Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.

5.0 /5.0

140 Client Reviews

Avvo

5.0

(110)

Lawyers.com

5.0

(30 )

 See client reviews from Lawyers.com
Filter Avvo Reviews (110) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Star rating
5 stars 109
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 1
Practice Areas
Divorce & Separation (56) Family (35) Child Custody (31) Lawsuits & Disputes (20) Litigation (12) Alimony (4) Domestic Violence (4) Mediation (4) Child Support (3) Business (2) Uncontested Divorce (2) Appeals (1) Arbitration (1) Contracts & Agreements (1) Criminal Defense (1) Employment & Labor (1) Immigration (1) Marriage & Prenuptials (1) Probate (1)
What Clients Mention
Advocacy (61) Professionalism (57) Practice Area Knowledge (51) Case Results (50) Recommendation (49) General Knowledge (44) Communication Style (29) Character & Conduct (28) Compassion (22) Trustworthiness (21) Cost of Services (16) Responsiveness (14) Staff & Support (4) Free Consultations (1) Payment Plans (1) Punctuality (1)

Showing 1 - 5 of 56 reviews | Divorce & Separation

Posted by Felipe | May 07, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Professional, Compassionate, and Excellent Guidance Through a Difficult Process

I had a great experience working with Carlos M. Lastra during my divorce process. From start to finish, he was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring during what was obviously a very stressful time. What stood out most was how well he educated me on each step of the process. Divorce can... feel overwhelming, but he consistently took the time to explain my options, set realistic expectations, and make sure I understood what was happening and why. That clarity made a huge difference and helped me feel much more confident navigating everything. He was responsive, thoughtful, and handled my case with both professionalism and compassion. I always felt like he had my best interests in mind. I’m very grateful for his guidance and would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a divorce attorney who is not only skilled, but also supportive and trustworthy.

Posted by anonymous | October 18, 2022

Consultation for an upcoming Legal Separation and Custody case

It was a pleasure meeting Mr Lastra. During my consultation, it was obvious that his knowledge was extensive and he helped me determine the best course of action in my upcoming separation and custody case. Not only did he provide ample time to describe what my ideal outcome could be, he allowed me t...ime to ask any questions I had and provided a strategic course of action. He was very honest with me and helped me to put my wants and possible outcome into perspective. I’m glad I chose to work with him and look forward to working with Mr. Lastra in the future.

Posted by anonymous | September 29, 2022

Clear, Educational, and Honest

I had a two hour consultation with Mr. Lastra concerning my pending divorce and custody matter. I have multiple children with my spouse, including a stepchild from their previous marriage whose life I've been a part of since they were very little. Shortly into our meeting, Mr. Lastra asked me abou...t my children and whether our relationship was biological, and then explained very compassionately that - unfortunately - if it were contested by either or both of their biological parents, he would not be able to guarantee me custody of or access to my stepchild as a de facto parent. He assured me that if he were representing me and I truly did want to pursue it against all odds that he would do everything in his power to help, but cautioned that it would likely be a long and costly uphill battle with an uncertain outcome. As heartbreaking as that was to hear, Mr. Lastra was the first lawyer to really prioritize and ask about my concerns for the children rather than choose to focus on my spouse and our finances and marital property. His honesty about that - the one outcome I care most about - gave me peace of mind that he wasn't just telling me what I want to hear to get me to sign his retainer. Additionally, while his consultation was not free, without my even having to ask, Mr. Lastra was extremely considerate of my budget. At the very beginning of the meeting, he verified the hourly rate that I had been quoted previously and told me how long his consultations with other people typically lasted. Then, every twenty minutes or so, he was kind enough to let me know how much billable time had elapsed and allowed me to set the pace of our discussion accordingly. Throughout the rest of our meeting, Mr. Lastra was both extremely inquisitive and educational. Rather than simply listen to my account of events, he engaged frequently, asking regular questions and taking notes. He also shared a wealth of his own knowledge, pulling from both general law and process as well as experiences gained from similar cases he'd handled in the past. During our consultation, I felt both well listened to and that I was speaking with an obvious expert. Prior to our meeting, I had discussed this matter with a few other lawyers, and while they were all quite professional and empathetic, none of them felt like they were being as realistic with me about the possible timelines, outcomes, costs, and the availability of themselves and their associates to adequately represent me and my family's interests as Mr. Lastra did. Though his rates are above average, my first impression from my consultation is that there is very good justification for it. He has absolutely earned my endorsement.

Posted by Barbara | June 09, 2022

Smart, Compassionate, Professional

Mr Lastra was called specifically to represent me in a contentious divorce with parenting plan, support, and domestic violence complexities. During our consultation appointment, he listened intently with compassion. Asked thoughtful, pertinent questions and laid out a progression plan. He was clam, c...oncise and practical. I definitely will hire him.

Posted by anonymous | May 31, 2022

Professional and Informative

Mr. Lastra was extremely professional and informative as I knew very little about the legal process for divorce. He specifically explained what is allowed when it comes to divorce for Maryland, Virginia, and DC. He also clearly laid out the need to assess value of property and assets before and aft...er marriage, providing advice on what homework needs to be done in advance.

See All Client Reviews