Top review highlights

AI generated excerpts from the customers reviews
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Pros
1
Tireless advocate and strong defender of client's interests
“For the past three traumatic years, Ms. Zitomer has been a tireless advocate on my behalf, not once giving up on me.”
2
Exceptional legal expertise and knowledge of the law
“Deborah's competence is respected by her fellow attorneys and the court alike. Her knowledge of the law and commitment as well as resourcefulness to research and then utilize the law as required is unmatched.”
3
Provides clear, honest, and personalized guidance
“Deborah discussed everything with me with an open mind and provided detailed explanations and advice in a language I (a layman) could understand.”
4
Maintains professionalism and dignity throughout the legal process
“At each hearing, Deborah Zitomer did a stellar job which I believe was the result of her giving my case detailed examination and expertly applying her extensive knowledge and experience to the specific legal issues while keeping the process respectable.”
5
Compassionate and supportive during a difficult time
“Deborah made me feel comfortable right from the beginning and now that we have worked together on a number of issues, I have no problem calling her my friend and guardian angel.”
Cons
As a result of the analysis of reviews about this lawyer, no significant cons were found.

All reviews

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26 Feb, 2021 by Paul
From the beginning Deborah was concise and at the same time interpreted the law to me. I was six years into a divorce with another lawyer who used me for a cash register, finally using his only out, “your difficult”. Deborah saw right through the problems with my prior attorney and proceeded to compile the details of my case like the real and true lawyer she is! Deborah sifted through my case looking specifically for an end result that would clearly examine the facts and present them to the court. I lost my kids, my house, my car, hundreds of thousands of dollars, personal and family antiquities, because of the first Lawyer, the wrong Lawyer!! And then there was Deborah Zitomer!! With clear experience and a gift of personal connection, exactly what I needed for a Family Law Attorney after going through the “ripper offer”. Deborah led the way and cleared all the road blocks my ex’s attorney throughout to delay the process.  She was instrumental in finalizing all of the details, for example the proceeds from the sale of my home, the transfer of marital retirement funds along with clear explanations, the other sides lawyer was baffled and stunned by Deborah's expertise. Please understand me clearly, I am a true survivor of divorce for one reason only and her name is Deborah Zitomer 
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24 Oct, 2018 by Anonymous
I thought I was in a cookie cutter custody case until my ex pulled out all the stops and I found myself with effectively no custody. For the past three traumatic years, Ms. Zitomer has been a tireless advocate on my behalf, not once giving up on me. Her memory is iron clad, which is extremely helpful now that I have three years' worth of events accumulated. I didn't think I needed someone of Ms. Zitomer's caliber, but it turns out that I very much did need her!
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10 Feb, 2014 by Donna
Deborah is a very knowledgeable, experienced lawyer with a good heart. my case is very difficult, she win my case, i don't think i could do it with any other lawyer.
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27 Jan, 2014 by Vince
I retained Deborah’s services over three years ago once I found out that my now ex-wife and I were going to be getting a divorce. I just retired from the military and a friend of mine in the area gave me Deborah’s name as a reference saying that she was highly recommended, and she was right. When I first met with Deborah, she listened to me and told me how it was going to be and what to expect. She is a straight shooter and tells you how it is, and she did not promise anything or try to sugar coat the possibility of losses or outcomes that I may have to accept. Thanks to Deborah’s expert advice, experience and professionalism in and out of court, I have a finalized divorce decree and a child custody agreement in place. She helped make one of the most stressful and intimidating times in my life manageable and cannot thank her enough for helping me get through it. She is and will always be my lawyer for any future family legal issues that may arise and I without a doubt would highly recommend her to anyone.
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22 Jan, 2014 by Christopher
Deborah's competence is respected by her fellow attorneys and the court alike. Her knowledge of the law and commitment as well as resourcefulness to research and then utilize the law as required is unmatched. I highly recommend Deborah as a Family Attorney and in my case as a Divorce Attorney. I have first-hand experience of Deborah’s mentioned qualities as I retained Deborah about a year ago and we continue to go through an extraordinary case together that consistently calls upon her many skills. My x-significant other is now on her third attorney in about a year since she began this painful process. Each opposing attorney, all three previously holding good standing in Montgomery County, had promised my x a significant portion of my income and retirement. All three have suffered serious setbacks to their commitment to my x wife and I now sit in anticipation of a fourth attorney to face while suffering what I believe to be minimal loss in terms of support/alimony and loss of retirement funds. Before I retained Deborah, actions of my x, short of telling me she had filed for divorce, forced me to contact and retain an attorney. I interviewed 12 highly rated or recommended attorneys, including Deborah. ONLY Deborah had the capability during our interview to immediately research and find that my x had filed for divorce. This alone was not enough to justify going with an attorney but, in terms of expediency, knowledge, commitment to a client, ability to perform when needed, Deborah alone demonstrated all of these traits immediately. Deborah's openness and ability to collaborate combined with her record of performance are the reasons I hired her and she has continued to exercise these skills throughout this process. Now that we have over twelve months of time invested together I am quite comfortable recommending Deborah as a premier Counselor. Each time a new opposing attorney has been brought on, it was done so in less than an honorable fashion as neither presented themselves as counsel until we arrived at hearings in front of respective Masters. And each time they insisted my x maintain that she was continuing to work with her preceding attorney until the given hearings. Upon the surprise of each new attorney, Deborah's demeanor was unshaken and the opposing attorney's supposed advantage was thwarted. Deborah exudes an uncanny ability to stay on topic and ensure that Judge and Master alike are not led astray by compelling arguments of the opposing counsel meant to dissuade based on emotion rather than law. As implied above, Deborah exudes a keen understanding of the law; this understanding has guided our positioning to be in alignment with the law, which has been critical in defeating opposing positions which presented detrimental results. On occasion, when opposing counsel has attempted to use law as their basis Deborah has been quick to successfully counter. A stellar example of the power of Deborah's depth of legal knowledge combined with her ability to keep the court focused on the relevant and legal issues can be seen in the following: At one point a Master sided with my x based on the emotional argument presented by her attorney and the emotional display presented by my x. Deborah immediately challenged the Master's ruling based on Montgomery County Divorce Law and completely took the opposing counsel by surprise. The Judge's court presented multiple opportunities for opposing councel's theatrics but after each dramatic scene was presented by opposing counsel Deborah brought the court back to the legal issues. The Judge’s findings were in our favor and the Judge cited much of Deborah's material as the legal support for the court's decisions. My case is still ongoing and perhaps we face a fourth attorney but, as we stand today, Deborah Zitomer remains unmatched and thus highly recommended.
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25 Jan, 2021 by Beth
Joanna completed my divorce at a price that was fair and reasonable. She made it all happen so quickly and easily. It was extremely reassuring to be working with someone that I could trust. After my first conversation with her, I was confident that she was the right choice.
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21 Feb, 2017 by Sandy
By great fortune, I ended up in Amy's office to help me work through the divorce process. She first and foremost, was able to put my mind at ease during a very stressful experience. Amy is extremely bright, diligent, tenacious - never letting small details get passed over and empowering. She was patient, explained the process as we went along and was always very responsive. Her guidance, advice and expertise are second to none.
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17 Dec, 2015 by Rae
Amy is knowledgeable, savvy, level headed resoected by colleagues and sharp. I was in a full on divorce, Amy kept me on track when emotions wanted to run wild, she's smart & focused. Even though I wasnt here only client, I felt like I was because she's attentive & organized. She also saved me money at any opportunity that arose. I met Amy almost 15 years ago and to this day, the "ex" straightens up at the mention of her name. I still refer people to her. They also find her to have all these qualities. Her record with me is stellar.
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27 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
I needed an attorney for a divorce proceeding and several years later, a child custody issue. Ms. Newman was very generous with her time in explaining to me the various steps that needed to be taken and in keeping me informed as to the progress of my legal issues. She was easily accessable by phone for a quick question, or if she was out of the office, she always returned calls promptly. Although my divorce took longer than I would have liked due to my ex-husband's refusal to cooperate in any way, Ms. Newman kept things moving forward. When issues cropped up after the divorce was finalized, she continued to be accessable and supportive as needed. Some years later, an emergency child custody issue arose. I again contacted Amy, and she immediately got the issue resolved in court. She is very well versed in all areas of family law, including adoptions. I have referred both family and friends to her as needed and will continue to do so.
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star star star star star
30 Oct, 2008 by Anonymous
When I found Beverly six months ago, I knew right away that I would hire her as my immigration attorney. She has truly been a blessing in disguise. She is handling my work visa and permanent residency. Beverly is an expert and is incredibly current on the ever-changing ever-confusing matters of immigration. Not only is she an outstanding professional, but she builds a comfortable rapport with clients that lets you know that your case is a top priority and you know that she truly does care about you and your situation. I found the staff there super friendly and knowledgeable too. She is there guiding you step by step through every frustrating detail that may arise with immigration. I have 100% confidence in Beverly as my attorney and have recommended her to several people who have been equally impressed with her.
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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?
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  6. How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
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  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?
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  10. Are there alternative ways to resolve my legal issue?
    Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.

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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:
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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:
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