H. Van Smith

Working with Smith Strong for the planning of our estate has been smooth, professional and stress free. Patrick Solomita our attorney in handling our estate has been thoughtful, kind and professional and took the time to answer any of our questions, no matter how inane,with patience and in plain and ...understandable language. The firm also answered any questions we asked either through telephone or E-Mail very promptly. I admit skeptical about their free seminar but it was well worth the time taken to invest in it as it was very informative of the realities and options for estate planning. We are most pleased with their service!

Extensive market research of estate planning firms in my area repeatedly lead me to Mr. Van Smith. Through a process of elimination centering on firms not returning my calls, charging for consultation, unfavorable reviews, Smith Strong stood above at the outset. Mr. Smith listened to my needs, pr...esented many options, and developed an estate plan that is flexible with life changes. Being very familiar with military related dynamics was particularly valuable to me as a client. Mr. Van Smith is very personable and approachable. He listens. And he is very strategic. Those qualities are exactly what I was seeking in a lawyer, and found in him. Thank you!

I first met Mr. Smith attending one of his complimentary Asset Protection Workshops. If you attend this workshop he will give you 90 minutes of time to consult within the next 6 months. When I met with him in private, after reviewing my case considering my wife's mental health he recommended a divorc...e over an Asset Protection Plan. In the long run, the office could have earned more doing the APP. Mr. Smith crafted a non-standard property settlement agreement that protected my retirement savings. He was able to get a very disagreeable woman to sign the agreement in 29 minutes! He and his office has guided me throughout the process. I would highly recommend him for skills and talents, and have recommended him to others in need.

I appreciate everything this firm has done for me throughout this difficult time and have been extremely happy with the professionalism and courtesy that were extended to both myself and my wife during the deliberations. My career requires the highest levels of customer service so I am very particula...r about the businesses and associations I have based simply on how they treat their clientele. I chose this firm because of the level of customer service that I perceived in Van's reviews and the fact that he actually takes the time to read them and respond. I read hundreds of reviews of different lawyers and usually the only response was to defend themselves and try to discredit the source, but not Van. His responses show the passion he has for his career and his clients. I was thoroughly impressed by everyone that I spoke with in the firm and they far exceeded my expectations. During the initial consultation he brought in an associate attorney (at no charge to me) to consult with me as well based on my specific situation. They were not pushy or judgmental in any way and we talked well past the hour that was allotted for me (again at no extra cost). I felt very "listened too" and understood every time I spoke with them. Fortunately my wife and I decided to work on fixing things before moving on to the D word. Their counsel and help were exactly what I needed and provided the assurance that if things didn't work they would take care of whatever I needed. To the other reviews that mention being charged repeatedly, I can only speak to my experience but I can't count the times that I talked with Van or another attorney at absolutely no cost simply because they wanted to check in on me. They are always willing to work out a payment solution so don't feel embarrassed if you need to ask for their help in figuring it out or a little more time until that next paycheck comes (I personally had to do so and was amazed at the understanding response I received). I will be sure to recommend them to anyone I know that may need their services and will be back if I should ever need too.

I first reached out to Van Smith a day after being served a notice for spousal support for 70% of my income. Scarred and worried, I found Mr. Smith on the internet and was encouraged by his specialization in divorce. He met with me outside of regular hours and while on vacation (over the holidays) ...making a special trip to Williamsburg just to meet with me. His office was very upfront with the purpose of the initial visit and cost (a one hour consultation) with no obligation. Mr. Smith called me himself to provide directions and confirm. After the hour, I hired him on the spot. Since I have been working with him, I have received invoices at the agreed upon schedule. I go over them with a fine tooth comb and have not found any discrepancies yet. His staff has been upfront and honest and allowed me to complete work on my own to cut cost. His paralegal provides most of the information gathering for discovery, which is good because she is cheaper. Mr. Smith makes it clear that he meets with his entire team every week to go over the case and make sure everything is on track. After this meeting, I often get calls for clarification and other information. It is helpful to know that at least once a week, everyone is on the same page. He provided me with his direct contact info and has answered every question the day of being asked. His staff is very responsive as well and I have never had to leave a message. I have been to court once with Mr. Smith. It was clear that his experience has taught him very effective strategy. He was anticipating the opposing attorney's underhanded move to obtain temporary support without a formal hearing. He was able to squash this, and demonstrated that he expected this all along. My first hearing was a clear victory. After the hearing, he sat down with me one on one in the courthouse to move on to the next step. I will say that he is personally involved in my very complicated case and has made an effort to understand all the intricate details. I have not had any abnormalities in my invoices, and I've looked. I work a lot with the paralegal, but just on information gathering. Strategy and court appearances have all been handled by Mr. Smith himself. At this point, I have no regrets in hiring him and would repeat in a heartbeat. My only regret is not hiring him sooner.