My husband and I hired Ron when we were going through a custody issue with my step son.
As I read the other comment reviews I was so shocked that I experienced the same thing and I am in 100% agreement with them. Ron comes with a great story, however, he is arrogant and prideful which unfortunately shows through his billing. He tried to bill us 10 yrs ago $350 for a 15 minute consultation. Reading his other reviews it looks like that his arrogance and pride has gone up to $500.
Overall, he's not worth the money or the belittlement. Yes, he makes you feel stupid.
Sells a false image of knowledge, and doesn't have your back.
After paying the consult fee I hired Ron and went forward. After two months he had charged me outrageous fees for simply responding to the minimal emails of my case. I hired him for a focused, specific hearing but yet he charged me fees for being copied on emails relative to their parts of my case that were not relevant. I expressed concern multiple times to no avail, and then when I stood firm that I needed to cut him out of the irrelevant legal emails he told me he was withdrawing for "ethical" grounds. His story is good, but there's no merit or truth to it. Further, he tried to withdraw without a hearing and my approval, basically trying to skate out of appearing before the judge who eventually called him out for it. Lastly, he withdrew shortly before the hearing I hired him for and after I had spent enormous fees for him to prep for the hearing, leaving me without an attorney and starting over. He ran before the hearing because again, Ron sells an impression of knowledge but went yellow and ran before the hearing. He also directed me not to be on a call with the judge when I found out later i should have been, plus his advice was exactly the opposite of the judge's decision when I finally had the custody hearing. However, Ron walks away with $6,000 o fly money, mostly in "logistical fees", and left me with horrendously bad legal advice.
If he responds to this it will simply be more spin. However, I am a very honest and fairly intelligent person that is stating the exact truth. You have been warned.
Complex marital and non-marital domestic relations disputes, including separation and divorce, determination of parentage and associated issues (child custody, parenting time, spousal and child support) as well as the representation of parents in international and interstate child abduction and jurisdictional disputes.
Complex marital and non-marital domestic relations disputes, including separation and divorce, determination of parentage and associated issues (child custody, parenting time, spousal and child support) as well as the representation of parents in international and interstate child abduction and jurisdictional disputes.
Complex marital and non-marital domestic relations disputes, including separation and divorce, determination of parentage and associated issues (child custody, parenting time, spousal and child support) as well as the representation of parents in international and interstate child abduction and jurisdictional disputes.
State court appeals in complex domestic relations actions (child custody, parenting time, spousal and child support), international child abduction, and interstate child custody and support jurisdiction among other areas.
Complex marital and non-marital domestic relations disputes, including separation and divorce, determination of parentage and associated issues (child custody, parenting time, spousal and child support) as well as the representation of parents in international and interstate child abduction and jurisdictional disputes.
Recognized throughout Kansas and the United States as an accomplished family law practitioner, Ronald W. Nelson frequently speaks on complex issues in family law at seminars for local, regional, and national legal groups. He is a contributing author to the "Practitioner’s Guide on Kansas Family Law," published by the Kansas Bar Association (2011 & 1997 with supplements) with chapters on “Divorce, Separate Maintenance and Annulment” [Chapter 2], and “Child Custody, Parenting Time and Visitation” [Chapter 6] and he has written on complex issues in family law for regional and national legal publications. He often testifies to the Kansas Legislature on issues affecting families and family law. He was instrumental in helping to make significant revisions in Kansas child custody laws in 2000 and helped with the recodification of the Kansas Family Law Code in 2011. Mr. Nelson works to improve access to the courts for the general public having helped draft family law forms for Kansas statewide use.
Mr. Nelson has been involved various leadership positions in the American Bar Association Family Law Section for nearly 20 years, serving 6-years on the Section Governing Council and ABA Family Law Section Committees including: Long-Range Planning, Scope and Correlation, Child Custody, Sponsorship, Membership & Benefit Development, and other substantive and governing committees.
Mr. Nelson is a member of the Family Law Advisory Committee of the Kansas Judicial Council, Chair of the Family Law Bench-Bar Committee of the Johnson County Bar Association, a Founding Master of the Johnson County Family Law American Inn of Court, a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), and a Fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (IAML). He was the the American Bar Association Family Law Section Advisor for the Uniform Laws Commission Committee drafting amendments to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) implementing the Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Protection of Children, was a member of the American Bar Association Family Law Section committee drafting a Model Relocation Act, and he is an observer to the Uniform Laws Commission Study Committee on Third Party Custody and Visitation of Children.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Hired for custody rights
My husband and I hired Ron when we were going through a custody issue with my step son.
As I read the other comment reviews I was so shocked that I experienced the same thing and I am in 100% agreement with them. Ron comes with a great story, however, he is arrogant and prideful which unfortunately shows through his billing. He tried to bill us 10 yrs ago $350 for a 15 minute consultation. Reading his other reviews it looks like that his arrogance and pride has gone up to $500.
Overall, he's not worth the money or the belittlement. Yes, he makes you feel stupid.
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Posted by John | July 7, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Sells a false image of knowledge, and doesn't have your back.
After paying the consult fee I hired Ron and went forward. After two months he had charged me outrageous fees for simply responding to the minimal emails of my case. I hired him for a focused, specific hearing but yet he charged me fees for being copied on emails relative to their parts of my case that were not relevant. I expressed concern multiple times to no avail, and then when I stood firm that I needed to cut him out of the irrelevant legal emails he told me he was withdrawing for "ethical" grounds. His story is good, but there's no merit or truth to it. Further, he tried to withdraw without a hearing and my approval, basically trying to skate out of appearing before the judge who eventually called him out for it. Lastly, he withdrew shortly before the hearing I hired him for and after I had spent enormous fees for him to prep for the hearing, leaving me without an attorney and starting over. He ran before the hearing because again, Ron sells an impression of knowledge but went yellow and ran before the hearing. He also directed me not to be on a call with the judge when I found out later i should have been, plus his advice was exactly the opposite of the judge's decision when I finally had the custody hearing. However, Ron walks away with $6,000 o fly money, mostly in "logistical fees", and left me with horrendously bad legal advice.
If he responds to this it will simply be more spin. However, I am a very honest and fairly intelligent person that is stating the exact truth. You have been warned.
Read less
Posted by anonymous | March 29, 2017
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Knowledgeable? Maybe. Helpful. Nope.
I hired Ronald to provide a consultation. $500 for one hour of his time. His paralegal required that I submit extensive background information in advance of our telephone consultation. My family law case involves an ex-spouse who abducted our child. When I asked Ronald about a strategic tact for handling the abduction he said that would be illegal and he said that by the tone of my question that I intended to carry forth the plan. This of course was not true.
When I tried to ask him other questions about the case he was reluctant to answer any of the questions. Essentially, he shut down our consultation interview. I was not prepared to pay $500 for 20 minutes of Ronald's time and receive so little information.
I had additional questions I wanted to ask later based on the information he provided in our brief consultation and I had at least 35 minutes of time left. When I tried to contact Ronald's law firm they ignored my requests but they certainly kept my money which they required to be paid in advance by credit card.
I review Ronald with low marks and I question whether he should have taken $500 for approximately 20 minutes worth of questions. Ronald comes across as a judgemental, elitist, arrogant and unresponsive attorney based on my consultation with him. Ronald may, or may not, be a skilled attorney but by no means is he easy to work with and I found he is indulgent in how he assesses his fees based on my experience with him.
In sum, I would not hire him to work for me.
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Response from Ronald NelsonApril 6, 2017
Ronald W. Nelson, PA has a unique approach to its initial consultations. We spend a significant amount of time preparing for each consultation by reviewing information received from potential clients, including existing pleadings, filed motions, out-of-state proceedings, and other documents that our potential clients reference during our intake procedures. We also receive relevant statutes and recent caselaw, so that we can identify any possible complications or issues that might arise during the consultation. We do not consult for a fixed amount of time (we don’t have ‘one-hour consultations,’ because it is often difficult to determine in advance how long any one client conference will take. We often spend more than one hour in our initial consultation — but sometimes less; every situation is different and every client’s needs are different. Our consultation fee (usually at flat-fee based upon who is the attorney conducting the initial client consultation) represents all time spent preparing for and engaging in the consultation, as well as specific advice to the potential client about what to do and not to do in their particular situation. Because we spend an indeterminate time with each potential client so that we can address all concerns brought to our attention, no two consultations are exactly alike. But every person calling in to obtain a consultation is informed about the flat-fee arrangement, the nature of the consultation and preparation for that consultation, and that as a flat-fee consultation, that fee is not based on the amount of time expended in the attorney-client meeting itself, but is so that the client knows how much will need to be paid before any consultation begins.
Our goal at the end of a consultation is to answer all possible questions while providing supportive, but honest, legal counsel. We understand that we may not be the right fit for every potential client. We strive to be ‘straight’ with our potential clients about our assessment of the issues in their situation. We don’t ‘sugar-coat’ clients’ prospects, and we strive not to reflect back to clients what they want to hear; our job is to give honest, straightforward, to-the-point advice so that our clients can decide for themselves their realistic chances going forward in the family law matter in which they’re involved.
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10.0
(Superb)
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Divorce and separation Attorney | Feb 27
Relationship: Other
"I endorse this lawyer. I've known Ron for several years from seminars and workshops sponsored by the Family Section of the Kansas Bar Association. He is known for being knowledgeable in just about all areas of Family Law. The criticism of him above regarding his charges for giving an opinion about your case is somewhat misleading. If you don't want to pay for his services to review your case, you can certainly get an opinion from a less renowned lawyer for less. But I'm sure Ron puts in the time and uses his expertise to make the initial fee worth it--assuming you have the money and the issues in your case justify having an expert lawyer give you an opinion."
Family Attorney | Jun 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Ron for many years as a fellow lawyer in the community and as a friend. Ron is well versed in all areas of family law. He is intelligent, analytical, diligent, thoughtful, and compassionate. Ron has a passion for best practice standards in the legal profession, and he is always willing to contribute of himself in ways to benefit the legal community. Ron is held in high regard within the Family Law legal community, and it is without hesitation that I heartily endorse him."
"I have known Ronald for several years through our involvement in the ABA's Family Law Section. I have also followed Ronald on Twitter and Facebook and have always found his articles and posts helpful and insightful. He is definitely a credit to our profession."