Stacey A. O'Neill Balduf

I didn't think that I would ever be able to get through my divorce. We had money issues and custody issues and it just didn't seem fair at all. To handle it properly we had to opt for taking some time. I learned that faster isn't better, but it was hard. It was not easy but Stacey helped me face the difficult task of moving ahead and I am now getting on with my life...and so are my children. And it is a good life...a large part thanks to how my case was handled.

It is hard to appreciate the legal advice you get while you are going through your divorce. When mine was over there were no surprises and I understood what I was doing, why I was doing it and had a plan for the future. My spouse on the other hand was not as prepared and was crying in the conference room with his attorney not understanding what was happening in the same way I was. Stacey prepared me well and did a great job...but hearing what she had to say was not easy.

I finally decided after many failed attempts and getting tired of run around with the ex regarding Child Support that I needed real legal representation. Stacey advised me I could do it on my own my own but I felt more confident paying her to see it through. She was very direct and will not waste your money or time. She was so patient and talked me off the ledge a couple times when I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. She saw the hearing through to the end and after 7yrs I finally have a resolution I can be comfortable with. I highly recommend her if you are looking for someone who will go to bat for you while also telling you how it is.

Stacey was patient and she explained the convoluted process clearly. Divorce is a pain the the backside as well as the heart and she made it at least bearable. And she can calm you down without being consending. Her fees were more than fair and I was told up front what to expect. I respect her skill and experience and would recommend her to very good friends. I am so very glad for her guidance during the divorce process!

Stacey keeps everything on track, try’s to avoid billing you for unnecessary time and is very responsive all at the same time. She knows how to get through the process and also ensures you are vested in the process and results. I switched form another lawyer to her and she was great and even during Covid with courts crippled she moved each step along until the divorce got done!

Most of the positive reviews here reflect my thoughts of Stacey. I found her to be highly competent, frank, honest and knowledgeable. Her hourly rate was reasonable and below that of most attorneys who work out of law firm - and much of that has to do with lower overhead as she works from her home office. As she explained to me - if you want an attorney with an impressive, large marble conference room table, you're gonna pay for it. That she lives in an average house in an average neighborhood with an average minivan in her driveway was a positive in my book. It's clear she was looking towards her client's best interest and not a lavish lifestyle at the expense of her clients. She kept my costs down by having me do what homework I could on my own and not nickle-and-diming for every copy, e-mail and phone call to answer a quick question that you see in most law firms. She has some quirks (who doesn't?) and sometimes I had to chase her down to get a question answered, but I wasn't her only client either. That and she also has a life and needs to take a break for a week away with her family once in a while - as well as the time she spends with her volunteer commitments to the church and community. But she also found time to squeeze in calls/e-mails between court hearings and in the evenings / early mornings as well. In the end, I ended up with a divorce settlement that was fair to me, my ex-wife and daughter at a price that was much lower than some of the horror stories I've heard from friends who've gotten divorced too. Heed her advice - there are no do-overs in divorces and you only get one chance to get it right. I asked about the real-estate end of my divorce and she referred me to her husband Bill. Again, competent, reasonably priced representation. I'd recommend her and would use her again should the need ever arise (hopefully not!).

I came to Stacey after I was bullied into signing an uncontested divorce(that I didn't have a copy of and had no proof of signing anything) (NEVER DO THAT) that had me walking away with nothing, not even child support. My papers had already been filed and was assigned to a judge. I called several different lawyers, just wanting to receive child support and no one would work with me until my divorce was final. I contacted Stacey and within a week, a motion was filed to stop the unfair divorce and now I had a chance to receive child support for my children. Stacey knew that I didn't have much money accessible to me, and she gave me a very reasonable payment plan, but also got my ex-husband to pay the bulk of my lawyer fees. I won't lie, Stacey is hard on you but it's only to prepare you for what's to come and to show you she has your back regardless. My ex and his lawyer tried bullying me into an agreement and even threatened custody. Tried scaring me by constantly speaking to our kids about adult matters(which had me wanting to settle for fair less than I'm receiving) but Stacey, in the end got me exactly what I came to her for. And help me navigate speaking to my children and helping them understand this divorce and child support. I would recommend Stacey to anyone. Just remember...IT'S NEVER TOO LATE!

Stacey did an amazing job and we are very pleased! She got us the results we wanted in a quick and timely fashion. We especially love that she didn't waste time with lengthy appointments and phone calls. If there is a quick question or she's just checking in, an email was sufficient. We loved this about her! We would HIGHLY recommend her!

I want to recommend Stacey. My ex-wife sued me for the custody of my kids, and for various reasons she had everything on her side to win. She refused to discuss any kind of mutual agreement and was decided to take the kids out of my life. I went to see Stacey out of desperation after deciding that I needed a more aggressive approach than the one used by my court appointed attorney. After three days Stacey negotiated the best possible settlement given my circumstances, a settlement I did not think was possible. I am happy again and I will never be able to thank Stacey enough.

Stacey took what I believed to be an impossible situation and resolved it beautifully. While going through a divorce a major custody issue came up. Stacey made recommendations and outlined a strategy. Although I was hesitant at times, she gave me her word that her litigation plan would prevail and it did. I have and will again recommend Stacey to anyone going through a divorce or experiencing custody issues. Stacey is honest, straightforward and will tell you how it is even if you do not want to hear it. Do not let that deter you! In my opinion, this is the makings of an incredible attorney. You do not retain an attorney to hold your hand and tell you what you want to hear. You find an attorney that will fight for you and get the outcome you are looking for. If you want the best results, you find the best attorney. One that accomplishes your goals. In the Syracuse area, that attorney is Stacey Balduf.