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02 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
Gary is not only an experienced attorney, but a really good one as well. I’ve relied on his sage advice relating to several issues over the years, and he has consistently led me in the right direction. Recently, Gary advised me on a very important legal matter and I couldn’t be more grateful.
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26 Aug, 2011 by Anonymous
I was referred to Mr. Muldoon by a friend for my divorce. He made it all sound so easy. In the end, the final court appearance, he threw me to his associate. The final outcome was NOT what I agreed to. And I can't argue the facts because he didn't file the oral stipulation with the clerk's office! As I just learned recently. Every attorney should treat a client like they would want to be treated. I think Mr. Muldoon likes writing about law more than he likes practicing it.
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04 Aug, 2024 by Kay fina
05 Oct, 2023 by Nathaniel blood
Avoid using Jon Bonavilla for your divorce attorney. Jon did not provide me with proper representation, overall Jon’s communication was not helpful and left me confused, and Jon provided limited legal advice. After a couple of months, I sought out a new attorney.
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04 Oct, 2023 by Nathaniel
Avoid using Jon Bonavilla for your divorce attorney. After a couple of months I sought out a new attorney. Jon did not provide me with proper representation, overall Jon’s communication was not helpful and left me confused, and Jon provided limited legal advice.
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04 Aug, 2024 by Kay fina
05 Oct, 2023 by Nathaniel blood
Avoid using Jon Bonavilla for your divorce attorney. Jon did not provide me with proper representation, overall Jon’s communication was not helpful and left me confused, and Jon provided limited legal advice. After a couple of months, I sought out a new attorney.
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22 Apr, 2023 by Kristen konight
Left a voicemail and emailed. 1 week later still no response.
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04 Aug, 2024 by Kay fina
05 Oct, 2023 by Nathaniel blood
Avoid using Jon Bonavilla for your divorce attorney. Jon did not provide me with proper representation, overall Jon’s communication was not helpful and left me confused, and Jon provided limited legal advice. After a couple of months, I sought out a new attorney.
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22 Apr, 2023 by Kristen konight
Left a voicemail and emailed. 1 week later still no response.
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04 Aug, 2024 by Kay fina
05 Oct, 2023 by Nathaniel blood
Avoid using Jon Bonavilla for your divorce attorney. Jon did not provide me with proper representation, overall Jon’s communication was not helpful and left me confused, and Jon provided limited legal advice. After a couple of months, I sought out a new attorney.
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22 Apr, 2023 by Kristen konight
Left a voicemail and emailed. 1 week later still no response.
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17 Feb, 2022 by Anonymous
I attended court with a family friend. This woman was very nervous and afraid and good ol Len (who was representing her abusive husband) looked over at her and said something to the effect of "well maybe today's the day we'll have you thrown in jail" She was obviously terrified and Len knew that wasn't going to happen...one of the most disgusting displays of cruelty I've ever seen. Loser, not a good guy
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04 Apr, 2019 by Thomas
Len dropped the ball multiple times during my divorce. Always has excuses. Save yourself the aggravation.
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12 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
I love how Leonard is always patient with his clients and makes sure that we know all the options we have while working with him. He assures that the best decision will be made.
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06 Nov, 2014 by Anonymous
He is dedicatedly someone who will trust the truth and make things go in your favor. But tries to pump you up to be angry and exaggerate hire scared or worried you are
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13 Aug, 2015 by Anonymous
An extra star because some of the workers in the office are good. But it was an all around poor experience working with Dollinger. Poor communication, lots of delays. And the cherry on top was they had no keys for the house we purchased. It was a mess. Find someone else if you have a choice.
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06 Dec, 2016 by Anonymous
I hired Mr. Leichtner for a divorce and house closing. Details were missed on both, in the end, costing me money, plus communication was an issue. I could not recommend him.
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18 Feb, 2016 by Anonymous
I would never hire him for my divorce again. He has not filed paperwork when he said he would... never returns calls... moved without notifying me... He did not follow through and left me hanging. Excuse after excuse!!!!
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05 Mar, 2013 by Anonymous
Ed took forever to file on my behalf, and when he did he mishandled the paperwork. This led to yet another delay in my Divorce. I'm now trying to get formal paperwork on my divorce (because he never got me my official copies) and I find that he has entered erronous birthdates, transposed "defendant" and "plaintiff" to the point my house may be in danger. I'm now lost and don't know what to do
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07 Sep, 2018 by Anonymous
I hired James Grossman in October of 2003. I was referred to him because of his expertise in real estate. I was experiencing severe nuisance water issues related to a development that went in behind me on a hill. I came to learn of the problem only upon visiting my healthcare provider.
While Mr. Grossman was retained I was forced to leave my home due the toxic mold. Mr. Grossman attempted to backdate my claim saying it was pointless to pursue as my neighbor was also made ill. Yet he appeared to misinterpret this fact because it was only after I had been alerted by my doctor that I came to realize my neighbor's plight. ( He subsequently sold his property and now a second family has become ill).
Mr. Grossman never filed any legal paperwork on my behalf essentially almost allowing my claim to lapse.
What I never understood is that Mr. Grossman is at heart a defense attorney and never had any interest in properly defending me. Later he teamed up with an insurance defense lawyer who represents the Town who improperly permitted this development in.
My advice is to ask this important question of your council are you a Plaintiff's attorney or are you an attorney who represents or defends clients.
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30 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous
The most outrageous and stressful closing of my life. This woman is completely unprofessional, calls for a closing threatening the loss of our singed agreement and the forfeiture of my deposit without even having all required seller's documents ready. She sent documents with egregious errors and takes forever to respond to emails, insisting that she is correct when she is wrong. I promise you, by any means necessary, avoid this woman, or you will regret it.
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12 Apr, 2017 by Bob
This woman was my mothers lawyer till a little before she died. I was the only blood relative avail, and was listed as executor of her will. Nichole withheld important information after being hired by my Uncle who was backup guardian when my mother was hospitalized permanently. I had a meeting discussing why I shouldn't or want to be executor. My uncle stated that he had everything done down to a phone bill and all assets sold and all cash, and he could execute the will promptly. I was told it wasn't worth me doing it, maybe $5,000 and a lot of trouble. Well I decided to do it out of principal because at our meeting her and my uncle took advantage of my grief and thought they had it locked in. I wasn't told my mothers belongings including 2 cars belonged to me upon her death, moreso, upon her death ALL money goes to the other family. On the day of our meeting I went to my mothers house. All her thnigs laid out for sale the next day. I was told it was the best thing for me to do. There was not much left anyway, but out of respect I left everything there. Then I went to meet Nichole. I was never told that after everythng my mother had was sold, that money would go to the other family. I could have taken anything I wanted on that day. I live in Atlanta so It's a rare trip. I didn't receive as much as a button from my mothers possessions. THEN, since I was now acting as executor, and hired a lawfirm that was happy to do it. Nichole advised me nobody really wanted the case. It took her and Dan over a year!!!!!!, to transfer the proper things. I sat and listened to Dan tell her everythng was wrapped up. TAXES, THE WHOLE ESTATE LIQUIDATED, everything down to a phone bill. This was one of the hardest times of my life, and was the blood son of this woman that other people decided they would do what they saw fit. So, there's one more lawyer that's better at the bottom of the sea. Thanks Nichole and Dan. I did my part and served my mothers last wishes. Too bad I didn't get what was due to me. Memories of her. I didn't want money. Oh and by the way, my executor check was over $10,000. Another lie.
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29 Dec, 2014 by Eric
I hired Mr. Richard Evans to assist to defend me in the event that I was to be sued by our lender for a real estate project that went sour. To start, I was billed $1819 for initial research in the first week. I was then billed an additional $3,333 the following week for more research. After these 2 invoices were paid (Total $5152) Mr. Evans asked for a $7500 retainer that would be used for future litigation. I have an email from Mr. Evans that supports this as well. After the first week, I got an invoice that showed $5350 was already used of the $7500 retainer. I immediately contacted Mr. Evans and he explained that the money was spent on even more research. This research was not authorized or approved. This retainer was to be used for his services in actually litigating. The definition of litigation is: the process of taking legal action. IE: legal proceedings, legal actions, showing up in court, etc. None of these items happened. He merely continued to do more double research and charge excessive amounts. Mr. Evans misrepresented what this retainer was for and took advantage of me. When I signed this retainer, Mr. Evans made it very clear that it would be for future litigation and it would get me a good chunk of the way through the lawsuit. Instead, he blew through $5350 of $7500 (almost all of the retainer) in the first week doing absolutely nothing. He even lumped in old charges of work he did before the retainer was signed and those charges should have been on previous invoices. I have emails and invoices that support all of my claims. I have paid $10,500 for "alleged" research for this lawyer and have absolutely nothing to show for any of it. Once I realized that I was being scammed I promptly terminated the services of Mr. Evans. I have hired a new lawyer and he is advising me to file a complaint with the BBB and attorney general. Mr. Evans refuses to give a refund of any amount. I have a significant amount of experience with dealing with lawyers and have never been treated like this.
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10 Oct, 2015 by Anonymous
We went to Mr Laforte to represent us in a real estate matter. At first he was willing to assist in a dispute with the tenants as a courtesy. There was no mention of any fees for just writing a simple letter. We were referred to him because he is on retainer with a municipality where we are employed. He is compensated up front to represent the employees without additional fees. After he sent the short letters to the tenants as discussed the information sent to them was inaccurate. Immediately afterwards Mr Laforte forwarded invoices to us with inflated amounts due for services. There was no previous discussion mentioning that any fees would be expected. If there were proceedings through the court system, then we should expect to be billed. The landlord and tenant issue was resolved though a phone conversation. Mr Laforte had no involvement with the discussion as it was just a simple misunderstanding.
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02 Feb, 2024 by Jay
Not happy as of now but hopefully that changes..if it does, the review will change . Hopefully this goes better then it is soo far
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04 Jan, 2024 by Anthony
I do not recommend using John D’Aurizio as an attorney whatsoever. John is NOT a problem solver. John takes the path of “least resistance.” He does not offer solutions, he wants to get in and get out. Steer clear from this firm if you are looking for a lawyer!
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Real Estate Lawyer Can Do for You
A real estate lawyer provides legal assistance in transactions and disputes involving property, including residential and commercial real estate. Whether you're buying, selling, leasing, or developing property, a real estate attorney can help ensure that your transactions are legally sound and your rights are protected. They review contracts, perform due diligence, resolve disputes, and provide legal representation in negotiations and litigation involving property matters.
Real estate lawyers are crucial in safeguarding your investment by ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal real estate laws, as well as protecting you from potential legal pitfalls related to property ownership and transactions.
When Should I Hire a Real Estate Lawyer?
Hiring a real estate lawyer is beneficial in various scenarios, including:
- Buying or selling property: When navigating complex real estate contracts, it’s advisable to have a lawyer review and ensure that the terms are favorable and legal.
- Commercial property transactions: For leasing, purchasing, or selling commercial properties, a lawyer can help manage the intricate legal aspects of such transactions.
- Zoning or land use issues: If you're planning to develop property or change its use, a real estate lawyer can guide you through zoning laws and land use regulations.
- Resolving property disputes: For boundary disputes, title issues, or disagreements over property rights, a lawyer can help mediate or litigate the matter.
- Foreclosures or evictions: If you're dealing with foreclosure or managing a tenant eviction, legal representation ensures that the process adheres to local laws and protects your interests.
- Title and deed issues: Lawyers can help clear title disputes, ensure the legitimacy of property deeds, and handle transfers of ownership.
What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do?
A real estate lawyer provides a range of services to help with property transactions and disputes, including:
- Contract drafting and review: Ensuring that purchase agreements, leases, and other contracts are legally binding, fair, and protect your interests.
- Title search and clearance: Conducting a thorough title search to ensure that the property has no legal claims or liens that could affect ownership.
- Facilitate closing: Managing the closing process in real estate transactions, including reviewing final documents and ensuring that everything is in order before the transfer of ownership.
- Resolve disputes: Handling legal disputes related to property ownership, boundaries, zoning, or tenants.
- Assist in financing: Reviewing loan agreements and mortgage documents to ensure the terms are fair and legally sound.
- Zoning and land use advice: Guiding clients through the complexities of zoning laws and building regulations for property development or renovation projects.
How Are Real Estate Lawyers Paid?
Real estate lawyers typically charge for their services in the following ways:
- Flat fee: Many real estate transactions, such as reviewing a sales contract or assisting with a closing, are charged on a flat-fee basis.
- Hourly rates: If a lawyer is handling complex disputes or litigation, they may charge by the hour. Hourly rates can vary significantly based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Contingency fees: In rare cases, such as property disputes or claims for damages, a lawyer may work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win or settle the case.
- Retainer: For ongoing legal support, some clients may pay a retainer, which is an upfront fee used as a deposit for future legal services.
It's important to clarify the fee structure with your attorney before hiring them to avoid any surprises.
How Much Does a Real Estate Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a real estate lawyer varies based on the complexity of the matter, the location of the property, and the lawyer’s experience. Key factors that affect pricing include:
- Type of transaction or issue: Simple tasks, like contract reviews, typically cost less than handling a complex property dispute or litigation.
- Experience and location: More experienced lawyers or those in high-demand areas, like urban centers, often charge higher rates.
- Billing structure: Lawyers may charge a flat fee for basic services like document review or hourly for more time-intensive work such as disputes or litigation.
Flat fees for straightforward services like closing assistance may range from $500 to $1,500.
Hourly rates can range from $150 to $400 or more, depending on the attorney’s experience and location.
Always discuss fees upfront to understand the overall cost of the legal service you're receiving.
Top Questions to Ask a Real Estate Lawyer
Before hiring a real estate lawyer, ask the following questions to ensure they are the right fit for your legal needs:
-
What experience do you have with real estate law?
Ensure the lawyer has experience in the type of real estate transaction or dispute you’re facing, whether residential, commercial, or development-related. -
What is your fee structure?
Ask how the lawyer charges for services - whether it's a flat fee, hourly rate, or retainer - so there are no surprises later on. -
How long will the process take?
Especially important for real estate transactions or disputes with deadlines, ask for a general estimate of how long the process will last. -
Have you handled cases similar to mine?
Experience with similar transactions or disputes can give you confidence that the lawyer knows how to handle your case. -
Will you handle my case personally, or will it be passed to another attorney?
Confirm who will be handling the bulk of your case work, especially in larger firms where junior lawyers may take on some responsibilities. -
Can you provide references?
Speaking with past clients can give you insight into the lawyer's experience and how they handle cases.
How to Check the Credibility of a Real Estate Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a reputable real estate lawyer, take these steps:
- Check with the state bar association: Verify that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing with no disciplinary actions on their record.
- Read online reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on legal directories and platforms like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell to see what past clients have said.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should have past clients willing to share their experiences.
- Review their track record and expertise: Look at the lawyer’s website or LinkedIn profile for information about their experience in real estate law and any relevant cases they’ve handled.
- Membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of respected legal or real estate organizations, like the American Bar Association’s Real Property Division, often signal credibility and expertise.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make your first meeting with a real estate lawyer productive, you should prepare the following materials:
- Relevant property documents: Bring purchase agreements, lease contracts, mortgage documents, zoning permits, or any other paperwork related to your case.
- A summary of the issue or transaction: Be ready to explain the situation, whether it's a property dispute, contract negotiation, or development issue.
- Questions about the legal process: Prepare a list of questions about how the lawyer will handle your case and what steps are involved.
- Financial documents or loan agreements: If the case involves financing or a mortgage, bring any related documents for the lawyer to review.
- Your goals and timeline: Be clear about what outcome you're hoping for, and if there are any deadlines that need to be considered, such as closing dates or legal filings.
By coming prepared, you can ensure that your consultation is efficient and informative, allowing you to assess whether the lawyer is the right fit for your real estate needs.
