Freddy Miguel Godoy Jr.

PRO

Freddy Miguel Godoy Jr.

4.8
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 25 years

Family Lawyer at Philadelphia, PA
Practice Areas: Family, Criminal Defense, Divorce & Separation, Child Custody

1515 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA

Virtual Consultation Available

About Freddy

Biography

Hard-working. Responsive. Honest. Real solutions in Divorce, Child Custody, and Family Law.

Hard-working. Responsive. Honest. Real solutions in Divorce, Child Custody, and Family Law.

Hard-working. Responsive. Honest. Real solutions in Divorce, Child Custody, and Family Law.

Hard-working. Responsive. Honest. Real solutions in Divorce, Child Custody, and Family Law.

Hard-working. Responsive. Honest. Real solutions in Divorce, Child Custody, and Family Law.

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Family 60%

25 years

60%
Criminal Defense 20%

25 years

20%
Child Custody 10%

25 years

10%
Divorce and Separation 10%

25 years

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Licenses

Licensed in Pennsylvania for 25 years

State: Pennsylvania

Acquired: 2001

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Law Office of Freddy M. Godoy

1515 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA, 19102-1754

freddygodoylaw.com/

Online Presence

Other places you can find Freddy online.

Freddy Miguel Godoy Jr.'s Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.8 /5.0

78 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (78) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 11 - 15 of 20 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by david laverdure | August 31, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Thank you, Freddy, for being more than I hoped for in a lawyer. I could not be happier.

In taking on Freddy as my counsel, I have struck gold. He represented me flawlessly in a bogus PFA case designed to destroy my relationship with my son, give the mom sole custody, and then leave me high and dry with support bills. Instead, he made sure the PFA was soundly dismissed, and we are well o...n our way to establishing a fair custody order. Until Freddy, I'd been unable to expose what a phony my stbx is. He, however, put her BS on display for all to see. Witnessing that in the courtroom was sheer joy. A moment I'll never forget. Seriously, if you want someone that will go and get what is right for you, Freddy is it. He has the drive, the heart, and the discernment to make your best possible outcome a reality.

Posted by anonymous | May 26, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Family

A Godsend for me and my little boy

As an attorney who has practiced criminal law for 34 years I must share my experience in the most important case in my career. ThAt case would be my court battle for custody of my little boy, a case that I needed to win for his safety and well being. First you must know the facts of this case. I r...aised the son of my ex-girlfriend as my son and paying for his parochial school education. When he entered the fifth grade his mother pulled him out of his school and enrolled him in public school. She had no reasonable reason for doing this other that want him to consider me his father. When my little boy asked me to take him to court so he could live with me and go back to school I knew I had to save him. I interviewed several attorneys but Mr Godoy is the only attorney who said it would be difficult to win but we needed to save my boy. He explained he could not guarantee a victory but he promised he would to give me his best. But he made me agree that I had to follow his professional advise and not second guess him since I'm an attorney also. As his stressed that although I'm an expert in the field of criminal law he is the expert in family law. As hard as that was I hold to the adage that " a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a clientOnce I retained Mr Godoy he immediately got me an emergency hearing to allow me visitation. He went on the theory of "loco parentis" , a legal concept that most attorneys don't ordinarily use. He managed to get me an emergency hearing and had the judge issue a temporary order that I was loco parentis (which means I have acted in a parental capacity). Once he got that order he was able to secure me court ordered visitation. Once we overcame thAt hurdle he had me give a mountain go documents, cancelled checks and photos. He sifted through all this paper and produced a trial/exhibit binder containing 30 exhibits we chronicled my relationship with my boy. I was so impressed ( as well as the trial judge who eventually heard the case) that these exhibits captured the essence of my relationship with the child and how my boy has thrived with my love and care for him. I was also amazed how mr Godoy, thinking outside the box, he obtained two years of texts sent boy the boys mother to me which showed how she allowed me as well expected me to be the child's father. The final hurdle in preparing for trial was getting live witnesses to attest that I have always acted as the child's father. He did this by obtaining school records but also getting rhe principles from three different school as well as all of my boys teachers. Doing this seemed impossible since the archdiocese initially had their legal department attempt to prohibit the school staff from appearing in court and testifying. But by his legal maneuvering, connections and perhaps his charm he had three school principles and two teacher in court ready to testify at the trial. He also had the rest of the faculty on call ready to testify by phone. Just before the trial I remembered the opposing attorney laughing at me saying I didn't have a prayer because I was not the father. Boy hearing that totally devastated me but mr Godoy assured me that we were prepared that he was confident that the attorney would not be laughing after the trial. Well the trial was held on my boys birthday, April 22, and just after hearing two witnesses and my lawyers legal argue men the judge ruled that I had joint custody but most important I had sole and complete physical custody. Boy what a birthdate gift for my little one. I have had custody over a year now and every night when I kiss my son good night I thank God mr Godoy helped save my son. No words can ever express how thankful I am but please know you will forever be in my prayers.

Posted by anonymous | May 26, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Trustworthy, Admirable, and Intellectual

Freddy Godoy has been my lawyer since I separated from my spouse in 2011. During the past five years, and throughout numerous custody, child support, and relocation battles, Freddy has continued to stand by my side and represent me, and my son’s best interests, in court. My divorce and custody issu...es keep me very emotionally charged, and Freddy is incredible at calming me down and helping me comprehend all of the possible outcomes while suggesting the most reasonable and unbiased ways to proceed. Freddy is able to listen to a call or read an email that can be full of subjective statements and personal dissatisfaction with my ex-husband. Yet, he is able to identify all of the objective concerns that deal directly with the case, and he is able to eliminate and discard the irrelevant details that do not concern the true dispute. I have trusted Freddy for the past five years and will continue to trust him if the need arises. I have total faith in Freddy. He is well respected by his colleagues and court personnel . The amount of positive ratings he has already received on AVOO speaks as a true testament to his professionalism and dedication to not only his career, but to the sincere interest he has to fight for each one of his clients.

Posted by anonymous | February 22, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Family

LOOK NO FURTHER

*A MUST READ* If you are searching AVVO for a Family Law Attorney, you have found yourself in a very difficult situation and need legal counsel. I know because this is exactly where I found myself last August, 2015. I was scared, no, PETRIFIED, stressed out and needing someone to help me. I read... MANY Attorney reviews on this site trying to find someone I could trust to handle the most difficult situation of my life. After much research, I chose Freddy. Freddy Godoy. It was the BEST decision I could have made. My case was unique in that my child was an infant at the time of my legal custody procedures. From the gate, Freddy was not only compassionate and sensitive of my situation, he handled me AND it with kit gloves. I was so scared and had no idea what I needed to do or how to handle the situation I was in and Freddy put my worries at ease and did what he does best, work honestly and aggressively in the legal system/courts of Philadelphia. I am NOT SORRY I chose Freddy Godoy. I AM 100% THANKFUL that I took a chance and chose Freddy to represent me. Throughout the entire process, and it IS a process, Freddy was responsive, informed, professional, educated in family law and how the system works, strategic and most importantly honest. Even when it was NOT what I wanted to hear, but what I NEEDED to hear. He gave it to me exactly how it was. There were bumps, minor in hind sight, but bumps no less and Freddy was diligent in handling EVERY angle or turn I found myself in or that the legal system threw at me. He was RIGHT THERE to support and guide me and get me thru the heart wrenching, stressful, legal custody battle I found myself in. If I had to do this all over again, God willing that NEVER happens, I would call Freddy Godoy in a heartbeat. I would refer him to ANYONE that needs legal counsel. I feel so passionately about how well represented I was that I would refer Freddy 10 times over and again, if I could . Thank you Freddy for making one of the hardest and most difficult situations in one’s life manageable. Thank you for handling the Philadelphia court system with the superb finesse and confidence that you do and for doing it all so professionally, yet with a human touch. It is all of these things and so much more than make Freddy Godoy the amazing, phenomenal Family Law Attorney that he is. Top Notch, through and through. You search should end here. I am sorry you are in a position that requires a family law attorney, but you WILL NOT be sorry you chose Freddy!

Posted by Yarelis | October 28, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Family

Custody Case - Relocation

I hired Mr. Godoy when my attempt to gain full legal custody of my twin girls took a turn. I was confident that I would get it, well, I was wrong. I was engaged to be married and in the process of moving to NJ to start a new life in a new home with my girls, and found myself having to find an attorne...y immediately to follow the proper procedure for relocating the children. I searched online and came across Mr. Godoy's website, after reading about his experience with Family Law, I was sold. He took the time to consult with me by phone almost immediately after my contacting him. I met with him that same week, hired him right away to continue my case and I am extremely happy I did. All went well, and the case was resolved without me having to step foot in a courtroom. I would absolutely recommend Freddy Godoy, Jr. to handle your case.

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Freddy Miguel Godoy Jr.'s Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Freddy
Pezhman Pakneshan headshot
Pezhman Pakneshan

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Michael Patrick Kelly headshot
Michael Kelly

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Family lawyer | May 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Freddy. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen

Unknown lawyer | Apr 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."

Zahin N. Maneckshaw headshot
Zahin Maneckshaw

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 19

Relationship: Co-worker

"To his clients, Freddy is a zealous advocate who offers creative solutions and champions to resolve their legal dilemmas. To judges, Freddy is consummate professional who makes sound legal arguments in an ethical, passionate, and convincing manner. To attorneys, Freddy is a respected colleague and a source of legal knowledge. To his courtroom opponents, Freddy is a legal assassin whose sharp arguments enable him to win cases. If you are seeking a highly competent, passionate and successful family law or criminal defense attorney, I highly recommend Freddy Godoy."

Richard B Bost headshot
Richard Bost

Family lawyer | Jun 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"As a family law practitioner with almost 20 years of experience I have met all kinds of lawyers, and wish there were more like Freddy Godoy. I completely endorse this attorney's work. He is knowledgeable, hardworking and dedicated to his clients. He is always prepared and truly an asset to the legal community. You should know that Freddy goes the extra mile for his clients. Thorough and very bright, you could not go wrong using him as your attorney."

Carlos Modesto Vega headshot
Carlos Vega

Criminal defense lawyer | May 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work. As a homicide prosecutor with over twenty-five years of experience, I recognize the difference between good litigators and average litigators. Freddy is a very good attorney, who is knowledgeable and experienced in Pennsylvania family law, as well as criminal law. He has been representing family law clients since law school at the University of Pennsylvania. As a criminal prosecutor, Freddy had a reputation for being aggressive and relentless, in defending victims of crime. When he left the District Attorney’s Office and started his private practice, he experienced great success, bringing the same amount of enthusiasm and zeal, in defending individuals charged with crimes. Freddy speaks well to jurors and knows how to prepare a case. He knows the law and he is a good writer, as evidenced from his time writing opinions for a Philadelphia family court judge. Freddy's comfort in the courtroom continues to be an added benefit to his family law clients."

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Richard B Bost headshot
Richard Bost

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2018

Top 100 Lawyers, The National Advocates

2015

Better Business Burrough, Better Business Burrough

Work Experience

2005 - Present

Attorney, Law Office of Freddy M. Godoy

2011 - 2012

Associate, Law Office of Stacy E. Schwarz, LLC

2005 - 2007

Judicial Law Clerk, The Honorable Lori A. Dumas, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas

1999 - 2004

Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia District Attorney's Office

1998 - 1998

Boardmember, Custody and Support Assistance Clinic

Education

2000

University of Pennsylvania Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

1997

University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Languages

English

Spanish

Activity

Avvo Rating

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  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution