IF YOU ARE TRYING TO LEAVE AN ABUSIVE, TOXIC MARRIAGE - YOU NEED MARLEENA BROEKEMA FROM MEREL…read moreFAMILY LAW. Choosing a law firm during the most harrowing chapter of my life was a daunting task, but a colleague mentioned her best friend had a great experience with Marleena Broekema from Merel Family Law so I thought I would at least start there. I was so scared to reach out at first, but finally emailing Marlee and setting up that first meeting was a huge turning point for me and my children's safety and future. Marlee is a phenomenal advocate who fought for us with a rare combination of legal brilliance, unwavering tenacity, and sincere compassion. I didn't quite know what to expect in a lawyer, but I certainly didn't expect someone so warm and kind and supportive. It did not matter what my ex-husband tried to throw at us, she was always confidently two steps ahead. She didn't just handle my case; she carried the weight of it with me, fearlessly ensuring I felt seen and protected every step of the way. What sets Marlee and this entire firm apart is their holistic, trauma-informed approach. In addition to working with Marlee, working with their divorce coach, Kristina Lindsey, was instrumental in my healing and survival as I was leaving a very unsafe and toxic marriage. The safety planning we conducted was paramount, providing me with the practical tools and emotional fortitude needed to navigate such a high-stakes transition. To any woman feeling trapped or overwhelmed by the complexities of an abusive marriage: this firm truly understands the nuances and fears of your struggle. They provide more than just legal representation; they provide a pathway to freedom. I am now living a life of peace and safety with my children, and I owe a profound debt of gratitude to Marlee and Kristina for their expertise and compassion.

Aurelija Fitzpatrick - Melanie Caspi (opposing) & Russell Knight (mine - What a Mistake) on the…read moreflight to a "legal conference" in London chose Ms. Fitzpatrick to be a GAL/Child Rep. Run and I mean Run; don't walk. Had No Plan; except a vague reference to Reunification Therapy - sounds like a disease. Can't quotes a timeline or cost estimate. But can present a $10K bill in eight months. You can try dismissing these people, but they're "appointed" by the court; You have a Vampire on Your Neck - Not hyperbole. Have not seen or spoke with my Daughter in Two Years. I have to pay Ms. Fitzpatrick for her "process". Last time I checked, that's Extortion & Kidnapping. Let me be clear; Fitzpatrick is the last person I want near or involved with my Child. Makes my skin crawl.

I can't say enough good things about Anne Chestney Mudd. A brilliant mind with a delightful…read morepersonality. She is easy to talk to, with a warm and thoughtful approach. There were times I might not have agreed with her, but on reflection she was being objective, fair, and correct in her assessment of the right way to proceed. I guess that's what you'd call integrity.

Terrible experience. As mentioned on a previous review, over priced and poor performance. I felt…read morealone in the battle, and was left financially wiped out. Definitely do ask for prices for emails and phone calls. Any minimal contact will be charged. This is not the type of lawyer that looks out for your best interest. She did not seemed experienced nor showed the interest to help. Her advice put me at financial loss when I could have settled for a fair agreement on an offer. My case prolonged for over a year when it could have ended within months. At the end, I paid her what I could have earned on the initial offer I was given.

Ms Rivero responded to my request within 2 hours. I was very appreciative. My case is time…read moresensitive and found attorney to help me prior to her call back. So I had to go with another attorney. But I thought it was important to send a review. Thank you.

Theresa (at Trinity Family Law) is an amazing person, healer, and collaborative divorce lawyer…read more Don't confuse collaborative divorce with mediation -- they are different animals. Above and beyond her skills in the collaborative process, she cares deeply for her clients and is good at figuring out any underlying issues of what might be going on. I felt as comfortable as could be with a difficult process, divorcing a husband who was in denial and didn't want a divorce at all. Theresa supported me beautifully and led us through the process smoothly.

Theresa Kulat and her team helped me and my kids make the divorce a manageable and reasonable…read moreendeavor. Initially. We did mediation and hired a financial guy as well. We followed through but I wish I'd just hired Theresa from the outset- feel free to learn from my experience. She and Trinity succeeded in several key areas where many others did not: communication, explanation , flexibility, billing. Theresa has a paralegal and an assistant and no email or call ever went unanswered. Most responses were same day or within 24 hours. Every time I needed something explained and reexplained they ALWAYS did so with patience and professionalism and would write it down for me. Theresa and Tribity were willing to work with our mediator but still complete the other portions of the divorce, which many attorneys won't do. Trinity has a monthly billing review which is automatically sent and you always see the hourly billing and rates and they take multiple forms of payment. Very transparent. So professional. Believe me, many attorneys and mediators aren't so organized. In my divorce there were many bumps in the road and problems and it drew out for a long time. Theresa and her whole team were very humane to me and were sometimes the only bright spot in the process- they were people to rely on and I hope if you're in the same boat as me an my kids were that you find the same respite in Theresa Kulat and Trinity.

I had a good amount of battles in family court and worked with multiple attorneys. When lmet Peggy…read moreM. Raddatz, it was clear she was the right choice. She is principled, caring, and handles business with a firm fist. She fought for me in my last three cases, and we came out victorious. lt's notjust about winning or losing; it's about what's best for the child. And that's what Peggy delivers. I'm so grateful, thank you.

I found Peggy after googling and reading about 100+ reviews. She was very helpful in making…read moreeverything very straightforward and simple. Many times I wanted to put super specific language in there to address potential fears of mine but 99% of the time, they were items that weren't enforceable, were already covered by law, or were things she encouraged I keep a more open mind about. She spends a ton of time in the courtroom, is familiar with all the Cook County judges, and has decades of experience so I appreciated how black and white she made things. Peggy is very direct and concise. In our initial interview, she cut me off a time or two because I was apparently talking more than listening. At first, I was turned off by it (even though it was true lol) but I immediately saw it as an advantage with opposing counsel and I was 100% correct about that. If you're a person who likes control or is long-winded and isn't used to constructive feedback, consider this an opportunity to work on that because I actually quickly grew out of the experience. She has only 100% of your best interest at heart and I could tell that during the interview. She was also very personable, and I really appreciated how well she could relate to my situation. We had several really good discussions not only as attorney/client but also as single parents; she's further ahead in this process than me and really opened my eyes in a few areas (*cough* giving them mobile phones when they get older *cough*). As a techie, I was looking for more digital redlining, PDF editing etc but we did most everything via email modifications. It ended up being ok and made it super easy for me to search for emails with any changes that were made. She's always available via text but please don't misuse that or else she'd never have time to get things done; she (or her paralegal) is super responsive via email as well. Cost-wise, pay the flat fee upfront and you will save $10K minimum easily and my situation was pretty straightforward and easy in comparison to most people. I had a great experience and outcome in my divorce proceedings and would recommend Peggy to handle things.

I first spoke to Bryan Reed and he was so kind, helpful, professional, and encouraging. He knew my…read moresituation was challenging but informed me I will feel empowered and strong by the time my divorce is finalized. I did use his associate, Michelle Cassidy. She was more around my price range and was an excellent attorney. She made an ugly divorce that seemed so scary for me to face, to such an easy and comforting divorce each step of the way. She helped me feel empowered throughout the process. She is very knowledgable, professional, and firm when need to be. She is such a great listener and explains all my options clearly so i can make the best decisions. If you want the BEST Family Law Attorney, Michelle Cassidy should be it. She responds quickly to all of my emails and phone calls. She is an amazing attorney!

From the owner: Reed, Centracchio & Associates, LLC is a forward-thinking, full-service family law firm, that…read moremaintains in Chicago, Hinsdale, and abroad, a reputation for solid client representation. In today's global economy where jobs, education, and travel take people to other states or far away countries, the challenges families face are more complex than ever. Not content to be like other firms, RCA attorneys distinguish themselves by providing unsurpassed customer service and by delivering it throughout the greater Chicago area and on an as-needed basis through its affiliated offices in France (Lyon) and Italy (Rome and Milan).

Quite honestly, there are not enough words powerful to express how much John Ferrentino has helped…read moremy husband and I. He has represented us on multiple cases from criminal cases to real estate closings, etc. He is always there for any questions we have. He has saved us so much time and money over the last 3 years. I can assure anyone that these cases and files would not have turned out as well as they did had we not had John representing us. We have grown and learned so much since having Ferrentino in our lives. We literally would not be where we are today, nor on the track to the wonderful life ahead of us, had we not found John. Thank you for all that you have done and will do for us. You'd be nuts not to go with Ferrentino, Donis & Associates, LLC.

Had a legal issue with a rental property, due to Covid Supply Chain Shortages & Michael represented…read moreour family. He was extremely professional, responsive and accessible. He was patient in dealing with both myself and my wife. Through Michael's counsel, not only were we able to dismiss litigation, but ultimately saved more than bargained for! We would strongly recommend Michael without any reservations for all of your legal needs!

Lawrence Ryan investigators is a good firm. They have competent employees. Pricing seems is…read morereasonable. I hired them, but they were not successful in serving court papers due to circumstances beyond everyone's control.

Very shady! Brad seemed very knowledgeable about what I needed and eager to help. We had a couple…read moreof conversations to work out the details. He went away for family business over thanksgiving. I contacted him the Monday after and he told me he'd contact me the following day. Never heard from him again. No return phone calls. No return emails. Nothing! Since the posting of my ONE STAR review on Thumbtack, Larry Ryan negated my review saying I'm not credible and never a client. You're right I wasn't a client because Brad blew me off! Your office staff blew me off! Larry Ryan why don't you ask Brad to forward the November email and the email after I left my ONE STAR review for your firm that he sent me. He blamed your office office staff for not contacting me. The only contacted active clients and not new or prospective clients. Too bad for you. I had a big job and gave it to someone else. There was pending litigation on behalf of my autistic son. The urgency of my requested was expressly communicated to Brad Weaver in our November phone conversation. Your firms lack of response and communication about Brad's personal issues hindered the progression of my case and pushed it back an additional two months. Communication was all I needed, and I couldn't get that. Maybe instead of lying about a bad review, man up and be accountable for your unprofessional office staff. Word of advice: Look elsewhere for a REPUTABLE private investigator!