Joseph Harris Nivin

FROM CONSULTATION THROUGH TO THE END OF MY CASE, MR. NIVIN PERFORMED HIS JOB IN THE MOST PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL MANNER. HE WAS ACCESSIBLE, PLEASANT TO TALK TO, AND RESPONSIVE WITHIN A VERY TIMELY FASHION, AS WAS HIS STAFF. HE IS EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN FAMILY LAW, AND HIS STRATEGY REFLECTS HIS INTELLIGENCE. HE DID A THOROUGH JOB PREPARING FOR OUR COURT APPEARANCE; I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIS PERFORMANCE IN COURT, AND HE GOT OUR CASE DISMISSED QUICKLY. AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED MORE THAN ONE FAMILY ATTORNEY, I CAN SAY THAT MR. NIVIN POSSESSES EVERYTHING YOU WOULD WANT IN AN ATTORNEY, AND AM SORRY I DIDN'T FIND HIM SOONER. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

I wish I heard of AVVO.com prior to hiring Mr. Nivins office. At least then, I could have read the only review left by an actual client, to which she descibes the exact same unfortunate interaction I experienced with his office. 1). I never actually got a chance to speak with Mr Nivin until after he billed me for work that was never done. 2). The worst part of the experience is not that he refuses to send my file, but like the first reviewers experience, he shared sensitive information with the opposing party. He actually has no problem threatening to disclose sensitive information in carefully worded emails (which I have kept and would be happy to share with anyone). He is currently holding my entire case for randsom because I refused to pay the first invoice in which there are charges for conferences which never took place, along with a host of other outlandish charges. The sad part is he will most likely get away with it because I don't have the money to fight this kind of shakedown. Lastly, I would really pay very special attention to his video advertisement on the company website. He talks directly into the camera about experiences and services offered. Watch his body language. I'm kicking myself for not trusting my initial impression of this video and also, for not reading other reviews first. (I'm sure he will either take down the video or replace it by the time this gets published). Beware.... If he can take all of my unemployment / pandemic money without doing a fraction of the work, who knows what he will do with yours?

Mr Nivin was my lawyer for 3 almost 4 years. I retained him for a family court matter. I had my cousin's child. When I asked Mr. Nivin to help me get temporary custody so that I could remove the baby from foster care he instead requested that the court release him to me and just transfer the supervision to ACS. I asked him why he claimed temporary custody I would have to get fingerprinted. I told him I did not mind. I just wanted the child out of the system. With the child in the system I still would need a lawyer to continue to appear for me to protect my rights having temporary custody would have cut his billing off. The ACS worker told me to file for full custody so I did the papers myself and after I did that Mr. Nivin said he could represent me in that case. He failed to prosecute it though. He made appearance after appearance billing me $500 minimum even for appearances that were just 10 or 15 minute adjournments. One summer I was billed for 6 different adjournments that took less than 15 minutes a total of $3000. After I complained he said he would lower the price and charge me by the hour for those adjournments which would have cost me $60 to $90 an appearance. However the bills he sent did not reflect this instead he continued to charge me at that high rate. Eventually after more than a year and no movement whatsoever in my custody case I removed Mr. Nivin. I retained new counsel. I told Mr Nivin some information I do not wish to say here while he represented me. Somehow the opposing counsel on the case who shared office space with Mr Nivin found out that information after I terminated Mr. Nivin. Motions were made and it cost me a fortune to defend with my new counsel. I trusted Mr. Nivin cause a friend recommended. I did a much job with a lawyer I got from bar association after him. He took over my custody case and I got full legal custody in a hearing within a month of retaining him. I should have gone to the bar sooner. I would not have accrued so manu years of attorneys fees. Some attorneys help you resolve your case quickly some drag it on to keep making money off of you. Even if that is not in your best interest.