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23 May, 2021 by Harley
Mr Walsh advised and assisted in the somewhat complex MEDICAID application process for my 88 year old Mother. His professional guidance and MEDICAID planning smarts ensured the MEDICAID application would meet the eligibility requirements for a successful submission. His advice to execute a Promissory Note and establish a Retainer Trust were just what was needed to make my Mother eligible, while protecting some assets. I have no doubt that the successful 1 time submission/acceptance of my Mother’s MEDICAID Application was in no small part due to Mr Walsh's knowledge and experience in Elder Law. I would highly recommend, if reading this, you give serious consideration to contacting Mr Walsh with your Elder Law needs. You won't go wrong!
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28 May, 2019 by Suzanne
I was faced with a very traumatic and complex family estate problem. I was referred to Peter for his litigation capabilities but also discovered his compassionate approach. He helped me navigate this problem over the course of several years to a favorable conclusion and never lost his compassion and empathy for me and my situation. I would highly recommend him not only for any challenging situation but also for "normal" estate planning as he is very pragmatic and knows his own capabilities.
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28 Feb, 2019 by Joy
I would definitely hire Peter as your Estate Planning attorney. He was nothing but helpful, knowledgeable and proffesional. Cleaned up a lot of loose ends that should have never happened while my Father was alive.
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06 Jun, 2024 by Timothy ricketts
I am beyond grateful to Justin Singleton for his incredible work in getting my case dismissed. From the very beginning, he demonstrated unparalleled expertise, dedication, and professionalism. Justin took the time to understand every detail of my situation, provided clear and honest advice, and always kept me informed throughout the process. His strategic approach and relentless advocacy were truly impressive. Thanks to Justin, I can now move forward with my life. I highly recommend his services to anyone in need of legal assistance. Thank you, Justin, for your outstanding support and successful resolution of my case!
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06 May, 2024 by Chrissie albright
27 Jun, 2023 by Kathy anderson
Going through a divorce is hard. Attorney Kathy Sawyer-Gutenkunst is knowledgeable, experienced, professional, kind and understanding. You want her on your side for these reasons and more. Additionally, Kathy works diplomatically with her peer lawyers on the opposing side and has experience working with mediators/judges. Kathy guided our family through an unwelcome, unexpected legal journey. We were glad to have her walk beside us every step of the way. We highly recommend Kathy Sawyer-Gutenkunst as an attorney.
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06 Jun, 2024 by Timothy ricketts
I am beyond grateful to Justin Singleton for his incredible work in getting my case dismissed. From the very beginning, he demonstrated unparalleled expertise, dedication, and professionalism. Justin took the time to understand every detail of my situation, provided clear and honest advice, and always kept me informed throughout the process. His strategic approach and relentless advocacy were truly impressive. Thanks to Justin, I can now move forward with my life. I highly recommend his services to anyone in need of legal assistance. Thank you, Justin, for your outstanding support and successful resolution of my case!
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06 May, 2024 by Chrissie albright
27 Jun, 2023 by Kathy anderson
Going through a divorce is hard. Attorney Kathy Sawyer-Gutenkunst is knowledgeable, experienced, professional, kind and understanding. You want her on your side for these reasons and more. Additionally, Kathy works diplomatically with her peer lawyers on the opposing side and has experience working with mediators/judges. Kathy guided our family through an unwelcome, unexpected legal journey. We were glad to have her walk beside us every step of the way. We highly recommend Kathy Sawyer-Gutenkunst as an attorney.
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08 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
Mr. Cappozzo handled a business dispute for us without flaw. Even though the case turned out to be arduous and lengthy, Mr. Cappozzo remained firm and was not intimidated by tactics from the other side. His steadfast efforts resulted in a settlement for almost the entire amount owed. Mr. Cappozzo is a very tough yet fair attorney that I highly recommend.
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03 Jun, 2013 by Matt
If someone asks me for a recommendation of an attorney, his name is at the top of the list.
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26 Jun, 2008 by Sharon
Mr. Capozzo has handled several cases for me including divorce proceedings, child support enforcement and personal estate planning. He has always been very attentive to my specific needs and has consistently provided me with excellent advice and legal representation.
Mr. Cappozzo is a dedicated lawyer whose first priority is to meet the needs of his clients in an efficient and professional way. He has a straightforward no-nonsense approach to conflict resolution and is not afraid to "fight the fight". He follows through with a great deal of tenacity and professionalism, always willing to put in the extra effort required to get a tough situation resolved.
His office staff is always professional, courteous, and extremely helpful as well.
Overall, I would highly recommend Mr. Cappozzo to anyone. I have always been impressed by his personal demeanor and the genuine level of care and concern he shows for his clients. He is a tough, knowledgeable, caring individual who gets results.
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09 Jun, 2017 by Karen
We hired Thomas Murphy to oversee the purchase of our first home. He was very detail oriented in our initial consultation. He thoroughly reviewed all the documents related to our purchase both prior to hiring him through closing. I really appreciated the checklist he sent after our initial consultation. It included all the dates that we needed to be aware of and I referred back to it frequently.
During this stressful period, Thomas was quick to respond to all of our inquiries. Be it phone call or email he responded after office hours and on weekends which allowed us to make more informed decisions when we had tight deadlines. We counted on and trusted his advice and were very happy with the results.
We couldn't have made a better decision than to hire Thomas. He really eased the strain related to buying a home and was a pleasure to work with. He offered very fair rates for the service he provided. We will be returning to him for our other legal needs and couldn't recommend him more highly.
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21 Apr, 2017 by Ruben
Thom helped us with our bankruptcy process. He is very realiable, fast response and very easy to work with. I would recomend his/their service to any one looking for help. I talked to many lawyers and most of them seem to be interested about the payment but not the problem. They treated us with respect and understood our situation without putting the money as priority. Thank you for your BIG HELP THOM!!
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10 Apr, 2017 by Anna
I would highly recommend Tom for anyone looking to buy a home. He was a great source of knowledge and clearly explained everything to me in an understandable manner, as this was my first home purchase. He was super detailed and was great at communication, he always answered emails and phone calls in a timely manner. I felt like he actually cared about representing my best interests in the negotiation of the home purchase, and went above and beyond to get us what we needed. I know I will use him again for any future legal matters that I may have and I highly recommend him to anyone who needs an attorney.
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01 Aug, 2009 by Anonymous
Nicole has done work for me on two different cases. On both she was knowledgable and efficient. She was quick to return phone calls and emails and happy to answer all of my questions. I look forward to working with her again.
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21 Jul, 2009 by Anonymous
I have absolutely no reservations about recommending Ms. Maher. She does an outstanding job for me, is trustworthy, and very knowledgeable.
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13 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
Matthew McKenna responded to a question I posted and he was kind enough to speak with my mother and give her a website link for some help. Hopefully, this will lead to getting everything resolved and his help in the matter is greatly appreciated.
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14 Feb, 2024 by Ahmad
When i had no idea where to look or who to talk this man helped me out. I got into a bad situation where i had no clue how to handle it and i called him and he walked me through it
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18 Feb, 2016 by Deb
Eric has helped our family to update our will and powers of attorney after we adopted a child. He is not a "typical" attorney. Although he is incredibly knowledgable he takes the time to talk to you so you truly understand every step of the process. He offers a flat fee and is 100% trustworthy. He is an amazing support for any estate planning, guardianship, etc. issues.
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24 Oct, 2017 by Mr. adam
I had came across attorney Nielsen from an instance with closing company that was doing some inappropriate Business.
Fortunately I haven’t needed to use attorney Nielsen for any legal matters. That being said several occasions I had called and asked for advice. And his knowledge Of every aspect of the real estate industry is in my eyes Impeccable!
And I can tell you I’ve had several conversations lasting well over what most would consider a free telephone Conversation
Thank you, for being the absolute opposite of what us Lehman consider an attorney !!
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13 Jun, 2015 by Loren
Mr. Carlson recently prepared Trusts and Wills for my wife and I. This something that we had put off for all too long for various reasons none of which were valid. Mr. Carlson and his staff made these tasks very understandable with their expertise in this field, help us make some decisions that need to be made. We were extremely impressed with the service that this law firm provided us and now will continue to have Attorney David J Carlson as our family lawyer.
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02 Feb, 2012 by Kathryn
Colleen was a new lawyer when I hired her to represent me in a litigeous divorce action that dragged on for over 5 years. Colleen represented me at the WI Supreme Court in an Appeal, based upon fraudulent and omitted information. Colleen is methodical and efficient, and an excellent lawyer and a superb individual. Colleen won our action and set a precedence in WI for deliberate omition of facts directly affecting the outcome of a divorce case.
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20 Jul, 2024 by James mielke
Attorney singleton is hands down the best attorney I've ever worked with. I was facing around 10 criminal felony charges and not my first time around the block. Mr singleton was amazing the entire ride. His knowledge and passion for his work is incomparable in and out of the court room. The fight that this attorney presents in court gave me reassurance that no stone would be left unturned and that's exactly what he did. In the end he got my case 100% dismissed. If your freedom is at stake, call this man and buy yourself some peace of mind.
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20 Jul, 2024 by Elliot russ
Attorney Justin Singleton and Attorney Thomas James have been a great help in defending myself, family, and friends for almost 5 years. The Singleton Law Firm has always been fair, affordable, and has mounted several defenses that has been successful in proving the truth and protecting the innocence of their clients. I personally would recommend the Singleton Law Firm to anyone who has legal issues.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Yella boy
Mr. Singleton is an awesome lawyer. His prices are affordable and well worth it! Mr.Singleton will go above and beyond in order to get you the best solution possible. Be honest with him and he’ll be completely honest with you, even if the solution is not so bright. Nevertheless, Mr. Singleton is an awesome person. If you need an awesome Lawyer; Choose Mr. Singleton!
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01 Dec, 2023 by Matt reynolds
Craig is amazing and knows his stuff. Im glad I was able to get ahold of him
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30 Oct, 2023 by Dorien ah sam
Got the job done! Great to work with and was with me throughout the whole process.
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23 Oct, 2023 by Oliver pugh
If you're looking for an Estate planning attorney Steven is the one to go to. He found things missing in our original documents as well as with the way our house was titled. He's knowledgeable and takes the right amount of time to carefully meet your needs.
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07 Sep, 2020 by Keri
After paying a different attorney to set up a Living Trust, we discovered he was not knowledgeable and should not have been practicing Estate law. It caused our family much grief, stress, and problems. Someone gave us Stephen Howitz's number. He was extremely knowledgable about Living Trusts and helped us navigate around the problems caused by previous attorney. He also looked up several things for us when he wasn't recently-familiar with an issue. I highly recommend him as someone who will put the client's interests first.
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07 Jan, 2015 by Anonymous
Stephen was great with my on-going legal battle with my ex husband, but ended up dropping the case at a crucial moment, stating that the topic was different (although he had done work on it) and that as I hadn't paid off the large bill for the last case, he couldn't do anymore. Very understanding regarding payments. A little new to the law system, and it sometimes showed in his work.
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04 Apr, 2011 by Anonymous
Excellent attorney, and I highly recommend. . I was not familiar how to handle an inheritance I received, and Stephen not only listened to me, but gave me advice and suggested what I should do.
I listened to what Stephen had to say, and I took his advice, and
it all worked out beautifully. If you are looking for an attorney who will
listen to his client, and give you his best advice, I would recommend Stephen J. Howitz.
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01 Dec, 2023 by Matt reynolds
Craig is amazing and knows his stuff. Im glad I was able to get ahold of him
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30 Oct, 2023 by Dorien ah sam
Got the job done! Great to work with and was with me throughout the whole process.
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23 Oct, 2023 by Oliver pugh
If you're looking for an Estate planning attorney Steven is the one to go to. He found things missing in our original documents as well as with the way our house was titled. He's knowledgeable and takes the right amount of time to carefully meet your needs.
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01 Dec, 2023 by Matt reynolds
Craig is amazing and knows his stuff. Im glad I was able to get ahold of him
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30 Oct, 2023 by Dorien ah sam
Got the job done! Great to work with and was with me throughout the whole process.
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23 Oct, 2023 by Oliver pugh
If you're looking for an Estate planning attorney Steven is the one to go to. He found things missing in our original documents as well as with the way our house was titled. He's knowledgeable and takes the right amount of time to carefully meet your needs.
Read more
01 Dec, 2023 by Matt reynolds
Craig is amazing and knows his stuff. Im glad I was able to get ahold of him
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30 Oct, 2023 by Dorien ah sam
Got the job done! Great to work with and was with me throughout the whole process.
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23 Oct, 2023 by Oliver pugh
If you're looking for an Estate planning attorney Steven is the one to go to. He found things missing in our original documents as well as with the way our house was titled. He's knowledgeable and takes the right amount of time to carefully meet your needs.
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23 Mar, 2024 by Koth2x
MVA brain damage 2011. Never been in a deposition so we went after my old employer we lost but yet I was very well groomed by Ron. So later on then came the insurance company deposition (MVA) and he baited them with the deposition from the ERD case, He understands how a person thinks ( I read the deposition over & over) so I answered half way through the questions that were asked. He got me $310,000.00 dollars. So at the end of the day do not call the number on the side of your phone book.
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29 Mar, 2023 by Carol tremmel
21 Feb, 2023 by John sickels
15 Sep, 2023 by Davis t
Mark Jeranek did an absolute fantastic job for me. He listened to me fully, is extremely professional, responsive to calls and emails, and overall did a top notch job for me. If in the future I would ever need an attorney, he is my immediate choice. The front office was wonderful to work with as well. If the rest of the people are half as good as Mark, anyone at this lawfirm should be able to take excellent care of you.
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14 Sep, 2021 by Theresa cotton
Great attorneys for all your needs
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17 Apr, 2021 by Charlene szczybor
Transferring funds from the wrong bank account - never utilized their services but they took over $1,300 from my bank account plus overdraft fees!
I am appalled a company just takes money as an "e-check" without proof of account ownership. You should require the account number shown from an app or a bank letterhead. Nothing more embarassing than taking the family for your dad's birthday dinner and not having the funds to cover dinner! Oh and additionally I have two late fees for bills now that couldn't come out yesterday because I have $-293.59 in my bank account.
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15 Sep, 2023 by Davis t
Mark Jeranek did an absolute fantastic job for me. He listened to me fully, is extremely professional, responsive to calls and emails, and overall did a top notch job for me. If in the future I would ever need an attorney, he is my immediate choice. The front office was wonderful to work with as well. If the rest of the people are half as good as Mark, anyone at this lawfirm should be able to take excellent care of you.
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14 Sep, 2021 by Theresa cotton
Great attorneys for all your needs
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17 Apr, 2021 by Charlene szczybor
Transferring funds from the wrong bank account - never utilized their services but they took over $1,300 from my bank account plus overdraft fees!
I am appalled a company just takes money as an "e-check" without proof of account ownership. You should require the account number shown from an app or a bank letterhead. Nothing more embarassing than taking the family for your dad's birthday dinner and not having the funds to cover dinner! Oh and additionally I have two late fees for bills now that couldn't come out yesterday because I have $-293.59 in my bank account.
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15 Sep, 2023 by Davis t
Mark Jeranek did an absolute fantastic job for me. He listened to me fully, is extremely professional, responsive to calls and emails, and overall did a top notch job for me. If in the future I would ever need an attorney, he is my immediate choice. The front office was wonderful to work with as well. If the rest of the people are half as good as Mark, anyone at this lawfirm should be able to take excellent care of you.
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14 Sep, 2021 by Theresa cotton
Great attorneys for all your needs
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17 Apr, 2021 by Charlene szczybor
Transferring funds from the wrong bank account - never utilized their services but they took over $1,300 from my bank account plus overdraft fees!
I am appalled a company just takes money as an "e-check" without proof of account ownership. You should require the account number shown from an app or a bank letterhead. Nothing more embarassing than taking the family for your dad's birthday dinner and not having the funds to cover dinner! Oh and additionally I have two late fees for bills now that couldn't come out yesterday because I have $-293.59 in my bank account.
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15 Sep, 2023 by Davis t
Mark Jeranek did an absolute fantastic job for me. He listened to me fully, is extremely professional, responsive to calls and emails, and overall did a top notch job for me. If in the future I would ever need an attorney, he is my immediate choice. The front office was wonderful to work with as well. If the rest of the people are half as good as Mark, anyone at this lawfirm should be able to take excellent care of you.
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14 Sep, 2021 by Theresa cotton
Great attorneys for all your needs
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17 Apr, 2021 by Charlene szczybor
Transferring funds from the wrong bank account - never utilized their services but they took over $1,300 from my bank account plus overdraft fees!
I am appalled a company just takes money as an "e-check" without proof of account ownership. You should require the account number shown from an app or a bank letterhead. Nothing more embarassing than taking the family for your dad's birthday dinner and not having the funds to cover dinner! Oh and additionally I have two late fees for bills now that couldn't come out yesterday because I have $-293.59 in my bank account.
Read more
15 Sep, 2023 by Davis t
Mark Jeranek did an absolute fantastic job for me. He listened to me fully, is extremely professional, responsive to calls and emails, and overall did a top notch job for me. If in the future I would ever need an attorney, he is my immediate choice. The front office was wonderful to work with as well. If the rest of the people are half as good as Mark, anyone at this lawfirm should be able to take excellent care of you.
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14 Sep, 2021 by Theresa cotton
Great attorneys for all your needs
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17 Apr, 2021 by Charlene szczybor
Transferring funds from the wrong bank account - never utilized their services but they took over $1,300 from my bank account plus overdraft fees!
I am appalled a company just takes money as an "e-check" without proof of account ownership. You should require the account number shown from an app or a bank letterhead. Nothing more embarassing than taking the family for your dad's birthday dinner and not having the funds to cover dinner! Oh and additionally I have two late fees for bills now that couldn't come out yesterday because I have $-293.59 in my bank account.
Read more
15 Sep, 2023 by Davis t
Mark Jeranek did an absolute fantastic job for me. He listened to me fully, is extremely professional, responsive to calls and emails, and overall did a top notch job for me. If in the future I would ever need an attorney, he is my immediate choice. The front office was wonderful to work with as well. If the rest of the people are half as good as Mark, anyone at this lawfirm should be able to take excellent care of you.
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14 Sep, 2021 by Theresa cotton
Great attorneys for all your needs
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17 Apr, 2021 by Charlene szczybor
Transferring funds from the wrong bank account - never utilized their services but they took over $1,300 from my bank account plus overdraft fees!
I am appalled a company just takes money as an "e-check" without proof of account ownership. You should require the account number shown from an app or a bank letterhead. Nothing more embarassing than taking the family for your dad's birthday dinner and not having the funds to cover dinner! Oh and additionally I have two late fees for bills now that couldn't come out yesterday because I have $-293.59 in my bank account.
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07 Feb, 2024 by Laurie ansorge
Can't say enough good things about Ms. D'Angelo and her staff! Extremely helpful, readily available, beyond knowledgeable, and VERY defensive of her clients! I've referred many people to this firm, and all have been very pleased. 5+ stars!
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26 Oct, 2022 by Linda vanden heuvel
I rank this law firm as high as it gets! These attorneys are experienced, ethical and effective. I highly recommend. I am an attorney too, and if I needed representation in Waukesha or surrounding counties, D'Angelo & Grabow would be high on my list.
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02 Mar, 2022 by Vickie
If I could rate a zero I would, ReAnna was not helpful I just paid a lot of money to get no where. I have never seen an attorney side with the other side because she was friends with the other attorney. Very disappointed, if you are a male or minority find a different attorney.
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07 Feb, 2024 by Laurie ansorge
Can't say enough good things about Ms. D'Angelo and her staff! Extremely helpful, readily available, beyond knowledgeable, and VERY defensive of her clients! I've referred many people to this firm, and all have been very pleased. 5+ stars!
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26 Oct, 2022 by Linda vanden heuvel
I rank this law firm as high as it gets! These attorneys are experienced, ethical and effective. I highly recommend. I am an attorney too, and if I needed representation in Waukesha or surrounding counties, D'Angelo & Grabow would be high on my list.
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02 Mar, 2022 by Vickie
If I could rate a zero I would, ReAnna was not helpful I just paid a lot of money to get no where. I have never seen an attorney side with the other side because she was friends with the other attorney. Very disappointed, if you are a male or minority find a different attorney.
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22 Jun, 2024 by Sue matson
When considering which attorney to represent me, the following characteristics were of key importance: integrity, honesty and respect for my thoughts and words. My divorce settlement was quite contentious and lingered nearly two years from start to finish. Attorney Bagley remained steady, focused and considerate of my input and thoughts. On many occasions, Attorney Bagley would present our options, ask how I would like to proceed and then listen intently to my explanation. Each time after our conversations, she and I were on the same page. Thank you, Elizabeth, for honoring my desire to walk above reproach through a very difficult process and confidently supporting and encouraging me to finish strong. I couldn't have done it without you. When all was said and done, we finished well.
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17 Jan, 2024 by Matt retzlaff
Attorney Elizabeth Bagley was excellent. She was super easy to work with and was very helpful with all the questions I asked. She was the best, and I would recommend her to anybody!
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16 Jan, 2024 by Michael l
Dealing with family situations can be stressful, however Elizabeth was knowledgeable, efficient, and able to secure a favorable outcome. I highly recommend her.
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28 Nov, 2018 by Dominique
Mr Reyes is an amazing Attorney, he took on my family's case on an emergency basis and did an great job! I would recommend him to anyone.
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07 Dec, 2016 by Anonymous
Verry happy with mr.reyes helped me with 2 cases always recommend him.
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22 Jul, 2015 by Anonymous
Does not return calls. Does not answer questions. You can ask him a question and he'll go on and on about absolutely NOTHING..... Never answering the question. He is very unorganized. Hard to get in touch with BUT is very easy to get in touch with when a payment is due!!!!! It's so unfair that we spend all of this money for an attorney that doesn't care. Paying thousands of dollars ...... For NOTHING!!
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06 Aug, 2024 by Robert raabe
Very dishonest
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23 Jul, 2022 by Tammy oliver
All the staff treat you with respect and kindness. The two partners I met were personable and easy to talk with
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25 Oct, 2021 by Julio gonzales
Have to agree with Joe B. Christopher Schultz is corrupt and takes advantage of people in Pewaukee, too. No moral compass. Uses loopholes and confusion to skirt around laws and statutes because he's too much of a coward to admit he's wrong.
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09 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
She failed to do her job as a lawyer and for a child. No communication and very disrespectful for being a lawyer. Didn't do research or follow-ups. Don't waste your time. You're better off representing yourself
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11 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
Lori has been our attorney for 10 years. She has always provided exceptional legal services. She is honest and straightforward.
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06 May, 2021 by Anonymous
Put a child back into a hostile environment that she knew was dangerous The child who is under ten tried to end his life 3 times. She was supposed to protect the well being but did the complete opposite. She was responsible for that and people were appalled. Also told various lies during proceedings. Today the child suffers from depression and anxiety.
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Discover the ideal 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.
