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24 Sep, 2014 by Anonymous
To Anyone Seeking An Attorney: This letter is a testimonial for attorney Ken Chyten from two very grateful clients. We would like to say at the start that we consider ourselves fortunate to have had Ken Chyten as our advocate. He is an exemplary attorney, and we give him our highest and most unqualified recommendation. We are a married couple who were involved in very complex and highly contentious business litigation. From the outset, and during the entire course of the lawsuit, Ken showed a keen grasp of the legal issues. He kept us informed of everything as it transpired, and was accessible whenever we needed him, including evenings and weekends. Ken demonstrated an incomparable work ethic, and a phenomenal commitment to thorough preparation. Ken was opposed in our case by a very large and prominent law firm. Ken responded with tenacity and brilliance, while always being composed, adroit, and confident. Ken’s litigation strategy was ingenious, and his implementation of that strategy was unparalleled. If Ken Chyten is your attorney, you can rest assured that if your case goes to trial, you will be going to trial with a thoroughly prepared advocate who will have thought through every aspect of the case, and who will have covered every last detail. Ken’s billing is transparent and fair. Indeed, he has been generous and considerate in the extreme. He is a man of honor and integrity; a true man of his word. We have come through the crucible of litigation considering Ken to be not only a supremely competent, razor-sharp attorney, but a good friend as well.
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10 Apr, 2014 by Anonymous
Ken Chyten recently handled a breach of contract law suit for me. Unlike most other firms, Ken does not have big overhead costs that you get billed for. He handles the cases from start to finish with no duplicate charges for a paralegal, admin assistant, associate attorney etc. In my case, I was able to work in collaboration with Ken. He listened to and reviewed my concerns, my arguments and evidence and then negotiated with the counter-party to achieve a favorable outcome after a long and protracted battle by the counter-party. I was very pleased with the outcome and am confident that a similar result would have cost me much more at most other large or small law firms. Ken knows his stuff and is diligent and hard working for his clients. I highly recommend him in the areas he practices.
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02 Oct, 2013 by Paul
When my litigation law firm in Sydney needed to recover a large sum in California, we did our research and Ken came highly recommended. We were not disappointed. Ken undertook our matter with zeal and thoroughness. He saw off a number of large law firms who represented our opponents and easily outperformed all of the other lawyers involved. Ken’s tactics were brilliant, and he was aggressive and tenacious. We achieved a spectacular result that surpassed our expectations and was much quicker than we had hoped. Without doubt Ken is one of the finest lawyers I have ever met. I only wish he was in Australia and I could retain him more often.
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05 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
My contract dispute began in CA. Mr. Tator has made it possible for me to afford his services. I found and retained Mr. Tator as my attorney from out of state. Even so Mr. Tator and his staff have handled my case professionally,efficiently, cordially. Mr. Tator's expertise is second to none. MR. TATOR HAS SET A PRECEDENT WITH MY CASE. I am extremely satisfied with Mr. Tator's services. Mr. Tator and staff deserve the highest rating score possible. I wish he was an attorney in my state of residence. He has kept my best interests at heart and works very hard to get me the best results. He always keeps me posted and is quick to respond to all my inquiries and in a manner that I understand. I have an attorney I know I can count on to do all the right things for me.
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01 Mar, 2018 by Anonymous
I've worked with Mr.  Scott for the last 8 years, on and off.  He helped me put my LLC into play. He also helped me, with different personal situations. He's is extremely professional,  and was very savvy with all my needs.
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10 Feb, 2015 by Anonymous
Mr. Nielsen did a great job in handling our personal injury case and got us a great result. I would highly recommend his services.
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29 Aug, 2024 by John garcia
I Juan Garcia the Shermer firm highly recommended in auto accidents.they sent me to the medical doctors for my injuries.the attorney and assistances were very helpful on the case I was very pleased on the outcome thank you 😊
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22 Aug, 2024 by Nazario dorado silva
Excellent service very professional and made this whole process stress free I highly recommend the Schurmer firm.
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22 Aug, 2024 by Robert coronado
Amazing communication throughout the entire process the entire process! Met with Attorney Schurmer twice, which is something that I have never experienced, usually they are to busy. Again amazing experience
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24 Jul, 2024 by A r
We hired Kendall VanConas and this firm to update our estate - they initially said they'd print our documents and give return them to us in a day or two - instead they took weeks just to print copies of our estate documents and only gave them back weeks later after we had to prompt them and ask for them. After that, we had to continually call and send emails to repeatedly ask when we were going to ever hear from them about our estate planning after our initial meeting in May, we were told their assistant went on vacation so they were behind and would try to catch up soon (but still never heard anything from them after that), weeks went by and again we reached out to ask when things would move forward and were told Kendall had surgery and had "gotten behind" on things in her recovery (We were never told she was out for a medical leave prior to that). We had to contact them again on July 1st only to be told they were all out of the office until after July 8th - this firm doesn't do work, they do billing and make excuses, that's about it. They also refused to give us notes from the one meeting we had with them - for which we were billed $750 and told, the notes from that meeting were "privy for them" not for us so our request for a recap of our own estate planning meeting was refused. Do not waste your time with this firm, they have NO incentive to move forward with your project or estate planning, they will take you as a client then sit on your estate planning and DO NOTHING, but bill you for any meetings, then drop the ball, and you will never hear from them again, very unprofessional and our experience with them was completely frustrating and a total waste of our time, as well as costly - as we got nothing from our $750 meeting with them, not even an outline or meeting recap of the notes they took from our estate planning meeting. They also don't communicate at all, and never told us about the lead attorney's surgery or time out from the office for her recovery - and apparently, no one else in the firm does anything. (They take a full week off for July 4th - the entire firm apparently, as no one responded to our July 1 email as they were all "out of the office until after July 8th). After July 8th we still heard NOTHING. Kendall told us she would follow up with a timeline of our estate planning status the following week, but she never did, and that never happened. When they had an assistant out of the office that also apparently makes all their work come to a screeching halt - all of this is inexcusable, unprofessional and is a poor representation of a firm that is supposed to be on their game helping people update their estate planning. You will likely pass away before they ever get to updating your estate - we moved on and found a much better firm that actually does work, and would strongly recommend people stay away from this firm if they need something done in a reasonable time and feel communication is important at all, as this firm doesn't communicate, they make excuses when you reach out because if you hire them, you will be the one doing all the planning and reaching out, they do not do anything at all but sit on your estate planning and watch time go by! From the first meeting in May until we fired them in July for a span of almost 2 months, we had one meeting, they copied our files and then absolutely nothing else ever happened in moving forward with our estate planning - they never gave us a timeline for getting it done, which we asked about for 3 weeks, but they never provided a timeline because they had no plan to do the work or had decided for some reason due to their incompetence and lack of continuity in their own office and within their staff's capability to take years to do an update on our estate planning. This firm is not doing anything but taking business then sitting on it, doing meetings with clients and refusing to give the clients any notes or minutes from meetings clients are being billed for! There are firms that do effective estate planning, but sadly, this isn't one of them.
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02 Jul, 2024 by A g
Poor representation.
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27 May, 2024 by India smith
Great service highly recommended
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24 Jul, 2024 by A r
We hired Kendall VanConas and this firm to update our estate - they initially said they'd print our documents and give return them to us in a day or two - instead they took weeks just to print copies of our estate documents and only gave them back weeks later after we had to prompt them and ask for them. After that, we had to continually call and send emails to repeatedly ask when we were going to ever hear from them about our estate planning after our initial meeting in May, we were told their assistant went on vacation so they were behind and would try to catch up soon (but still never heard anything from them after that), weeks went by and again we reached out to ask when things would move forward and were told Kendall had surgery and had "gotten behind" on things in her recovery (We were never told she was out for a medical leave prior to that). We had to contact them again on July 1st only to be told they were all out of the office until after July 8th - this firm doesn't do work, they do billing and make excuses, that's about it. They also refused to give us notes from the one meeting we had with them - for which we were billed $750 and told, the notes from that meeting were "privy for them" not for us so our request for a recap of our own estate planning meeting was refused. Do not waste your time with this firm, they have NO incentive to move forward with your project or estate planning, they will take you as a client then sit on your estate planning and DO NOTHING, but bill you for any meetings, then drop the ball, and you will never hear from them again, very unprofessional and our experience with them was completely frustrating and a total waste of our time, as well as costly - as we got nothing from our $750 meeting with them, not even an outline or meeting recap of the notes they took from our estate planning meeting. They also don't communicate at all, and never told us about the lead attorney's surgery or time out from the office for her recovery - and apparently, no one else in the firm does anything. (They take a full week off for July 4th - the entire firm apparently, as no one responded to our July 1 email as they were all "out of the office until after July 8th). After July 8th we still heard NOTHING. Kendall told us she would follow up with a timeline of our estate planning status the following week, but she never did, and that never happened. When they had an assistant out of the office that also apparently makes all their work come to a screeching halt - all of this is inexcusable, unprofessional and is a poor representation of a firm that is supposed to be on their game helping people update their estate planning. You will likely pass away before they ever get to updating your estate - we moved on and found a much better firm that actually does work, and would strongly recommend people stay away from this firm if they need something done in a reasonable time and feel communication is important at all, as this firm doesn't communicate, they make excuses when you reach out because if you hire them, you will be the one doing all the planning and reaching out, they do not do anything at all but sit on your estate planning and watch time go by! From the first meeting in May until we fired them in July for a span of almost 2 months, we had one meeting, they copied our files and then absolutely nothing else ever happened in moving forward with our estate planning - they never gave us a timeline for getting it done, which we asked about for 3 weeks, but they never provided a timeline because they had no plan to do the work or had decided for some reason due to their incompetence and lack of continuity in their own office and within their staff's capability to take years to do an update on our estate planning. This firm is not doing anything but taking business then sitting on it, doing meetings with clients and refusing to give the clients any notes or minutes from meetings clients are being billed for! There are firms that do effective estate planning, but sadly, this isn't one of them.
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02 Jul, 2024 by A g
Poor representation.
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27 May, 2024 by India smith
Great service highly recommended
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21 Aug, 2024 by Deana castaneda
Mr. Herman is a fantastic lawyer! From our first meeting, he explained everything to me in terms I could understand. I was impressed by his expertise and professionalism and the outstanding outcome of my case. I highly recommend The Law Offices of J. Jeffrey Herman!
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16 Aug, 2024 by David arroyo jr
Mr. Herman is amazing and one of the most consistent, reliable, and caring individuals you can work with. His communication through the whole process is top-notch. He gives you proper expectations through the whole process.
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14 Aug, 2024 by Carlos aguilar
I want to personally thank Jeff for the amazing job he did with mine and my girlfriends auto accident case. Thank you Jeff for going above and beyond mine and my girlfriends expectations when we contacted you. You are one knowledgeable, attentive, emphatic, trustworthy, reliable, dependable, caring, and approachble lawyer. Thank you for everything you did sir! I truly from the bottom of my heart appreciate what you did for me and helping us resolve our auto accident claim in a timely manner. You are one heck of an attorney!! I will always talk greatly about you and send you referrals! Thank you!!!
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24 Jul, 2024 by A r
We hired Kendall VanConas and this firm to update our estate - they initially said they'd print our documents and give return them to us in a day or two - instead they took weeks just to print copies of our estate documents and only gave them back weeks later after we had to prompt them and ask for them. After that, we had to continually call and send emails to repeatedly ask when we were going to ever hear from them about our estate planning after our initial meeting in May, we were told their assistant went on vacation so they were behind and would try to catch up soon (but still never heard anything from them after that), weeks went by and again we reached out to ask when things would move forward and were told Kendall had surgery and had "gotten behind" on things in her recovery (We were never told she was out for a medical leave prior to that). We had to contact them again on July 1st only to be told they were all out of the office until after July 8th - this firm doesn't do work, they do billing and make excuses, that's about it. They also refused to give us notes from the one meeting we had with them - for which we were billed $750 and told, the notes from that meeting were "privy for them" not for us so our request for a recap of our own estate planning meeting was refused. Do not waste your time with this firm, they have NO incentive to move forward with your project or estate planning, they will take you as a client then sit on your estate planning and DO NOTHING, but bill you for any meetings, then drop the ball, and you will never hear from them again, very unprofessional and our experience with them was completely frustrating and a total waste of our time, as well as costly - as we got nothing from our $750 meeting with them, not even an outline or meeting recap of the notes they took from our estate planning meeting. They also don't communicate at all, and never told us about the lead attorney's surgery or time out from the office for her recovery - and apparently, no one else in the firm does anything. (They take a full week off for July 4th - the entire firm apparently, as no one responded to our July 1 email as they were all "out of the office until after July 8th). After July 8th we still heard NOTHING. Kendall told us she would follow up with a timeline of our estate planning status the following week, but she never did, and that never happened. When they had an assistant out of the office that also apparently makes all their work come to a screeching halt - all of this is inexcusable, unprofessional and is a poor representation of a firm that is supposed to be on their game helping people update their estate planning. You will likely pass away before they ever get to updating your estate - we moved on and found a much better firm that actually does work, and would strongly recommend people stay away from this firm if they need something done in a reasonable time and feel communication is important at all, as this firm doesn't communicate, they make excuses when you reach out because if you hire them, you will be the one doing all the planning and reaching out, they do not do anything at all but sit on your estate planning and watch time go by! From the first meeting in May until we fired them in July for a span of almost 2 months, we had one meeting, they copied our files and then absolutely nothing else ever happened in moving forward with our estate planning - they never gave us a timeline for getting it done, which we asked about for 3 weeks, but they never provided a timeline because they had no plan to do the work or had decided for some reason due to their incompetence and lack of continuity in their own office and within their staff's capability to take years to do an update on our estate planning. This firm is not doing anything but taking business then sitting on it, doing meetings with clients and refusing to give the clients any notes or minutes from meetings clients are being billed for! There are firms that do effective estate planning, but sadly, this isn't one of them.
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02 Jul, 2024 by A g
Poor representation.
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27 May, 2024 by India smith
Great service highly recommended
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23 Sep, 2024 by Holly barrow
Aweful experience. I was handed a folder full of "how much money and how many magazines I've been in". Then they declined our case even though a ventura doctor was the main cause of my father's sudden passing because it wouldn't make the law office millions and he told us Ventura county is allowed to hire D- doctors. Now we lost our dad, the doctor kept practicing and my mom struggled for years because my dad was the bread winner.
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15 Sep, 2024 by Nataliee bonilla
Honestly the best service i could have asked for any questions or concerns i had were addressed and handles. Highly recommend Karen.
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05 Sep, 2024 by Karie ragan
The thought of filing for bankruptcy was terrifying, feeling scared and not knowing what to do was awful. I was referred to Karen by a friend, I called and she was able to schedule a consult right away. She made me feel so comfortable and explained the whole process step by step. She made me feel like I was doing the right thing and that everything was going to be okay. She was there every step of the way and answered all of my questions. She made the process easy and painless. Her office was great and reminding me of what what documents were needed and when. She followed up after everything was done and was there if I had any questions or concerns. I would definitely recommend her.
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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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