A Disheartening Experience with a Self-Centered Family Lawyer I recently had the unfortunate experience of engaging the services of a family lawyer whose professional demeanor and approach left much to be desired. As someone who sought legal assistance during a particularly vulnerable time, I expected a compassionate and organized professional to guide me through the complexities of family law. Regrettably, my experience with this lawyer was characterized by disorganization, lack of empathy, and an overwhelming priority placed on her own reputation rather than the well-being of her clients. From the outset, the communication was lacking. Appointments were frequently rescheduled, often with little to no notice. When I did manage to meet with her, I found her flustered and distracted, as if my case was merely an afterthought rather than a priority. This disarray not only led to misunderstandings but also resulted in critical deadlines being missed, which only added to the stress of an already challenging situation. It became evident that her office was not run with the level of professionalism one would expect from someone in her position, and this lack of organization was reflected in the handling of my case. Moreover, the lawyer's demeanor during our interactions was troubling. It felt as though she was more invested in maintaining her own image and reputation in the legal community than in advocating for my needs or concerns. There was a palpable absence of empathy; she often appeared irritated when I sought clarification or expressed my worries about the proceedings. The feeling of being a mere case number rather than a person with real emotions was disheartening and left me feeling isolated during a time when I needed support. As for her legal expertise, while she may possess the qualifications on paper, her approach to family law seemed to lack the depth of understanding required for such sensitive matters. Important details were overlooked, and her advice often felt generic and unhelpful. This was particularly concerning given the nuances involved in family law, where personalized attention and understanding can significantly impact the outcome of a case. In addition, I noticed a pattern of her prioritizing her public image over her clients' needs. She often made decisions that seemed to be more about how they would reflect on her rather than what was in the best interest of her clients. This self-serving attitude was not only disheartening but also alarming, as it raised questions about her commitment to her clients and their families. In conclusion, my experience with this family lawyer was profoundly disappointing. I cannot recommend her services to anyone seeking legal assistance in family matters. The lack of organization, empathy, and professionalism, coupled with an overwhelming focus on her reputation, created an environment that was not conducive to effective legal representation. If you are in need of a family lawyer, I urge you to seek someone who genuinely cares about their clients and is committed to providing the support and expertise necessary for navigating the intricate landscape of family law. read more

I felt compelled to write a review of the one bright spot I found while going through a difficult divorce - my lawyer Rachel Castrejon. For me, the circumstances leading to my divorce were unforeseen, and my (ex-)husband was proceeding very swiftly. I knew I needed to find someone who could quickly understand my unique & complex situation, and who would fight for my rights in this antagonistic divorce scenario. What I found was so much more than that... From the first meeting with Rachel Castrejon, she showed her warmth and compassion for the pain I was in, while pragmatically leading me through each step of my challenging divorce journey. Rachel consistently presented a fierce-but-fair legal front through her keen understanding of the law, her relationships in the legal community, and through her experience with the courts in Marin County, the judges, and opposing council. While recognizing my feelings of what would be "fair" given the circumstances leading to the divorce, Rachel was frank about what the law says, the rights of both sides according to the law, and what my realistic expectations should be for a settlement - nothing more and nothing less. She is a strong advocate of mediation, and she relentlessly pursued mediation as a way to better manage the emotional and financial strains of the divorce proceedings. As well, Rachel surrounds herself with a dedicated and first-class staff; the entire office showed devotion to my case and regularly offered their help and guidance to me with tasks and actions while always remaining compassionate. Rachel exhibited the utmost professionalism in all aspects of the divorce proceedings and consistently operated with integrity - even when faced with unfair and dishonorable tactics sometimes used by opposing council. She was always honest with me and definitely did not "sugar-coat" any tough news or information, and yet, she had a way of comforting me by validating my sometimes emotional reaction, but remaining calm and rational with our options, recommendations, and next steps. Rachel has a great communications style; she was able to quickly compose articulate and hard-hitting responses & letters that were concise and got to the heart-of-the-matter quickly & accurately. And finally, Rachel showed a real interest in a "complete solution" for my life after divorce. She gave excellent guidance and advice for the other important things that needed to be handled outside of the services she provides, such as personal finance, estate planning, etc. I wholeheartedly recommend Rachel Castrejon to anyone facing the unfortunate circumstance of divorce - she was professional, provided excellent guidance, and ultimately negotiated a fair and satisfactory divorce settlement. At the same time, Rachel supported me as a human being going through a painful chapter in my life, and she continues to cheer for the newly enlightened woman who has now started a new chapter. read more

I was fortunate to have been referred to Rachel during my separation and then divorce. I had spoken with 3 other attorneys prior to working with her. She is accessible, compassionate and pragmatic. She was tougher than me, and more realistic, and her advice was not slanted to her financial benefit. I was appreciative that she has honest billing procedures and doesn't 'have her thumb on the scale'... I know too many attorneys who are adept at churning an account. I consulted with her initially after I filed 'pro per' and she was amenable to that as well as helping me on whatever approach I pursued; in my case it was mediation over a too long time period. She has expanded her practice to offer mediation and I am positive she will excel in that capacity. I can compare her to the woman I tried (and who failed) and from my discussions with Rachel I know her approach will be effective. She is basically hyper reasonable in an arena full of people with less ethics and less practical, sound advice. Be wary of mediators who are all style over substance and commiserate (with the female) instead of guide to a timely conclusion. They can run up the expenses unnecessarily. When my process was done, everything she predicted came to pass- I had drawn the process out, some to my benefit, but I could have resolved it just as amicably had I followed her timeline more closely. The point being that she was patient with me through the process, and guided me well. She was precise and correct in her understanding of how this stuff plays out based on the behavior and mindset of all parties. She has good insights. I did not meet any other attorneys that would have stayed with me as I meandered through the minefield. That is one reason I have some peace of mind now instead of resentments. A very enjoyable person to know, under the circumstances, for whom I have great respect and appreciation. read more

I recently had the misfortune of hiring Rachel for my family law matters, and I feel compelled to share my experience to warn others. Unfortunately, my dealings with her were marked by a lack of professionalism, kindness, and integrity, which made an already difficult situation even more challenging. From the very first meeting, it was clear that Rachel was more interested in financial gain than in providing genuine support or guidance. Communication was sporadic and often unresponsive, leaving me feeling neglected and frustrated. Despite my repeated attempts to discuss my case, I was met with dismissive attitudes and vague answers, which only heightened my anxiety during a critical time in my life. Additionally, Rachel's approach to legal representation seemed to lack the compassion and understanding that one would expect from someone in this field. Family law is inherently sensitive, and I was taken aback by the coldness displayed, making me feel more like a source of revenue than a client in need of assistance. Moreover, I found inconsistencies and dishonesty in the information provided. Important details were either glossed over or misrepresented, leading to confusion and a lack of trust. It became increasingly evident that the focus was on billable hours rather than achieving a fair outcome for my case. In conclusion, my experience with Rachel was profoundly disappointing. I would strongly advise anyone in need of family legal services to seek representation elsewhere. A lawyer should be a partner in navigating complex personal matters, not an obstacle. Please take my experience into consideration when choosing your legal counsel. read more

I had a very complicated divorce where my ex wife moved my kids down to Marin from Oregon. I first began working with Rachel a little over 10 years ago and, over the years, have used her to help overcome many different challenges that have come up between my ex and myself. She is a very good listener, and really wants to get to the heart of what the problems are between the two parties. It's been my experience, that she does this to most efficiently solve those problems. She has saved me thousands of dollars, and months of heartache by her ability to look for ways for all parties to walk away feeling satisfied. She is not one to drag something out on "principal" (I think that this happens a lot in difficult divorces), she is looking for ways to get to the heart of the matter, so that both parties can resolve the issue and refocus their attention on the well being of everyone in the family. Rachel, and her staff, have been a huge asset to me and my kids over the past decade. She has always been more than fair with her billing. She is extremely knowledgable about family law (especially when it comes to custody/visitation issues). She is very easy to talk to and if you find yourself in an unenviable position of needing a divorce attorney in Marin, I would recommend that you go and talk to her. read more

Rachel was recommended to me by one of Marin's top family law attorneys to handle my child support modification. Looking back on my experience both during divorce and post divorce child support modification there are several things I would look for in an attorney and Rachel possesses all of these qualities and characteristics. One of the most important qualities in an attorney that no one ever tells you to look for is their ability to work with other attorneys. Are they social with other attorneys? Are other attorneys their friends? If the answer is yes then the chances are much greater for an amicable fair settlement. Something I believe most people are looking for. Rachel possesses both of these qualities. Client accessibility at all times is very important. Rachel is always there for her clients, emotionally and legally. She is able to make things that seem like a crisis and very complicated become very simple and straightforward in a very comforting and assuring way. Nothing slips through the cracks as she and her staff are very attentive to every detail all at a price that is more than fair and reasonable. I would highly recommend her to anyone and my only regret is that I will most likely not have the opportunity to engage her services again. read more

Highly recommend Castrejon & Associates. Rachel and her team worked with me as consulting attorneys during a complicated mediation case. I appreciated her direct communication about my legal rights (even when hard to hear), desire to help move the case along, tenacious advocacy, and . If you want someone to just tell you "you're right" this isn't the firm for you. Or if you are dead set on litigating at all costs, it might not be a match. If, however, you want an attorney who knows the law and can give you a fair-minded appraisal of the pros and cons of each potential legal strategy, someone who will litigate on your behalf if needed or partner with a mediator if that's the desired approach,then you can't do any better. The team worked seamlessly behind the scenes (and stepping forward as needed) to ensure documents were filed in a timely and accurate way. read more

Rachel helped me through a very difficult, painful, emotional divorce. There were times, as I look back now, that everything was a blur but her words of expertise and guidance pulled me through every step of the way. In addition to her expertise in family law, every time we went to court it was clear she was well respected by other family law attorney's as well as the Judge. Navigating through the legal system is never an easy task, but Rachel did it with ease and confidence. She was even thoughtful with her billing and tried to keep costs down by advising me to incorporate my email questions into one document that she could review and get back to me with all the answers rather then send a question at a time. I highly recommend her for everything from a straight forward case to the most complicated case - she can handle it all! Kate read more

Rachel Castrejon helped me through a very difficult and complicated divorce by giving me expert advice all along the way. She has amazing knowledge of the court system and its' inner workings as well as how to succeed without having to go to court. I found her to be very responsive when needed and she was excellent at working with many different attorneys to ensure a professional rapport was always maintained between the opposing parties as well as with our mediator. Her rates are reasonable and she does everything in her power to get you through the process as cost efficiently as possible while always keeping her eye on the big picture of what is best for you in the long run. I highly recommend her as an outstanding divorce attorney you can trust. read more

Rachel Castrejon was recommended to me by someone I trust very much that had a great experience with her. She has helped me navigate one of the most difficult things a person can go through. She is empathic and kind, highly intelligent, and tough when she needs to be. I don't know how she maintains her compassion and commitment day after day, dealing with people at their absolute worst She really is grace under fire. I continue to be so impressed by her. I know that she worries about all her clients when she goes home at night. I found her staff to be helpful and accessible. Her prices are fair. I didn't feel bitter about paying my bills one bit. She is worth every cent read more

Rachel helped me through my divorce and custody matters. She was always available when I needed assistance and very conscientious of the time we spent together. Not only did I find her advice of complicated financial issues very helpful, but I also found her to be empathetic and understanding of the emotional toll the process takes. She worked well with my ex's attorney. Ultimately, we reached a settlement largely because of Rachel keeping her eye on the goals I had which included trying to minimize costs without getting an unfair settlement. She succeeded in helping me achieve this goal. I will definitely use her if any additional issues arise. read more

I had interviewed many lawyers. When I sat in Rachel's office, I was struck by her cut to the chase attitude wasting no time. Rachel is extremely experienced at navigating the tough terrain of unraveling family; into the fabric of a new dynamic of respectful co-parenting. She helps set the stage in a positive way for a straight forward, educated dialogue to take place. She also made the difficult process easy to do. Step by step. I felt completely supported by Rachel and her competent staff. I would wholeheartedly, without a doubt, give her an 5*****excellent review. read more

I worked with Rachel through my divorce. Not only did I find her a pleasure to work with, but I found her to be very affordable ($300) compared to other attorneys I interviewed. She was both reasonable and aggressive when needed, insuring that my case was resolved in the best possible way at the least amount of cost to both me and my ex-wife. It was a very difficult time for me and my family, but Rachel was readily available and returned calls even in the evening and on the weekends when needed. I would highly recommend her to anyone going through this process. read more

Incomeptant, greedy and a sore loser. She lost my case and charged me a fortune.. She was unaware of what was going on in court and my ex had a better strategy when she had none. She didn't want to " go down to their level ", so it was never disclosed that my ex husband was a violent felon with a history of domestic violence and drug abuse. She was only concerned for her reputation, more money / replenishing her retainer, and didn't even show up for our custody settlement. She was just awful. Feel free to contact me for more information, Screwed in SF. read more

I'm so glad Rachel was there to help me get through my divorce. She is well educated in every aspect of the law when it comes to divorce and custody matters. She is very thoughtful, patient, considerate, consistent, straight to the point, no nonsense type of lawyer. She helped me stay on course to get the divorce finalized quickly. I highly recommend her to anyone going through a high conflict custody battle or divorce. She also gave me great advice and had a great sense of humor when I needed it the most. read more

Ms. Castrejon is very professional, is incredibly efficient with her time and did the best job she could for me. Her knowledge of the courts and other attorneys was very helpful and she did everything to make a difficult process fair and balanced. She really cares and advocates for the best outcome. I think most of us avoid ever having to use an attorney and her ability to wade through all the issues a divorce brings is incredible. You will be very satisfied with her dedication. read more

My divorce had the potential to be complicated, painful , messy and expensive. However, I was blessed to have Rachel as my attorney. Efficient, affordable and skilled at "cutting to the chase," Rachel made my situation as smooth, easy, and affordable as possible. She was very accomodating, knowledgeable, and able to communicate with opposing attorneys with just the right touch. Overall, a great experience in the midst of a difficult time in my life. read more

I found Rachel to be extremely responsive to me when I was going through the most difficult time in my life. She was always professional, guided me through ugliness and made everything seem smooth at an extremely reasonable hourly rate ($300) compared to the other lawyers I intereviewed. I would highly recommend Rachel if you are going through a difficult divorce or have custody issues. read more

I highly recommend Rachel Castrejon. She's not only smart and experienced, but emotionally intelligent and warm. I felt extremely supported knowing she was on my side. No one wants to get divorced, but I felt like my process was relatively smooth and efficient. Unlike most attorneys, Rachel is resolution focused. She knows what she's doing and communicates well. read more