Carlos Mariano Lastra’s Reviews

Mr. Lastra truly is a "super lawyer!" He successfully navigated me through the most difficult and challenging year of my life. His expert legal advice came in handy at certain phases of the process, especially when my ex blind-sided me and abruptly deserted me and moved to California. Her intent to establish residency there, and pursue lifetime alimony, was squashed by him. He and his legal team then prepared me for mediation, and if necessary, divorce court. Opposing counsel delayed the separation agreement process for seven months, much to my dismay. In the end, our divorce was settled in mediation, thanks largely to Carlos Lastra. I owe him a lot, and I would highly recommend him to clients in need.

I choose Mr. Lastra because of his reputation in being a skilled and well-respected lawyer. My divorce case was unique and he was able to offer me the best options in moving forward. Once my complaint was filed, Mr. Lastra and his assistants pretty much took care of the legal proceedings and brought a smooth closure to my case. Yes, my case did end up in a trail. Mr. Lastra’s performance before the Judge was superb. He was well prepared and organized; most importantly, he conveyed the right message and presented the judge with the best pieces of evidence in winning my case. I found Mr. Lastra’s advices realistic. Because he was transparent in communicating his roles and responsibilities, I was able to trust him in handling my case. I would definitely recommend Mr. Lastra for his expertise in Family Law and for being an eloquent trail lawyer.

I required the services of a top-notch lawyer for what became an ugly divorce. I had wasted $1000's on another attorney who produced zero results. After an exhaustive search, I called Carlos Lastra. Reviews suggested that in Mr. Lastra, I would find someone ethical, focused, strategic, honest, hard-working and successful—qualities I sought. I was, however, a tad skeptical he could live up to the accolades bestowed upon him. After our initial consultation, I felt confident he would meet my expectations. But over the course of working with him, I learned he was so much more than what I had hoped for.
One review stated Mr. Lastra anticipated the opponent’s “next moves.” This was significant to me since I had failed to recognize the behavior of a spouse who’d been deceptive, clandestine, abusive, devious and spiteful. While Mr. Lastra was spot-on in predictions of action and assessment of motives, he never engaged in name-calling, pettiness or denigration.
My former spouse was pro se, so I witnessed his interaction with Mr. Lastra, who was polite and deferential while uncompromising in the protection of his client. His respect for others was most evident in the courthouse where everyone from judges to security officers greeted him with warm, positive regard. Clearly, he has earned the respect of the court.
Having worked with many lawyers over the years, I can easily state Mr. Lastra is among the best. His knowledge of the law is beyond reproach; his judgment sound and strategic. I could always trust him to make smart decisions. At the same time, he consistently sought my input and kept me well-informed. He listened to my concerns and opinions, taking into account what I had to say before making his recommendations. Yet, when I deferred to his judgment, I was never disappointed.
In addition to being highly professional, Mr. Lastra proved to be a sensitive, compassionate and sympathetic advocate for my children and me. In times of distress, he provided the balance of support and conviction I needed to move confidently forward. When engaged in a “legal campaign,” I know it’s most important to achieve one’s goals. For me, however, the relationship with my attorney matters nearly as much. I wouldn't want to be represented by someone who knew every detail of the law but did not actually care about the people he was defending. In my case, protecting my two minor children was more important to me than anything in the world. Knowing that Mr. Lastra truly cared about my children’s safety, well-being and future meant more to me than successful negotiations or motions to compel.
Legal representation is costly, no question. The issue is whether the representation is worth the cost. In this regard, Mr. Lastra was worth every penny. I am by no means wealthy. In fact, for the first time in my life, I have been unemployed for over a year. Mr. Lastra was up-front with me from the start regarding costs. He explained my “worst-case scenario”—as well as how we would avoid “going there.” He promised to be efficient with time and resources, assigning some tasks to colleagues to lower my fees. Mr. Lastra was sensitive to my financial status but never let my limited resources get in the way of his doing a first-rate job. He saved me money when possible and was agreeable to working out a financial arrangement manageable for me.
Finally, I want to say that Mr. Lastra has a wonderful sense of humor—essential when going through a painful event. He made me laugh while expressing compassion and concern. He made me feel that “everything was going to be fine.” For my on-going legal needs, there is no doubt whom I will choose. I recommend Carlos Lastra without hesitation, for I know, from experience, that the family who retains his firm will be a happy one. And there is nothing more perfect in life than a happy family. Thank you, Mr. Lastra.
If only we could vet prospective spouses the way we can legal services!

Carlos Lastra was highly recommended to me by a friend. I was fortunate to have a friend who could give me a recommendation for such a competent attorney. My situation revolved around domestic abuse in several states, which complicated my case. Mr. Lastra's knowledge provided me with a solid position regarding jurisdiction. He anticipated the opposition I might have encountered and developed a strategy to block it quickly and effectively. In court he competently presented my position because he was fully prepared and well organized. He explained his charges clearly and described some actions he took to minimize my costs. During my meetings with him, I felt he always focused on what was best for me during and after the divorce. Mr. Lastra is an attorney with a good heart and a good mind. Having worked for attorneys, I recognized Mr. Lastra's skill, organization and integrity. I recommend him without reservation to anyone needing a family law attorney.

If you are in need of an attorney specializing in family law, hire Carlos Lastra. You won’t be disappointed. I had an unusual case that had the potential to be complicated. Carlos Lastra made sure I was fully prepared and confident by the time we walked in the courtroom. I could not be happier with his services, and I was thrilled to have him on my side.

Mr Lastra represented me in a divorce case that went for mediation. He kept me informed and was professional throughout. He was knowledgable and well prepared. teaming up with another attorney in that firm ,Heather Sweren! I could not have asked for a better representation. I highly recommend him.

Carlos is an excellent attorney. He was the second attorney that handled my child support hearing and he handled it 10x better than the predecessor attorney. He is extremely professional, very candid and does not give you any false hopes. He was easy to get in touch with, he responded within 24 hours and most of the time he responded the same day. I highly recommend him.

This is the best lawyer I have ever seen. He knew how to persuade the judge sucessfully and pointed out incorrect things and abusive power things that the Master did to me. I highly recommend Mr. Lastra and his associate, Ms. Kristina Baladian, is a great team.

Carlos Lastra is an excellent lawyer. He is highly skilled and has a detailed understanding of the law. His devotion to his work and his compassion were a comfort as I struggled through the most difficult 6 months of my life. I recommend Carlos Lastra to anyone facing a custody or divorce trial.

I started the separation and divorce process by interviewing various attorneys and mediators. During my initial consultation with Carlos Lastra, it was clear that he had a brilliant mind and my first impression of the other attorneys became much less favorable.

Carlos was extremely supportive for the duration of the divorce. He is a true professional who knows the law and leads his clients with honesty during the ebb and flow of the emotional and financial roller coaster.

Although my case did not go to court, I knew that Carlos was willing to fight for me and was prepared to go before a judge if necessary.

Mr. Lastra was sympathetic to my need to be kept informed. He is dedicated, thorough, willing to work to overcome obstacles, and a good choice for a divorce attorney.

Mr. Lastra’s firm was recommended to me by my sister’s boss. What was strange about the recommendation was that his ex wife had used the firm for their divorce and he stated that they got him good. I started receiving confusing correspondence and mixed messages from my ex husband who had just returned state side to Arizona after being stationed in Korea for over a year. I decided to call the firm and was seen the very day I called by Mr. Lastra who had a cancelation. Mr. Lastra advised me during our initial consultation that I will need to file within the next 90 days in the state of MD because he had a feeling that my ex would claim residency in AZ and have jurisdiction there. Although my ex and I were going through a divorce I never thought he would try to be devious, how wrong I was.

I decided to appoint Mr. Lastra as my attorney as my ex husband wanted to do a self divorce and started to undermine me. We were working on doing a simple, non contested divorce...so I thought. After consulting with Mr. Lastra and to my surprise he was always two steps ahead of my ex-husband and somehow knew what course of actions my ex was scheming to take, even though I thought I knew my ex as we had been together over 20 years. I was impressed with his expertise on how well Mr. Lastra knew what the reaction of the other party was going to be, not only did he forewarn me, he was ready to retaliate.

I found out shortly after I hired Mr Lastra that he is bilingual in Spanish. He and I were able to both use our bilingual skills when speaking to one another while my ex-husband and or his attorney were present, that was a plus because we didn’t have to leave the area we were in.

I highly recommend Mr. Lastra as he was very informative, professional, understanding and respondent during one of the most life changing experience one would have to go through.

Mr Lastra is a very fine, honest and trustworthy lawyer. He was the third attorney that handled my divorce and was able to finalize it. It took about 4 years and I thought it will never end! Mr. Lastra was finally able to bring it to a close. He is extremely professional and courteous. He does not give you any false illusions. He lets you know ahead of time what your rights are, what he can do for you and what he cannot. He is very knowledgeable of the law and prepares the case extremely well. If you need to contact him, he is easily accessible and returns your calls in a timely manner.You feel very safe that he is representing you. My divorce was a very frustrating experience due to the unreasonableness of my x husband. However i enjoyed tremendously working with Mr. Lastra due to his fine personality, integrity and sense of humor. I highly recommend Carlos Lastra.

Mr. Lastra is an outstanding attorney. Preparation, attention to detail, and due diligence are his hallmarks. Extremely knowledgeable and professional, he is one of the best lawyers I have ever seen. His ethics, integrity, and respect for the legal system are above reproach. His case experinence and street smarts make him formidable in the courtroom. He has my complete confidence and trust.

I was recommended by another attorney to contact Mr. Lastra to represent me in my divorce/custody case because he was the best in this field of law. My First contact with Mr. Lastra was professional and he reassured me that he would handle my case by being well prepared and with dedication. I experienced respect, knowledge, and professionalism when I was in the presence of Mr. Lastra. He kept me well informed throughout the case and I felt that I was going to get a fair and honest judgement.

The Panther!

Carlos Lastra is like the elegant black panther. He quietly stalks and then ambushes his prey finally delivering a fatal bite to the brain.

My first contact with Mr. Lastra was when I realized I was getting divorced. I came into the process understanding very little about it, and scared of what lay ahead. Mr. Lastra quickly gave me the confidence I needed to do what was required. His professionalism, hard work and attention to detail was just what was needed to achieve the results I wanted. I don’t know if my case was the “norm” or more difficult or not, but Mr. Lastra handled each new complicated situation quickly and accurately. Mr. Lastra never lost his composure, even when threatened by my spouse directly.

For several years after, we were forced to go to court to get my ex spouse to comply with court orders. In the courtroom, Mr. Lastra was able to creatively question my ex spouse to catch fabrications, and argued my case thoughtfully and carefully in front of judges and Masters. Each time, Mr. Lastra prevailed and accomplished the results essential for my future.

Many years later, I find myself turning to Mr. Lastra once again to get my ex spouse to comply with court orders. Even though I am not looking forward to going to court once more, I am sure that once again, we will work as a team to accomplish our goal.

Mr. Lastra explains what is reasonable and what to expect, and fights for your rights. When it comes to protecting your future, Mr. Lastra is the lawyer to have in your corner!

Carlos Lastra did an excellent job representing me through my divorce and child custody case. This was a very difficult time for me and Mr Lastra did an excellent job in keeping me calm during the very emotional process. The results I got were very good and I would highly recommend him to anyone.

On January 20, 2011, I attended a court proceeding at Maryland District Court in Silver Spring, Maryland. I was impressed with the way Mr. Carlos M. Lastro, attorney for the plaintiff, approached the case in court. His courtroom demeanor and professionalism was impeccable. Mr. Lastro gathered and presented lots of information and evidence in which to make informed decisions. He approached the defendant and the defendant’s witness in such a quiet, professional, and respectful way that brought out the truth in this case. It was clear to me, as part of the audience, that the client benefitted from Mr. Lastro’s good, honest, and loyal advice. To that end, he proved his case very early in the proceedings. Therefore, I would highly recommend him for future cases involving child domestic issues such as custody and divorce.

Mr. Lastra is professional at all times. He prepares you for any and all aspects of your case. He is highly prepared both in the office and the court. He will fight for your rights. Cross-examines witnessess well and will support you with well thought-out arguements in front of the judge.

Last year I went through a very difficult situation with the loss of my wife then my child and Carlos was there to assist me. As the case started becoming more difficult, the opposing party and attorneys tried their best to double cross and insult me. Mr. Lastra displayed extreme professionalism, even when the opposing party became rude and obnoxious during a deposition. Carlos is very experienced, skilled, well mannered and he definitely took control of the court proceedings with confidence. He is also well connected with other great members of the legal community who also helped with my case. I must also include that Carlos kept me informed throughout the course of my case and was readily available after work hours. I definitely vouch for Carlos!!! He is an amazing lawyer and knows what he does!

Add an extra star to those 5. After consulting with 5 previous attorneys over several years, Mr. Lastra proved to be respectable, knowledgeable, experienced, and well prepared. Unlike my previous attorneys, his performance in court highlighted previous and continuing extortive efforts against me. Intimidatory actions by the opposing party did not dissuade him from pursuing justice in the most respectable of ways regarding a Petition for Contempt. As his fees were more than my previous attorneys I had to make the tough decision to pursue the case at the expense of trading college funds for a child. Those of you who are going through the mental and financial abuse of an "unreasonable" ex spouse know the importance of achieving justice. I just wish I knew of Mr. Lastra from the beginning. Now you're the lucky one because you know of him too. Thank you Mr. Lastra!!! .... I tip my hat to you.

The following are additional characteristics of Mr. Lastra and his service:
- comprehensive legal advice,
- strategic approach,
- caring and friendly attitude,
- high quality service.
Mr. Lastra is a brilliant attorney who I highly recommend.

I had Mr. Lastra for my domestic violence case he was well prepared and ready for my case he fully represented me. Now I have engaged him for my divorce proceedings.

Carlos Lastra

Carlos was referred to me by a good friend, in what has been a very difficult and contentious beginning of a divorce between my wife and me . Carlos and his staff are outstanding. They are totally dedicated to my case and were willing to work all hours of the day and night to ensure the best possible outcome. He is experienced, skillful and extremely well connected within the legal community . Carlos’ experience shined in the court room where he took control of the entire proceedings
Bottom line, he gets the job done.

Carlos and his staff are always professional ,personable and understanding of my needs. He thoroughly comprehends the law and the court system. He got the best results for me and was ALWAYS available when I needed to reach him. It was a quality I truly appreciated!!!!

I would like to thank him for the great job he did in moving towards getting my case finalized. His professionalism is greatly appreciated. Please be assured that I would recommended Carlos to my friends, family and associates.

Mr. Lastra is professional and informed. He remained goal-focused and didn't let extraneous items distract the matters at hand. Mr. Lastra gave fair, reasonable, and sound advice - all the while remaining kind and supportive.
I would highly recommend him for family law matters.

I came to Carlos through a referral. I needed some help on how to deal with a 14 yr on again/ off again court battles with my ex. The current situation was complete bogus but yet extreme allegations against myself. Worried, confused, hurt, scared and tired I walked into his office expecting yet again... B.S. Within 30 mins. I felt confident I had put my troubles into helping hands. After going through the legalities of my situation, we then moved onto possible options and their scenarios. I have dealt with far too many attorneys over my years and I was so impressed & satisfied I had come across a truly educated gentleman of the law!!! I came out of my bogus yet extreme situation with not only my lawyer believing in me and the courts, but finally believing in my own strength. THANK YOU, CARLOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had Mr. Lastra assist me with many several matters re: divorce,spousal support ,children issues and uncooperating litigants. He is available,efficient,thorough,and well prepared.He offers the client a complete understanding of all aspects of the matter at hand and is professionally well versed in tackling the diverse nature of an individual case.I have comfortably recomended him and will continue to have hm act on my behalf on other legal matters.

My husband and I retained Mr. Lastra to help us keep our family together. He was very informative about what rights we had and helped me make a very tough legal decision that resulted so far in our favor. His fees were reasonable and well worth my son celebrating his first Christmas with both his parents. We are very thankful to his kindness and dedication to our family and would recommend his service to anyone.

Mr. Lastra developed an early stratedy for summary disposition of the litigation and then carried it out with a clear understanding of the issues and the applicable law. He kept me well informed as to the plan and his court room presentation was clear and concise resulting in an early disposition in my favor. I highly recommend him as a family lawyer attorney.

Carlos did an excellent job on my divorce and was professional and courteous at all times. Also, his fees were reasonable. Great attorney.

Mr. Lastra was assigned my case about 48 hours prior to taking my husband's deposition. I was very nervous, but his confident (but not cocky) manner rapidly gained my trust and respect. He was prepared for the deposition and did an excellent job of securing the information required.

Something that I particularly appreciated was that he frequently told me WHY he was going to pursue a particular line of questioning. That knowledge made it easier for me to stay more focused (and less emotional), taking notes for more in-depth questioning later in the session. He shared strategies with me when appropriate so that I had a more complete overview and therefore understood what he/we were trying to accomplish.

He was also sure to share why he was handling things a certain way, again making me more comfortable with the process.

I felt that my input was appreciated and that I was on a team with Mr. Lastra and the rest of the firm advocating on my behalf.

Mr. Lastra was very aware of how difficult the process was for me emotinoally, and he went out of his way to call for a break when necessary. He is exceptionally approachable and has a good sense of humor that made an ugly situation more palatable.

He patiently and thoroughly answered questions about the process, often alleviating my significant anxiety.

Mr. Lastra told me what was reasonable and expected when negotiating a settlement. He advised me as to the pros and cons of my case going to trial (vs. reaching an agreement through mediation).

Based on my experience, I highly recommend Mr. Lastra as a divorce attorney.

Mr. Lastra joined my team of attorneys in the middle of my divorce because of his extensive knowledge and experience with domestic violence and protective orders as they relate to divorce. He was extremely responsive to my needs and exceeded my expectations in both his work and the outcome. Once we got to court, it was obvious to everyone he was the smartest guy in the room. My spouse, opposing counsel and the judge quickly realized he was on top of everything, and their dirty tricks were not going to succeed. The outcome was favorable even beyond my attorneys' expectations.

Even after we won and avoided further litigation, Mr. Lastra went the extra yards to gather more evidence to use in the future to prove my spouse has no credibility and help prove our side of the story.

Mr. Lastra is a member of the best family law firm in Montgomery County because he is one of the best family law attorneys in the county.

Mr. Lastra provided excellent counsel and guidance over the course of 2 difficult years. In the protracted process of separation and divorce, he consistently provided accommodating and thoughtful service with respect to my busy work schedule. Based on my experience, I highly recommend Mr. Lastra for reliable, fair, and consistent counsel.

If you're reading this, it's because you are, unfortunately, in need of an attorney for a family matter, most likely divorce. Therefore, I'll try to be a little more comprehensive than, "He's great, blah blah blah, got me what I wanted, blah blah blah, I would recommend him."

Mr. Lastra helped me through my divorce case, and will be helping me with my custody case. My case became complex and unpredictable as my spouse spiraled out of control. Although her attorney did his best to harass, insult, threaten, double crosss and play underhanded tricks on myself and Mr. Lastra, Mr. Lastra represented the pinnacle of professionalism, even when the opposing counsel actually stooped to name-calling during a deposition. I was duly impressed. Mr. Lastra maintained his composure and continued his line of questioning until as much of the contradictory information and outright fabrications were drawn out of my spouse as could be expected - even as she alternately feigned haughtiness, tiredness and crying until she finally (and genuinely) cracked. He never presented an aggressive manner or confrontational tone, although in this particular case the plot is thicker than "War and Peace" and more confusing and bizarre than "Naked Lunch." The only time Mr. Lastra showed any signs of aggression was when my spouse's attorney threatened me with physical violence in the lobby of the court. Mr. Lastra immediately jumped in and shut the other attorney down with a few choice (yet still appropriate) words.

Mr. Lastra is an ideal attorney for those genuinely wronged in a family matter. If you're looking for someone to cover up your indiscretions or twist your own wrong-doings, then he's not the attorney for you (I would rtecommend my spouse's attorney for that - and then I would respectfully request that you simply take responsibility for your actions and not attempt to wreak any further emotional or financial damage - you've done enough, now go away); however, if you need an intelligent, honest and ruthlessly professional attorney, I would highly recommend Mr. Lastra.

I worked with Mr. Lastra in a contested child custody case that went to trial. He was unfailingly professional, prepared, and -most unusually- available. His careful work, especially in a series of masterful depositions, helped methodically lay out the facts in our case and ferret out a series of lies. The careful presentation of these facts at trial then lead to positive decision that was beyond what we had, in our conservative estimate, sought.
I found Mr. Lastra to be a great partner during what was a very difficult time; I have recommended him to several friends who have also reported excellent experiences and results. A great attorney.

Mr Lastra has helped me get through a process of divorce, child care and custody and alimony with wonderful results. He is thorough, caring and does his best for the client.
I have had favaorable outcomes in my case each step of the way due to his work. He has seen to it that my children have been protected and helped through the process also. He made child support possible. I recommend him highly and without reservations. A good lawyer, along with his firm to have on your side in family law matters.

Carlos Lastra recently handled my custody and divorce case. I feel that I am lucky to have him on my side. His knowledge of the law and of my case, attention to detail, preparedness, hard work and presence in the courtroom easily won the case for me. I am impressed by his excellent professionalism and ethical standards he constantly displays. Overall, his conduct and achievement put him in a category well above the lawyers I had hired before and above the ones working on behalf of the opposing party. I highly recommend him. He will not let you down.

This lawyer had helped me to close my divorce case, helped me in reversing the damaged issues that I got from the previous inexperience lawyer. I highly recommend this lawyer for any of your divorce case.