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02 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
Hello Jeffrey! I believe you owe me an apology! Here is a hint Guess who has been living alone and paying rent and bills and being responsible for herself? You told me that you were responsible for me! I do not see you hahaha! Ps you lied , a judge has to approve taking all my rights away! Not gonna happen! Going on 24 years now !
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10 Oct, 2015 by Carlos
Mr. Jeffrey Condon is a remarkable person and a great lawyer. His almost 30 years experience in the Inheritance Planning field makes him not only an expert but a unique insider of the family dynamics involved in the inheritance process. Mr. Condon generously helped us during our first consultation, even after our chat indicated that there was no case for him. We also read his book "Beyond the Grave". He did sign it for us!
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26 May, 2011 by Dan
May,25,2011, Charged $12,500 did nothing, and did not communicate to elderly Father the Trustee of Family. D Mortensen went to the wrong court first time, stalled and did nothing to help distribute the inheritance. Charged $180 for each death certificate that was handed to the secretary by me personally. Then he claimed he didn't get paid the extra $2500. Never answered a professional question, said he get back to us never did.
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22 Feb, 2011 by Susan
We had been putting off creating an estate plan, but when we started a family we knew we couldn't put it off any longer - we didn't want to leave guardianship up to the state. We looked for a competent attorney in the area and are so glad that we decided to go with Mortensen Law. Mr. Mortensen and his staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. They were able to create everything we needed (will, trust, power of attorney, etc) very quickly. What a relief to finally have our wishes on paper. I think we would have done it sooner if we had known how inexpensive and easy it was with Mortensen Law.
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28 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
He helped explain an incredibly smart plan that helped my kids to get what they deserve.
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24 Jun, 2015 by Stan
I am the accountant for a high wealth family that uses "Oz" for their estate planning. Oz has done a great job of explaining the plan, and maintaining all documents and filings current. The plan has some very innovative features that fit the family dynamics perfectly.
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02 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
Tony is a very caring lawyer. He puts himself in his client's situation and tries to help them as much as he can. I feel that he listen to me and work with me and put all his effort into our case.
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27 May, 2014 by Anonymous
Anthony Delas was such a horrible Attorney to deal with and here is why. Besides taking 2 years rather than 6 months to go through my bankruptcy process he always kept me in the dark of what was going on and what I should expect. He would always give me a days notice for meetings or important appointments which would get in trouble at work. His emails are very hard to understand and he would always have me resend attachments because he would "lose" them. I wouldn't recommend this attorney. He was such a headache to work with and made this process even more stressful. I honestly felt like he wasn't on my side. I was already very stressed and upset that I had to go bankrupt and he made the experience even worst.
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05 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
Totally disappointed that they took all of my personal details, rushed me while on the phone, and gave me this excuse that doesn’t make any sense. It’s unrealistic to do an intake if you claim to have too many clients. Why waste anyone’s time. It’s better to really provide a reason as to why you aren’t able to help.
I wasn’t sure if I would do business with them, since they request $1,000 up front and they don’t help to access records by subpoena or any private investigation that may be needed.
If you talk to them, I would recommend getting your questions answered first, prior to giving them all of your personal details. I totally wasted my time.
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04 Mar, 2016 by Sharon c.
Oliver is along time contact but not a close friend. Initially, we contacted him for 'estate' advise. His help was excellent. He answers the occasional question w/o sending a bill! He's personable, understanding, patient, kind, honest and very smart... Don't know what else to add! His honesty would not allow him to mislead!! skc, Realtor
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30 Jan, 2023 by Casey simoni
Tammy is amazing!! An honest attorney is so hard to come by. During our consultation she gave us advice and directed us to the right resources to win our case in another state. Super helpful!
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04 Dec, 2019 by Anita payer
The worst attorney!!!!! If she could get no stars and still warn everyone, she would.
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05 Nov, 2011 by Adrienne bratton
In my experience, Mr. Brown was direct, expedient and efficient in his services. The case involved elements of fraud and questionable documents. He certainly eased the task of handling the aftermath of my mother's death. He seemed to have compassion for all parties involved.
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01 Sep, 2011 by Anonymous
I was a client of Matthew C Brown.
Before hiring Mr. Brown, I spoke to , at length, about my case.
I told him everything that my sibilings were doing with my mothers money and which accounts to research. A family member who I trust completly did all the work for Mr. Brown. He did nothing. Soon after My siblings who were Trustees spent everything. The point of saying this, is that it was a very easy case for him to defend.
He was and is a most disappointing and unprofessional lawyer. Before taking my money, he made many many so-called promises of all the things he would file and do to help defend me.Then, he very untacfully demanded the money----reement. He almost did not sign the retainer, but I made sure to get it signed. After he got my money, he stopped answering my phone calls. Despite the voice mails that I left him, he never returned my messeges. I found out two days ago he has a account in my name that was never brought to my attention.
For days after that, when I called him, AGAIN, to tell him about documents that could help my case, he refused to answer my calls. Again, I left messeges, which he refused to return. It took me leaving a final messege that I'd contact the Bar Association, before he called. In fear, I called him numerous more times, which he refused to answer.
He is guilty of unprofessional conduct, derelict of duties , incompetence, and malfeasance. I have written to and contacted the Bar Association, now i am hiring a estate attorney to request an accounting. Oh I still cant get a hold of this lawyer,this is sick how this lawyer thinks he can get away with this. I will make sure that I find out what he has fully done to me so that he will be held accountable for his actions.
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14 Dec, 2023 by Anonymous
I hired Mrs. Robbins to open my family's estate plan back in 2017. Since then we have had an amendment completed with her and she helped guide us through making sure both of our LLC's were connected properly to our trust. Our small little town is lucky and beyond blessed to have such a SMART, kind and certified Attorney in Estate Planning and Probates. She is the ONLY person I would hire to make sure my family and our assets are taken care of.
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22 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
To be a helpful attorney you need to be assessable. In my opinion, it is nearly impossible to get of hold of her personally. Also in my opinion, if you don't have many assets, you will not me worth her time.
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10 Oct, 2023 by Anonymous
As a part time employee of CaDSS hearings div. ALJ Noakes is very rude, hostile, arguementive and evasive. He is condesendng and arrogant toward EBT receipeints in a hearing. He writes untrue statements in a hearing , not smart of him. He is a poor example of an attorney with little experience unprofessional, Very impressed with himself. Report him to Cal Bar.
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27 Mar, 2019 by Carmel
Adam handled a litigation matter for us in Southern California. Adam delivered excellent, prompt advice and work product and was a pleasure to work with throughout the matter.
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27 Oct, 2022 by Michelle
Please BEWARE when hiring this attorney!!
We hired Raymond Green to complete our Estate Plan back in the Fall of 2021. Upon our independent review of the Trust (since the Trust was not reviewed with us at signing) we found the trust was not written based on the answers we provided on their questionnaire. The most glaring error was our beneficiaries were not listed correctly. I called and emailed the office for 9 months without any results and finally hired a separate attorney to make the corrections. The 2nd attorney had the corrections completed in 2 days!!
I have since requested a partial refund from Raymond Green's office but have not heard back. I have filed a complaint with The State Bar of California and plan to file a small claims case for the additional funds the separate attorney charged for the corrections.
This is disheartening because I, in good faith was patient with his office hoping Raymond Green would do the decent thing and complete the job he was hired to do.
Our estate plan is a high priority for us since it included a special needs trust for our son with autism. Please beware when hiring, I feel Raymond Green didn't prioritize our file as our family does not have vast wealth.
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01 May, 2015 by Laureen
Raymond Green is an outstanding lawyer and individual. He is compassionate, ultra-intellegent, highly educated and very fair-minded. His explains things in detail and in such a way that the client can understand him. He never "dummies down" and shares his knowledge freely. I found his advise and professional services to be very edifying and highly effective.
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12 Jun, 2016 by Grant
Arlin Neser has been a friend and neighbor since 2005, and has provided me with legal services since 2008. He created a LLC for our Irvine family business in 2013, and most recently in 2016 prepared an Estate Plan with a Living Trust for my wife and me. For his reliable, effective and comprehensive business and personal legal services, we whole-heatedly endorse Arlin Neser.
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29 Sep, 2015 by Heidi
I hired Mr. Neser and after I gave him a $3,000.00 retainer, I did not hear from him for several months. When I would call him, there was always an excuse why he did not get back to me. He talked to a few colleges about my case, that is all he has done after having the case over a 2 years. I asked for some of my retainer back and that was over 8 months ago, he has not given me a dime. He is suppose to send me a statement when he takes money out of the retainer. He never has. Very unprofessional lawyer. I do not recommend him.
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17 Jan, 2020 by Anna gregorian
I am an attorney in Lake County California. I work in Mendocino county sometimes, but often refer Meredith Lintott to people who call in from Mendocino county. I am writing this because of the prior poor review. I have had a case with Meredith Lintott and found she was an exceptional and tough adversary. I found her work to be great and her demeanor to be very professional. I found her to be of high integrity. She absolutely has no idea that I am writing this. I would fight just as hard against her as I always do in my cases so she is not a "buddy" so to speak. But as a professional who often identifies her as a professional doing family law in Mendocino to people seeking representation there I am honored to be able to give her 5 stars.
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17 Oct, 2019 by Allen morris
If you want a Lawyer willing to lie to win your case Ms. Lintott may be the Lawyer for you.
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21 Dec, 2022 by Stephanie miller
Not so friendly receptionist.left me feeling unworthy of their legal counsel. Albeit, false.
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15 Apr, 2022 by Bonnie barron
Very nice and knowledgeable staff.
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19 Nov, 2020 by Dajana zavala
Unable to provide true information. Threatens , also is a liar and uses scare tactics
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24 Mar, 2020 by Jeremy castro
I found Richard online in 2013 shortly after my son was born. At the time, I was in an extremely difficult position because I was stationed in Kentucky and had no access to my son. Richard helped me get court-ordered visitation so that I can fly out and see my son regularly in addition to getting me visitation to see my son multiple days every week to see my son via FaceTime. If it wasn't for Richard, I wouldn't have been able to do this because I did not know how to navigate the court system at that time. Richard also wrote me a supporting letter to submit to my supervisors allowing me to move back to California ultimately leading to a actual parenting plan. Years later, Richard consulted with me and helped me with a request for 50-50 custody, which I now have. Today, I have a happy and healthy six-year-old son. I cannot thank Richard and his team enough for his help.
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10 Aug, 2023 by Anonymous
I had Ellen on retainer for about two years at the beginning of my custody case. It became very complicated, very quickly, due to the other party being extremely combative and uncooperative. Ellen helped me stay calm throughout multiple attacks against me including false allegations, false statements, etc. I would recommend her to anyone, especially those dealing with an unreasonably combative opponent.
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02 Nov, 2020 by Susanne
I am disabled. Apparently Ellen does not work with disabled people. So Disappointed.
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13 Apr, 2016 by Anonymous
She was great! I had lost custody of my son in 2008 due to false accusations. She told me exactly how to defend myself against every allegation that was made. If I was on my own, I never would have thought to gather the evidence that we did. We had a mini trial in family law, and not only did I regain custody, but she put my son's father in his place! I just wish she was a bit more aggressive. But in the end, I got what I hired her for!
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13 May, 2024 by Andrew samuelson
30 Jan, 2023 by James dyer
John McDonnell was our estate lawyer wish I could post even a lower score then 1. Made the process more expensive and stressful for both sides of the estate.
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29 Sep, 2020 by S v
Horrible dealing with this firm. I can write a book, about everything that went wrong.
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20 Feb, 2024 by Gian-carlo winzer
If I could give a worse review I would. From the start this Woman was disorganized and incompetent. She made excuses upon excuses as to why she couldn't be reached for weeks on end, mis-led or flat out lied about court filings, misplaced files and much more. Fortunately my family was able to get another attorney to pick up my late mother's estate and clean up the mess that she made of the case which had been going on for 4 years and should have been done long ago. Stay as far away as possible
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20 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
If I could give a worse review I would. From the start this Woman was disorganized and incompetent. She made excuses upon excuses as to why she couldn't be reached for weeks on end, mis-led or flat out lied about court filings, misplaced files and much more. Fortunately my family was able to get another attorney to pick up my late mother's estate and clean up the mess that she made of the case which had been going on for 4 years and should have been done long ago. Stay as far away as possible. Jennifer do not bother replying to try and save face.
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29 Jan, 2024 by C “visar” coleman
Find somewhere else....
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23 Jun, 2023 by Steve
Ms. Leong crafted my parents' trust documents in 2000 as well as amendments and restatements over the next 18 years. Then, in July 2022, due to a financial emergency, Ms. Leong was very responsive and timely in effecting the necessary paperwork to allow for a change in trustee. All was good until it was time to administer the trust following my mom’s passing in February.
Two main issues arose during the trust administration. First, according to Probate Section 16061.7, the trustee is required to notify the trust’s beneficiaries within 60 days of the death of a settlor and provide specific details as well as a copy of the trust. Ms. Leong advised that this notification seemed unnecessary, and the notification, meeting the requirements of that code, was the first order of business of the attorney I hired to replace Ms. Leong. Second, Ms. Leong promised to respond to client communications “promptly” and took up to five business days to respond, even with follow-ups from the Client. When challenged, she did not accept responsibility and instead offered insincere apologies.
The subsequent attorney I hired not only handled the legally required notification, but he also suggested drafting a waiver of a formal accounting to preserve the trust’s assets from large legal and CPA fees that would be required if a beneficiary insisted on that detailed accounting. Ms. Leong made no such suggestion.
My goal was to bring this trust matter full circle, as Ms. Leong had drafted all the documents and knew the history. Unfortunately, in my opinion, this matter did not get the attention that it deserved, thus motivating me to change attorneys and incur additional expense that could and should have been avoided.
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20 Feb, 2014 by Anonymous
my mom used this lawyer and was happy with her. cant say exactly how my mom would rate her, but i'd hear it if she had any complaint.
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13 Mar, 2017 by Sherry grant
I hired this attorney in a probate case he treated me like crap he was very rude my concerns meant nothing to him he charged the estate so much money and didn't do nothing to benefit it. I came to his office to discuss my case he had a cigar in his mouth with his foot on the desk he told me I didn't have a pot to piss in in my opinion don't matter and my son's of estate. This is a super bad attorney that will take all your money and will do anything for you. He will destroy your whole case and make it impossible for you to fix it. I do not recommend this attorney.
Sherry,
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16 Sep, 2014 by Whitney
My family recently hired Hinojosa to represent us in a very complicated lawsuit. He was very unprofessional the entire time. After showing up late and ill prepared to our first mediation, he added to our constant disappointment by dismissing our opinions and wishes in an attempt to hurry up and settle this case so he could go on with his life. He made it clear our best interest was of little concern. On a personal level as well he was very rude to my family. I strongly do not recommend this lawyer.
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16 Feb, 2024 by Bradley ball
In my opinion, the Attorney for this firm, Natasha Domek, lied to me and it cost me money. Do not trust
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16 Aug, 2023 by Kerrington johnson
50 state partner….. they are the best at insurance defense
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10 Dec, 2019 by John freed
31 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
I called Mr. Magro for a consult after another attorney i respect referred me. Mr. Magro was extremely rude from the start, and yelled at me when I attempted to ask a question. He said he could not work with me because I don't listen. I could not work with him because he is rude. I took my business, which was considerable, elsewhere.
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03 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous
I called this lawyer for assistence and I couldn't get a word in, He was rude and very foul mouth.
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24 Sep, 2015 by Colleen
My husband called several attorneys before speaking with Mr. Magro about our estate plan. Mr. Magro was caring & very professional when we talked to him about our wishes & plans. We decided to hire him to prepare our trust & wills. There are so many decisions to be made when making a plan like this, like, who should be in charge if something happened to us and what choices we would like that person to make for us. Mr Magro was very patient with us and answered our questions in a way that was really easy to understand. We received the documents from him on the date he promised and his fee was super reasonable. I would totally recommend Stephen M. Magro if you need estate planning.
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23 Mar, 2015 by Jk
I hired this guy thinking i would be able to get my alimony from spouse who threw all my belongings out. He didnt take the time to review our paperwork and judge awarded the spouse didnt have to pay any alimony due to an error that was made by the attorney. He is not aggressive enough
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03 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
It’s been three years since this law firm was hired for my case. In the three years they have not returned calls, were not prepared for hearings, and passed off to other attorneys in the firm. Everything was finalized 2 months ago and
Merianne is holding on to the distribution I believe to collect more monthly money. The most unprofessional law firm I have ever dealt with.
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30 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
I felt she didn’t have time for me even though she takes all cases It seems. Maybe cut down on your cases please and do a better job. She seemed to take the easy way out whenever she could. Didn’t read my input or questions until we were chatting so it cost me while she read and she wasn’t prepared with answers. She knows the law and could pass any law exam today I’m sure but not good at helping people. She allowed the other side to guide the case to my detriment. For some reason she decided she was done although I wasn’t. I believe things got more complicated than she wanted.
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28 May, 2022 by Anonymous
COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND LOST MY CASE. SHE TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER NEGLECT AND DID NOT EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO MY CASE UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE.
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08 Aug, 2009 by Anonymous
Ms Potts was extremely unresponsive. It took her months to respond to letters from my opponent lawyer. I had to follow up with her 5 to 6 times before she would return a phone call. Each time she had an excuse. She was ill, her staff was ill, she was out of town, etc. My case was handled so poorly that I would have been better represented if I acted as my own lawyer. Please, the only satisfaction I have from using this lawyer is warning prospective clients not to use her.
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04 Feb, 2009 by Anonymous
I agree with the previous review. I had a very poor experience with this attorney. She did not return calls or keep me informed. There was excessive billing for very little accomplished and I had to go elsewhere. I would not recommend this person.
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02 May, 2008 by Anonymous
In our family's experience, we have had a devastating experience with this person and her firm, and have lost thousands upon thousands of dollars in the inheritances our parents left to us, as a direct result of her legal maneuvering, and exorbitant bills. In our experience, she avoids communicating, hides from telephone calls and correspondence, and has billed our trust 10 times the national average for an estate of this size (fairly small size estate). Our family is heartbroken, and our poor deceased parents would be sick to know what has occurred with their hard-earning life savings and family property. Do not assume because she is associated with the board of the Sacramento California Bar that this is a seal of approval or a verification of her qualifications. We did, and we were wrong. Do your homework and find an attorney who is reputable and honest.
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08 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
Hired him, got overcharged for his own mistakes, his assistant is so rude she shouldn't be dealing with the public.
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25 Oct, 2014 by Erika
Stay far away from this guy, he is way over priced, breaks the rules of Professional Conduct. On many occasions he charged me $90.00 to answer some questions by e-mail with one liner answers saying basically " I m working on it" completely avoiding my questions. He is very arrogant, and even had the audacity, after I had informed him of something I had done, to say "Nope never happened". Unbelievable! I am sick about the amount of money he has been able to get from me to my detriment. If I could change things he would not have gotten 1 dime of my money.
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15 Apr, 2013 by Anonymous
Marshal is a nice guy but a terrible attorney. While representing me in a trust dispute he neglected to include stipulations for both the estate increasing or decreasing in value. As a result I was protected only for an estate that remained the same or increased in value. Unfortunately it decreased. My adversary was protected in either scenerio by a more experienced attorney. In addition, Marshal recommended using a conservator, without explaining the "true cost." I would have been better off accepting my adversary's initial offer and never hiring Marshal! This was a VERY expensive lesson. Don't make my mistake!!
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08 Sep, 2016 by Danielle cote serar
My husband and I asked her to review our trust. When she came back and said it was out of date, some areas were not legal or no longer legal due to new law, we decide to have her update our documents. She prepared a boiler plate agreement with my step children and our names thrown in, arbitrary ages for our children to inherit, nothing of our intents for how we wanted our estate handled and numerous errors. When we emailed her letting her know that we would be emailing her corrections based on the intents we wanted for our trust - one specific example that the estate be preserved until the youngest child turn 21 - she wrote back and I am paraphrasing but if you don't like my document and what I included, then don't use it. When I emailed again saying we hoped this was a misunderstanding and that all we were wanting was to make sure the trust reflected our desires not hers, her assistant sent us an email saying Ma. Martindale would no longer be working with us because we were not willing to work within the confines of the law. For the record, I repeatedly said we wanted to be legal but wanted to discuss how to meet our desires legally. For the record other than althe review of our former trust, a two minute meeting on the tag end of a meeting with my mother and a two minute phone call, not once did Ms. Martindale inquire as to what my husband and I wanted. Other than one email from her directly basically saying go pound sand, no communication with Ms. Martindale took place. I would never recommend her. I found her unprofessional and disrespectful.
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05 Nov, 2012 by Anonymous
She is horrible. She missed court dates, always got confused on what she was suppose to do, and tried to have us pay her an extra $1000.00 which turned out to be a mathamatical error (guess she doesnt own a calculator) Do your self a favor and DO NOT hire her. It seems all she wants is a lot of money and if your settlement isnt enough she will be rude and non professional.
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24 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
Hugh outright verbally lied to me before I hired him. We were the only 2 people in our only face-to-face meeting. I came to him with a trust instrument I had managed to get via a previous lawyer from the 2 trustees (with a history of being untrustworthy to me) of a standard abc trust created by my parents in 1989. My father, pretty much the sole breadwinner, died in 1992. I had heard the trust included some individual family money my father had inherited in 1989. The trust instrument didn’t include schedules, and the trustees chose not to send a record of assignments or disbursements, even though requested.
Hugh told me verbally that the law was “black and white” in this area, that the trustees HAD to provide the financial accounting of what was assigned, what was left, and more-or-less what was disbursed. He said we would have to resend the first letter sent 1.5 years before, and that, if the trustees still refused to cooperate, we would petition the court to order the information and then move to ask for their removal as trustees (assuming further lack of accounting). Then I would be named trustee and we would subpoena the missing documents. He said it was possible there was little money left, but that I would at least know the true financial info. I paid $5G. He asked me to research additional addresses online and to provide the emails 1 trustee had written outlining various loans/gifts made to the 2nd trustee and non-beneficiaries. (I had found online that making loans to trustees is generally considered to be trust mismanagement.) I sent the addresses/emails. He never commented on those emails, despite me writing him asking whether this was proof of trust mismanagement. Emails filled with lies from the trustees (one disproved by another email I sent to Hugh) followed. There were time extensions requested too, and the number of them was something Hugh contradicted himself about verbally via phone vs email. He phoned I should grant every requested extension, based on what he knew the judge would say once we petitioned the court (which never happened).
Near the end, a lawyer for the trustees wrote that I was NOT entitled to any accounting. Hugh responded there was case-law. She asked for the cases and he refused to provide them.
Finally a trustee-homemade accounting, one that didn’t seem believable considering past spending, came. I emailed Hugh about when were we going to petition the court to get the real info? Hugh refused to directly answer any of my questions. Finally, I googled from another lawyer site that I was NOT entitled to an accounting as a remainder beneficiary for a trust made before 2007! Wow!
We then had a 2nd phone call (after hiring). He said that maybe the money my father inherited hadn’t been put in the trust. Maybe he died “intestate,” which meant my mother and offspring would divide it equally. (Talk about out of “left-field!”) He asked if I had been notified of any probate- no. He said he would do a deed search on the marital home- no, wait, the other lawyer did that. Hugh never explained what purpose that had. He kept repeating himself, moving away from the speaker, and interrupting my questions. Afterward I thought- wait, isn’t that pretty much the POINT of trusts-to AVOID probate and estate taxes, which my father hated? Hugh wanted $1500 more to do a probate/will search. I was feeling misgiving, but after even MORE googling and remembering the word “executor” having once been used, I thought maybe I could get SOME idea of what went into that trust, perhaps through a “pour-over” will. A month later Hugh had emailed nothing about the house deed, nor probate nor will. I asked for an update and said he never directly answered any of my questions. I got a rude email saying I looked for him to confirm a personal diatribe against a trustee and he wasn’t going to represent me anymore- like that was even an issue anymore! LOL Net result: $6500 poorer due to Hugh, and I have none of the promised info!
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23 Oct, 2011 by Anonymous
He was more concerned with making money for himself and his firm than he was in taking care of us.
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19 May, 2017 by Anonymous
I wish I had read the reviews on AVVO before working with him. I concur with the previous review - Overcharges and Underdelivers. Takes advantage of clients. Charges you for Secretarial tasks at attorney rates. Never once stepped foot in the court system for me. Misguided me on case strategy. Could not produce the timesheets he was to use when billing me? Does not represent the practice of law in good faith. Poor example! Horrific experience!
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21 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
He estimated it would cost a maximum $25K of his time to get a corrupt trustee removed from his position.
He ran up a bill of about $50K. He accomplished nothing.
We had informed him early in engaging him that our financial resources for pursuing our interests were very limited, yet he didn't even alert us to the fact that he was running up was way exceeding what he had estimated and give us the option of backing out before the bill got too high.
Of course no lawyer can guaranty results in an adversarial situation,
but he and/or his staff dropped the ball in at least these specific ways.
## He was impolite in responding to client emails, having been heard in the background to a call I was having to his staff making denigrating comments about me, the client, and complaining that I was making an inquiry.
## He filed a critical court response pleading just _barely_ short (hours short) of the absolute deadline for the judge's staff to receive it. As a result there is reason to believe that the judge did not really read it and as a result what should have been a slam dunk judgment in my favor it appears the judge was uninformed of the issues. And in court, when it became clear the judge had not really read our arguments McCullough did not verbally attempt to correct the judge's misunderstanding.
## When the party we were opposing made to the judge an out rightly false statement about an action he had taken, even though McCullough had in his papers documentary proof that this was false he said nothing and produced no counter evidence.
It is extremely disappointing to do all the hours of background research and provide one's lawyer with the ammunition he needs in a hearing, have him standing there earning $400+ per hour and then have him stand there like a dummy and say nothing while events unfold against your interests.
I could likely have represented myself more effectively in that court than he did.
## Mr. McCullough's billing policies are draconian and unreasonable.
Specifically: I would send and email with information he requested.
I would be billed a minimal period of time (about $100) for him sending me that one line email.
When I supplied via email the information he requested I would again be bill that minimal charge when he received that email from me.
It is important to understand the information he requested was already available in papers I had supplied earlier, and essentially I was being asked to catch the ball for him not finding the info he already had AND being double charged for his or his staff's failure to do their own clerical work and filing properly.
# He also made a bad judgment call by counseling us to not make a reasonable/palatable settlement offer to the other party involved. Any lawyer can make a bad judgment call, but when he does it should be duly noted.
Mr. McCullough is not unknowledgeable of estate law. And he or his staff did clearly put in substantual time on the case. That was not the problem.
He just didn't seem motivated or interested enough or alert enough to do what he needed to do to represent me well, and interms of cost/benefit ratio I could not recommend him as a good bet.
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01 Oct, 2016 by Anonymous
Took my deposit of many thousands of dollars and spent it all very quickly on unnecessary research . Once those fund were consumed continued to charge in the following ways.
1) I also needed counsel in another state and told Triano and partner I had a lawyer there already. Then to my amazement I was charged by them for finding a backup counsel in the other state. 2) More research without asking e.g on individuals on title in a certain property which in my opinion was completely irrelevant to the case and by the way information I could have provide if asked for or told why it was needed. 3) Advising me on issues via long emails that had already discussed then charging me a second time. When challenged he became defensive. 4) asking me to prepare a time-line to discuss with one of the assistants. The assistant read my time line, charged me, but never followed up to discuss it with me. The list goes on... . A very frustration and expensive ordeal. The last thing I needed when seeking professional expertise under duress.
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08 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
Worst experience ever with a lawyer. Triano and Byrne are about milking the client. Confuse and delay is their working strategy. Worked with them for over a year. They confuse you and delay so they can send grunt lawyers to court hearings and bill you. DO NOT HIRE THIS LAWYER. They come across so nice and caring, then they rack up the fees.
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22 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
Reiko is completely unprofessional! I have followed up with her on several occasions pertaining to my case. The only time she will follow up with me is when it pertains to payment. She constantly up charges but does not provide any updates on the case matter. If you can, avoid this firm at all costs especially if you have to pay out of pocket. She will bleed you dry and then not fight for your case in court.
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29 Mar, 2021 by Paul
DO NOT use this attorney for complex legal matters especially ARAG members. This attorney lost every court fight except one during my contested case against my sister. When our mother's home was place for sale I notified the attorney by email and phone of the sale, however, instead of placing a Les Pendens to stop the sale during the first thirty days the home was on the market she procrastinated and dragged her feet and finally after much prodding submitted the Les Pendens four days prior to the close of escrow. However, it was to late and the home was sold because the title company later stated through an email that they checked just before closing of escrow and there was no Les Pendens listed on the county's website. The title company later stated that the county was two weeks late in entering any legal documents into their system.
For ARAG members. The ARAG website shows that members are entitled to a discount in legal fees and the attorney's website shows a charge of $225.00 per hour. However; this attorney charged me $300.00 per hour. I sent her an email regarding the difference in the fee, however; she never responded. During a phone call I requested and she agreed to send me a break down of all invoices but she never did. In closing, after spending several thousands of dollars in contesting this case and several months later this attorney stated that we had a weak case but still requested $50,000 if I wanted to continue fighting this case and hire a medical doctor who specialized in Dementia to review and possibly testify in court. I told her to forget it and close the case.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Trusts Lawyer Can Do for You
A trusts lawyer specializes in creating and managing trusts, which are legal entities that allow individuals to transfer assets to beneficiaries while maintaining control over how and when those assets are distributed. Trusts are used for estate planning, asset protection, tax planning, and ensuring the financial security of loved ones. Trusts lawyers help clients choose the right type of trust for their needs, draft trust documents, and advise on the administration and management of trusts.
Whether you're planning to pass on your assets to your heirs, protect your wealth from creditors, or provide for a disabled family member, a trusts lawyer can help you establish a trust that meets your financial and personal goals.
When Should I Hire a Trusts Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a trusts lawyer in various situations, particularly when you're planning for the future distribution of your assets or protecting your wealth. Common reasons to hire a trusts lawyer include:
- Estate planning: If you want to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, a lawyer can help you create a revocable or irrevocable trust to avoid probate and provide for your heirs.
- Asset protection: If you want to protect your assets from creditors, lawsuits, or potential future liabilities, a lawyer can help you establish a trust to shield your wealth.
- Special needs planning: If you have a disabled family member, a lawyer can create a special needs trust to provide for their care without affecting their eligibility for government benefits.
- Tax planning: If you're looking to minimize estate taxes or manage tax liabilities, a lawyer can help you create tax-advantageous trusts, such as a credit shelter trust or charitable remainder trust.
- Charitable giving: If you want to leave a legacy through charitable donations, a lawyer can help you set up a charitable trust to ensure your donations are managed according to your wishes.
- Business succession planning: If you own a business and want to ensure a smooth transition of ownership, a lawyer can help you establish a trust to pass the business on to your heirs or chosen successors.
Hiring a trusts lawyer early in the estate planning process ensures that your assets are protected and your wishes are clearly documented, reducing the chances of disputes after your death.
What Does a Trusts Lawyer Do?
A trusts lawyer provides a variety of legal services to help individuals create, manage, and administer trusts. Their responsibilities often include:
- Drafting trust documents: Preparing the legal documents needed to create the trust, ensuring it is tailored to your specific goals and complies with state and federal laws.
- Choosing the right type of trust: Assisting clients in selecting the most appropriate type of trust for their needs, whether it's a revocable trust, irrevocable trust, living trust, or special needs trust.
- Trust administration: Guiding trustees through their legal responsibilities, including managing assets, making distributions to beneficiaries, and filing tax returns.
- Modifying or terminating trusts: Helping modify or terminate trusts if circumstances change, such as changes in tax laws, family situations, or personal preferences.
- Protecting beneficiaries' interests: Structuring trusts to protect the interests of beneficiaries, especially if there are concerns about financial management, disability, or dependency issues.
- Minimizing estate taxes: Assisting clients in structuring their trusts to minimize or avoid estate taxes, ensuring more of the estate passes to beneficiaries.
- Handling disputes: Mediating or representing clients in court if disputes arise among beneficiaries or between trustees and beneficiaries.
How Are Trusts Lawyers Paid?
Trusts lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the trust and the type of legal work involved. Common payment methods include:
- Flat fee: For drafting basic trusts, such as revocable living trusts or special needs trusts, many lawyers charge a flat fee. This can range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the trust.
- Hourly rate: For more complex trust planning, ongoing trust administration, or resolving disputes, some lawyers charge by the hour. Hourly rates typically range from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: For long-term trust administration or complex estate planning cases, some lawyers may require a retainer, an upfront payment that covers ongoing services.
- Contingency fee (rare): In rare cases, particularly in disputes involving the administration of a trust, lawyers may work on a contingency fee basis, getting paid only if they successfully recover funds or resolve a legal dispute in your favor.
Always discuss the fee structure with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand the total cost of services.
How Much Does a Trusts Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a trusts lawyer depends on the complexity of the trust, the lawyer’s experience, and the fee structure. General cost estimates include:
- Basic trust creation: For simple trusts, such as revocable living trusts, fees may range from $1,000 to $3,000.
- Complex trust creation: For sophisticated estate plans involving multiple trusts, tax planning strategies, or special needs considerations, legal fees may range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more.
- Trust administration: If you are serving as a trustee and need ongoing legal advice, hourly rates for trust administration can range from $150 to $500 or more.
- Dispute resolution: Costs for litigation or mediation in trust disputes may range from $5,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the case.
Be sure to get a detailed cost estimate from your lawyer during the consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask a Trusts Lawyer
Before hiring a trusts lawyer, consider asking the following questions:
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What experience do you have with creating trusts?
Ensure the lawyer has experience drafting trusts and managing trust administration for clients with similar goals or asset structures. -
What types of trusts do you recommend for my situation?
Ask the lawyer to explain the different types of trusts available and which ones best suit your needs. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify the fee structure and request an estimate of the total cost. -
What are the tax implications of the trust?
Ensure the lawyer can explain how the trust will affect your taxes and strategies to minimize tax liability. -
How long will it take to set up the trust?
Ask for a timeline for creating and finalizing the trust documents. -
Will you handle the trust administration?
If ongoing management is required, inquire whether the lawyer will assist with trust administration or if you'll need a separate trustee. -
Can you help resolve disputes if they arise?
Ask about the lawyer's experience in resolving trust disputes.
How to Check the Credibility of a Trusts Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable trusts lawyer, take the following steps:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and has no disciplinary actions.
- Look for trust law experience: Review their website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in estate planning and trusts.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for feedback on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google.
- Ask for references: Request references from past clients who can speak to their experience with the lawyer.
- Check for certifications: Look for certifications such as Certified Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) or memberships in organizations like the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA).
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your first consultation with a trusts lawyer, bring the following:
- List of assets: Prepare a list of all your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, and personal property.
- List of beneficiaries: Provide names and contact information of individuals or organizations you want to name as beneficiaries.
- Existing estate planning documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, or other estate planning documents.
- Financial information: Bring financial statements, tax returns, and other relevant financial documentation.
- Questions for the lawyer: Prepare a list of questions about the trust creation process, fees, and how the trust will protect your assets and beneficiaries.
- Goals for the trust: Clearly outline your objectives, such as asset protection, tax minimization, or provisions for beneficiaries, so the lawyer can tailor the trust to your needs.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation effectively and receive the best possible legal advice for creating and managing your trust.
