At least they read them. Case is closed had a large bill paid but not forgoten. I am not a professional in this field but professionalism is important no matter where you work. I got more help from the D.A. Office and blogs then her for before and after the case. I held off getting her off the case bc she said it would be worth it. I am glad the D.A has info I need and its free. I suggest mediation/gov. Lawyer before get stuck in the rain with no rainbow in sight.
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30 Mar, 2019 by Anonymous
She charged me monthly legal fees, and had me collecting documents for a year, but did nothing to resolve my divorce. She didn't explain why it was taking so long, and became hostile when I complained about the continued delay. She made several threats to withdraw from my case just days before a scheduled hearing. She had my file 10 months, and was not prepared for the final hearing. Took no initiative to resolve my divorce. Allowed opposing counsel to control the direction of the entire case. With months of doing nothing to finalize my divorce, she caused me to lose a lot of resources with no results. She is neither competent or capable and shows no compassion or integrity.
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21 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
Ms Bushman holds a law degree and has many years of experience, There is no doubt that when she applied herself she can win for her client. Unfortunately my case seemed to fall through the cracks in her work load. She was very difficult to get a hold of. When Inwould call more often than not I had to speak with one of her assistants who were.not able to help other than taking a message. I appreciate being spread too thin and having too many comittmentd, however I would ask if that's the case are you really serving your clients properly? Ms Bushman at times was very reactive and failed to control her emotions when speaking to me, her paying client. At times she threatened me with withdrawing her services knowing we had important court dates coming up. At times I questioned her commitment to my case given her volunteer work at Food Bank sermed to take priority over returning my calls. She seemed to give up and essentially buckle under the view points of opposing counsel. Essentially sfe talked me in to agreebig to terms that have traumatized my child all in favor of opposing counsel. I agreed to the terms proposed with the hope of allowing the acrimony to settle, this was a huge mistake. As time has passed the opposition haa only become more emboldened and less open to coparenting with me than before. Ms Bushman's relationships with other attorneys seen to hold very little influence exhibited by their reluctance to be open to negotiating wit the terms she would provide in mediation. She ensured that I was always paid up in full so there was no question about her commitment to get paid. I understand she's running a business but bottom line Ms Bushman failed to deliver results on her committmenf to me and my child when we came to her for help. Please be certain to have an easy case because unfortunately Ms Bushman just did not seem to want to engage and fight for her client despite having hard physical evidence of abuse stated by the child regarding the opposition.
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01 Mar, 2024 by Texastechdude40
As my review states this attorney is a very smart attorney,but he is very lazy and really unorganized he will lose your evidence because he has no secretary. he will never return your calls until the day before court then he will submit a bill to you that reflects all of this work that he has been doing but it is a lie because he just starts blowing your phone up the night before your court date. he will take all your money and give you no receipts until you ask 100 times then he will throw one together that will eat all of your retainer and reflect that you owe him a couple grand more.....then he will hound you until you pay him then you will not here from him again until the night before court again he is always unprepaired !
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09 Dec, 2021 by Kathy
Hired this guy several years ago ..
I recently found out the work he did for me wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.
I reached out to him about the problem .
I told him he should fix this screw up free of charge ..He focused on the free of charge.
I never heard back from him..
I felt like since he didn’t do it right it the first place and I paid him back then that he should fix it free of charge ..
I hired a new lawyer that knew what he was doing and he was able to fix the mess this guy left me with..
If you hire him just be warned his screw ups might come back to bite you in the butt later on …He never even apologized !!!!
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04 Jan, 2021 by Abby
Mr. Patterson is an outstanding attorney. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
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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.
