Beatrice Encalada Mayol

I would not recommend this attorney based on my experience. Communication was extremely poor. There were times when my calls and messages went unanswered for days, and at one point I received no response for nearly four weeks. During my husband's ongoing custody case, the attorney went on vacation... multiple times without informing us, leaving us unaware of her availability. We were rarely updated about court appearances or the status of the case. When hearings were adjourned, I was not told they had been postponed or informed of the new court dates. I often had to chase down basic information that should have been communicated proactively. I also felt there was very little strategic guidance. Instead of discussing a plan for trial or advising us on what evidence and arguments would be most effective, I had to repeatedly ask what we should be doing. I expected my attorney to help prepare us for court, but I often felt like I was navigating the case on my own. Before trial, I submitted numerous pieces of evidence that I believed were important to our case, but I was disappointed that much of it was never presented to the court. I also felt unprepared for trial, and the experience left me feeling blindsided. One of my biggest frustrations was that my attorney never thoroughly reviewed all of my divorce documents with us or explained how they could affect the custody case. Instead of helping us understand our legal position and possible options, I often felt discouraged and was repeatedly told that we had no rights because of prior agreements, without receiving a detailed explanation of potential legal strategies. The lack of communication ultimately continued until my new attorney sent the paperwork requesting to be substituted as counsel. Only then did I receive a response. A custody case involving children is one of the most important legal matters a family can face. I expected clear communication, preparation, guidance, and advocacy throughout the process. Unfortunately, that was not my experience.