Top review highlights

AI generated excerpts from the customers reviews
See more
Pros
1
Highly responsive and attentive to clients' needs
“Very prompt in responding to questions or concerns, attentive and helpful.”
2
Skilled and committed representation
“John is one of the Triangle's top attorneys! Clients have been highly pleased with his skilled representation, and my time shared with John has shown me how deeply committed to his clients he is.”
3
Excellent customer service and professionalism
“Very satisfied with their professionalism as well as with their kindness!”
4
Smooth and efficient real estate closings
“She worked great our mortgage lender Steve Hantzmon from Victorian Finance and made the whole process very smooth and painless.”
5
Strong expertise in family law and real estate
“I would highly recommend Bagwell Holt Smith P.A. Law Team for Family Law issues. They are a quintessential organization of highly qualified Lawyers who will represent your case with an outstanding knowledge of Family Law.”
Cons
1
Unethical practices and lack of empathy for clients' situations
“This firm has no regard to people situations knowing that there is a Pandemic and unemployment all-time high. Unethical practices.”
2
Careless mistakes and poor communication
“They were unresponsive on trying to figure out wiring instructions leading up to closing. Finally they have been dismissive about my concerns on tax bills still coming to me instead of the new owner after the closing.”
3
Unresponsive and slow in addressing client concerns
“I have left 3 messages over the last 5 days and no one has returned my phone calls.”
4
Incompetent and unprofessional handling of cases
“Imagine being a domestically abused woman, referred from The Compass Center, a center for domestic violence victims and you pay this firm a ”
5
Lack of attention to detail and accuracy in legal documents
“They also gave misinformation regarding POA in North Carolina. Find another closing agent - this firm is not worth the extra effort.”

All reviews

star star star star star
25 Jun, 2024 by Jessie mcleod
star star star star star
27 May, 2024 by Robin strickland
star star star star star
30 Mar, 2024 by Bethany fitzsimmons
First of all, I would like to make clear that we did not chose to work with Ms. Nance at Bagwell Holt Smith P.A. She was chosen by the buyers of our home in Durham, and we had no choice but to work with her. Upon receipt of our estimated closing documents, we informed Ms. Nance that the payoff amount was incorrect (too high). When we pointed this out, we were met with the condescending reply that we simply did not understand how to read out mortgage documents. The next day, when we presented Ms. Nance with the correct payoff amount in the form of an email with a pdf from our lender attached, we were accused of "borderline harassment" for having pointed out her careless mistake. The closing documents were corrected. Later, while we were signing closing documents, we were informed by our neighbor that there were people trespassing on our property. The timing of the trespassers seemed quite suspicious to us because the only people who knew we would not be at home were myself and my partner, our realtor, a mobile notary, and Ms. Nance's office. As we had not approved of anyone entering the property, and because we suspected that they may have been under the direction of Ms. Nance, we informed her that we were not aware of not did we approve any requests for people to come onto our property, especially as the Due Diligence period had closed. Her response was that it was the survey her office had ordered to be done during the Due Diligence period, which had been delayed, and said that he had no legal right to deny them. I am not an attorney, however I believe I would have been fully in my rights to have called the police on the trespassers onto our private property given the Due Diligence period had been closed and we were never notified that a survey was going to be done. Our final grievance with Ms. Nance concerns her preparation of our tax documents. We first received one 1099-S form from Ms. Nance's office containing only the social security number (SSN) of my partner. As we are unmarried, we file our taxes singly and so I requested that we be sent two 1099-S forms, one for myself and one for my partner. Though we never consented to electronic documents, we were emailed pdfs of our 1099-S forms however this time Ms. Nance had switched our SSNs so that my SSN was on Jason's form and vice versa. Her response was she just put them in the order they were in on another form (and didn't bother to check that they were correct). I replied asking the corms to be corrected, again, and to be mailed. We then received copies of the 1099-S forms in the mail which had our incorrect SSNs. Upon notification, Ms. Nance re-sent the pdfs of the corrected 1099-S forms. I have once again requested hard copies be mailed as we never consented to electronic delivery of these documents. While preparation of all these documents may be rote to Ms. Nance, they are extremely important to us and have significant impact on our finances. The carelessness employed by Ms. Nance throughout this process is extremely unprofessional. While everyone should be double and triple checking any document they sign, it is easy as a first time home seller to be overwhelmed with the sheer amount of paperwork that goes into selling a home. One should be able to trust that the parties preparing such important documents (and collecting payment accordingly) would have the ability to prepare them correctly and with care. I am glad that we reviewed everything carefully and am sorry for those who have unknowingly been victims of Ms. Nance's carelessness and unprofessionalism.
star star star star star
24 Oct, 2023 by Ralph hollinshead
My experience with this firm has not been positive. I was the seller of my Moms home after she passed away. The attorneys and paralegals did not bother to walk me through the closing sheet even though there were significant expenses coming out of our pocket. They were unresponsive on trying to figure out wiring instructions leading up to closing. Finally they have been dismissive about my concerns on tax bills still coming to me instead of the new owner after the closing. Do not recommend.
star star star star star
06 Oct, 2023 by Matt read
I highly recommend John and his team. They handled my custody and divorce case with the utmost compassion and I ended up with an extremely positive outcome. My military retirement was protected and untouched. My custody agreement is fair and while it is not perfect, I live in a different state. John was extremely prompt at answering any form of communication even when on his personal time. The firm genuinely care about the clients that they represent and I felt like they treated me as their own family.
See more

Best lawyers in Chapel Hill, NC

See more
star star star star star
03 Aug, 2020 by Paul
I couldn't be happier with the experience of putting my trust together with Duffy Palmer’s firm. I found the firm to be knowledgeable, responsive, professional, and thorough. His firm answered all of my questions promptly and anticipated most of them. Although trusts can be complicated the firm process and knowledge crisply led me through the steps while addressing my specific needs. I never felt rushed as I determined our best options. Duffy Palmer was the attorney but the support staff all contributed to the effort. The trust process doesn't end with writing documents. The funding phase where your legal entities are transferred to the trust was also clearly defined. I was provided a package with detailed instructions, forms, and a discussion to answer any questions. I thought the price was fair for the amount of work performed and would strongly recommend Duffy Palmer for any of his service offerings.
Read more Avvo
star star star star star
17 Mar, 2020 by Veaney
Duffy worked with me to do estate planning for both myself and my father. He was extremely easy to work with, professional, responsive and caring. When specific challenges arose unique to either of our situations he worked diligently to find solutions that fit. I highly recommend his services. It made estate planning a much more pleasant and easy experience than I had expected.
Read more Avvo
star star star star star
24 Feb, 2020 by Andrea
I engaged Duffy Palmer to prepare my estate plan after attending his estate planning seminar held at Manning’s Restaurant in April 2019. I was very impressed by his professionalism, breadth of knowledge, ability to answer the attendees’ questions, and pleasant and friendly demeanor. During our initial conference, he explained all aspects of the plan which was tailored to my specific financial needs, and made plenty of time available for addressing my questions and concerns. Everything we discussed was in clear, easy to understand language. He drafted the documents promptly, and after incorporating some minor changes, we met again for review and sign-off. In our final meeting, he turned over the completed official plan in a binder, and went over the additional steps I would need to take to complete the process, all of which were clearly documented in a checklist included in the package. I also reached out to Duffy recently for advice on purchasing a long-term care policy. He researched and provided me with very thorough responses to my questions about how tax-qualified and partnership long- term care benefits are addressed in North Carolina estate and Medicaid law, and his advice was instrumental in my decision on which type of policy to obtain. Duffy has impressive expertise in estate law and is extremely pleasant to work with. I highly recommend his services.
Read more Avvo
See more
star star star star star
09 Dec, 2021 by Josephine
Mr Gerding really helped me out of a hard space and gave me a second opportunity. Great guy, great lawyer. Two good kids + he is a good father. 10/10 would reccomend.
Read more Avvo
See more
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers

What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer?

Hiring the right lawyer is crucial for the success of your case. Here are some important questions to ask during your initial consultation:

  1. What experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
    Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in the specific area of law pertaining to your case.
  2. How do you charge for your services, and what are the estimated costs?
    Understand the fee structure, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer fees, and any additional expenses.
  3. Who will be handling my case?
    Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals.
  4. What is your approach to resolving cases like mine?
    Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation.
  5. What potential outcomes can I expect?
    While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience.
  6. How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
    Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times.
  7. What is the expected timeline for my case?
    Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish.
  8. Do you have references from past clients?
    Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness.
  9. What challenges do you foresee in my case?
    Understanding potential obstacles helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations.
  10. Are there alternative ways to resolve my legal issue?
    Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.

Can a Lawyer Represent Me in Courts Outside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina?

Whether a lawyer can represent you in courts outside of your city or state depends on their licensure and the jurisdiction of the court:

  • Within the Same State:
    Lawyers licensed in a particular state can typically practice anywhere within that state, including all cities and counties. They can represent you in both state and federal courts located in that state.
  • Outside of Their Licensed State:
    If your case is in a different state, the lawyer must be licensed in that state to represent you. However, there are exceptions:
    • Pro Hac Vice Admission: An out-of-state lawyer can request special permission to represent a client in a specific case in another state. This requires filing a motion with the court and often working in conjunction with a local attorney.
    • Federal Courts: If your case is in federal court, a lawyer licensed in any state may be able to represent you, provided they are admitted to practice in that particular federal court.
  • International Representation:
    For cases outside the United States, different rules apply, and the lawyer may need to comply with the foreign country's legal requirements or collaborate with local counsel.

It's important to discuss your specific situation with the lawyer to determine if they can represent you in the desired jurisdiction and what steps may be necessary to do so.

How to Check the Credibility of a Lawyer

Before hiring a lawyer, it's crucial to verify their credibility and ensure they're qualified to handle your case:

  • Verify Their License:
    Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. Most state bar websites have an online directory for this purpose.
  • Experience and Specialization:
    Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. Review their website, professional profiles, and case history.
  • Disciplinary Record:
    Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association's records.
  • Client Reviews and Testimonials:
    Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Google, or Yelp to gauge client satisfaction and experiences.
  • Professional Memberships:
    Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field and adherence to high ethical standards.
  • Awards and Recognitions:
    Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation in the legal community.
  • Consultation Assessment:
    Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns.
  • Ask for References:
    A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients who can speak to their abilities and professionalism.

What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?

To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:

  • Relevant Documents:
    Bring all documents related to your case, such as:
    • Contracts or agreements
    • Correspondence (emails, letters, texts)
    • Legal notices or court papers
    • Financial records (if applicable)
    • Evidence (photos, videos, receipts)
  • Written Summary:
    Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and parties involved. This helps the lawyer quickly understand the context.
  • List of Questions:
    Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, fees, or the lawyer's experience.
  • Financial Information:
    If your case involves financial matters, bring relevant documents like pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, or invoices.
  • Contact Information:
    Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case, including their names and contact information.
  • Personal Identification:
    Bring a valid photo ID for verification purposes.
  • Pen and Notebook:
    Take notes during the consultation to remember important points discussed.
  • Budget Constraints:
    Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations so the lawyer can provide appropriate guidance on fees and payment options.
  • Openness and Honesty:
    Be prepared to discuss your case candidly. Full disclosure allows the lawyer to give accurate advice and anticipate potential challenges.
Scroll to top