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10 Nov, 2019 by Larry
Erika has provided estate planning services for my family and I as well as delivering real estate advice and handled closings several times. She advised me on business matters and created the documents needed to open my company. Erika defines what an attorney should be. She is a trusted advisor who clearly has her clients best interests foremost at all times. I strongly recommend her for anyone who needs an attorney with wisdom, experience and compassion.
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06 Feb, 2018 by Ryan
Trust is one of the highest compliments you can give someone, and that is what I give to Erika. I have complete trust that she has put me in the best position, and will do the same for anyone I refer.
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16 Oct, 2017 by Jeffrey
Erika has assisted me with the purchase of five residential properties in the past year. Each time, she was efficient (we closed one within 7 days of offer!) and wiling to work within the often unusual time demands we made of her. She is very professional, smart, and easy to work with. I highly recommend her!
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15 Sep, 2023 by John
Michael handled our Son’s Estate after he was seriously injured in a workplace accident and died. The case involved a Workmen's Comp claim, Estate processing and an estranged wife negotiation issue. Michael handled all of these issues expertly and with compassion, legal knowledge and our grief always in mind. Both my wife and I highly recommend Mr.Umberger for your legal issues. He did a great job and we are very grateful that all went very well.
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16 Jan, 2023 by Toni
I was so pleased with Mr. Well's professionalism when trying to create a trust. I had tried several law firms with no results and the pleasantness of dealing with Mr. Wells was the best. Thank you for your attention to my needs and helping resolve all my issues that I was not aware existed.
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22 Feb, 2022 by Anthony
Michael Umberger Is The Best Is In The Business. I Call The Office Spoke With His Paralegal Jennifer Told Her What Happen And She Ask Me When Is A Good Time To Come In. Went In Met With Michael We Set Down Went Over Everything And Within 2 Month Everything Was Handle And I Was Very Happy. Also I Can’t Forget Jennifer She Was So Awesome. When She Couldn’t Receive My E-mail’s She Made Sure We Found A Way To Get Everything Done. Great Job Jennifer. I Had A Great Experience With Michael And His Firm.
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07 Feb, 2025 by Berenice cruz
Got over $$3,500 stolen from my attorney. He promise to take our case to sue a company and every time we asked for updates he will have an excuse. It’s been a year (12 months) and no work was done, we have ask for our money back and he was failed to provide an explanation on where the money is. He said he has to deduct his hours which no work was ever presented to us. In the whole year NOTHING was ever done. PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
Update:
Ms Andrew provided me with an invoice where he charged us $250 for just REVIEWING emails, this means he DID NOT REPLY, he did not do anything but received it.
Emails that he decided to ignored, he wants us to sign an invoice for a check when he is not even acknowledging the $200 that Mr River promise to add to our fund. He is also charging us more than what we had agreed on.
The agreement was that he was going to charged $250 for every HOUR Working on our case. He is charging us $250 for emails WE send asking about our case! EMAILS he decided to ignored. And unless he has a disability I can’t understand how long it took him to read my email.
We got over $3,250 for him LOOKING at our emails.
Please be careful because if that’s not stealing money idk what is.
In the refund the wants to give us is only for $375 back and asking us to sign a disclosure saying “we are happy with his service and all charges are accurate” IF THATS NOT STEALING PEOPLES MONEY, I DONT KNOW WHAT IS!
Funny you claimed we didn’t dispute the charges when we are asking you to send us the drafting work you claim you did. And NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVIDED. WE ARE DISPUTING ALL THOSE $3,250 that you did not work, you ignore emails.
I dispute those charges as soon as you sent them.
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24 Dec, 2024 by Saara raja
Andrew was 45 minutes late to our first court appearance. I was sent multiple reminders from his firm to appear at the correct time, and I was getting more and more stressed when he did not show up. I called his office and they had no idea where he was and assured me that they would contact him and find out. Finally he showed up 45 minutes late. I did not get an apology or explanation for why he was late.
Andrew was representing me in a tenant eviction where the tenant was living in my property without leaving for 6 months. This is the first time that I have ever gone through an eviction so I hired him. He was supposed to check the rent bonds each month so that we could remove the tenant any time they did not pay their bonds to the court. He failed to check the October rent bond because we were attempting to negotiate with the tenant. Instead he waited until November and then realized the tenant hadn't paid in October and we could have filed to remove her weeks earlier. This inaction lost me 1 month of income. He will probably reply here that he didn't check the bond because he was negotiating - but I fail to see why both tasks are mutually exclusive. I am literally paying for his time (retainer paid for his hourly rate so it's not like I asked him to do this for free), so why were the tasks I asked him to do not done?
When I asked Andrew to acknowledge this mistake or provide me with a discount on his rate for the income that he lost me, he sent me the following reply, direct quote: "I have 100 other cases going on besides yours. The rent bond information is publicly available. So, it is also something that you could have checked just as easily." If he has 100 other cases and can't give my case the attention it needs, maybe he should take on less cases. And obviously if I was a legal expert and could have gone through this process on my own, I wouldn't have needed a lawyer in the first place.
EDIT - He was absolutely 45 minutes late. To deny that would be an absolute lie. I sat in the court room by myself while the judge skipped over me and went to other cases, and she directly said that we can come back to mine when my council shows up. And I did bring this up to Andrew by asking him to state clearly (by email) exactly what time he would be at court for the next court appearance.
As for why I said "Thank you" in emails??? and didn't call out the issues immediately it's because I was afraid that if I call out ineffective work during my case, that I would be retaliated against and the work wouldn't be performed at all. There's a reason I had to follow up over 100 times.
You are also misrepresenting me here. I NEVER once asked why you didn't file the writ of possession while we were negotiating. I understand ethics very well. I only asked why you didn't VERIFY that the tenant paid her bond. Isn't the saying "knowledge is power"? When the tenant flaked from turning up to sign the negotiated paperwork, we should have been able to file the Writ of Possession Immediately. Or even immediately after our court date. Instead because you never checked this fact, we had to wait weeks!!
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21 Dec, 2024 by Brett matthew
Service - 0 stars
Quality of work - 0 stars
Any type of case resolution - 0 stars
A waste of my entire fee that was paid.
Mr. Gordon -
It seems all your time trying to prove to my cc company that you did the work I paid for was most of the work you did, because that's more work than I ever saw for myself.... Which is what I told them, and the reason it was in your favor was because one of the deadlines of my cc company to reply to your response expired and I was not aware. As I explained to them, all the paperwork you showed them were never provided to me, and the reason I asked for a refund in the first place was due to your lack of communication, professionalism, and any type of quality of work (or lack thereof). It's the only logical explanation in the first place, since I have paid money for services which I have never received, and I have no resolution of the case you were hired to perform. Presumably, if it took you “several hours” to refute my claim, you didn’t start out with enough evidence to disprove it in the first place. And my “audacity” comes from being the fact that I am the one that ended up wasting every penny I gave you, with nothing to show for it. I think that you are the audacious one, to think that I am not deserving of any refund, because you had to spend time to manufacture evidence of your work you did for me.
Edit to respond to your edit:
I'm responding so that we stick to the facts as opposed to manufacturing hyperbole and you misrepresenting what happened, and taking no responsibility for your actions as a professional.
To reiterate, I lost the chargeback because, as the bank told me multiple times, we went past the deadline required by the bank to respond. In addition you showed the bank "evidence" of work you had done for the case, which I had never seen before, and could have easily been manufactured after the fact.
And to keep facts straight again, I never disputed the fee charged for the consultation, only the fees for the case, which was never performed. Way back I asked for a refund from you when there wasn't even any work performed yet, and you offered me a very small fraction of my fee. It was then that I realized you were not going to be reasonable and I initiated the chargeback. Throughout the time of the case I had to continuously do my own legwork for the case and emails to you went unanswered for days at a time. I was also extremely dissatisfied with your attention to my case, and knowledge of procedure, which is another reason I asked for a refund. I had to hire different representation for my case due to your lack of attention and resolution. I find it interesting in all of your responses you never claim to have represented me or found any resolution in my case. I think if you had finished the case, and then I initiated a chargeback, that would be a scam, not me trying to get some money back before the case was started because I was dissatisfied with your service. You offered me approximately a 25% refund of my original fees, which was before anything was even started for the case. If I had been represented to my satisfaction, or you recovered any damages in my case, I would have not asked for anything back, obviously. In this case the scam seems to be accepting my total fee with no resolution or progress to my case, and I find it preposterous that you expect you should be compensated for time responding to my dispute, when I was dissatisfied with my service in the first place.
Also I think we should leave anyone accepting credit card payments from me out of the equation, since you have zero knowledge of the subject. I hope my fee is worth it to you, since you seem to have a business practice of accepting funds for work not done, which seems like more of a scam to me.
Merry Christmas
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21 Jun, 2021 by Devin
Brian was extremely professional from the beginning. He communicates very well, and is unquestionably knowledgeable in his profession which made the experience easy. Highly Recommended!
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16 Oct, 2020 by N
Very friendly and helpful! He was worth any penny in my opinion. He seemed very knowledge, patient, and kind in his consultation. Would highly recommend him
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30 Sep, 2020 by Marguerite
Brian assisted our businesses with COVID-19 rent deferment lease negotiations. He helped us set realistic goals and guided us each step of the way during a stressful time. We will seek his advice as new matters arise and will recommend him without hesitation.
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21 Mar, 2024 by Lp3
I am honored to have met Attorney Hoard; from the very start of our conversation regarding my need via questions, emails, texts, and more questions - he was always patience with me in addition to be very detailed with his response. Because of his service, I remain in a better place with my family and business. Thank you sir for the integrity in which you serve.
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15 Apr, 2015 by Michelle
Michael Hoard has been our family's attorney for over 10 years. He has handled many closings for several members of the family and each person was always completely satisfied with his work. When my husband became ill and we unable to attend a closing, I knew that Michael would and did handle this matter and he made sure all of our questions were answered. Whenever I contacted Michael and he was unavailable, I was confident that he would get back to me at his earliest convenience. Michael set up a trust for my husband and me and he explained the necessity of everyone protecting their assets no matter the size of their estate. I have always been able to contact Michael to ask legal questions and he never made me feel like a bother. He was always patient and informative about each topic we discussed. Michael would be an asset to any law firm, as I know you have learned. He will always be the attorney my family calls.
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13 Apr, 2015 by Beeonca
I have been privy to have been helped my Attorney Michael Hoard, on many occasions, and each time I experienced outstanding results to the degree of wow. Michael is a man of integrity,timely, and knows is field. I TRUST Michael with all matters of the law. His knowledge is vast, and he is trustworthy and keeps his clients informed at all times. Michael is The attorney that I am pleased to refer.
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27 Nov, 2024 by Cassandra lobo
I called in to discuss a legal matter and was actually contacted back by an attorney who offered me advice. I feel like this often is not the case. He was very precise and I was very grateful for the time he took out of his day to address my concern!
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21 Oct, 2024 by Nyro
Amazing service!
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03 Oct, 2024 by Halie starnes
The team at auger and auger went above and beyond to help me with my bodily injury case after my car accident. They walked me through a very difficult process, and remained very professional and showed great compassion. Hopefully I’m never in this situation again, but if that time ever comes, auger and auger will be my first call. Thank you again for all your help!
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03 Mar, 2020 by Bill
Will worked tirelessly on a personal injury case for me for 2 years. He helped me understand the process from the beginning and gave me encouragement.
From the deposition to the final outcome, he was most professional and I would highly recommend him.
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07 Jul, 2016 by Michael
Will helped us with a lemon law issue that we tried to get resolved for months on our on. After we had no results we hired Will to step in with us. Immediately we could see the results with him as part of our team. Handled the case with a level of experience second to none. At the end of the day the case was resolved and I didn't lose a dime
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20 Sep, 2013 by Geoffrey
I worked with, and retained William Devore IV for a legal mess that I was in. I feel that his representation and consultation throughout the process exceeded my expecations. He helped streamline 2 different issues that I was having, whereupon one dealt with renters and the other my property management company. William is knowlegable, articulate and most importantly assertive with his handle on the law. He guided me along the right path and even went above the billable retainer to get my desired outcome. Hopefully, I won't need his services in the future, but if I am in a legal bind, I would have no thoughts about a different counsel.
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24 Feb, 2021 by Cathy
I hired Jonathan to help update my will. We discussed what I had set up and all changes I needed/wanted to the will. Jonathan was very efficient and provided everything I needed.
The price was excellent.
I even asked questions that did not have anything to do with estate planning. Jonathan explained that this was not in his area of expertise, but did look into it for me.
Above and beyond.
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04 Dec, 2020 by Chris
Hired Jonathan to transfer my business from OR to NC. He was able to do it quickly and dissolve the LLC in OR. The NC govt sites arent much help in telling how to do this exactly but I am sure they would be all up your butt if you did it wrong......so glad Jonathan was able to do this for me.
Probably the easiest lawyer to client experience I have ever had!
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11 Oct, 2020 by Andre
From the first contact through a phone conversation with Jonathan S. Shbeeb the service provided was nothing short of excellent! Mr. Shbeeb represented me and my interest diligently in a REDA case against a former employer. He was dedicated, he empathized with all aspects of my case and sincere in every aspect until my victory was reached!
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02 Mar, 2025 by Clarence cornish
02 Mar, 2025 by Rimon rozario
01 Mar, 2025 by Angie frye
11 Jan, 2018 by Teresa pavlik
From the first day I spoke with Tiffany and all through my process she and her staff made me feel comfortable and reassured me. They answered all my questions and took the time to listen and respond to me at all times. Needless to say, everything went as she said it would. I would recommend her highly to everyone.
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23 Nov, 2017 by Jim
Tiffany is an amazing attorney. We were very anxious to be filing for Bankruptcy and from the very first meeting with her she helped put us at ease. She followed through on all requests and we would highly recommend her to others. She has an amazing support staff at her office and they were very attentive and caring throughout the entire process. We would definitely hire her for other matters as well.
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25 Oct, 2016 by Brandon
Tiffany was the only Attorney that was the most affordable for me. She worked diligently on my case even on short notice. we took about 3 days to prepare we even prepped on a Sunday. I really appreciate everything she has done for me in winning my custody case. I was awarded joint custody of my two children and couldn't be happier. I have already referred her to a few of my friends who are experiencing the same trials and tribulations that i had, and i'm positive that they'll be in good hands.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Jonathan golden
12 Feb, 2024 by Vickie hawkins
03 Jan, 2024 by Michael jaffe
Franchise.Law provided a very helpful analysis of my franchise agreement.
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28 Feb, 2013 by James
Brian recently helped me put together a will and provided counsel during a home refinance. He provided excellent service. He was patient, listened, and thoroughly answered my questions. He made me feel comfortable as I planned for the future and put me at ease knowing my family would be well cared for if anything should happen to me. He gave me one of the most valuable gifts I could receive: peace of mind.
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19 Feb, 2013 by Jody
I've had the opportunity to work with Brian and his staff for more than 5 years now. In addition to Brian's expertise and professionalism, I have seen how Brian handles complex situations in a trustworthy and thorough manner. Brian will listen to your concerns and questions, research the matter, and provide a well thought out recommendation. In addition to professional ability, he also is easy to work with and wants to help the client.
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18 Feb, 2013 by Brenda
Brian is an excellent attorney. He makes you feel that your case is the most important to him. Listens, takes notes, makes you feel at ease in talking with him. Very professional, explains what is happening and what to expect in the next steps of your case. Goes out of his way to do research on your case. He understands this is something I don't do for a living and explains and helps you understand the process of the case. Brian helped me with the estate of my Father and is helping me with the trust that he left which my family is protesting. We are still in the process of finalizing the trust and I have the confidence Brian will succeed in getting this case to a close.
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23 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
Lindsey was an absolute dream to work with! She always responded quickly to things that came up throughout the process. She was professional and appropriately stern with my ex. I would recommend her to any friend who is dealing with the unfortunate case of divorce.
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11 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
Lindsey is very professional and truly cares about her clients. I felt like when I needed someone the most she did my fighting for me. When faced with a tuff time things don't look so clear and Lindsey broke it down and gave me options. I have and will continue to recommend her and her company.
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09 Feb, 2016 by Melissa
It was a pleasure to work with Lindsey Houk. I went to the courtroom in good hands. She was professional, caring, and devoted to me as her client.
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23 Mar, 2018 by Curt
Mr. Crowe has been consulting for our department on many issues including discrimination and enforcement. He is prepared and knowledgeable on all matters, I feel like he has become part of our team. Always get 100% from him.
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22 Mar, 2018 by Kevin
Crowe was very thorough in all of the work the employment rights commission has hired him to do. He was always in contact with the commission very understanding, and did a great job. Any questions we had he answered promptly and has helped greatly through legal revisions, rewrites and representation. I would recommend him to anyone seeking legal advice/help.
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27 Nov, 2017 by Adam
I hired Randall to dispute a civil dispute between myself and my previous landlord. The landlord tried to price gouge on fees after move out, which I definitely was not paying. Randall was able to get everything resolved without having to go to court and I didn't pay a dime to the landlord. Great work, would definitely recommend.
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06 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Brian handled
my case he was very thorough. He is very highly experienced and I would recommend him to anyone if you have litigation non-payment or what not. He got great results for me and I would use him again
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29 Jan, 2017 by Anonymous
Brian Wolfe handled my case with great professionalism and kept me apprised of all important developments. He and his paralegal are both fantastic.
I have retained Brian for contract review, liens and minor litigation matters and results have been consistently solid.
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04 Jun, 2018 by Anonymous
I was impressed by the preparation, professionalism and success I was able to enjoy with David at the helm of my case. His realistic evaluations of the risks and rewards along the way, his approach to challenges and his effective execution of the plan was superb. I enthusiastically endorse him.
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23 May, 2017 by Joseph
REVIEW / TESTIMONIAL
Mr. Osborn was assigned by the Federal District Court in the Western District of North Carolina to represent me in a thorny case I was involved in under the Court’s pro se settlement program, which was instituted to mediate and settle cases like mine before they go through a full-blown court proceedings. I was very pleased with the program and comforted by the mettle of a sound lawyer and avid negotiator in my corner. I developed a strong sense of trust with Mr. Osborn after our initial phone conversation and a couple of follow up meetings. I was impressed by two things: 1. Mr. Osborn did what he said he will do - from negotiating with my opponents to the mediation and settlement of my case 2. He did it with ease and great rapport that I have never experienced before. If you can get him to say “yes” to negotiate or mediate your case, then you can count on it being done - the right way.
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16 Jan, 2018 by Katherine
Claudia has been very helpful with my buyers at closings with Self Help Credit Union.
Claudia is willing to help the community and the Hispanic community been serve buy her with professionalism.
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09 Jan, 2018 by Armando
I am a Realtor in Charlotte NC, I use Claudia for most of my closings. She is always friendly and takes the time to explain all the closing material to my clients. She is very knowledgeable and a true professional.
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12 Feb, 2025 by Heather ramsey
05 Feb, 2025 by Daniela de la cruz
Si buscan abogada de imigracion, mi familia y yo les recomendamos a Mary Lynn, ella es una excelente abogada. Estamos agradecidos con Dios por haber encontrado a una persona con tanto conocimiento y con un corazon enorme, ella es tan profesional y siempre estuvo al pendiente de nuestro proceso. Diana su asistente tambien fue de muchisimo apoyo. Ahora mas que nunca es importante poner tu caso en manos de alguien que realmente este ahi contigo y que te guie de principio a fin en tu caso, y no hay mejor persona que Mary Lynn. Llama a su oficina para hacer una cita, te aseguro que no te arrepentiras.
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28 Jan, 2025 by Ufr tire shop used tires
Muy buena abogada
A mi me ayudó a salir de la cárcel
Cuando ya estaba en la cárcel
De georgia en el año 2019
Me ayudó con el permiso de trabajo
Y me ayudó cancelar mi deportación
Y ganar mi cazó se los recomiendo 💯
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12 Feb, 2025 by Heather ramsey
05 Feb, 2025 by Daniela de la cruz
Si buscan abogada de imigracion, mi familia y yo les recomendamos a Mary Lynn, ella es una excelente abogada. Estamos agradecidos con Dios por haber encontrado a una persona con tanto conocimiento y con un corazon enorme, ella es tan profesional y siempre estuvo al pendiente de nuestro proceso. Diana su asistente tambien fue de muchisimo apoyo. Ahora mas que nunca es importante poner tu caso en manos de alguien que realmente este ahi contigo y que te guie de principio a fin en tu caso, y no hay mejor persona que Mary Lynn. Llama a su oficina para hacer una cita, te aseguro que no te arrepentiras.
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28 Jan, 2025 by Ufr tire shop used tires
Muy buena abogada
A mi me ayudó a salir de la cárcel
Cuando ya estaba en la cárcel
De georgia en el año 2019
Me ayudó con el permiso de trabajo
Y me ayudó cancelar mi deportación
Y ganar mi cazó se los recomiendo 💯
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12 Feb, 2025 by Heather ramsey
05 Feb, 2025 by Daniela de la cruz
Si buscan abogada de imigracion, mi familia y yo les recomendamos a Mary Lynn, ella es una excelente abogada. Estamos agradecidos con Dios por haber encontrado a una persona con tanto conocimiento y con un corazon enorme, ella es tan profesional y siempre estuvo al pendiente de nuestro proceso. Diana su asistente tambien fue de muchisimo apoyo. Ahora mas que nunca es importante poner tu caso en manos de alguien que realmente este ahi contigo y que te guie de principio a fin en tu caso, y no hay mejor persona que Mary Lynn. Llama a su oficina para hacer una cita, te aseguro que no te arrepentiras.
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28 Jan, 2025 by Ufr tire shop used tires
Muy buena abogada
A mi me ayudó a salir de la cárcel
Cuando ya estaba en la cárcel
De georgia en el año 2019
Me ayudó con el permiso de trabajo
Y me ayudó cancelar mi deportación
Y ganar mi cazó se los recomiendo 💯
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06 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
Akysia Resper is a great attorney. Akysia is very knowledgeable, hard working, and dedicated in providing good service.
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11 Jan, 2015 by Sam
Our experience with Guy was personable and professional. In addition to meeting our needs for Medical Power of Attorney documentation, he brought to our attention, the need for Estate Planning. Thanks to Guy, we are thoroughly protected and have peace of mind.
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17 Mar, 2015 by Robin
Working with ms NESMITH is a joy very well rounded young lady kepts me informed step by step always pleasant and a joy to work with.
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05 Aug, 2022 by Anonymous
So easy to work with and good at problem solving................................
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28 Jan, 2014 by Seth
She saved me AND my Wife!! If it weren't for her I would Be homeless! I have seen bad lawers before But She is definitively the one! I will definitely come back!
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30 Mar, 2013 by Alex
ABLE TO PARSE THRU DIFFICULT PARTNERSHIP TAX ISSUES AND FIND THE PRACTICAL AND CORRECT RESULT.
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01 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
Our group had a very complicated residential subdivision sale. Derek took the lead and protected us. He caught some major issues that would have left us in a bad position. He rewrote the contract and worked things out with our buyer so everyone was happy. Things were way more complicated than we can explain here. He is our go to lawyer for all of our legal work now. Derek is also fast to respond and just a pleasant person to work with. We could not be happier of more impressed.
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07 Dec, 2014 by Edward
I am a CPA of 40 years experience dealing with many attorneys throughout my career.
Brent has assisted me in many high end real estate contracts and negotiations.
His knowledge and carry through is among the best I've dealt with.
If you need real estate legal assistance and haven't hired an attorney yet, do yourself a favor and contact Brent Torstrick.
Ed Osinski CPA
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20 May, 2016 by William
I have worked with Kevin and his staff on several acquisitions over the last few years and have been very pleased with their services and attention to detail.
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26 Aug, 2013 by James
Brendan came to us via a referral from a trusted real estate closing attorney as we needed much more specialized advice. He has a good strategic sense and a keen eye for details. He has also been extremely responsive to my inqueries and turns work product around in a timely manner. I have been extremely pleased with Brendan and look forward to continuing to work with him in the future.
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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:
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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.
