Stacey A. O'Neill Balduf

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.

I want to say Thank you Stacey B. At first I was extremely nervous with the whole process of Divorce. Through out the year I kept getting knocked down by my now ex wife but Stacey you just plugged along and kept telling me...marshall...we will get there. I cannot thank you enough for the hard work and the bluntness of some of your answers to my questions but in the end you got me what I needed and wanted. Thank you so very much for all that you've done for Mia and myself. Marshall Swilley (aka Happy dad)

I went to several lawyers and even hired one before I retained Stacey Balduf, Esq. They all sympathized with me and told me how right I was--not to worry. Well it wasn't until I went back to Stacey Balduf that I realized she was telling me the facts and how this crazy system works. That is what I needed to hear so I was able to prepare and make much better choices. I saw Court and divorce first hand and I only wish I had hired Stacey when I first came to see her. I guess I wasn't ready to hear the "straight talk" then, when I could be promised the "moon" elsewhere. If you are looking for experience and real advice hire Stacey.

Dissolving a life and a marriage is always difficult, and scary. But when I was intimidated by my ex or hesitant to stick up for myself, Stacey would listen, talk me through, and help me find the courage to stick up for myself and my rights as a mother and wife. She gave me the courage to believe I could get through the process to live my own life again. "This is not your life, this is only temporary"...will see me through to this new chapter of my life. Thank you Stacey.

I hired Stacey to handle my divorce. My ex made things difficult from the beginning but Stacey kept things flowing even when he tried to delay the divorce. She kept the price in check by addressing the important things and and not spending precious time on the things that weren't. This was a very stressful time in my life and I'm glad it wasn't made worse by going into debt. She was firm and direct to my ex's attorney and I felt confident in her. There was a time constraint and I needed the divorce done promptly and Stacey made it happen and I couldn't be happier. I would hire her again for any family related legal issues. I would also recommend her.

As grandparents seeking guardianship, Stacey has represented us. The children are still with us after three years. It is a process and requires patience and trust in your attorney who knows what the court will accept. We listened to Stacey accepting her guidance only to see that the court respected our trying to work things out with the children's mother. We realize that this will be an ongoing process and we hope that Stacey will be our guide for the foreseeable future. There were times we did not fully understand the process and big picture but Stacey always communicated with us when we had questions and stresses during the arbitration and trial preparation. We agreed to settlements prior to two trial dates which was better for all parties, especially the children. Thank you Stacey for all your help and knowledge of family court. We could see how respected you are in the courthouse with colleagues.

Stacey was very responsive and always available to meet when needed. She helped me get a satisfactory settlement from my Ex Wife and 50/50 custody of my daughter. I'm very happy from using her and even recommended others to her services during my divorce process.

Stacey was the only attorney who we spoke with who didn't turn us away when we were looking to obtain custody of our grandchildren. It was a messy and difficult matter...however our grandchildren now reside with us and we are able to take care of them, we have custody. This means the world...

I know that most of the time the only people who write a review are the ones who are unhappy so I thought I would take a moment to share this review of Stacey Balduf. My divorce was awful...I had a hard time understanding how the process could be like it is. All I can say is that Stacey talked to me in a way that kept me focused on what was important. She was dead on about what was going to happen and how it was likely to turn out. Because of that my final divorce reflected what was most important to me. On the day of trial, when we settled because Stacey took the time to have a written agreement prepared and sent to counsel prior to court. She was able to alter it at the courthouse, I was familiar with it. I understood it. I had time to let it all sink in. There were no real surprised. When I signed it I was exhausted and drained but relieved. When my Wife signed it with her attorney, only just reading it for the first time, she was in the conference room in tears having a hard time understanding how the process could turn out this way. I would recommend Stacey to anyone that is focused on making a realistic plan for the future.

Stacey is a very knowlegdeful divorce lawyer, who I was very happy to have o n my side! She taught me much more than the laws pertaining to my divorce, but also many invaluable life skills.