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22 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
Frank Anthony Brancato did not disclosure information regarding the wording of a deed in which I was a beneficiary. As a result, her last wishes were nullified. But for the fact he chose to conceal the wording he, himself wrote in the original deed, she would have had the opportunity to take steps and clarity pertaining agreement to prevent her last wishes from being nullified. He concealed facts that should have been revealed to a client that trusted him, thereby opening up a potentially costly and long legal battle.
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15 Feb, 2023 by Anonymous
Very nice to meet with. Was honest and helpful. Looked my files over and made recommendations without charging me an arm and a leg.
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13 Mar, 2015 by Mary
Helped me get custody and child support. My ex's lawyer was a bully, but Mr. B was polite and always prepared for hearings and we won. Thank you.
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12 Jun, 2023 by Sumer stakelin
Having issues with an employer over discrimination, choose Spitz Law Firm its been wonderful for me. I have had nothing, but promt & fast actions with my case. Also the courtesy & respect of client services has been outstanding!!
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24 Nov, 2022 by Terri
Shero for many in the 'ville 🥰
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07 Sep, 2021 by Heather sieboldt
Holly is very unprofessional she yells like a bratt in court and does not do any thorough investigations for her client therefor she has no facts to base her findings. Shes always late to court and when she does make a apparence she looks like she just woke up from a hang over. If you want a nut job for a atty shes it. If i could give her a zero stars i would. Dont waste your money being represented by someone who everyone in the court system thinks is crazy. I dont know how shes still employed.
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18 Nov, 2019 by Stephanie heltsley
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04 Apr, 2018 by Craig altemeyer
Haven't been there yet but hope to find a promising resolution to my legal problems here.
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14 Mar, 2017 by Laura baker
Secretary was very weird and refused to transfer me to the lawyer without explaining the entire case. I'm sorry, I'm not going to explain the entire situation twice. That's ridiculous.
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24 Sep, 2024 by Kevin gill
Donna truly helped me through a dark spot. She was extremely professional and knowledgeable in all aspects of my case. She went well above and beyond in assisting me to facilitate a great outcome. You would be gravely mistaken in putting your trust into another person. Having decades of law enforcement experience I wouldn’t put my trust in anyone else’s hands for any legal matters.
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21 Dec, 2023 by Dr. john stephenson
She is a very talented and professional lady.
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29 Sep, 2023 by Xavian bolden
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16 Jan, 2024 by Richard lemaster
Mr Lett has been the trustee for my late uncles estate and done a remarkable job at insuring everything if fair and balanced. I would recommend him highly!
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12 Jul, 2021 by Marshall dillon
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16 Feb, 2020 by J j
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25 May, 2023 by Charles aiken
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24 Oct, 2022 by Richard stottman
This is probably the most unprofessional and rude person I've ever worked with. He not only wasted our time and money but also put us at legal risk. He misinformed us, filled out legal documents incorrectly, and ghosted us for months. What was supposed to be a simple petition to dispense which is relatively straightforward process was full of misspellings and errors. Names were filed where the date was supposed to be. After we dismissed this lawyer, we learned from a new lawyer that what he did was actually illegal and if we had filed the document he gave us we would have been liable to be sued by the state! Not only is this guy wildly incompetent, he was very rude and condescending. He has 0 social skills. Expect messages and calls to go unanswered for months, and if you're lucky and he does respond, it will be one word responses that show no comprehension of your questions and concerns. He even blamed us when he filled the document incorrectly. Avoid this guy at all costs. Like previous recent reviews state, this guy is a complete scam and sleezy scumbag.
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16 Sep, 2022 by Alysson riffe
This guy is a scammer. He lies about the process up front and then won't return a call or an email for years. Don't work with him.
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25 May, 2023 by Charles aiken
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24 Oct, 2022 by Richard stottman
This is probably the most unprofessional and rude person I've ever worked with. He not only wasted our time and money but also put us at legal risk. He misinformed us, filled out legal documents incorrectly, and ghosted us for months. What was supposed to be a simple petition to dispense which is relatively straightforward process was full of misspellings and errors. Names were filed where the date was supposed to be. After we dismissed this lawyer, we learned from a new lawyer that what he did was actually illegal and if we had filed the document he gave us we would have been liable to be sued by the state! Not only is this guy wildly incompetent, he was very rude and condescending. He has 0 social skills. Expect messages and calls to go unanswered for months, and if you're lucky and he does respond, it will be one word responses that show no comprehension of your questions and concerns. He even blamed us when he filled the document incorrectly. Avoid this guy at all costs. Like previous recent reviews state, this guy is a complete scam and sleezy scumbag.
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16 Sep, 2022 by Alysson riffe
This guy is a scammer. He lies about the process up front and then won't return a call or an email for years. Don't work with him.
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22 Jun, 2023 by Randall mattingly
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01 Nov, 2022 by Shawnee alexander
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23 Feb, 2022 by Carene sater
Goetz was appointed my mother's gaurdian attorney and couldn't have been more annoyed with this fact, especially after the judge asked him to do it a second time. Her gaurdian wants to file a motion to sell our property and the only attorney with knowledge of her sealed court cases has basically told her too bad, find someone else. Zero compassion and minimal effort.
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22 Jun, 2023 by Randall mattingly
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01 Nov, 2022 by Shawnee alexander
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23 Feb, 2022 by Carene sater
Goetz was appointed my mother's gaurdian attorney and couldn't have been more annoyed with this fact, especially after the judge asked him to do it a second time. Her gaurdian wants to file a motion to sell our property and the only attorney with knowledge of her sealed court cases has basically told her too bad, find someone else. Zero compassion and minimal effort.
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04 Aug, 2021 by Mark
I retained Mr. Gangwish for help with a speeding ticket which could have led to license suspension, multiple points on my license, and significant insurance premium increases. With literally a days notice (though I don't recommend this!) Mr. Gangwish was able to help me enter a diversion program, called CATS. This program, which I surprisingly found informative, will lead to the dismissal of the ticket, no points on my license, and no insurance premium increases. Thank you Mr Gangwish: you certainly know what you are doing! I would not hesitate to highly recommend Mr. Gangwish based on my experience!
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15 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
Don't, I say again don't ever use this person for a divorce. He did absolutely nothing to help/defend our son and now has to pay $700 a month for alimony. It's a long story but basically this "attorney" just sat in court and did little to nothing.
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17 Dec, 2019 by Mercedes
Para mi la mejor abogada que e conocido confío ciegamente en ella e puesto a lo largo diferentes problemas que me han acontecido en mi vida y siempre me a ayudado de una forma positiva es una abogada con mucho conocimiento que se transforma a la hora de estar frente a un juez y a la hora de defenderte pero sobre todo su carisma y su humanidad por ayudar a las personas la hacen diferente a los demás abogados no dudo en recomendarla y cualquier situación que se me presentara acudiría a ella Ellie la mejor abogada
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08 Nov, 2019 by Anonymous
I used Ellie Kerstetter, I took a gamble because I was not familiar with any attorneys in Louisville. Her office is downtown, I consulted with her first, even though she came off rude I thought she knew what she was talking about and could get something accomplished because she knew law jargon, however, I got no results. She got me absolutely nowhere. She will only get you results if she feels you are worthy. I felt like in the courtroom she could have said so many of the things about my case that I had told her, assumed she would get around to it and that she would know when the time was right, half of what I told her was never mentioned in court and she had an attitude when I tried to tell her in the courtroom what my concerns were. A complete waste of money on a woman that only cares about what she believes happened. I feel she was judging me as a person and allowed me to get the short end of the stick. I would NEVER recommend her.
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12 Mar, 2019 by Anonymous
I contacted Joe based on a recommendation. I expected him to be professional and to take my case seriously, Instead, he continued to ignore almost all of my phone calls (I called at least 10 times with no response) and emails. It took weeks for him to respond and often only after I had called or emailed many times. Even after paying court fees, he completely ignored my case. When I messaged him and told him this case was important to me and I expected the work to be done in a timely fashion, he turned around and told me that he could no longer do the work. He is clearly too busy to take on new clients and strung me along for months. The whole situation was completely unprofessional and I would not recommend his services.
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06 Jan, 2013 by Michael bouldin
Joey is a great business, real estate and bank attorney. I refer cases to him regularly.
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11 May, 2009 by Anonymous
Attorney Cunningham has represented me on 1 apartment case, and 2 civil cases. One of the cases was against my employer, and in all the cases I have been victorious. She is currently representing me on a case against an apartment owner where I previously lived, who would not treat for roaches. I have every confidence I will be victorious in this case as well. I have known attorney Cunningham for years. She is intelligent, professional, sympathetic to her clients, and determined to win. I have referred numerous clients to her, and they have had successful outcomes as well. With each situation I present to her, she demonstrates competence, experience and wisdom. To anyone considering contacting her it is important to note; legal representation is not free. It costs to pursue any legal matter. If you have no knowledge of legal matters it is critical to have an attorney you can trust. It is also critical to approach your case with as few emotions as possible. I have learned these important tips from attorney Cunningham, and been victorious. She is the only attorney that I personally know who will not take advantage of you. I live in Ohio and cannot find an attorney who is as ethical, professional, and trustworthy as her. If you have an occasion to need an attorney, I strongly recommend her.
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31 Jan, 2009 by James
She charged me a $1000 to mail my legal documents to another lawyer to review that was supposedly an expert witness. She charged me an additional $1000 for the so called expert witness. Since she was not competent to analyze my paper work then how did she justify the $1000? I had to repeatedly demand an invoice and when I finally recieved one it stated that she burned up my entire retainer reading documents but when questioned she was not able to answer a single detail to prove that she actually had read them. In addition she encouraged me to file a complaint with the court on a pro se(no lawyer) basis to protect the statue. I am not a lawyer and this led to several filing mistakes which the defense used against me. After giving me legal advice on how to file pro se over the phone multiple times she lied and denied doing so. I sent her a wriiten request to have the Kentucky Bar mitigate our fee dispute but she did not respond. Tried to philibuster me with verbal crap when I complained.
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21 Jul, 2023 by Zack puckett
Myself and my clients are always taken care of with the upmost professionalism and care!
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02 Mar, 2023 by Jason lyons
Useless waste of time. Does not do litigation, in other words practice law if there is a conflict
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23 Oct, 2022 by Anonymous
He don’t fight for your case that good at all. He don’t try to get information on your behalf. A real lawyer will try to get all the information on his client. And try to protect them. I don’t know how he got his diploma.
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30 Oct, 2020 by Tim cannon
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27 Aug, 2022 by Dallas mcgarity
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09 Feb, 2020 by Lesley turner
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04 Oct, 2019 by Palmer simpson
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29 Sep, 2022 by Hello there
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15 Sep, 2019 by Shelley sharp
Paid for a divorce i never got.
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14 Sep, 2018 by Chris b
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27 Aug, 2022 by Dallas mcgarity
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09 Feb, 2020 by Lesley turner
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04 Oct, 2019 by Palmer simpson
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27 Aug, 2022 by Dallas mcgarity
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09 Feb, 2020 by Lesley turner
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04 Oct, 2019 by Palmer simpson
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07 May, 2021 by Essence b.
She is highly qualified and highly recommended.
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11 Mar, 2021 by Levi montgomery
Do NOT use this attorney. She has no idea what she is doing. My mom was no where close to being viable for an FTCA claim yet Stoddard had her convinced for a year that her work related injury was an FTCA matter and not a worker's comp matter. We didn't know our rights and my mom was bullied into going back to work against medical advice and despite being disabled. Her ignorance of how to do her job single handedly cost my mom tens of thousands of dollars. Her grammar in her emails are atrocious, and her knowledge of the law she tries to practice is as bad as her knowledge of the laws of the English language. You do NOT want to use this attorney for any matter, and you should result to a real law firm should you need help.
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24 Jul, 2020 by E grif
Great experience. Dr. Stoddard is very professional and very timely with request. Highly recommend
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13 Jul, 2019 by Faust the hammer
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13 Jul, 2017 by Charles newland
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11 Dec, 2023 by Mick selvennvie
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27 Aug, 2023 by Traci melgar
Always clear professional and calm.
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18 Sep, 2024 by Jason earley
Just like the others. She is so busy aka Lyn Long and can’t remember the details. You have to beg her to do anything. If you like a lawyer to do the bare minimum you found her. Seems moulton has his head on straight tho.
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12 Sep, 2022 by Doug sheroan
Ms. Long isn't the least bit interested in figuring out what's best for my daughter in my case. She hasn't attempted to hear my side of the story. She assumes her. Lient is telling the truth about everything, which imagine that she isn't. If she would have took a few minutes to get my side of things, things would maybe have been different
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08 Aug, 2022 by Jose bracamontes
This is great, ABOGADOS LISTOS PARA TU DEFENSA, 👏
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05 Mar, 2024 by Julia mitchell
When I called for help I'm search for a attorney I was told to "Google" Great advice!
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01 Jan, 2024 by Dave hazlett
They Sent our confidential reports to someone I believe at the jail. Never did anything to retrieve them. Would not allow us in the building to file a new report after driving over 4 hrs to get there and they knew we were coming. Straight up discriminated!!! I’ll take our story to the local news newspapers and social media. People need to know how Dam Lazy and unprofessional they are and how unprotected the people they cough cough serve are! Bunch of crooked overeducated idiots! Do you think they would handle things differently for The governors family or theirs? Or for one of their golfing buddies? SURE THEY WOULD!
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21 Oct, 2023 by Karialei denniston (karia)
They did not even answer my call....
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05 Mar, 2024 by Julia mitchell
When I called for help I'm search for a attorney I was told to "Google" Great advice!
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01 Jan, 2024 by Dave hazlett
They Sent our confidential reports to someone I believe at the jail. Never did anything to retrieve them. Would not allow us in the building to file a new report after driving over 4 hrs to get there and they knew we were coming. Straight up discriminated!!! I’ll take our story to the local news newspapers and social media. People need to know how Dam Lazy and unprofessional they are and how unprotected the people they cough cough serve are! Bunch of crooked overeducated idiots! Do you think they would handle things differently for The governors family or theirs? Or for one of their golfing buddies? SURE THEY WOULD!
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21 Oct, 2023 by Karialei denniston (karia)
They did not even answer my call....
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18 Jan, 2024 by D&m flooring
This place is one of if not the worst law firms I’ve ever dealt with. First they stuck you with some junior lawyer who doesn’t know what he is doing and has zero confidence, so they have to ask for help from other lawyers in the firm so next thing you know your paying three lawyers to do one lawyers work. Nothing ever got resolved regarding the matter at hand the billing was borderline criminal in what they were charging. Why should I have to pay three different lawyers because the original lawyer didn’t know what in the hell he was doing? I mean so I basically paid thousands of dollars to a lawyer who didn’t know anything so he went and consulted two more lawyers within the firm,then billed me for his lack of knowledge or experience. Stay. Away from This place
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06 Apr, 2022 by Aaron jay
The lawyers are a joke. They have very offensive and vulgar painting and artwork hanging on their walls!
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30 Apr, 2021 by Jennifer weber
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18 Jan, 2024 by D&m flooring
This place is one of if not the worst law firms I’ve ever dealt with. First they stuck you with some junior lawyer who doesn’t know what he is doing and has zero confidence, so they have to ask for help from other lawyers in the firm so next thing you know your paying three lawyers to do one lawyers work. Nothing ever got resolved regarding the matter at hand the billing was borderline criminal in what they were charging. Why should I have to pay three different lawyers because the original lawyer didn’t know what in the hell he was doing? I mean so I basically paid thousands of dollars to a lawyer who didn’t know anything so he went and consulted two more lawyers within the firm,then billed me for his lack of knowledge or experience. Stay. Away from This place
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06 Apr, 2022 by Aaron jay
The lawyers are a joke. They have very offensive and vulgar painting and artwork hanging on their walls!
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30 Apr, 2021 by Jennifer weber
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18 Jan, 2024 by D&m flooring
This place is one of if not the worst law firms I’ve ever dealt with. First they stuck you with some junior lawyer who doesn’t know what he is doing and has zero confidence, so they have to ask for help from other lawyers in the firm so next thing you know your paying three lawyers to do one lawyers work. Nothing ever got resolved regarding the matter at hand the billing was borderline criminal in what they were charging. Why should I have to pay three different lawyers because the original lawyer didn’t know what in the hell he was doing? I mean so I basically paid thousands of dollars to a lawyer who didn’t know anything so he went and consulted two more lawyers within the firm,then billed me for his lack of knowledge or experience. Stay. Away from This place
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06 Apr, 2022 by Aaron jay
The lawyers are a joke. They have very offensive and vulgar painting and artwork hanging on their walls!
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30 Apr, 2021 by Jennifer weber
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24 Nov, 2022 by Michael mullins
Very expensive and incomplete Family Estate Settlement !!! Phone calls are never returned and you are charged outrageous fees !! Non Compassionate Non transparency for all involved family members Beware of these People And dont set yourself up for disappointment . Never received final documents and had nothing but painful association With my family , only Regrets and heartache and empty wallet is what you'll get !!! Sad
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16 Aug, 2022 by Keerthana kumar
I engaged the legal services of Mary McKee based on her proposed statement of services, and the expertise she exhibited. Since signing an engagement letter and paying a $1500 retainer, I received 0 communications and 0 answers to my multiple emails with legal questions over the course of nearly 7 weeks. I called multiple times every week, and the 2 times I was able to speak with her (weeks apart), she promised an email within 2 business days. I received 0 emails weeks later, not even a response to an email requesting an update, at any point. She repeatedly promised legal help and gave timelines that were set and created by Ms. McKee herself at her discretion, which she repeatedly did not meet, nor did she respond to communications. She provided a "timely” plan during consultation that she never even started. Even though she sounded caring, she wasted MONTHS of my time with absolutely no consideration for me. She had no consideration for my daily living conditions (the reason I needed legal help), and no consideration for my time, given that I called or emailed almost every day to check on the status, which despite her promises, never changed over the course of 6 weeks. She literally sounded annoyed every time I contacted her for any information, and absolutely nothing was done in over 6 weeks (outside of an engagement letter and collecting $1500 from me). The only reason for 2 stars is because I was acknowledged that I would be refunded without issue (though the $1500 refund is still pending).
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17 Oct, 2015 by Recovering slob
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24 Nov, 2022 by Michael mullins
Very expensive and incomplete Family Estate Settlement !!! Phone calls are never returned and you are charged outrageous fees !! Non Compassionate Non transparency for all involved family members Beware of these People And dont set yourself up for disappointment . Never received final documents and had nothing but painful association With my family , only Regrets and heartache and empty wallet is what you'll get !!! Sad
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16 Aug, 2022 by Keerthana kumar
I engaged the legal services of Mary McKee based on her proposed statement of services, and the expertise she exhibited. Since signing an engagement letter and paying a $1500 retainer, I received 0 communications and 0 answers to my multiple emails with legal questions over the course of nearly 7 weeks. I called multiple times every week, and the 2 times I was able to speak with her (weeks apart), she promised an email within 2 business days. I received 0 emails weeks later, not even a response to an email requesting an update, at any point. She repeatedly promised legal help and gave timelines that were set and created by Ms. McKee herself at her discretion, which she repeatedly did not meet, nor did she respond to communications. She provided a "timely” plan during consultation that she never even started. Even though she sounded caring, she wasted MONTHS of my time with absolutely no consideration for me. She had no consideration for my daily living conditions (the reason I needed legal help), and no consideration for my time, given that I called or emailed almost every day to check on the status, which despite her promises, never changed over the course of 6 weeks. She literally sounded annoyed every time I contacted her for any information, and absolutely nothing was done in over 6 weeks (outside of an engagement letter and collecting $1500 from me). The only reason for 2 stars is because I was acknowledged that I would be refunded without issue (though the $1500 refund is still pending).
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17 Oct, 2015 by Recovering slob
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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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