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11 Oct, 2023 by Skennys salgado
04 Aug, 2023 by Laurie estreita hernandez
21 Sep, 2018 by Dora polk
They are all about arresting the wrong people they don’t care if justice is served
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08 Aug, 2023 by Title search
Dear Bernick Lifson P.A.,
We understand that you found our service difficult to understand, our company has been practically dedicated to this type of international transactions for over 3 decades and as you can confirm we have been in business since 1984 maintaining an excellent reputation. The main reason why we are talking about our reputation is because your company is making very delicate allegations in which you are trying to defame us and when we ask for evidence or solid proof that we are engaged in such practices you simply refuse to provide it or even answer the calls of our legal consultants which we consider quite unethical and unprofessional, but we will take the necessary legal actions as your false allegations may affect our business.
We adhere to the highest standards and focus on providing exceptional services. We expect a public apology since our mutual client is being affected financially due to these allegations and instead of protecting his interests he is about to lose a considerable amount of money thanks to you. For the time being I do not recommend this firm and advise you to be very careful.
Respectfully
Peter M. Ayers
CEO/ Title Search U.S.A. INC.
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19 Apr, 2023 by David freeman
Over many years in business I have had the opportunity to work with several different attorneys at B&L. They are all top quality attorneys. I have worked with many law firms over the years and they are the absolute best!!!
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02 Mar, 2023 by Sydney hlavka
08 Aug, 2023 by Title search
Dear Bernick Lifson P.A.,
We understand that you found our service difficult to understand, our company has been practically dedicated to this type of international transactions for over 3 decades and as you can confirm we have been in business since 1984 maintaining an excellent reputation. The main reason why we are talking about our reputation is because your company is making very delicate allegations in which you are trying to defame us and when we ask for evidence or solid proof that we are engaged in such practices you simply refuse to provide it or even answer the calls of our legal consultants which we consider quite unethical and unprofessional, but we will take the necessary legal actions as your false allegations may affect our business.
We adhere to the highest standards and focus on providing exceptional services. We expect a public apology since our mutual client is being affected financially due to these allegations and instead of protecting his interests he is about to lose a considerable amount of money thanks to you. For the time being I do not recommend this firm and advise you to be very careful.
Respectfully
Peter M. Ayers
CEO/ Title Search U.S.A. INC.
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19 Apr, 2023 by David freeman
Over many years in business I have had the opportunity to work with several different attorneys at B&L. They are all top quality attorneys. I have worked with many law firms over the years and they are the absolute best!!!
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02 Mar, 2023 by Sydney hlavka
19 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
Terrible attorney. Unorganized, unaware and over the course of nearly a year and a half did not one thing for my case. Do not hire this guy if you're looking for anything effective to happen.
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06 Sep, 2023 by Joe
His own words, "I've been doing this a long time, she is the most evil ex I have ever had to deal with". This by far has been the worst 2 years of life I have lived. I had a conversation with the child support lady. She said my job is to collect payments, you need to file a motion to have your child support lowered. This was ordered April 24th 2022. I'm making 8 dollars an hour and I'm getting bills for 925$. My take home a month total was 600$. Ex lied on the support paper work and filed it. Does anyone do there job to make sure the numbers are accurate.... NOPE. So it gets filed and here comes the bill. It's really difficult to live in this time of inflation and survive on 600$ a month. I didn't get a rule book when I got married and have absolutely no clue on how this whole process even works. I told him I have been saving up I got 350$ in the bank should I make a child support payment? "No, it's not important ". He said. I told him and asked several times. I need my child support changed, something not right and I don't know who set the amount but I don't even make that much right now. Something needs to be done. I need a motion filed to change it. No motion was ever filed, and I didn't make the payment. So court date comes and judge says, since there was no motion filed and no payments made, your guilty on contemp. He is 325$ an hour. I even followed the judges orders to collect some furniture from my house. Had a cop with he was angered I even called for this. But she disputed everything but my clothes. I asked him what do I do now? I'll bring it up to the judge. Did that happen. No. So we finally get to mediation and I told him there is no way she will agree to anything. The mediation lady a retired judge. Was absolutely horrible. It was 1000$ for the first time. We never got passed stuff to do with my child. So we had to do another one. And still no agreement. I wanted to bet him over the agreement. He wouldn't do it. So now we are going to trial, he tells me " I need 40k to do your trial". I said" John you haven't got me one dime yet, your bill is at 50k and what do I even have to show for it? a huge stack of papers?" He also at the beginning said my other attorney didn't do anything and I could sue her and he would help. I said file a case against her and you can keep the 10k. "I would never sue an attorney that wouldn't look good". so I ended up representing myself in trial, it was 2 days. It should be a crime to even think 40k for 2 days work. There was so much missing from my case. I thought everything that is brought up, and in every court date means it's on file.... I mean why even have someone be typing it up right. I had given the ex 8k in cash I did have her sign pieces of paper but I ended up losing them and her attorney said yeah he gave her the money all but the last 1800...lol it was funny to me because the payments for the Lexus was 1760. I will say this he is very quick to respond but that's because that's where he makes his money. My ex used to be a paralegal, she danced right around him. The decision was left up to the judge, I am absolutely stunned on how he even has a job.
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18 Aug, 2008 by Anonymous
Jon Miller was caring, professional, and aggressive.
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30 Jul, 2023 by Laura
13 Feb, 2023 by Jill julin
Ughhhh
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08 Sep, 2022 by Mike ames
Public defender was nice and did what I wanted a victory in my book
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02 Aug, 2012 by Dzmitry
Mr. Almen was the associate who handled my case. I couldn't help but notice that my lawyer did not implement any strategy or a plan in order to negotiate the best possible settlement. It is unfortunate that I had to deal with the mediator myself. I was under the impression that the intent was to settle this case regardless of a settlement amount. The day after the mediation my attorney continued insisting on settling, though I was not satisfied with the amount. My lawyer did not show any effort or desire to continue negotiations with the opposing side. I had to be insistent and spent a lot of time in attempts to encourage my attorney to continue negotiations (and of course I was charged for this time). I was not satisfied with the settlement amount I was offered, but I had to take it, because I was not sure anymore that my interests would be adequately represented during the arbitration. Also, I believe that the settlement amount could be higher if I had received a proper representation during the mediation. I was surprised to see that my bill was not reduced after I had expressed my concerns about the poor representation that I received during the mediation as well as after the mediation.
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10 Feb, 2011 by Georgette
I think Tricia would like to do a good job, but lacks experience and doesn't listen to the client. Hurt our case more than helped. Wish I could say that she was great.
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08 Apr, 2024 by Shaila cunningham
08 Apr, 2024 by Shaila cunningham
08 Apr, 2024 by Shaila cunningham
08 Apr, 2024 by Shaila cunningham
08 Apr, 2024 by Shaila cunningham
08 Apr, 2024 by Shaila cunningham
22 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
The absolute worse beware filled ch 13 paid payments of 600 a month and kept adding on additional fees....kept asking for money said our bankruptcy would be done and washed away After 5 years...6 years later still paying and just asked for more money on top of $10000 just paid out last month. Do not use his "services" if that's even what they can be called. Does not care about clients welfare or well being.
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24 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
Took over a year to file my case....he said it was because the bankruptcy laws kept changing. I knew other people that were done with their entire bankruptcy within 3 months. Due to the lack of filing in a timely manner I had to change from Ch. 7 to a Ch 13 filing. Was also not informed about all the fees. Was told the day before court that I needed to come up with an extra $400 for filing fees. Why was this not included in the $1500 I paid up front? Clearly I was going into bankruptcy for a reason, I didn't have extra money laying around to use.
I've had to call his office a few times to ask some questions and he is not helpful at all. Gives vague answers and is not willing to help get things resolved to get out of bankruptcy before the allotted time ordered.
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27 Jan, 2009 by Anonymous
Is not forthcoming about how long it takes to process and file cases. In initial meeting, said case would be filed as soon as retainer was paid in full. Case was not filed in my case until over a year later.
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30 Nov, 2017 by Anonymous
Seven months into my custody battle (and a ridiculous $22K spent with little to show for it), Mr Rolsch started ignoring all communication. He then suddenly withdrew during a VERY critical time in my case, leaving me with no Atty or money. I am obviously not happy with his services and do not recommend him. His legal assistant however, is great!
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20 Nov, 2015 by Anonymous
I hired Steve to represent me in my child custody case. At the time I had no idea that he was the same attorney that represented my uncle in a divorce were my he lost almost everything. He also grew up with the opposing party in my custody case. I had thought that he was a genuine straight up attorney that was good at his job. I took out a loan for $3,000 and that was gone in no time but I thought to myself that custody cases are expensive and that is the way it has to be. Another $5,000 and I now owe him a thousand still. We never once made it to court and he was sitting there billing me for calls he never had to make to me in the first place because he knew my answer to settling. I smartened up and got another attorney to handle the rest of my case. I hope as many people as possible get a chance to read this before they hire him. I also plan on speaking to an attorney about taking him to court to be repaid the money that was spent on the services that he did not deliver on. To all I wish the best. God Bless You.
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24 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
I'm not just a bitter former client I can justify my rating. Trustworthy, I had to call Mr rolsch to remind him of my court date in which we never ended up speaking with each other prior to that date. Responsive, Months went by without speaking with Mr rolsch and when I would try to call him the only response I would get was a $75 bill for listening to my voice mail but never did hear from him. Knowledgeable, he billed me for hours and hours of research for a dwi case. That is the bread and butter of any defense attorney, why would he need to spend that much time researching unless he was just padding the bill. He never did come up with even a remote defense plan even after I offered a few avenues which I still regret pursuing after speaking with other attorneys. Kept me informed, I was never even sure he would show up in court not to mention have anything to tell me about my case.
BEWARE
when I first spoke with Mr rolsch I explained to him that I could pay him only an agreed upon amount (already 2 times higher than everyone else) he said that was fine unless we had to go to trial. Six months after my case was over I received a bill for 3 times that amount. He ended up taking me to small claims for it. When I showed up for court I found that the entire courtroom was filled with his former clients with the same story. I was always told you pay for what you get and that's why I went with rolsch but there isn't one aspect of his business conduct I would recommend.
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03 Feb, 2024 by Ashley
When Denise arrived at my home for our home visit she bad mouthed my childrens father and his house making me think she had actually seen his house in it’s true form before his grandmother cleaned his house. Told me how nice and clean and organized my home was. But when I brought up problems that were happening between my childrens father she did not investigate them thoroughly. Just took his word or his family’s word for it all. Didn’t not request the records from the school to prove my allegations against my childrens father. Didn’t request medical records proving mental illness and hospitalizations. She is a very one sided attorney. Very two faced and after the initial visit forget about getting a response. A custody evaluators job is to evaluate the situations that are causing worry and discomfort in the best interest of the children. She typed up a make shift report naming all these allegations against me but never asked me for the proof I had to show through my childrens fathers lies. Again just took his word for it but why wouldn’t she when she was being paid off by his grandmother. Denise is not a good lawyer nor is she a good person. She does not have the best interest of the children involved in the front of the case. My lawyer was shocked at how bad of a job Denise Did on the report. It was the shittiest half assed report I’ve ever seen. I would literally stand outside this women’s office and warn other parents of her “expertise” services. Now my children are being forced to be raised by a daycare provider, falling asleep in school, not making it to school on time, exposed to drugs, being brought to strangers houses for their dads “work” for cash behind his bosses back, go to school dirty and smelly, instead of being raised by their mommy who has been present since birth and knows everything about them. Do not hire Denise Sollund to do any work for you! I promise you could do way better representing yourself.
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20 Sep, 2023 by Anonymous
Working with this attorney and this law firm was a horrible experience.
Why?
Terrible communication.
Questionable billing practices.
Lack of knowledge in the area she was hired to cover.
Would not recommend at all. If I could give negative stars a I would
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13 Jun, 2022 by Anonymous
What an arrogant piece of work!! You want someone to tell you how to act, not even allow you to speak when meeting with him, shows no faith in your case, pick him! Wouldn’t waste a penny on him!! So unprofessional. Dressed poorly, desk was scattered with paperwork, no organization. Definitely would NOT recommend!
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09 Jul, 2009 by Anonymous
He is an incompetent fool! I would not go to him again even for a parking Citation!
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21 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
Charles disclosed confidential information to other party. I almost reported him to the bar association for misconduct. I was not sure if he was working for me or the other party. Luckily I found a better attorney prior to my hearings.
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10 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
Charles represented me and he was irrational in his responses and behaviors. It was embarrassing to me and others involved. I would not recommend him.
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22 Aug, 2015 by Kathryn
Jennifer represented my husband and I , new homeowners, in a multi-party lawsuit brought forth by our home's general contractor, and countered by us. While Jennifer was well versed in the rule of the law, she was not very savvy in the execution of the law. Most glaring, was her failure to find an acceptable solution for the damages caused by the builder, contractor, and architect, that resulted in our house not being built to code, and not being able to pass inspections.
The answer that Jennifer and her experts agreed was acceptable, and the absolute best we could hope for, turned out to be wrong, and completely unacceptable by the county, who had jurisdiction over our house. You would think that when you're being charged upwards of $510.00/hr by Jennifer and another partner, who was "consulting" on our case, that they would at least try to get the solution right. After all, Jennifer does promote herself as an expert in the field of "Construction Law".
And why is it that experienced lawyers, who are partners, not associates, require such extensive consultation between one another throughout a case? We've since learned that the Bar does not look kindly on this type of billing practice. It has prompted us to seriously consider have an independent legal-billing audit, of Jennifer's invoices, to determine whether or not we were unfairly charged.
When we attended our first mediation, which was not successful, Jennifer seemed disconnected and tired. She yawned excessively throughout the day, and seemed to have a difficult time staying awake in the afternoon. Even if the chances of success are slim, I expect my lawyer to be alert and focused during an important, expensive, process.
Following Jennifer's lackluster performance during mediation, we really lost confidence. We privately voiced our concerns to a Senior partner and asked if he would be willing to take over the case. He declined and assured us he was confident in Jennifer's ability. With our legal bills reaching over $75,000 and our legitimate concerns having been "swept" under the rug, we felt put off and stressed out.
Soon after, and somewhat by chance, we had the opportunity to discuss our situation with a Minneapolis attorney who was retired from private practice. Having no skin in the game, he was able to provide an honest assessment of our case and give advice about how to proceed. From behind the scenes, he helped steer us out of the money pit we were heading down with Jennifer's style of representation.
In the end, we requested a settlement conference with the Judge, which Jennifer denied us, as predicted by the retired attorney. Instead, Jennifer insisted on trying to mediate over the phone. After SIX WEEKS, and lots more billable hours for Jennifer, she settled the case. Not surprising, she got the lion's share of the payout and we ended up with a whopping $,7800.00 on a settlement that was valued over $140,000.00, and we still had to fix all of the problems with our house! Imagine our shock when the county informed us that Jennifer's "expert" solution was unacceptable. It's important to note here that we were charged over $17,000.00 in expert-related fees alone, and not once did Jennifer or her "experts" contact the county.
In my opinion, the top motivator for Jennifer, when it comes to being a lawyer, is stacking up billable hours. Unfortunately, she seemed more concerned in representing herself, rather than us. She's was more of a rule follower than a fighter, and she often allowed attorney's for the opposing parties to get away with not following the rules. In the end, she was not very savvy. In cases where a homeowner whom, more than any other party in a construction lawsuit, needs a strong advocate, she was not worth her high prices. I only wish I had read the previous poster's review of Jennifer before hiring her. It was absolutely right on.
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02 Aug, 2012 by Dzmitry
I couldn't help but notice that my lawyer did not implement any strategy or a plan in order to negotiate the best possible settlement. It is unfortunate that I had to deal with the mediator myself. I was under the impression that the intent was to settle this case regardless of a settlement amount. The day after the mediation my attorney continued insisting on settling, though I was not satisfied with the amount. My lawyer did not show any effort or desire to continue negotiations with the opposing side. I had to be insistent and spent a lot of time in attempts to encourage my attorney to continue negotiations (and of course I was charged for this time). I was not satisfied with the settlement amount I was offered, but I had to take it, because I was not sure anymore that my interest would be adequately represented during the arbitration. Also, I believe that settlement amount could be higher if I had received proper representation during the mediation. I was surprised to see that my bill was not reduced after I had expressed my concerns about the poor representation that I received during the mediation as well as after the mediation.
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28 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
Mike Kallas actually accepted a bribe from the client Mike was supposedly defending my husband and I against!!!
He also did NOT disclose to us when we hired him that he has been sued previously for malpractice.
Julius , call me if you want to discuss similarities in what happened to you.
612-666-7271
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21 Sep, 2021 by Julius
I had a horrible experience with Mike. He didn't listen and made a major mistake. I hired him to draft and record a contract for deed for me. The seller of the deed requested to change the option to sell leaning the contract in her favor. Without my approval Mike made the change... Then a few weeks later he told me I could sell the property. I spent money on a few repairs, paint, and landscaping and put the house on the market only to have Mike call me and say "I made a mistake you can't sell." To top it all off the deed never got recorded. I WOULDN'T recommend
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10 Sep, 2014 by Anonymous
Pompous lawyer who has no regard for his clients. It takes over three weeks for Ray Charpentier to return phone calls, when I call his office it is made VERY clear that he is too busy to call me back but that I can leave another message. I went into his office for legal advise on a land issue, when asked how much this advise would be I was told "dont worry about it, Ill send you something". In which I received a bill for $750..
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01 May, 2023 by Mitch
I personally used Ben Stabenow at the beginning of a messy divorce. I can honestly say that the service provided was astonishingly dismal to say the least. I relinquished Ben Stabenow of his services & went with a different attorney. They couldn’t believe the position I was in. They assumed my outcome, up to that point, would’ve been better with self representation (their opinion, looking back mine also).
The attorneys I acquired after Ben did a GREAT job. Very proactive at reversing what was or wasn’t done in the beginning. I would recommend them in a heart beat!
Ben was great at one thing….asking for continuous retainers for further representation.
I have personally never left a review in my life, but feel the need in this situation. I could write a litany of examples starting from the beginning that would be poignant, but feel this isn’t the place. Please be aware of who you are paying/ hiring.
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29 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
Months of consultation and my case was to have moved forward with civil suit. Kurt delayed sending pleadings to me and ultimately never sent them. His promised date was delayed, and the further delayed date missed. Pleadings were ultimately never sent. Several different Porter/Severson law office personnel contacted via email and/or phone. Admin assistant confirmed there had not been any life events that might compromise Kurt's work. She verified Kurt had been consistently in the office working. The other parties in my case are big players who have threatened, intimidated and bullied me. Kurt was made well aware of this including documentation. I told Kurt I had concerns about possible further property damage and concerns for my family's safety. According to the MSBA website, I have a less than 10% chance that they would rule in favor of my complaint and a 90% chance of ruling for my attorney. Like most cases, I did put money in a retainer and have waited more than a year to hear from my lawyer regarding my case and/or my retainer. I will let the reader decide what to think of Porter/Severson.
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20 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
Consulted for a simple family real estate transaction. John Bray produced a wholly incomplete and worthless draft purchase agreement with incorrect math, incorrect references to the parties involved, in a thrown together manner not worthy of a first year law student. Then after a message saying we needed to do some more research I got a huge bill and no response when I requested to talk about it
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26 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
I wouldn't say I like writing reviews, but this one you need to be cautious around.
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19 Feb, 2021 by Anonymous
Little talkative and little active to solve problems. Loves to protect all kinds of scammers and vile people
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16 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous
I hired John Mack to defend me and I urge you to definitely think twice about doing so. He changed his mind several times on the strategy he was going to use. He failed to file a Judicial review in the first 30 days which would've saved me a lot of money in the long run. I even asked him a couple of times to complete this and he advised against this. He wasn't prepared and what he told me was not factual. He didn't represent me at all in the way someone should be after fronting the money he demanded. I ended up hiring another attorney after realizing he wasn't at all trying to help me and instead put more fear in me. I requested half of my money back since he didn't do what he said he was going to but he refused to refund me telling me I signed the contract. I couldn't trust his word nor was he even sure what defense he was going to use. Think twice before consulting with this attorney.
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24 Oct, 2017 by Aaron eittreim
Bill invoiced me $1500 which went into a trust account. This was collected via my credit card to a Clio payment portal. Upon completion of the project my total was $1219.00. Oddly Bill was insistent to mail me back a check for the $281.00 instead of just refunding my card which is how I payed. Weeks went by and I suggested to Bill that he cancel the check as MN mail does not take that long. He then e-mailed me 3 weeks after claiming the check cleared his bank account and was cashed. I never received a check nor did I cash it. When I asked Bill to send me a picture of the check and what bank it was cashed at he went completely radio silent and would not return my calls or e-mails.
This is very small amount of money and barely worth the time to report this. I just feel that law firms have an ethical obligation to manage trust accounts and client balances honestly. If mistakes are made communication at a minimum is a must.
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07 Aug, 2014 by Jane
Mr. Nolan was ill prepared and did not appear to be aware of all the facets of the law to properly assist me. He did not keep his promises to me; and did not respond in a timely manner. Thus I paid more than I needed to for his work.
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17 May, 2021 by Don
Fleeced me for over 50K even though he quoted me 10K at the start saying we have all the information, the work has been done.
When I questioned his billing he bullied me.
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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.
