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20 Jun, 2018 by Anonymous
I used Richard in a real estate transaction and I must say I have NEVER come across a worse attorney (I have worked for several law firms, so that is a big statement to make). Richard was non-responsive, leaves the client to do their work and does not write back to e-mails. He was supposed to do his due diligence in a purchase, and reported back with nothing. Later on, I found liens that were public on ACRIS all along, prior to closing. Further, when a contract was drafted by seller's attorney, he OK'ed it without reviewing it and asked if I wanted to make any changes (the contract was not in my favor, and he made no effort to even make suggestions, and instead asked what I would like changed). He was mailing things to me via snail mail, as he was too cheap to FedEx documents. I DO NOT recommend anyone use this attorney unless you intend on being your own attorney.
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26 Jul, 2013 by Dante
I have been using Richard Boccio to handle multiple real estate transactions in Brooklyn and Queens since 2002. As an experienced real estate developer it is important to have the best on your team. In my opinion Richard Boccio qualifies as a knowledgeable and competent Attorney. He has been able to assist me in related matters other than the purchase and sale of property.
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23 Aug, 2022 by Tasnim
Reached out to lawyer in April 2022 for a court date scheduled in June 2022.
Received mail by DMV in May 2022 that the court date has been postponed by the court till October 2022. Notified them.
August 2022, ticket got dismissed by court without reason. Asked for a refund since nothing was done on their part. Only agreed to send partial of what I paid. Lost $100 when nothing was done on their end.
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01 Apr, 2014 by David
This attorney has represented me numerous times for almost thirty years. I have used him for real estate deals, landlord-tenant work, contracts, and for commercial litigation.
He is excellent at what he does, and is incredibly responsive whenever I call.
I definitely recommend him.
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22 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
No nonsense, busy but worth the wait. He is one of the most experienced lawyers in landlord tenant matters. He guides the judges on the law. He was methodical and worked his way through each witness and pinpointed the holes in their testimony. Many people say he is not patient, obviously that is because he does not have time to deal with other lawyers who do not know the law or are not prepared. I saw that first hand. He will get you what you want and well worth the price . He did a much better job than my Manhattan lawyers. A consummate professional even if you do not like his bedside manner.
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15 Feb, 2018 by Andrew
He (eventually) got the job done, but he's the most unprofessional lawyer I've ever had the displeasure of working with.
I hired Mr. Napoletano to remove some tenants in a holdover proceeding back in March and wasn't able to get the tenants out until the end of September. For months after hiring him, I never even got to speak to Mr. Napoletano directly - I always had to go through his assistant.
When all of the paperwork was finally filed with the courts, Mr. Napoletano set a date that I was unable to make, since he never even thought to ask me about my schedule. Rescheduling took another two months. On top of this, he made me bring my 94-year-old grandmother (who owns the property) to court twice, even though she wasn't needed.
If all of this wasn't bad enough, whenever I showed up to court, Mr. Napoletano was always an hour or two late. On every occasion, he sent me a curt email, telling me to let the judge know he was on his way, even though he refused to give any sort of ETA.
During the last court appearance, when Mr. Napoletano was over two hours late, and the judge was asking me repeatedly where my lawyer was, I offhandedly said "oh, he's always late." Somehow, this information made its way back to Mr. Napoletano, who had the audacity to take me aside (when he finally arrived) and chew me out. He told me it wasn't my job to make excuses for why he was late (even though this is exactly what he had asked me to do in the email), and then he continued to give me the excuse that he was late because he had another court appearance in a different county that morning.
My takeaway from all this is that he's a lawyer who's too busy to give any of his clients the attention or care they deserve, too disrespectful, and too unprofessional for the price he charges. He also was only able to get the tenants out after around 7 months with no ruling for them to pay back rent. I would never work with this jerk again.
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27 Jan, 2018 by Anonymous
Mr. Nicholson represented me for my negligent case and got me a great result. He was hardworking and diligent. He’s a real fighter and also always treated me with respect and courtesy . I highly recommend him.
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06 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
Stay far away from this man. His law office took my accident case on. I never heard anything from them in 3 months. I'd have to call them constantly to remind them to send faxes. Once he realized my case wouldn't make him enough money he sent me a generic letter Telling me that they had dropped my case, no explanation. WORST LAWYER, LAZY STAFF. STAY FAR AWAY.
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29 Sep, 2023 by Anonymous
I couldn't stress enough but to STAY AWAY. As if the law isn't awful enough in New York for Landlords Tom will be your way to losing even more time and money. I never take the time to write reviews but I found it a necessity in this time. For weeks I would wait for a call from him to never get one. Then once he eventually calls, he doesn't even know what is going on.
To say how much of a horrendous experience it has been is an understatement. Truly the absolute worst attorney I know. The time table of evictions in New York is awful from the start and with Tom, you lose even more time. There were instances of him asking what should we do when he's the licensed attorney. To all you other landlords out there seeking evictions of problematic tenants, I warn you to STAY AWAY from this practice.
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20 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous
unfortunately Mr Tom Pruzan cannot follow through with his promises and cares less with updating you on anything regarding your case ! His receptionist is the real attorney and probably has more knowledge! he informs you that he will call you back and lies about sending you paperwork which is extremely unprofessional! maybe his thoughts are scattered like his environment where he works daily !!!!
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23 May, 2022 by Anonymous
Please Never Use this Lawer. He had my case for two years. The court said he never filed the case. He doesn’t return calls. My case was never completed and said the case has been backed up since Covid-19. This has been 2 years. Case have been going on since June 2021 and it’s May 2022 he uses excuses after excuses. I am writing the bar Association.
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27 May, 2024 by Joanna r
Excellent debt collection attorneys
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14 Jul, 2022 by Leon matalon
12 Apr, 2022 by Debt collector
Excellent law firm. Does a great job.
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15 Apr, 2024 by Tatiana
I would like to express my gratitude forwards the law firm of Dinara Maylov . She and her staff done a true professional job, helping me to finally get my green card. It was emotional journey for me. Dinara worked as fast as possible to get result and it all happened. Her secretary Yelena was very nice and kind to me. The process was straight forward from start to finish. I will always recommend her to my friends and anyone who needs professional help regarding immigration! Thank you ! Tatiana Salnikova.
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01 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
She failed a very ordinary paper but a very important one. After a successful interview for Green Card she forgot to file I-130 which only has 90 days to do so. And she could not file one...?... for 3 months???...
Not recommended!
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12 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
Dinara Maylov helped me numerous times through the years. She is very knowledgeable in many areas of law.
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02 Jun, 2022 by Anonymous
Hands down best and most professional office. The team has gone above and beyond and have answered all of my concerns and questions. Best accident lawyers! 10/10 would recommend.
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28 Aug, 2019 by Anonymous
I have been in a car accident more than two years ago, and as a result, have two hernias in lumber spine. I underwent multiple shots as well as physical therapy and acupuncture, as well as percatenious discectamy (done with large needle) under sedation. For two years it has been a struggle to get a hold of anybody in this office. Multiple voice messages, text messages and emails were left unanswered. Everytime i called, it seemed like nobody knew my case existed. My paralegals were switched three times, if not more. I was trying to set up an appointment with my attorney, but it was rescheduled every time. I was told that if i spent any amount money out of pocket, i will be reimbursed, i spent $289 for meds and transportation going to doctors, but nobody were able to get my money back, advising me that its your own fault that you spent those money. Paralegal, Daisy, were especially rude, and extremely disrespectful - she said “honey, what did you think, you start a law suit, its your second job”. Meanwhile, was not able to answer any of my questions, promising to call me back, but never did. I texted her for two months trying to get a reply, but all i got was silence. I have texts proving everything. She decided to answer today, with my offer, which she said we “already discussed” - but i never got any offers prior to today. I am beyond disappointed with this office! If i could go back two years ago, i would’ve never chosen this office. The miscommunication and disrespect in this office is ridiculous.
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26 Sep, 2008 by Anonymous
He is not worth the money he will charge you. He was my lawyer from hell for real estate purchase. Not only he was never available to talk to or ask questions, he also never called back when I left him messages in his office. His secretaries started to recognize my over the phone from all the calls I made to his office. I actually ended up contacting the bank lawyers myself, and requesting property assessment myself. I might have handled the entire thing myself. After I collected all the papers and got all the approvals, because of his lack of professionalism I had to wait for two and a half weeks for him to schedule a closing (and again, no updates, no calls or even calls back from him during that time). That’s almost a month of staying in limbo.
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12 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
Epitome of douchebag lawyer...the kind that give decent lawyers the bad name. Do not hire this con artist. Seriously, who took the bar for this guy?
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12 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
I became Andrew Sfouggatakis client in 2012. He was friendly and nice and told me the suit would be over in 6 months to a year. The case was settled and we won in 2018- 6 years later. We had previously emailed back and forth and he did respond during this time, however I have e-mailed him over 30 times since the last response I got from him, which was July 12, 2018. His last response was "the check will be here any day". Since July 12, 2018 (over a year ago- it is now September 2019) I have e-mailed, called numerous times, left messages with the secretary and paralegal and I have yet to receive a phone call back. As a client I feel I was not treated with professionalism nor with common courtesy. I am left wondering where is my settlement?
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21 Mar, 2018 by Darlene
The best decision I made was hiring Andrew Sfouggatakis as my Lawyer. He is extremely knowledgeable, down to earth and comforting. Andrew guided me through my case and was always available to speak with on the phone. His integrity and attention to detail are top notch. I was extremely satisfied with his service and the results of my settlement. I highly recommend Andrew Sfouggatakis.
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07 Apr, 2021 by Nicole
He is a criminal, he signs up clients and changes his number after money has been exchanged. Do not hire or retain him for anything legal. I hired him and now am pursuing legal action against him, for the services he did not provide as signed/agreed upon in our client retainer agreement. He practices in Brooklyn, NY.
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31 Jul, 2019 by Youlanda
If you want a lawyer who is MIA he is the right one for you. Hired this guy for a symple divorce case and two years later I'm still married and i cant get to him calls not being answered, voicemail ia always full, text not being returned, and mail being returned to sender. Needless to say I'm super disappointed in his service
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05 Dec, 2016 by Anonymous
I visited Mr. Morisset in his office on February 13, 2015, for a free in-person consultation to discuss my case. After meeting with him and reflecting on his qualifications and proposed legal strategy, I decided to hire him to represent me. On February 18th, 2015, I mailed him the retainer and emailed him the signed agreement and my court appearance ticket so that he knew where and when to appear.
My court date was scheduled for March 16, 2015, and I on March 13, 2015, spoke to him and confirmed that he would be in court. On the morning of my court date, I arrived at 8:45AM (appearance time was 9AM) and sent him a text and phone call letting him know once again where to meet me. By 9:10AM, I received neither a phone call nor a text response so I after speaking with the court marshall proceeded into court and argued my own case. I called him after leaving court and received no answer so I left court to get to work.
That evening, I sent him an email that he was terminated and asked him to please return my retainer. His response to my request was that he had worked on my case (as shown above, he never arrived in court for the appearance time) and that he would only return $1,150 of my $1,500 retainer. I immediately filed a small claims case against him and his business. After several small court appearances (NYC courts are very backlogged), I received a settlement against him in February of 2016.
I called and texted Mr. Morisset over a 6-month period to request payment but received no response. I consulted the NYC Marshal and they informed me that they could easily take on my case and were perplexed as well about why an attorney wouldn't pay a judgment (illegal and unethical). After 6 months, I filed a levy with the NYC Marshal and they levied his bank account for the funds.
Mr. Morisset is an unreliable attorney for,
1) Failing to appear in court
2) Refusing to returning my retainer when he did no work
3) Refusing to pay me even after a judgment had been issued
If you'd like more backup, I'm happy to provide more documentation on my claim as I have emails, texts, and court documents proving his unethical actions.
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26 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
Not very good with handling our case. Does not pay attention to details. Did not keep me informed and is difficult to get through to. I would not recommend her to anyone. She's also way overpriced for the treatment received. You are warned!
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22 Feb, 2017 by Sammie simmons
Very unprofessional
We had a deal that he offered us when a contract was out already and he gave us a whole run around letting us think that we can still have it, and even that period he never discussed stuff with out attorney only through broker didnt even sound that understands lawyer lingo, all comments on the contract were changed into simple lingo.
then after making a change in the contract which he agreed to, he threw us out of his office and acted very rude and nasty.
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22 Feb, 2017 by Wanda
I have used there services in the past and agree with all these folks. Look at reviews and search them prior to contacting.
This is what we did. The web has a wealth of information. A great place to do diligence
There are better attorneys in New York. Cheaper isn't always best.
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14 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
We contacted Charlie for help with our case. Brooklyn is such hectic place to live. He refused to speak with us?
We are new comers to the area and we were informed that local help is the way to go. What a mistake.
His website is contrary to what he says he really is. My husband and I will go elsewhere.
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20 Jan, 2024 by Cynthia
My original lawyer was relocating to Georgia and referred me to Jacqueline Chinquee to finish my custody/child support case in Brooklyn Family Court. The first time we met was at a court date where nothing happened. I paid her. She went on to handle other cases she had for the day. She had her assistant to later contact me to pay for her parking for the day. I did not respond to that and did not send additional funds. I got another lawyer. That was a bright red flag for me.
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17 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
She will not return calls or text to let you know what is going on But always wants more money to do nothing Please don’t do business with her
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11 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
The most untrustworthy lying and manipulative women I ever met and she will get back everything she has done
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05 Mar, 2024 by Blakryme44
in January of this year, my family hired Atty, C. Husbands for a holdover case and we learned first hand his poor work ethic and performance. In the many times we called his office and Mr. Husbands' was not available, his receptionist NEVER offered to contact the attorney by cellphone. So, most of our calls went unreturned. In the instances when we did speak to Mr. Husbands, we experienced listening to an attorney who was not forthconing with details, was easily irritated by questions and became argumentative when told he was speaking in a loud antagonizing tone. In short, he is unprofessional and belligerent. Needless to say, the case was settled in our favor with the tenant needing to leave by 5/31 or face a Marshall's eviction. It is now two weeks later and the tenant has not moved nor been evicted. That's because today we learned the marshall's office never received the attorney's paperwork to serve notice to the tenant. Total imcompetence. Do not use this attorney, avoid the headache.
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01 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
I had problems with my landlord and I Hired Mr Husband as my attorney. He is very argumentative, he doesn't want to listen, he shouts at you as though you are a nobody. Mr. Husband concern is money, not into the problems you came to speak with him about. He has no professionalism in him. when you asked him a question he gets very angry and agitated to the point he shouts at you.You will call no one answering the phone, you will send emails he's will not respond. PLEASE DON'T HIRED THIS ATTORNEY, HE IS A BAD PERSON. AVOID HIM
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05 Jun, 2021 by Diane
I have been trying to reach this firm for over three weeks and no return calls or response to calls. No contact concerning case of holdover status. Called from a different phone and calls was answered immediately.
Contact court and petition and notice of petition has not been filed. Request case to be placed on nuisances calendar to move forward and very argumentative response from attorney where as I have multiple hassrrment complaints against tenants with police reports and no discussion with attorney to proceed to file case.
All calls ignored by attorney.
Very unprofessional practice.
Refraim for hiring this law firm
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09 May, 2019 by Anonymous
Richard was my attorney when I purchased my home about a year ago. He was incredibly hard to reach throughout the entire process, and I mostly only dealt with his aid. He waited to tell me that his fee would be higher until closing. But the worst part is that he never actually gave me any real legal counsel before closing. Now that I've closed and have on going issue with how the heating/cooling system was improperly installed by the developer, he tells me there is no recourse except small claims court. He could have given me a lot of advice prior to closing, including checking with the Department of Buildings on the specifics of the installation and making sure that I would be protected after closing for things like this. If you want to have a lawyer that is on your side, do not hire Richard.
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25 Apr, 2017 by Hunter
Just terrible. Our closing in Brooklyn went as poorly as I, or anyone I've told the story to, has ever heard of. The fact that my own lawyers, Richard's team, missed the fact that we'd have to file for non-resident NY taxes and that we had to come up with an unexpected $8,000 on the spot, discovered at the closing table by attorneys representing the other parties, is amazing. But that is only part of what went wrong with the process. For sure do yourself a favor and go with someone else.
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18 Jan, 2023 by Anonymous
I recently had an extremely disappointing experience with Olufunlola Olayemi Oni From beginning to end, the level of incompetence displayed by her was astounding.
She was recommeneded by one of my friend , she seemed not to have an idea of what she was doing.
She lack knowledge and skills required to properly handle my situation, and I was left feeling frustrated and disregarded. Furthermore, her lack of communication and follow-through added to my dissatisfaction, I will never recomnmed this woman for anything.
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20 Jun, 2011 by Natasha
In February 2010 I hired Mr. Kent for an urgent work - 3 hours of his work plus $210 for filing an index for my new case in court. He said he worked "more than 3 hours, but will charge me only for 3 hours anyway". He said he'll mail me the results of his work.
He also said he did file my case in court that day. He emailed me the calculations: 3 hours at $175, plus $210 for court index, $735 total.
I gave him a check for $735 and started waiting.
The check was cashed, and the mail never came.
Almost a year after I email him asking about the status of our case. He said we "didn't have a case", that I only hired him "to write a complaint".
I forwarded him all the email and a picture of the cashed check. He said he did not "remember" cashing it, even though sent him my bank statement twice already.
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01 Sep, 2022 by Melissa
They really tried to go on google and respond almost 4 months later after they took my fiancés money .. I could not respond so now I’ll be leaving my reviews all over. They are CROOKS and had the nerve to respond like my fiancé didn’t pay him when he paid them all year long and only did not pay when he went to prison. Almost 20 grand and they did nothing for him ….
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01 Oct, 2020 by Amit gera
Howard came off as petty, extremely unprofessional, unresponsive, irate and frankly quite rude. He would not respond to countless e-mails, failed to answer countless phone calls, refused to return messages, and held hostage important files and paperwork without reason or merit. I would not recommend his services whatsoever.
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21 May, 2013 by Cora
The absolute worst, stay away at all costs. Cookie cutter answers to complex or even simple problems, they didn't read or research what I wrote them and barely even showed up in court on time (over an hour late). Poor communication and even worse client management skill.
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01 Oct, 2020 by Amit gera
Howard came off as petty, extremely unprofessional, unresponsive, irate and frankly quite rude. He would not respond to countless e-mails, failed to answer countless phone calls, refused to return messages, and held hostage important files and paperwork without reason or merit. I would not recommend his services whatsoever.
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01 Oct, 2020 by Amit gera
Howard came off as petty, extremely unprofessional, unresponsive, irate and frankly quite rude. He would not respond to countless e-mails, failed to answer countless phone calls, refused to return messages, and held hostage important files and paperwork without reason or merit. I would not recommend his services whatsoever.
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17 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
this women does not care about her clients. only interested in money and she is beyond lazy. DO NOT USE HER.
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03 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
horrible experience ! she filed my paper work wrong and because of her mess up I had to give my tenant 8k to get out. in the end she even messed up paper work for the marshal to evict and had to wait an additional month. will never deal with her again! STAY AWAY!
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11 Jun, 2024 by Michael
Seriously lacks communication! Waited weeks to months for responses or updates. The issue also happened with another family member. If you want your probate, will or estate planning done in a timely fashion you need to go elsewhere. Good luck and sorry for your loss if you are reading this review.
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22 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
Highly unprofessional!!! Doesn’t respond or push paperwork through maybe too busy or too many cases
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17 Nov, 2022 by Gloria
He messed up my Divorce decree when he left off my maiden name and I've tried to contact him several times and he refuses to answer my calls
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09 Aug, 2018 by Anonymous
Reviews my case and my documents. Tells me my options to approach the case - tells me he will call me back in 3 hours to figure out timing of setting case in motion. I told him my case was time sensitive. He knew I needed to get back to someone the next day. 3 hours came and went. He never called me back. I send him an email at night asking when I will hear from him. He never writes me back. I leave him a voicemail - he never calls me back. Nothing! I was (reluctantly) going to hire him and he just never bothered to recontact me. Completely unprofessional. I also felt he steered me away from a topic for personal reasons, because it was in his best interest, but not in the best interest of his (almost) client. I would go elsewhere to someone who has a higher level of professionalism and personal integrity.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Real Estate Lawyer Can Do for You
A real estate lawyer provides legal assistance in transactions and disputes involving property, including residential and commercial real estate. Whether you're buying, selling, leasing, or developing property, a real estate attorney can help ensure that your transactions are legally sound and your rights are protected. They review contracts, perform due diligence, resolve disputes, and provide legal representation in negotiations and litigation involving property matters.
Real estate lawyers are crucial in safeguarding your investment by ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal real estate laws, as well as protecting you from potential legal pitfalls related to property ownership and transactions.
When Should I Hire a Real Estate Lawyer?
Hiring a real estate lawyer is beneficial in various scenarios, including:
- Buying or selling property: When navigating complex real estate contracts, it’s advisable to have a lawyer review and ensure that the terms are favorable and legal.
- Commercial property transactions: For leasing, purchasing, or selling commercial properties, a lawyer can help manage the intricate legal aspects of such transactions.
- Zoning or land use issues: If you're planning to develop property or change its use, a real estate lawyer can guide you through zoning laws and land use regulations.
- Resolving property disputes: For boundary disputes, title issues, or disagreements over property rights, a lawyer can help mediate or litigate the matter.
- Foreclosures or evictions: If you're dealing with foreclosure or managing a tenant eviction, legal representation ensures that the process adheres to local laws and protects your interests.
- Title and deed issues: Lawyers can help clear title disputes, ensure the legitimacy of property deeds, and handle transfers of ownership.
What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do?
A real estate lawyer provides a range of services to help with property transactions and disputes, including:
- Contract drafting and review: Ensuring that purchase agreements, leases, and other contracts are legally binding, fair, and protect your interests.
- Title search and clearance: Conducting a thorough title search to ensure that the property has no legal claims or liens that could affect ownership.
- Facilitate closing: Managing the closing process in real estate transactions, including reviewing final documents and ensuring that everything is in order before the transfer of ownership.
- Resolve disputes: Handling legal disputes related to property ownership, boundaries, zoning, or tenants.
- Assist in financing: Reviewing loan agreements and mortgage documents to ensure the terms are fair and legally sound.
- Zoning and land use advice: Guiding clients through the complexities of zoning laws and building regulations for property development or renovation projects.
How Are Real Estate Lawyers Paid?
Real estate lawyers typically charge for their services in the following ways:
- Flat fee: Many real estate transactions, such as reviewing a sales contract or assisting with a closing, are charged on a flat-fee basis.
- Hourly rates: If a lawyer is handling complex disputes or litigation, they may charge by the hour. Hourly rates can vary significantly based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Contingency fees: In rare cases, such as property disputes or claims for damages, a lawyer may work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win or settle the case.
- Retainer: For ongoing legal support, some clients may pay a retainer, which is an upfront fee used as a deposit for future legal services.
It's important to clarify the fee structure with your attorney before hiring them to avoid any surprises.
How Much Does a Real Estate Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a real estate lawyer varies based on the complexity of the matter, the location of the property, and the lawyer’s experience. Key factors that affect pricing include:
- Type of transaction or issue: Simple tasks, like contract reviews, typically cost less than handling a complex property dispute or litigation.
- Experience and location: More experienced lawyers or those in high-demand areas, like urban centers, often charge higher rates.
- Billing structure: Lawyers may charge a flat fee for basic services like document review or hourly for more time-intensive work such as disputes or litigation.
Flat fees for straightforward services like closing assistance may range from $500 to $1,500.
Hourly rates can range from $150 to $400 or more, depending on the attorney’s experience and location.
Always discuss fees upfront to understand the overall cost of the legal service you're receiving.
Top Questions to Ask a Real Estate Lawyer
Before hiring a real estate lawyer, ask the following questions to ensure they are the right fit for your legal needs:
-
What experience do you have with real estate law?
Ensure the lawyer has experience in the type of real estate transaction or dispute you’re facing, whether residential, commercial, or development-related. -
What is your fee structure?
Ask how the lawyer charges for services - whether it's a flat fee, hourly rate, or retainer - so there are no surprises later on. -
How long will the process take?
Especially important for real estate transactions or disputes with deadlines, ask for a general estimate of how long the process will last. -
Have you handled cases similar to mine?
Experience with similar transactions or disputes can give you confidence that the lawyer knows how to handle your case. -
Will you handle my case personally, or will it be passed to another attorney?
Confirm who will be handling the bulk of your case work, especially in larger firms where junior lawyers may take on some responsibilities. -
Can you provide references?
Speaking with past clients can give you insight into the lawyer's experience and how they handle cases.
How to Check the Credibility of a Real Estate Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a reputable real estate lawyer, take these steps:
- Check with the state bar association: Verify that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing with no disciplinary actions on their record.
- Read online reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on legal directories and platforms like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell to see what past clients have said.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should have past clients willing to share their experiences.
- Review their track record and expertise: Look at the lawyer’s website or LinkedIn profile for information about their experience in real estate law and any relevant cases they’ve handled.
- Membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of respected legal or real estate organizations, like the American Bar Association’s Real Property Division, often signal credibility and expertise.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make your first meeting with a real estate lawyer productive, you should prepare the following materials:
- Relevant property documents: Bring purchase agreements, lease contracts, mortgage documents, zoning permits, or any other paperwork related to your case.
- A summary of the issue or transaction: Be ready to explain the situation, whether it's a property dispute, contract negotiation, or development issue.
- Questions about the legal process: Prepare a list of questions about how the lawyer will handle your case and what steps are involved.
- Financial documents or loan agreements: If the case involves financing or a mortgage, bring any related documents for the lawyer to review.
- Your goals and timeline: Be clear about what outcome you're hoping for, and if there are any deadlines that need to be considered, such as closing dates or legal filings.
By coming prepared, you can ensure that your consultation is efficient and informative, allowing you to assess whether the lawyer is the right fit for your real estate needs.
