My wife and I wanted to set up a Living Trust for our family. We looked for an experienced attorney to help us. We found Michael Rinne online. According to his profile he seemed to have extensive experience and he looked down to earth and friendly. When I called his office he personally picked up the phone and he was very nice. On the phone he was not rushed and took the time to explain the process. I could hear that he really loves what he is doing. He offered to meet us on a Saturday since we are both very busy in the week. We drove to the attorneys office in Pleasant Hill. His office is right off the freeway and there was no traffic. There was plenty of free parking in front of his office. The receptionist who greeted us was friendly and offered us water. The initial consultation lasted over an hour and it was free. I did not feel the time passing. It was actually very interesting to hear about the options and flexibility we have to protect our assets. Michael Rinne went through the pros and cons of Living Trusts versus Wills. I did not know that a Living Trust, saves us up to 10% of the value of our assets by not having to go through probate. The attorney explained the different types of Living Trusts in a way I could easily understand. Since we have different types of assets we needed a more complicated Living Trust Another reason why we picked Michael Rinne is that he has extensive experience in asset protection. This we found out by looking at his website and the book he wrote about it. We wanted an attorney who has done cases in court where the clients assets had to be protected from creditors. The attorney explained to us that asset protection requires more than one strategy and setting up a Living Trust is one of them. We also talked about setting up an LLC to further protect our property. Attorney Michael Rinne picked the perfect Trust for us to save estate and step up taxes. The drafting process was smooth and there was no keeping and billing time. I could call and email the attorney and he responded quickly. We paid a flat fee and we got more than we expected. Michael Rinne was caring and competent. When the Trust was completed the attorney also funded all our assets into the Trust and made sure we knew how to handle our bank accounts and other assets going forward. Now our Living Trust is all set up and our banks simply switched our accounts into the name of our Trust. Michael Rinne had prepared the letters to the banks to make this happen smoothly. I am so glad I don't have to think about our Estate Planning any more. Its done :) The entire process was seamless and enjoyable. Before we decided to hire Michael Rinne I had called three other attorneys in the area. Compared to the other attorneys, his fees were about 25% lower than the fees of the other attorneys. I want to strongly recommend Michael Rinne to all you who want to set up a Trust or need other legal advice. read more

I initially contacted Rinne Legal to determine whether filing bankruptcy was the best solution for my 83 year old fathers' financial situation. Since my fathers' particular circumstances were not typical, particularly due to his age, I wanted to speak to a lawyer, not a paralegal or an assistant. From the initial phone call, as well as throughout the entire process, I spoke or communicated, primarily, with Michael Rinne, Esq. This was comforting and reassuring, and Mr. Rinne was,not only, professional, but also, informative and helpful because his responses were sincerely personalized to the particular circumstance unique to my father. Mr. Rinne and/or his staff always answered or responded promptly and as often as I required. The most significant and amazing occurrence, for me, materialized when an unexpected and unanticipated situation occurred with my fathers' health that required a complete alteration in the terms of our initial agreement.. Mr. Rinne was compassionate, understanding, flexible and most importantly, willing to listen to my opinions and concerns, and subsequently agreeable to renegotiating and coming to a mutually accepted conclusion. Prior to this, my experience with lawyers was the complete opposite. It was refreshing to find an individual in business, let alone a lawyer, in this complex, impersonal, computerized world in which we now live, that still has the ability and concern to afford personalized, compassionate treatment. Although dealing with a bankruptcy is difficult, I'm glad that I found and chose Rinne Legal and it was a pleasure dealing with Mr. Rinne and his staff. read more

My wife and I chose Rinne Legal for our bankruptcy after having read about them on the Internet, and at first I was a bit worried whether we were heading down the right path for our situation. Those worries were soon alleviated. We sat down with Michael Rinne and discussed our options, and after filing for Chapter 13, everything went exactly as we were told it was going to. We had access to Michael and several people on his staff on a daily basis, and every single question we had was answered within 24 hours (usually less than that.) The court proceeding was painless as we had an attorney with us every step of the way. We later decided to convert to a Chapter 7, and the transition was problem free. The only problem that did come up was not from Rinne Legal, but from the court; at one point the court's computer system went haywire and sent out incorrect filings in our name. One phone call to Rinne Legal and they quickly corrected that situation as well. As odd as it may seem, filing for bankruptcy (and escaping a mountain of bad mortgage debt) has actually been one of the more pleasant experiences I have had in recent times. Bankruptcy isn't for everyone, but if you are considering it, I would recommend Rinne Legal without question. read more

When I felt I needed to talk to a bankruptcy lawyer due to pending foreclosure problems on 3 homes. I was really stressed about my situtation, . I had spoken to several bankruptcy lawyers prior to finding Rinne Legal, but did not feel they cared about my situation and did not know the current laws concerniing bankruptcy and foreclosure When I had my first meeting with Micheal Rinne, I spent a good hour with him. When I left his office I knew I had found the firm I needed to represent me with my Bankruptcy. Through the entire process the manner in which Micheal talks to you makes you feel very comfortable, even though you are in a diffcult situation. Micheal and his staff showed compassion toward me and my wife making use feel that they do truly care about you and truly are doing everything possible they can to help you in a trying time. All of my questions which there where manner was always answered in a timely and polite manner. I never felt that we where not important to Rinne Legal . Micheal and his staff where great, very knowlegable, and supportive, I would strongly recommend Rinne Legal to anyone who want caring and professional help with Bankruptcy by a professional firm Sincerely John Cunningham read more

When my husband got laid off from his job, we didn't know what to do. We had to pay off our mortgage and our car and the medical bills of our daughter kept coming in on a daily basis. My job pays well, but not enough for all those bills. I was so scared that we wouldn't make it. We then met up with Michael Rinne for a free consultation because we thought that bankruptcy would be an option. I must say, it was the best decision we ever made. He took the time to look at our numbers in detail and asked us a lot of questions. We were scared of the process before we met him and also somewhat ashamed that we had to think about that option. But Michael explained everything thoroughly and showed us how easy it is after all to wipe out your debt. And he did not make us feel like we should be ashamed, it can happen to all of us, job security is just not a given anymore, unfortunately. In a couple weeks we will have our hearing appointment at the court and then our debt will be discharged. We can't wait. Now we just hope that my hubby finds a job again soon. Anyways, Michael and his team were a huge help during the bankruptcy filing process. I would definitely recommend his firm. read more

I would highly recommend Rinne Legal to others considering filing for bankruptcy. Rinne Legal represented my brother through the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy process in 4th quarter 2011. Michael Rinne and his staff were professional, non-judgmental, very patient and quick in answering inquiries (phone, in person and email). Rinne Legal also filled out and submitted all court required forms. Michael Rinne and his team clearly explained the process to both myself and my brother and kept in constant contact during the entire process. The process from first in person meeting with Michael Rinne to the discharge of debt was approximately 5 months. I also would like to share that there was only one in person court appearance required that my brother had to attend in Sacramento. A lawyer from Michael Rinne's office attended the court appearance with my brother and represented him inside the court room. The fee charged by Rinne Legal was a flat fee, there were no surprise add-on charges. Considering the professionalism, clear communication and everything else described above, I would say the fee was appropriate and not excessive. read more

To anyone considering Bankruptcy... Bankruptcy was a very difficult decision for us. We considered ch. 13 and ch 7 for almost 18 months and spoke with 3 other attorneys before meeting the folks at Rinne and making our decision. Our circumstance was particularly complex given our small business, mortgage situation and other sensitive elements. We could not be more relieved and grateful. Not only were the fees equal to, or in 2 cases less than others quoted us, but the Rinne team was the first group to seemingly understand the complexity of our situation and be able to advise us as to the right approach. Things actually turned out better than we had hoped. I feel very fortunate to have met this firm and recommend them with total confidence. They also handle loan modifications but we did not actually hire them for this purpose. I was not asked to provide this testimonial but am very happy to give it. If you are in this situation, I wish you well. This can turn out positively. read more

I had the pleasure of working with Michelle Alido over the course of several months to create and finalize my family trust, and I couldn't be more grateful for their guidance and support throughout the process. From our first meeting, she was approachable, patient, knowledgeable, and truly took the time to understand our family's needs and long-term goals. What stood out most was her ability to explain, understand, her compassion with regards complex legal concepts in a clear and relatable way. Trusts and estate planning can feel overwhelming, but Michelle made the experience manageable and even empowering. Every question we had was answered with patience and professionalism, and she always made us feel that our peace of mind was the top priority. Thanks to Michelle and Atty. Rinne, we now have a trust in place that gives our family confidence and security for the future. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a trustworthy and dedicated attorney in this area. read more

My experience with Rinne Legal was EXCELLENT. I'm really surprised to see any bad reviews of this firm. They were professional, efficient, affordable, knowledgeable, and able to handle anything that came their way. In fact, I visited nine attorneys (yes, that's right - nine!) and only Michael Rinne was able to intelligently discuss my unique situation and satisfy my concerns. He took my case when others hesitated to do so. My bankruptcy was complicated but Rinne Legal made the process easy and so much less stressful than it could have been. The Rinne Legal staff members who handled different aspects of the case were knowledgeable and responsive. I was especially happy that at any time of day I could send an email and would receive a quick and helpful response. I enthusiastically recommend Rinne Legal!! read more

I went to Rinne Legal to get a consultation because I thought about filing bankruptcy. The office in Walnut Creek was not so easy to find because there was no front desk person on the first floor and I did not remember to write down on which floor there are on. I finally figured out how to work the touch screen directory and went up to the 8th floor. The consultation was free and it took about 30 minutes. The attorney was very helpful. He answered all my questions and when I had additional questions afterwards I could email him or call the office and he got right back to me. Their entire staff is very competent and makes sure that the bankruptcy filing process is easy to understand (it is actually so much easier than I thought, thank God). I am glad I signed up with them. read more

I highly recommend Michael Rinne as a lawyer in Bankruptcy Law. He and his staff are extremely professional, genuinely honest and exceedingly skilled in this field. We ran up against a few protests from the Court Trustee. Michael and staff immediately did some additional investigation and came up with ideal solutions and arguments that were so thorough that the Court Trustee dropped the objections and approved the bankruptcy plan. They were attentive to the details and worked diligently to make this a smooth process for me. I encourage you to use Michael if you are in need of an efficient, qualified and supportive Bankruptcy Lawyer. He is worth your effort and time. He and his staff do all they can to make this process work best for you. read more

One great thing I truly appreciate in an attorney is honesty. Maybe that's hard to find in many cases. Michael was straight forward from the beginning about what I could or could not do. Extremely thorough with everything. Enessa deserves a very special shout out for many hours of tedious work and I know I wasn't her only case! Every time wrote to her with a question she responded immediately as if she had the time, and I know she didn't. Ron, thanks for wrapping things up and making us feel comfortable. Maybe I'll never need another attorney, but probably I will. A least I know that Michael and Enessa are there. Thanks guys read more

I would like to thank Michael Rinne, Rinne Legal, for his excellent service, partnership and representation in assuring a compliant and successful completion of my Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. Michael maintained ongoing communication, direction follow through and a timely response rate. The office atmosphere and staff are professional, confident and very responsive. Due to a financial and stressful hardship including loss of employment, I had a full plate of important responsibilities to take on in a short amount of time. Thank you, Rinne Legal, for assuring a successful resolution. Sincerely, Ileana Meraz read more

My bankruptcy got discharged today. Yaaaaay! Although I was skeptical about hiring an attorney at the beginning, I am sooooooo glad I went with Michael Rinne. My papers were somewhat disorganized, but they organized it all for me and did my entire bankruptcy petition. The staff and the attorneys are all supernice and whenever I had a question, I could call or email them. They helped me keep my house which was very important to me and my family. Now my debt is gone and I can start over. I feel so relieved! Anyways, he is a good guy, if you think of filing bankruptcy, he's the one you're looking for. read more

I recently worked with Michael to establish a living trust, and I couldn't be more pleased with the experience. His expertise in estate planning was evident from our first meeting. Michael took the time to understand our specific needs and provided clear, insightful advice on how to best structure our trust. He was patient in answering all our questions, ensuring we were comfortable with every aspect of the process. Jezel is excellent! Micheal is leading a highly efficient team. His professionalism and empathy made us feel confident and at ease throughout. read more

Kind of agree with the first review as far as communication goes. all in all my experience wasnt to bad but wasnt to great either. Just ok I would say. We too were met with someone we had know Idea who they were at our court day. Also had no follow up or never heard from them after the court hearing. Although we did call and email after and did get answers to our questions. I just think that for the money we paid our service should have been a lot better as well as more attention. But in the end it worked for us just not over satisfied. read more

Michael Rinne delivered MORE than I expected. I was impressed with his attention to detail and that of his associates. Everything went smooth at bankruptcy court. I had always paid my bills all my life but was caught up in the economic fiasco of the last few years--laid off from my job and underwater with my mortgage. He helped save my retirement and wipe out my debt. It's an unfortunate circumstance to have to declare bankruptcy but Rinne Legal made sure I came out OK. Would recommend him to anyone no question. read more

When my wage was garnished I looked for the best BK lawyer on line. There I found Michael Rinne. At first, I was hesitant to file BK because my salary is high. Michael answered all my questions and explained to me in detail the pros and cons of filing BK. 3 mos after filing I was discharged from all my debts. and I am ready to start anew. Thanks Michael and your Rinne Legal Team for the job well done. I will absolutely refer you to my friends and family. Fernando of Fairfield read more

Michael Rinne and his team at Rinne Legal are fantastic. They handled my Chapter 7 case professionally and punctually. They took a lot of extra time to address my questions and explain the process. The whole process ran very smoothly thanks to the expertise of Michael Rinne. I felt very supported and informed about each step. I would highly recommend this law firm, and most specifically, Michael Rinne for excellent legal representation in bankruptcy! read more