Hale Mark Schantz

I have to say, Hale Schantz and his firm is possibly one of the best attorneys/firms in Broward county Florida. From the treatment he provides, to the way he handles your case, it is truly amazing. I also appreciate Hale's upfront honesty, in which he provides how best to approach your issue. This... unfortunately is my second go around with Hale, and the results he provides are second to none. I HIGHLY recommend Hale to anyone looking for a divorce attorney who is a wealth of knowledge, and who provides amazing results. With Hale Schantz you actually get a person who you can talk with and will hear you out versus a pompousness I have encountered with other attorneys in the Broward/Miami-Dade area.

I hired Hale Schantz two weeks before my divorce trial because my attorney withdrew. Mr. Schantz was the only one that I could find to take my case so close to trial. He charged me a $10,000 non-refundable retainer fee and then told me he would require an additional $10,000 to represent me at my four... day trial. The day before trial he called to tell me the judge ordered us to mediation. I was against mediation, I had been three times already with three other attorneys. Mr. Schantz insisted we go to mediation and said the trial was moved until the following day if we couldn't reach an agreement. Mr. Schantz brought his attorney wife, Laura with him to mediation. I did not agree with the settlement and wanted to go to trial. Mr Schantz then proceeded to tell me the judge would give me a worse deal if we went to trial! His wife agreed with him. The mediator agreed also. Mr. Schantz should have told me that before I gave him $20,000. I had fought so long and so hard and my attorney, Mr. Schantz, the man I hired to look out for me and my five children, broke me down. I will have to live with the regret of signing something I could not agree with, but I did not want a worse deal! My ex-husband cleaned out the bank accounts to make sure I would get a small settlement. None of my attorneys addressed that issue! Mr. Schantz also changed the retainer amount on the retainer agreement without my knowledge, to ensure he would be able to keep the entire $20,000. Mr. Schantz did not fight for me and my five minor children. It's been five years and things have only gotten worse for me. My ex-husband went on to marry his secretary and they moved to a luxury apartment one month after the MSA was signed - even though Mr. Schantz told me my ex-husband's business was winding down. He had no proof of my ex-husband's finances, he issued no subpoenas. Mr. Schantz did not care about me and my five children. He knew I was in distress and saw a chance to make some quick money before closing the case. Please be very careful if you choose to hire this lawyer. Keep an eye on him, he is full of tricks. He also asked me to make a check out to him for $5000 so that he could pay the forensic accountant should we need him at trial. When the MSA was signed, I asked him to return the check and he said he really earned that money too. His wife urged him to give me the check back. He finally did. I later found out from a reliable source that a forensic accountant gets paid directly by the client and NOT by the clients attorney. I believe Mr. Schantz took my case and worked together with opposing counsel to get the case closed. Again I say to you, please be very careful if you retain this attorney. Things should never have turned out this bad for me after a 19 year marriage to a man that has always lived in luxury!