Based on good internet reviews, I wanted to hire Samin to help me with my divorce, but she wasn't…read moretaking new clients. So I worked with her colleague, Elizabeth. Elizabeth provided great service and information in a timely, professional manner. At some point, she announced she was leaving the practice, for reasons I don't know. So I was transferred to Samin. Samin and I met over zoom a few times. She was friendly, informative and helpful. Then we decided that mediation wasn't working and I needed to take my husband to divorce trial. So I hired her to represent me instead of on a consultation basis. That's when things started going wrong. Over the next few months, it became harder to get in touch with her. Email responses would take 3-4 business days. Her paralegal was helping me put together forms to file (FL-150) but edits back and forth would take days to come back for my review, wheras I made sure I always returned my part within 1 business day to them. It took 2 1/2 months for her firm to complete the form and file it!!! All the while I was losing out on having the form filed for the purpose of retro spousal support. More than once when they returned the forms for my review there were errors, some glaring, which required more time on my part, more emails back and forth and -yup- more time billed to me. So one day I called the office to express my anger and frustration at the process and asked for a call back so we could talk live instead of email. I never got a call back!! Four business days later I got a stern email. Never was there an explanation or apology for why I couldn't get them to speed up or attend to my case. At one point, Samin told me it was my fault for changing my mind (for 24 hours) and telling her that I thought I might try mediation again instead of court, but then told her never mind and to proceed. Divorce is messy-it is normal to have doubts and 2nd thoughts. Instead of telling me that it's MY fault that the process is taking so long, maybe guide me through the pros and cons of each option and have a little sympathy. Plus, that mixed message only accounted for 2 business days. Not the 2 1/2 months that it took to get that form finished. After feeling ignored, underserved, overwhelmed and uncared for, I finally pulled the trigger and let Samin go. I hired Honorable Legal Services-DeAnn Salcido, who has been phenomenal. Attentive at every step, incredibly informative, educational. She gives me notes, articles with highlights an annotations for me to read. She explains my options clearly. She responds in 1-2 days every time. We've done multiple zoom calls. And her office has a marvelous online system that organizes my files, forms, correspondence and upcoming dates in a way that is clear to both of us. AND she costs LESS than Samin! If I had had DeAnn from the start instead of Elizabeth and Samin, this process would have gone a LOT smoother and faster.

Going through a divorce is one of the most painful and overwhelming experiences a person can face,…read moreand mine was especially high-conflict. I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through it without Samin Beringer by my side. From the very beginning, Samin made me feel heard, supported, and protected. Her communication was clear and compassionate, and her professionalism gave me a sense of stability when everything else felt uncertain. She told me the truth, even when it was hard to hear, and helped me face each step with realistic expectations. I always knew she was fighting for me and that meant everything. Samin didn't just represent me, she stood with me. I will forever be grateful for her strength, wisdom, and unwavering support. I would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone going through a divorce. She made one of the hardest chapters of my life a little easier to bear.

I can't recommend her enough. This was a high-conflict case that took a very long time to resolve,…read moreand she stayed steady, focused, and fully committed the entire way through. After a long journey, we were finally able to reach a resolution--and I truly credit her for that. She is a fierce advocate who genuinely fights for her clients. What stood out most is how much time she takes to understand the full picture--not just bits and pieces--so she can represent you the right way. She's extremely knowledgeable in the law and knows exactly how to argue her position with confidence and precision. If you want someone sharp, dedicated, and truly in your corner, she's the one you want on your side. Wouldn't be surprised if she ends up on the bench as a family court judge.

Vicki represented me in a divorce from an abusive husband, I couldn't have done it without her…read more She has incredible attorney skills I only wanted my half and she got that for me. Above all was her caring support that helped me every step of the way. She is an amazing professional with a heart of gold.

I can't say enough good things about Annette Hall Neville and her legal team. She was a tremendous…read moresource of guidance and strength through a very difficult legal process and custody battle. Annette was always informative and took the time to educate me about every step of the process so I could truly understand what was happening in an often confusing and invalidating legal system. I honestly can't imagine having navigated everything I went through without her support. She's knowledgeable, compassionate, and incredibly dedicated to her clients. The fact that she has offices in both Los Angeles and San Diego was also a huge benefit for me since I live between counties. I highly, highly recommend her and her team to anyone who needs a strong, supportive attorney who truly cares.

I want to thank you again for your support through my divorce journey. Not only did you do an…read moreoutstanding job on the legal and financial side, you showed up in a way that was emotionally and psychologically supportive for me in one of the most challenging and strange times in my life. I'll never forget that.

Vanessa was able to step in quickly and assertively when my ex tried to suddenly move my 2 kids out…read moreof state without my consent. Even though we had little time to act, she came to our rescue and was able to not only keep my kids here, but increase my parental time with them. She even got me consideration for extra expenses I had blindly been paying thru the years. Truth be told, I had gotten into the habit of just caving in to whatever my ex wanted, but Vanessa helped me see that my approach was not only bad for me, it was bad for my kids. This is the 1st time since my divorce I feel like I have an true ally and a fair custody arrangement. My kids and I can't thank her enough.

My experience with Vanessa was excellent. She is professional, efficient, and very personable…read more Without her help I know that I would not have had the successful outcomes that I had with my case both in and out of court. I highly recommend McKinnon Law Firm and I'm so grateful. Paul

I had a very long and drawn out divorce because of a very difficult spouse; he made it as hard as…read morepossible. Ann was fantastic. She has a no-nonsense approach, high integrity and is well versed in the law and is a formidable force against spouses who stonewall and are dishonest. Ann is extremely detail oriented, highly efficient and was very really good about doing the best, the most while keeping costs down. She also has a calm and kind demeanor but also is a force to be reckoned with when needed. I felt immediately relieved after my first conversation with Ann and knew she would be a great advocate for me. Her communication is consistent and clear and I felt like I was in very good hands as we went through a very, very long, painful divorce that spanned 2 States. Ann is a blessing and I will be forever grateful for everything she did for me.

Anne was professional yet easy to talk to from the very beginning. She was timely in every part of…read morethe case and was willing and able to answer every question I had with clarity. She was always clear and upfront about what things would cost while giving alternatives when warranted. She was able to bring me back to reality when things got really emotional; something that I really appreciated in such a difficult time. I would recommend Anne one hundred percent for anyone looking for a family law lawyer. She is definitely the one you want on your side.

I hired Erica Bloom to represent me in a custody matter, and unfortunately my experience was…read moreextremely disappointing. While some of the written paperwork she prepared was acceptable, I did not feel effectively represented in the courtroom. During hearings, there were multiple times when the judge asked questions and she redirected them to me rather than advocating or responding on my behalf. As a client who hired legal representation, I expected my attorney to speak and advocate for my position in court. Communication throughout the case was also frustrating. There were several instances where my emails went unanswered, leaving me unsure about strategy and next steps in my case. At the same time, I was billed for nearly every email or minor interaction, which made communication feel both difficult and expensive. This case involved custody and one of the most stressful periods of my life, as I was fighting for my children and their well-being. During such a critical and emotional time, I expected my attorney to take the matter seriously and provide strong guidance and advocacy. Unfortunately, I often felt that the seriousness of the situation was not reflected in the level of representation I received. Considering the cost of representation--approximately $400 per hour and around $20,000 in total fees--I expected a significantly higher level of advocacy and professionalism. During the last court hearing, she did not appear in person, despite my clear preference to attend a custody hearing in person rather than online. This added to my overall concern about the level of representation and commitment to my case. Overall, I did not feel that the level of representation matched the cost of the services. Legal representation is supposed to provide guidance, advocacy, and support during stressful situations, and unfortunately that was not my experience here. I ultimately felt that I was advocating for myself more than my attorney was advocating for me. For anyone seeking legal representation in a custody case, I would strongly encourage taking the time to find an attorney who is highly communicative, proactive, and fully prepared to advocate on your behalf in court. Based on my experience, I would not recommend her services.

I normally don't write Yelp reviews, but after reading Karen B.'s review of Erica Bloom, I felt…read morecompelled to share my perspective. I am actually the ex-husband Karen referred to in her review, and I want to set the record straight. I hired Erica to represent me in a very difficult family matter, and she did an outstanding job. In fact, thanks to her skill and dedication, we won the case outright. Erica guided me through a complex and emotional process, explained everything clearly, and was a powerful advocate on my behalf. I noticed that Karen's review included a lot of legal jargon -- that is likely because she is an attorney herself. However, from my personal experience, Erica is the professional you want by your side if you are facing a challenging divorce or custody dispute. She is compassionate, thorough, and fights hard for her clients. I highly recommend Erica to anyone who needs an attorney who will protect their rights and help them navigate a difficult situation.

The team and Goforth Family Law was absolutely amazing. I was so lost the first time I walked…read morethrough the doors. They made me feel at easy and assured me everything would work out. Very attentive and responsive when ever I felt like a crisis was happening during the divorce process. Because of that they reduced the amount of stress I had since I felt like everything was being taken care of. They made sure we reached a resolution that was fair and looked out for my future. They were also able to keep us out of the court system and stream lined the process Truly appreciate the hard work Shelly and Paula put in on my case.

**Paula Goforth - Family Law Attorney in Carlsbad, CA - Highly Recommended**…read more I cannot recommend Paula Goforth highly enough for anyone needing a family law attorney in Carlsbad. I recently worked with her on my divorce agreement after having consulted with four other attorneys in the past, and the difference in the results she achieved compared to the others was truly amazing. I honestly never expected to receive even half of what she was able to secure for me in my divorce settlement. Paula went above and beyond in every aspect of my case. As a full-time working parent with very little spare time to navigate the complexities of a divorce, I was incredibly grateful for her ability to take care of everything that needed to be done. She handled the details with professionalism and efficiency, alleviating a tremendous amount of stress for me. Looking back at the years I spent raising my five children largely on my own, often working multiple jobs and receiving very little support, I truly believe that my experience would have been significantly different, and far less difficult, if I had consulted with Paula Goforth years ago. It was a hard lesson learned, but I am profoundly grateful and feel truly blessed to have found her when I did. What Paula has done for me and my children is nothing short of a true blessing. Her dedication, expertise, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for her clients are evident in her work. If I or any of my friends and family ever need a family law attorney in the future, I will not hesitate to insist that they go to see Paula Goforth first. She is exceptional, and I wholeheartedly recommend her services.

Cathy Hersh is a highly intelligent, caring, compassionate and knowledgeable attorney and person…read more I have used her services in the past with a BK and a Civil case and am completely satisfied with her work and reasonable fees. She was always available to answer my calls and easy to communicate with.

Trust, Experience, and Know How. If you are going through a…read moredivorce, Look no further. I have been working in LAW (unrelated field from divorce) and had to go through my own divorce. I thought I could handle this but not a chance. The California divorce court system is a peculiar and unbelievably frustrating system. On top of that I was up against a very dishonest and brutally dirty lawyer. I hired one of the top firms in San Diego and lost thousands and thousands of dollars. And got nothing out of it. Then moved on to a few mid level lawyers who drained me of even more money. Again not a single bit of success. 3 years later!!!! (YES- they will drag you down for years of stress and financial ruin) Then by a miracle I met Cathy- right from the start she quickly got up to speed and devised a plan of action. She filed paperwork, and got me divorced in a matter of months.. The other side wanted my blood. Cathy gave them an olive branch. I cannot stress enough- All the other Lawyers wanted my money for nothing. Cathy delivered results!!!! She also will keep you informed and comfortable throughout the entire process. Even though nobody wins in a divorce, You cannot lose with Cathy!!!!