Marie and Anne are superwomen and really stepped up in my time of need. They worked over the weekend to make sure we were prepared and I can not thank them enough. read more

Call for a free phone consultation after I saw for this business web page the advertisement for "free phone consultation " but the person who answered the phone claim was error The "free consultation" is now $200 !!! Very interesting way to doing business! read more

Comstock & Wagner - Actually from the Website page - Divorce & Family Law Near Me - Santa Maria, California

My divorce process was super stressful and took a long time! Stephen Wagner has been my attorney since my divorce started... Being that my ex- is a horrible and abusive man, Stephen seemed so caring, seemed to be a breath of fresh air. I'd talk to him and leave feeling like they were going to help me. They didn't. Just a bunch of feel-good-words and a sweet demeanor and then, crickets. I had to push to get everything done. After more than FOUR months (on the 13th it will be FIVE) of me following up, still, until today, nothing. Still have no final order. I just can't believe this is real, that this is is my actual situation. Divorce granted and everything agreed to on Aug. 13, 2019 and today is December 27, 2019. read more

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The team at Comstock & Wagner are the least professional group of people I've ever encountered (and I used to work in customer service). What started out as a potentially painless prenup process quickly spiraled into a series of mistakes. During the few weeks I was in conversation with Stephen Wagner and his team they managed to ghost me for a phone appointment they scheduled, misquote me for the fee, leave multiple emails unanswered, and fail to answer my most pressing questions about protecting my assets. After I paid the fee, it took a week to get in touch with anyone from the office. I was passed from one paralegal to another, and the second paralegal had clearly not been briefed on my case at all. This paralegal, Tyler, then proposed that I fill out separate paperwork that he drafted on his own and only he uses. A firm's processes should be standardized, not variable from team member to team member. I then had to contact the office multiple times to receive a refund. There are plenty of other legal firms to choose for family law needs. Stay away from Comstock & Wagner. read more

This business is completely unorganized. I made an appointment last month to speak specifically with Comstock. They had other lawyers available but I wanted Comstock specifically so I waited over a month. After calling closer to the date to confirm my appointment they had no idea what I was talking about. I waited over a month specifically for Comstock and so they "squeezed me in" on another day ... assuming my appointment was still with Comstock. It wasn't. It was some other lawyer I didn't want to see. Unfortunately I will be moving forward with a different law firm because of the disorganization of this firm. Thanks. read more

Would not recommend. Never returns calls, never answers emails. Great line to lure you in for money, then tells you to call every week to check in with him on status/updates. When you call, the staff says "hold on, let me see if he is here". After about 30 calls, he is never there...though I am sure he is standing right near the phone telling them to lie for him. Don't waste your money. I have found out there are MUCH better attorneys that will help you in a timely manner. Every time I petitioned the court for divorce or change in support, it took over a year for anything to happen. Then, I had to finally drop this law firm and hire a new attorney. read more

Quick to take your money and make promises they don't deliver on. Go somewhere else if you need results.

The attorneys and staff are knowledgeable and friendly. However, they didn't provide me with adequate representation. They were unprepared, rushed the case the morning after they were hired with just one phone consult, didn't do their due diligence, didn't create a witness list or demand one from opposing council, didn't cross examine adequately, didn't meet with witnesses beforehand so they didn't know how to get the responses needed, didn't have relationships with the court or judge (who was already bigoted against me) and created undue animosity, and managed to miss all of the salient points I told them I required. They'll state that there's a difference in opinion, that I did receive adequate representation. However, I was so frustrated that they wouldn't do what I asked that I hired 3 attorney's to review their work. All 3 stated that the case was mishandled and told me that they agreed with what I was asking for and provided direction. With that ammunition in hand I essentially had to FORCE Comstock & Wagner, who were still my council or record, at the time, to file the motion I needed. I immediately thereafter terminated my relationship with them once the filing was completed. I'm not interested in spending EVEN MORE time and money just to force my legal council to do work that I'm already paying them to do at $400/hr.? If I had to do it all over again, I would represent myself before I'd ever have anything to do with this firm. I would have had a better outcome representing myself and I would have saved well over $6,000. Needless to say, I will not be working with them again. read more

I needed help and guidance and Mr. Wagner was there along with his team to help me through one of the most difficult times of my life. He's a great attorney and man who cares about family and the well being of the children. read more

I want folks to know Steve Wagner is a top notch attorney, these last two years watching him work on my wife's case dealing with her ex. Point blank he knows his shit and fights for you! He knows California family law inside and out. What he told us Though the process of my wife's case was right on the mark. So you need a family law specialist call him you won't regret it. I know... Thanks Steve for fighting on my wife's behalf... read more

Stephen is a a very varying person and has a good line that will make you feel good at the moment! However he's not responsive and will cause your case to drag on. It seems like he's taking on to many cases and doesn't have time to represent his clients properly. read more

Useless law firm in bed with the county assigned child advocate attorney no names Tammi faulks.. I filed a complaint with state bar but was told I didn't have enough compiled evidence to prove her screw ups which left .y daughter exposed to miss treatment and sexual grooming bye her stepdad but thank God I contacted a real attorney HELEN at Egan law firm she got my kid outta that situation but because of the harm done bye faulks and Wagner due to there neglect in handling there clients cases my kid was exposed to months of sexual grooming I'm gonna continue my complaint against faulks / Matta and hopefully get some justice so keep in mind if either of these two incompetent attorneys are involved in your cases request substitute and while your at it ask for substitute in judge if they appointed rigalli to your case all three one in the same "useless " read more

I am so fortunate to have found Comstock and Wagner. After being taken advantage of by Hosford and Hosford, I realized my daughters and I needed a law firm that would fight for my side, without injuring my children in the war of Custody. Comstock and Wagner treated me different by providing me with confident information keeping me informed about the court process, instead of constant litigation ( like Hosford & Hosford) keeping me in the dark. Comstock and Wagner did what they promised, to focus on settling out of court . This law firm provided me with honorable HONEST service in my family law case and I am so thankful because now my daughters and I have our normal life together instead of spending a decade in court paying ongoing litigation fees. read more

His representation was a waste of good money! He will prejudge you over time and then not return calls, drags your case out for over 1.5 years. I wished we would never have hired this firm! We finally went to a REAL attorney in Santa Maria. Our case was completed within 2 months! read more

The office's communication (or lack there of) is absolutely horrendous. Mr. Wagner comes off as a very caring individual and will definitely put your mind at ease. But if you have any hopes of your case taken care of in a timely manner, I'd look elsewhere. The office staff was rude, very unprofessional, and insensitive to the fact that they are dealing with custody battles that get ugly. Oh & sidenote-Wagner did not graduate from Harvard Law school, he took a summer course and now claims to be an alum and his office plasters it in the office. read more

We have used Steve Wagner for over 8 years. The first time was when our child was 4 years old and we had to battle with the bio mother to get custody which is not an easy task in California. We finally won and got full legal custody when he was 6. Yes, a long process for sure... but Steve always assured us that we were headed in the right direction. It's a process and he would tell us to trust it. He ALWAYS had our son in his best interest. Now that our son is 12, we had to call on him once again for other legal matters concerning him. It was nice to have the same attorney who knew all of our history including the bio-mom's. Again, it took over a year but in the end it was in our favor. I can't say enough about this law firm and their professionalism. We would always get a response either by email, text or phone call in a somewhat timely manner. I just figured that when it wasn't as quick as I wanted, it's because they are extremely busy, which is a good thing in my book. As for the cost, I feel it has always been a fair price for what we were asking him to do. I absolutely recommend Steve Wagner. read more

I DO NOT RECCOMEND COMSTALK & WAGNER. These attorneys did NOT have my best interest in mind all they cared about was the other party. They screwed me over big time and did not file my paper work correctly. I was going through such a difficult time in my life and thought my attorneys were supposed to help me get the best possible out come for myself and my child but instead they seemed to be great friends with the other parties attorney and kept giving them more and more. They were very rude and sarcastic towards me and my whole situation. They hardly ever returned my calls or answered my questions. All they did was take my money and keep charging me more. In the end I got only 20% custody of my daughter and had to pay more than 80% of my wages to my ex for child support plus extra for spousal support. Child support for 1 child was $1200.00 plus $400. For spousal support which after almost 4 years of paying this i found out was all wrong and unfair by a new attorney. Please DON'T make the same mistake I did. DON'T trust Comstalk &Wagner. my new attorney got me 50% custody and now I'm only paying $150.00 monthly in child support and $0 in spousal. My new attorney had to redo all my paper work and file it correctly. read more

I am so impressed with this Law Firm! I am picky and a DISNEYLAND 150% Customer Service warrior! I had a FREE consultation for a Family Law order from years ago to get advice and move forward to obtain my court order judgement my girls deserved. I was so IMPRESSED by their awesome Marketing I called and emailed and they responded immediately. Their staff and office are Professional and soothing! Attorney Stephen A. Wagner was so helpful, kind and SMART!! He is a Harvard Grad with a LOCAL kind and helpful spirit! I am thrilled to move forward with this great Law Firm. They also want to help support our communities non-profit Poetic Justice Project! read more

The team at Comstock and Wagner and Stephen Wagner himself handled my detailed and difficult divorce with integrity and determination. Steve's exceptional knowledge of the law and attention to detail helped provide a fair settlement and put an end to a lengthy legal situation. I can't thank him and the team enough. I definitely recommend his services for any of your legal needs. read more

I sought out Stephen Wagner for legal assistance regarding my messy custody case. During the consultation he was very upfront about his procedure and the rates that he charges . He clearly has a very thorough and effective routine which he personalized to my situation. It was very cut and dry. He gained my trust from the beginning and through the process his performance and expertise only solitified my trust even more. Which gave me, desperately needed, peace of mind. My family could not be more pleased. Thank you Stephen read more

During one of the most difficult period I was happy to have a professional knowledgeable team. Thank you helping me navigate. More importantly for the peace of mind of having my interests managed by an honest hard working firm. It was a pleasure working with you. read more

Stephen Wagner absolutely hands down has been the reason I have been able to sleep at night now. We had horrible representation before and I was an absolute wreck. Once we retained Mr. Wagner, it was as if I could sit back and let him handle everything. He is expensive but he does not hide that. He is upfront about that from day one but he is worth every penny! In fact, if we would have had him from the beginning, we could have saved so much in the long run because of how skilled he is and how he acts so aggressively on your behalf that you can get the results you need in so much less time. We wasted a year with a joke of an attorney before him. He accomplished more in ONE appearance than we had accomplished in a year before with the other and I actually was able to sleep at night! Now, you need to have patience. As with all the greats in every field, if they are good, they are busy. So yes, some of the reviews of him being busy are true. But that's because of him being an excellent attorney. Trust that. Be patient. Bug him if you have to, but understand that every professional who is amazing at their job is going to be in high demand and that is a good and frustrating thing. So hang in there. This law office is handling a lot of cases and that's because they truly are the best. Marie comstock had to sit in on what was supposed to be a small no big deal appearance and it turned into a huge deal and she handled it like a BOSS and it wasn't even her case!!! THESE ARE TOP NOTCH ATTORNEYS. Dont hesitate on hiring them for a second. It's worth it to spend the extra to get the right attorney from the beginning the have to pay the right one twice as much to have to dig you out of a hole the cheaper wrong one put you in. I'm Team Wagner ALL THE WAY! read more

Unfortunately I was embroiled in a family matter which took 2 and 1/2 yrs. to settle legally in court, and fortunately, Marie Comstock helped me through the matter the entire time. Marie was supportive during the complexities of the case and considerate of my resources to handle the matter. The opposing counsel threw just about every unfair thing they could at me, and yet Marie's legal strategy, patience, experience and professionalism proved successful. She was polite and composed in court, yet appropriately firm, factual, direct and effective. Overall, I think the judge appreciated her mannerisms and the way she approached the case and in the end Marie's earned respect and demeanor really helped me to win all that I had petitioned the court for. Thanks to Marie, I now visit with my special-needs daughter and she is enjoying our time together more than ever. read more

Stephen and Marie are great! I highly recommend this law firm. The office is easy to find and comfortable. The lawyers and staff are the perfect blend of professional and personable. They know that going through a divorce or custody battle is difficult and treat you like a real person with the utmost respect, not just a client. They act aggressively and efficiently with your case and give you the best possible experience. read more

My family has been through a lot this year and Mr Wagner fought on our behalf and with his help, we are able to have some normalcy back in our lives. This has been a huge learning experience for all of us and it could not have been done without the expertise and professionalism Mr Wagner provided. I am so grateful for his help and I would highly recommend his services if you ever find yourself in need of a family lawyer. read more

Marie Comstock was very Professional and answered all of my legal questions. If I go forward with a case, I will definitely have her handle my legal matters. read more

I am so grateful for their help in my legal matters! Alicia

Caring and knowledgeable attorneys. Very good at listening and putting your mind at ease.

I cannot thank Stephen Wagner, and the entire law office of Comstock & Wagner, enough for their assistance in getting me sole legal custody of my four year old daughter earlier today. I am a single father mind you, so the fact that Stephen actually obtained sole custody of my daughter for me says volumes about his professionalism and proficiency. However, it was Stephen's genuine sense of caring and apathy which mattered most during a difficult and emotional period in my life. I will be forever grateful and appreciative to Stephen and the law firm of Comstock and Wagner. If you are searching for the finest family law office on the central coast then Comstock & Wagner are who I absolutely recommend. read more

i wouldn't give comstock & wagner one star but you have to. Everything negative on YELP about Steve and this office is TRUE. I didn't believe it before until it happen to me. Steve wanted my retainer fee of four thousand for child custody and i paid it all before my first court hearing. Went to my first hearing and his mom was there for him and I was told when my new trial was going to be and that time. I showed up and found out it wasn't till later that day. He never even called me to let me know it was later that day not that morning. When i had my first trial, I was told from his mother who is comstock and his office that he will call me the day before to get me prepared for it, i called his office and was told he'll call you back i was getting nervous because my trial was coming up. i heard nothing from him. The day of my trial i was nervous he comes in the court rushing me asking me what is it that i want out of this. I stood there looking at him stun. He should of had me prepared for court the day before, he should of been there for me, all he ever ask of me is to make copies of my paper's over and over of the same thing write out what's the other parents has done over and over same paper work. I had already paid over four thousand now. I recently went in to talk to him for five mins about whats going on and he tells me again oh come back and we'll start moving forward. Again i hear nothing from him but i do get a statement in the mail for that five mins for a couple of hundred of dollars. i'm not RICH . He fed me a good Story that he'll get me what i want he's got my back.He's really a Fraud. I called again to see what happening with my case and i was told he wants another retainer fee of four thousand again. I was shock but than again he he did what he does BEST tells you what you want to hear but really he Takes Your Money. I know once this is posted someone is going to post a positive review. If you want to WASTE Money this is the Place to Go. VERY UPSET that someone you think has your back really is looking out for his bank account. read more

Comstock & Wagner agreed to close out a custody case in December 2015 for me for a set fee. Fee was paid in full the next day. During the trial the judge asked which counsel was going to prepare the visitation and transfer dates for the minor. Marie Comstock raised her hand and said she would. (This would be part of closing it out). When the time came to fulfill this duty Marie Comstock wanted additional money to do so. This is a very unethical way to do business. Get everything in writing if you choose to do business with this firm. I will add that she handled the case very well. She just has no problem not keeping her word on follow up items after trial. read more

Renee Roese-O'Keefe is incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and hard-working. Comstock has a great new addition to their firm. She's helped me a number of times. I look forward to working with her more, and will continue to recommend her to all of my friends and family on the Central Coast. read more

Stephen and Marie are very knowledgeable and professional lawyers. They have helped several family members and myself with our family law matters. They will work with you and meet with you even during non-business hours. I could not have asked for a better law firm to handle my sensitive situation. I appreciate everything they did for me and I am very pleased with my outcome. I will continue to refer my family and friends to this awesome duo! read more