Helen Eileen Casale

I had been in a relationship that was ending. I was essentially cut off financially and socially at this point, but had to secure my belongings and money my father had left me after I found out my ex had cheated on me and was planning to oust me to move the new suitor into our home. Of note, my now... ex made substantially more money than I, as I was in nursing school and hadn’t graduated yet. (My ex also supported me in my first year as a nursing school student, but as many people with narcissistic tendencies, she had cut me off from my friends and family, and since I was now being supported by her, she had all control over my financials) My father had died and left me a pretty good sun of money. A month later was when I learned I was being cheated on. My ex made comments that she was planning on coming for the money my father left me. At which point I contacted Helen for what I heard was her expertise in this area. I explained the situation. She explained to me that my money was my money and that since I was not married, I was entitled to every penny my father had left to me. We drew up an agreement. I had been in contact with Helen and her assistants numerous times with the understanding that I would be contacted about any communication between her office and my ex. I was sent a draft of the agreement to look over for final to be written up after my ok. I received a response from my ex to the email/agreement that hadn’t been finalized by me. When I asked Ms. Casale about clearing with me before sending out the agreement, she didn’t get back to me immediately. When she finally got back to me, she became hostile- threatening that she was going to drop the case and telling me that I should maybe find another attorney to finish out the agreement and to finalize the rest of the issues with my ex. I plead with her to not do that because I didn’t know anyone else and was feeling quite vulnerable and abandoned by this person who I had paid a good chunk of money to retain for this matter. I’m not sure if there was something going on personally for her or if my manipulative and borderline (diagnosed) ex was in her ear, but Helen spoke to me in a very unprofessional manner after we had agreed on specific things to happen. She could have at least apologized about the miscommunication, but I never actually heard from her again. The rest of the agreement was finalized by her assistants/paralegal team, and I was able to get my money and belongings out before my ex could do anything to my things. So yes, everything ended up fine, but at the time I could have really used someone being a little kinder to me in that situation. I was a mess, as literally my whole world was turning upside down, and I had no friends to help me through at that point. And then to be made to feel like I had done something wrong in asking why the final draft wasn’t cleared by me (as originally agreed upon). While I would recommend her because there are very few lawyers that I know of who specifically deal with LGBTQIA+ Family matters, be very careful in how you deal with her as she can turn on you on a dime.