He helped my siblings wrap up the legal side of moving Mom, at the beginning of the Covid-19…read morePandemic. As one might imagine, speed was of the essence (before transportation became impossible) and Jim helped us to make it happen Some earlier reviews made some disparaging remarks, which I know to be untrue. I have know him, boy and man, for 40+ years. I can say many things about him, but those accusations are flat-out lies.

We've all heard the stereotypes and jokes about lawyers, and I can't say how happy I was to…read morediscover that Jim Crane doesn't live up to any of them. Totally down-to-earth, working with Jim on estate planning questions and real estate has been a pleasure. He goes the extra mile to make himself available, always returns calls, and has been incredibly responsive. And, I've yet to receive a bill from him that I didn't think was totally fair. I'm sure nobody hopes to need a lawyer, but when you do, Jim's definitely "one of the good ones".

Today was a decent day in divorce court. Imagine that. I was satisfied with the outcome, especially…read moreafter 5 months of ups & downs dealing with the opposing party. Hiring Ms. Starla Zehr was a wise investment. IN SHORT: From our first consult in the spring at her conveniently located office in Waterford, Michigan, Starla took her time with me, asked many relevant questions and recorded lots of details on my situation. She explained my best and worst case scenario options and potential related expenses. During the final settlement conference, she threw down hard when warranted and both parties ended up agreeing well enough. Divorce ain't perfect, but it can be reasonable in the end with the right level heads to direct you. IN LONG: When I was ready to roll and file, Starla continued with the same approach and ultimately left me to make informed decisions. Not knowing what to expect with the divorce process (being fortunate enough to have my first husband die), Starla & her office manager/paralegal, Polly, made it an easier experience to understand and go through overall. They also actively worked directly with the opposing attorney and their office personnel to keep the negotiation process on track. Starla also knew when to put me in check and take a breath when things 'got real' and the Bronx girl came out in me here and there. Ultimately, I was so glad to be hands off and let them do the legal dirty work. On a personal note, I found Starla to be very kind and understanding to my particular situation with 2 small children and being in all kinds of transition. She provided much insight to what-if's and what-will's down the road in addition to very helpful practical advice for the future. After the court proceedings were over today she gave me an unexpected hug and we had a really nice chat on the loose ends. On a general, random Oakland County MI Court side note, the assigned judge overseeing my divorce (Matis) was a really happy guy despite bringing down the final ax on love gone bad x100. Like, genuinely, internally, smiling-ly throughout happy. I half-expected to be invited back for coffee and donuts and mingle amongst all the new divorcees after it was over. Weird, but pleasant considering the collective situation of everyone in the room. Anyway, SOME BEGINNER BEST DIVORCE LAWYER TIPS FOR YOU: Okay, so I was not the most ideal financial position to hire an attorney, but I managed to come up with some cash for the retainer. Let me tell you, if you are in the same position and are set to divorce, it is WELL WORTH IT to hire someone to represent your best interests and cut through the crap...your ex's and Michigan law, in general. My ex said I had absolutely no need for an attorney *insert hearty laugh here*. Seriously, get a second job and hustle in the short term if you have to and make ongoing payments. I tried to do so even while the retainer was till in effect. That tidy bundle is not going to last forever if things go sideways. You will typically get a statement every month itemizing how your retainer has been used and, and once used up, what you owe to date. Make sure to not get overly involved in emotional exchanges with the soon-to-be-ex as best as possible to keep progress alive & always try to stick to the facts at hand (it will save you on attorney fees). I tried to keep verbal exchanges to a minimum and got as much in writing as possible (email/text). I used to be a medical biller and the mantra in my department was: "If you don't get it in writing, it didn't happen". Lastly, just because you may not be getting constant updates, it doesn't mean things aren't in the works in the background. Starla & Polly were really good about replying back in a timely manner to update / FYI emails I would send. Be concise with your emails. Respond quickly when needed. Get all your paperwork, photos, copies, supporting documentation together. Sign up for Google Voice. It saves texts in perpetuity and transcribes voicemail messages that may be necessary to your case. Keep copies of everything for yourself. Sometimes some clarification and re-clarification has to take place, but that is a good thing so that everyone is on the same page in the end. Obviously, you should do your research and see a few attorneys to explore their opinions on your particular situation (lots of assets/no assets/kids/no kids/craziness/no craziness). You should feel comfortable in the bones with who you pick. Credit goes to the ex's 1st wife for the Starla "referral". When Starla's name drew a little snarl periodically throughout the relationship, I knew I had put her on my short list of attorney consultations & book an appointment. Plus, I thought it would be kind of funny. Now that YOU may be ready to put the garbage in the garbage can where it belongs, it's time to give Starla or Polly a call & cut your divorce stress in half (at least). Now, off to find my 3rd husband! J/k :-D Much love and stay strong, Luna #68Seconds

Some "post divorce" issues came up in my divorce, after I moved out of state. I really did not want…read moreto have to come back to Michigan to take care of these legal matters. Starla is a life saver. She listens to what you need done and gets it handled right away and also affordably. I talked to a few other lawyers and Starla's prices were better than theirs. I can't speak highly enough of her family law services. She genuinely seemed to care and is a great negotiator. Everything got resolved and I did not have to return to Michigan. I highly recommend Starla as an excellent divorce attorney.

Employed this firm to represent me in my divorce . I wouldn't recommend this firm to anyone. They…read moreact without your permission and request pay, for services you didn't ask for. For quality 2, and service one both on the lower scale. 2 stars

Run and don't hire. She only cares about money and doesn't get any results other than making your…read morelegal matters worse. She tried to extort me for payment when I was current and owed her not money at the time. Her email was pay me or I won't finish your motion when payment was not due for another 21 days. Look how big the payment button are on her website because that is all she cares about. Trust me, they don't care about you or your kids only money$. I am still paying for the mistake this firm made a year later. They are horrible people.

5 stars doesn't do this team justice. I have to say this process for men is terrible. I had to fire…read more4 lawyers until I found Mary Anne. And this includes one from A.D.A.M. She is by far the best lawyer advocating for justice. The only one who went the distance and fought for me to have more time than expected. Her staff is amazing too Gina takes time to not only communicate what is going on but take all your requests down and offer a sympathetic ear. Alana stayed on the phone with me til late, and I mean late, finalizing the agreement and answering any questions I had. I will be recommending everyone this team because I know they stand behind the injustice men find on this journey. Thank you Mary Anne for the countless times you listened and helped me to evolve into the best co- parent. Thank you for believing in me when no one else did.

From the owner: Guided gently, Divorce can be simplified to the reorganization of the family unit instead of…read morebecoming the destruction of it. At FasTrack, we want to help you find practical solutions that work for your situation. Our methods can simplify the potential messiness and complexities so that you can focus on what you really care about. We provide guidance and the best possible results to all of our clients in Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Troy, Livonia and all other cities in the greater Detroit area.

Kelly helped to make my divorce quick and painless. She is extremely professional, straightforward,…read moreand knowledgeable about family law and kept me in the loop while waiting for finalization. I feel fortunate to have found her and will definitely ask for her assistance in the future, if I ever need legal advice and/or representation.

Highly recommend Kelly Leimback. She is not only professional, she is personable. Kelly will take…read morethe time to get to know you and what your specific needs are.

Simply the best! I hired Ezra to help with a divorce and could not have asked for a better lawyer…read more The advice, communication, and preparation provided was excellent and having Ezra on my side made navigating an otherwise difficult divorce less complex. Ezra's price was reasonable and I'm extremely pleased with the results. If you need someone who knows the law, is familiar with the court system and judges, can explain your options, and is willing to stand with you for what's right, you need Ezra Goldman. Highly recommended without reservation!

horrible experience with this guy during a consult he is all about money doesn't care about his…read moreclients all he kept doing was raising the price it went from 2800 to 7500 for a misdemeanor just unprofessional and I would never refer anyone to him based on my experience.

Save yourself years of regret. Hiring Sam Smith and Kira Damusis was one of the most damaging…read moredecisions I've ever made during an already traumatic divorce. I trusted them with the safety of my child and the outcome of my custody case, and they failed me at every step. Sam Smith personally sold me on her "hands-on" approach, but after retaining the firm, she never touched my case again. Not once. Even after repeated requests for her attendance at hearings, only Kira showed up, despite Sam being the one whose services I was promised and paid for. Their handling of evidence was unforgivable. I provided multiple notarized affidavits, photos, recordings, and documentation of my ex-husband's substance abuse disorder, none of which were submitted to the court. As a direct result of this negligence, I now share 50/50 custody with a parent who poses safety concerns to our child. This outcome could have been prevented had they done the most basic part of their job. They also submitted my divorce documents late, which unnecessarily extended my case by four months. At no point did they take responsibility for this delay. The professional conduct was just as disturbing. During a charged and vulnerable phone meeting, Kira yelled at me and victim‑blamed me, saying: "Well, you shouldn't have married a drug addict." That was her legal "guidance" as I was trying to advocate for my child's safety. They provided me with an incorrect holiday schedule, which caused an incident where my ex‑husband abused his time. Because their schedule didn't match the court order, enforcement was impossible. This is basic family‑law competence, and they failed it. I later learned, through other attorneys and court personnel, about several crucial protections that could have been included in my custody agreement: stipulations for communication, consequences for violations, safety conditions, and specific parental responsibilities. None of these were ever offered, suggested, or even discussed. They simply did the bare minimum. I never met either attorney in person. Communication was inconsistent, sometimes disappearing for long periods, and Kira even called me during vacations with abrupt and unpleasant demands. At one hearing, she provoked the judge and made the situation worse. I drafted the distribution‑of‑assets outline myself, and they inserted it verbatim into the judgment with no advisement, no professional guidance, and no required financial stipulations (timelines, interest, consequences for nonpayment). Again, I did the work; they collected the fee. These lawyers failed to protect me, failed to protect my child, and failed to uphold even the minimum standards of competent legal representation. I regret ever hiring them, and I strongly urge anyone considering them to look elsewhere.

We have had this amazing group for about 4 years now. They are truly amazing. Their staff knows…read morewhat it takes to win a case. They care so much about every client they have. From the moment we called we knew they were the ones. The wgike staff has held our hands and guided us thru the whole custody battle. Love this law firm. Its so refreshing to have someone honest and hardworking on our side.