We are a retired couple that wanted to update our will and create trusts. View Ridge Family Law…read moreand Estate Planning managed a contested adoption successfully so we contacted them. We were very pleased with their team, especially Evelyn Emanuel our attorney. Evelyn listened carefully to our questions and concerns and gave responses that were easy to understand. In addition, Evelyn made us comfortable sharing stories and humor to match ours. We are very pleased with the will and trusts that have been created.

I was looking for a law firm to help my mom with a power of attorney. The staff and lawyer we…read moreinteracted with were lovely and professional. I was impressed with their empathy. I would highly recommend them for family legal issues.

Steer clear of this attorney…read more This attorney was hired in a custody case. Initially she seems to be a great attorney however over time she dropped the ball on numerous occasions and led us down a path which instigated continuous litigation rather than resolution of our case - of course padding her pocket. Consider hiring this attorney if you want to be led astray while emptying your pockets.

Before I've even started to type this, I have tears of thanks running down my face…read more From our very first conversation, Kristen assured me and reassured me over and over again that we would get through this nightmare together and that my daughter and I would be happy and safe. Despite my extreme anxiety and stressful breakdowns through the 2+ year case, she was patient, understanding and supportive. Being in a marriage where I was degraded and abused for years, left me with zero self esteem and no conidence at all. I believed every awful thing the ex told me...( he'd get full custody, I'd never see my daughter again, he'd put me in jail for kidnapping etc..) I can't even tell you how many terrified tears I cried in the beginning. Step by step, with Kristen in my corner, I started to feel more secure and confident that I had finally made the right choice by leaving. While my ex made this a LONG drawn out process, Kristen kept me in the loop and as calm as possible. Two years later, I'm back to the strong, confident, independent woman I was before my miserable marriage. I know that I am a great mom and I've made the best choices for my daughter and I. I went from daily anxiety/panic attacks in fear of losing my baby girl, to laughing at the absolute ridiculous nonsense that my ex used to terrify me with. The first great choice I'd made in years was hiring Kristen. Even when I wanted to give up, she wouldn't let me. Even when I was willing to settle for less than my daughter and I deserved, she wouldn't let me. She fought harder for me than I would've even fought for myself. And everything she encouraged me to fight for was absolutely correct. My daughter and I are living our best lives and are protected and worry free. My simple words of thanks will never be enough.

Extremely helpful with a stressful estate situation. Helped set me on the right path with excellent…read moreadvice and answers. She even emailed me a form. If I do choose to go with the probate path, I will be going with Betsy for sure. I spoke to two attorneys and Betsy was more helpful!

Am I giving five stars for a will and health care/power of attorney document? Yes; yes, I am…read more The process was beyond easy. Answer a few standard questions, chat about your impending death, and whammo! You've got yourself a legally binding will, power of attorney, health care advance directive, etc. Betsy also told us everything about death we wouldn't have even known to ask. Plus, she and her husband even come to *your* house for a signing party so you get the documents right away. It wasn't cheap, but check to see if your company has a legal plan (ours paid for almost everything!). But it was thorough, painless, and quick. Just like I hope that impending death of mine will be. (FYI: Betsy knows all the good ways to dispose of your body: cremation, burial at sea, composting, being turned into a tree ...)

Humane Legal Warriors…read more Veronica came billed by her referrals as "a real bulldog" though occasionally hard to reach due to high demand. In consultation she quickly grasped my situation with a few pointed questions. In court, where opposing counsel showboated or exaggerated, Veronica was calm, matter-of-fact, almost conversational. This was unnerving at first, but after our first couple rulings (favorable), I saw the other attorneys' performances as aimed at clients, not the judges. Veronica doesn't perform or exaggerate; She deals in facts that matter to the court, and delivers. When opposing counsel misrepresented events or twisted my statements, Veronica was quick to object sharply. I did not find her hard to reach: She seems to monitor e-mail at all hours, replying on weekends and holidays when necessary. Amy, her Chief Managing Paralegal, is fantastic - Sharp, tough, efficient, quick to recognize strategic value of details, and empathetic when needed (I needed a lot of reassurance). Divorce is awful enough, but the opacity and pace of the legal system is terrifying when family and financial matters seem to hinge on every ruling. Amy did a great job of keeping events in context of the law and our strategy, advising me on what to expect, and preparing me for each next step. She was responsive even when clearly managing a heavy case load. Working closely with her, I found myself fascinated by the process, and as another reviewer relates, at times even enjoying it. Both of them can be abrupt, perhaps an occupational hazard which I found intimidating, but came to recognize as ultimately in my best interest by not wasting time on what wasn't material or legally advantageous. Both could also quickly switch tone when I made clear my nerves were frayed. Their small adjustments and spontaneous offerings of compassionate perspective helped me trust they were honoring their fiduciary role, and actually cared about the outcome for me and my family, not just for their scorecard. As my case unfolded, that trust was rewarded with results. Despite the opposing party hiring a big firm and spending over twice what I paid in legal fees, the court ruled decidedly in my favor at nearly every hearing, and we settled with a very reasonable financial division. Most importantly, what Veronica, Amy, and their team secured for me is beyond valuation: A fair custody arrangement, and the legal protection throughout a very contentious divorce to enable me to live my life and enjoy some of the best family moments I've had in years. I feel unbelievably fortunate to have had Veronica, Amy, and their team represent and guide me through an otherwise very trying ordeal.

I hired Ms. Freitas for a complicated divorce case from a 30-year marriage after seeing positive…read moreGoogle reviews. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. I later read that she review gates, and from my experience, it appears this may be true. Based on my experience, I would not recommend Ms. Freitas for complex divorce cases. She doesn't listen, is unprepared and sticks to her agenda, not what is best for her client. Her communication was inconsistent. Important emails were not read before calls, and I often received multiple, confusing responses from different team members. I spoke with Veronica twice; the initial consultation 1.5 years before and a useless phone call 2 days prior to mediation where she berated and lectured me instead of discussing my concerns. Veronica's preparation for mediation was lacking. I had to review materials myself with the mediator, as Ms. Freitas had not read the opposing counsel's documents. Billing was unclear and included charges from unidentified staff. When I raised concerns, Veronica became defensive, stating she was cheaper than most attorneys and I should be grateful.

I was referred to Truce Law by a friend and I am so thankful that I retained them. I have been…read morestruggling with custody issues for years with a difficult co-parent and had a lot of poor outcomes and attourneys that did not put the effort in. This team however, has amazed me with the time and effort they put into getting to know my case to provide the best outcome. Chanel Mendoza has represented myself and her perfessionalism, ability to communicate my side, and attention to detail amazed me. She is caring and compassionate and I can tell that my story and my children's lives really matter to her. I plan to continue using them for all future custody issues I have.

Expensive, Slow, and the Agreement Already Fell Apart…read more I used Truce Law in 2023/24 for my divorce, involving both children and financial assets to divide. I worked directly with Justin. He is convincing, knowledgeable, and genuinely makes you feel like the collaborative approach will protect your kids and your interests. That pitch is what sold me. I wish the execution had matched it. The process involves paying for an entire team Justin recommends: a mediator, a Divorce Financial Analyst, and attorneys for both parties (including Justin himself). At the hourly rates involved, you expect competence. What I got was not meeting the expectation, at least from the Divorce Financial Analyst. The work product was so poor and unclear that I ended up rebuilding the asset division calculations myself from scratch, with full transparency and no ambiguity. That is work the analyst failed to do, repeatedly. Justin also dropped the ball on communication and follow-up. The agreement was not finalized on time. I had to push things forward myself over the Christmas break. His explanation was essentially that he was stretched thin across other cases. We eventually failed to have an agreement signed before the end of the year. The biggest promise of the collaborative approach is that a well-crafted agreement prevents future legal conflict. That promise has not held up. My agreement is ambiguous in key areas, and I am now dealing with exactly the kind of disputes they told me this process would prevent. Any vagueness in the document has become a point of contention. Long process, high cost, mediocre team, and an agreement that is already causing problems. I would not recommend this firm, do your homework.

I met with Darcia to discuss potential Elder Law mediation. Ultimately mediation wasn't going to…read morebe the answer, but she listened to my situation and was able to provide very helpful feedback while getting pointed in the right direction. I am grateful I engaged with Darcia, she was a great help to me!

Unfortunately I am also among those who had to suffer through the experience of having Darcia Tudor…read moreas the GAL in their divorce case. I am reading the reviews here and can only nod in agreement. Her report was expensive but created more problems than it solved. It was also my impression that her working style is erratic, biased, and sloppy. I personally do not think she paid any attention to my view of the case (or several important legal arguments), and can state with certainty that she misrepresented many of my own actions and statements (written and verbal). I am lucky to say that her conclusions did not affect my divorce case very much. However I would advise anyone who can to stay away from her, and to prepare for the worst if you can't.

Amanda, Karamvir (SHE'S A ROCKSTAR!), and their paralegal Rachel Nevins from Dubois Law Group have…read morebeen absolutely amazing to work with. They've helped me not just once--but TWICE--through highly complex family law matters involving child custody. Their balance of patience and strategy is key. They take the time to listen--really listen--and that made a huge difference in my case. Their guidance is thoughtful, calculated, and they give advice from their real experiences. If they give you advice, take it--they know what they're doing. One thing that meant a lot to me personally is how they treated me. I never felt like a client--I felt like a friend even like I was part of their family. That level of care, trust, and genuine support is rare, and it makes all the difference when you're going through something as stressful as a family law case. When I first reached out to them a few years ago, I did not know what to expect. When you call, they answer. When you email, they respond quickly. They are professional, responsive, and clearly well-respected in their field. Rachel Nevins, their paralegal, is outstanding--organized, efficient, and a pleasure to work with. Amanda is the best hands down. Karamvir is an angel from heaven. I cannot recommend this team highly enough. If you need a family law attorney, this is the team you want on your side.

Never having gone through a divorce or ever thinking I was going to go through one, I was ill…read moreprepared and really didn't want to extend any energy into it. I didn't want to drain my emotional bank in this challenging situation. Lucia was with me the whole way and her team diligently answered my many questions and reassured me along the way. The best part, yes can you believe there is a part better than that...is that on the day of mediation, Lucia sat next to me and it felt like a visit with a friend; supported and light. A few days before mediation, I asked a friend why I was so wound up about it all as I had come to a place where I knew this was what was needed and now, what was wanted. When I said I have an attorney who I trust and have full faith in, he said these five words that I took to heart: 'let her do her job'. I sat in mediation with Lucia and when needed, reminded myself of just that, and I let her do her job. My need to manage the situation left and it felt so freeing to watch her do her job and support me so thoroughly. When it was over, I got a very fair and supported outcome. Lucia and her team are top notch and I would recommend them to anyone who wants to successfully go through this process feeling supported and seen.

Unless you have a simple marriage or divorce issue they are not interested. Anything complicated…read moreseems to throw them. I would avoid

Though most people don't ever hope for a divorce, those who go through them hope for a good one…read more And one way to have a good one is of course to have a great lawyer, but perhaps also to think about the process as a way to come to mutual agreements about moving forward, as opposed to a battle of separate interests. For those who lean toward the former approach, Adrienne Keith is a fantastic resource, not only as a lawyer but as a calm, steady person. She works in Collaborative Law as well as mediation, and is active not only in volunteering but also in writing an insightful, funny, sensitive blog about divorce and family law-related topics (http://splitsvillenews.com/). While I didn't technically utilize Collaborative Law (she provides legal divorce services other than just that process), Adrienne was so helpful in carefully walking me through each step of the process, always calm, professional yet warm, and perfectly prepared. I truly appreciated her attitude of non-combativeness and of working to find mutual solutions to sticky issues. Should you find yourself or know someone who's in the situation of needing representation through a divorce or family law issue, do yourself a favor and get in touch with her. Plus, on the way out of the courthouse she handed me a really thick envelope....When I got home, I opened it. A lovely bar, of bittersweet chocolate. What more can a girl want when she gets her old name back?