Overcomplicated and Excessively Expensive Estate Documents…read moreWe hired Alan Dickerson to prepare a straightforward will and trust for my husband and me. Our needs were simple, but Mr. Dickerson produced an almost 100‑page trust and a 36‑page will filled with dense legalese, irrelevant clauses, and redundant provisions. The result felt like "word salad" and created documents that would be difficult for any executor to follow or administer. We were charged thousands of dollars, which we believe was excessive given the simplicity of our estate. We provided Mr. Dickerson with a Maryland will and trust that were drafted to our preference for simplicity and asked him only to revise them to be compatible with North Carolina. The Maryland attorney's documents were readable, about one‑tenth the length, and cost roughly one‑tenth of what Mr. Dickerson charged. Pros: If you put your trust in Alan he will push you through the process. Documents are thorough (if you need a highly complex plan) Cons: Unnecessarily lengthy and complicated documents for a simple estate Excessive fees Many provisions did not apply to our situation and added confusion Did not simply adapt our Maryland documents as requested

I needed to simply make a few updates to my estate documents, which were done eight years ago in…read moreNC. I hired Mark Costly, who produced all new documents, but he would not let me read them. Instead, at my review before signing, he speed-read parts of them to me so fast that I couldn't tell what they were referring to or what they meant, although I was able to spot some important errors. When I asked for a copy to study, I was told that they do not provide copies to clients until they are finalized and signed. Why? Because "clients would have questions that would take too much time of his time to answer"! I lost my deposit, which was half his fee and nearly as much as I paid for the original documents.

Richardson Law Firm was recommended by my company's EAP provider (Claremont) when I told them of my…read morefamily's interest in purchasing property in North Carolina. I gave them a call just now and was put in touch with Sonya (spelling?), their lead paralegal. She was familiar with the closing process and told me that they'd simply need a copy of the contract and information on the lender involved. When I inquired about the length of time it would take, she explained that it would depend on a number of different factors, the biggest one being whether or not the land was tax separately or part of a larger parcel. If it was part of a larger parcel, they'd need to engage a surveyor to create parcels, register them with the county, etc. She apologized for giving me too much information, but it was really appreciated. Thank you, Sonya, for being so thorough and pleasant to speak with!

Jonathan Richardson was recommended by our realtor and did our closing in June of 2017. It was…read moreseamless! This was important to us because we had to make all the arrangements from out of state and and needed everything to go smoothly as we traveled from Utah to our new home in North Carolina. Jonathan was very personable (and accommodating-we brought all four kids to the closing) and the decor in his office super fun. The whole experience was very memorable and we love our new house! I would recommend this office to anyone closing on a property in North Carolina.

I've used Maitland and English Law Firm for multiple reasons: (3) personal home closings, legal…read moreguidance on business contracts and business landlord/tenant guidance. In every instance, I have had great experiences. The home closings, with Michele English, have gone very smoothly and there were zero issues. When I'm doing a real estate transaction Michele is THE attorney that I use and I recommend her, without hesitation. Robert Maitland counseled me on a contract matter, with a large business, that protected me from inadvertently breaching a contract. His guidance helped me to ensure that I could terminate the contract without violating any terms. He'll definitely give you sound advice that empowers you to make solid, informed decisions. Most recently I used Sarah Reddy to counsel me on a landlord / tenant issue on a commercial property that I own. Her guidance gave me peace of mind that I could protect myself as a property owner and, of equal importance, protect my professional & personal reputation. She took a great deal of stress off of my shoulders by expertly helping me to manage a very difficult tenant. Maitland and English Law Firm can cover a lot of areas of legal expertise but, what I've always appreciated, is that they'll also refer me to someone if they feel I can be better served outside of their firm. They are my first phone call when I need any legal advice and guidance.

Firm too distracted with court cases to pay attention to day…read moreto day communication and details. Need to hire more staff or specialize in certain areas of law. Sloppy real estate transaction that had some complicating issues - but could have been handled much better with ongoing communication. Still resolving issues after transaction has closed - L.W.

This is one of the most financially inept, arrogant firms I have ever come across. I have been…read moreinvolved in hundreds of thousands of billable hours in legal services, and I would not touch these incompetent, foolish, arrogant lawyers with a barge pole. They claim not to be able to do wire transfers, they had to be baby sat to do certified checks. They are officious and obnoxious. They are a disgrace. If anyone suggests them, run away as fast you can.

When my wife and I first came to Chapel Hill, we hired Ms. Kendall Page to handle our closing on…read moreour first home. She was absolutely brilliant in her professionalism, knowledge of her business, and making us feel welcomed as part of our new community. Thirty years on, and I still remember her and what she did for us.

They did good in my case. Answer my calls right away. Really honest from the beginning in what to…read moreexpect about my situation. Thank you Noel McDevitt.

I've rarely had to use a lawyer until a bit back but if I had to rate a legal service, well 5…read morestars. First and foremost, it's not one of those companies that market hard to get your business. I found these guys by word of mouth. The place seems to be run by mostly family. The lady at the front desk is beyond kind, friendly, and helpful. People have to retain legal services and the people in this place take the edge off the stress you have. They don't nickle and dime you. They charge you a fair price and that's that. They also take genuine interest in your case. I like this place mostly because it seems to be the first firm I've visited that doesn't look like a "luxury apartment complex." It's decorated classy and traditionally. Makes me feel like I'm being charged for their services and not for their furnishings. They are also really good. Beyond professional and smart. They stay on top of everything. With my paper work I have copies of everything. They answer emails timely and spend a decent amount of time with you. Mostly mid to older lawyers with a lot of professional experiences in multiple fields.

Matt and his team recently serviced my home purchase. They made the entire process effortless and…read morepain free. Communication was perfect and the closing went flawlessly. He went above and beyond in a few areas that were greatly appreciated! Highly recommend!!

I highly recommend Matthew McCrystal if you are looking for a real estate lawyer. He offers a…read morededicated, respectful, and caring approach. His guidance over the past year provided me the knowledge and support needed to complete my transaction. He went above and beyond to make sure I got what my contract had set in place. I also appreciated his good communication and follow-through on any questions or concerns. He will take excellent care of you!

Great guy great service definitely worth the money so far he's giving me everything I want and some…read morestill got...

Cheri, Ethan, and Wills were amazing to work with. They supported me and my family through a very…read moredifficult time with my DVPO and made sure I never felt alone. They were responsive, compassionate, and truly cared about my situation. I'm so grateful for all of their hard work and for making me feel like I could count on them every step of the way. I highly recommend them to anyone needing support and guidance during a tough time.

Had a 6-year case divorce case. The estate was worth about 9 million and ex was proven to have…read morecheated with a working prostitute. Mrs Patrick dismissed my case intending to refile and did it WRONG. The opposing attorney told her TWICE that she was doing it the wrong way. As a result my entire case was dismissed. I had to allow her to fix her mistake . The NC bar has already agreed she did indeed mess up. She lost the appeal and Rule of 60 (do-over) cases. As a result...I got nothing- no child support, alimony OR retirement. She has the least amt of liability insurance an attorney can get (100k) and NOTHING is in her name. I paid her over 50K- she had to do an appeal and rule of 60 for free. She now has several attorneys representing her, and their attorney fees are paid by liability insurance. She refused to settle or discuss a settlement. I never felt she had my back, intentionally put things off, and was a terrible advisor. We never had a meeting before mediation, she was never prepared, and always seemed lost when appearing in court, and was dominated by the opposing attorney. I do not recommend using her !