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

4.9 /5.0

76 Client Reviews

Avvo

4.8

(73)

Lawyers.com

5.0

(3 )

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5 stars 66 4 stars 2 3 stars 2 2 stars 1 1 star 2
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Divorce & Separation (33) Child Custody (27) Family (12) Lawsuits & Disputes (10) Business (3) Domestic Violence (3) Litigation (3) Alimony (2) Bankruptcy & Debt (2) Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (2) Child Support (2) Car Accidents (1) Criminal Defense (1) Mediation (1) Personal Injury (1) Wrongful Death (1)
What Clients Mention
Advocacy (41) Case Results (41) Recommendation (31) Professionalism (29) Cost of Services (21) Practice Area Knowledge (21) General Knowledge (20) Character & Conduct (19) Trustworthiness (16) Communication Style (15) Responsiveness (14) Compassion (9) Staff & Support (7) Free Consultations (3) Payment Plans (1)

Showing 26 - 27 of 27 reviews | Child Custody

Posted by RLS | October 29, 2012

Great help at a difficult time

Todd handled my divorce with great care and professionalism. My spouse and I decided to end our marriage after more than 15 years together. It was not a nasty situation, but it did require significant negotiation because of the ages of our children and our financial situation. Todd worked extremely w...ell with opposing counsel, allowing me to have the results I wanted, in the time that I desired. Todd thoroughly explained the process to me and was attentive to my budgetary constraints. Todd proved himself to be a highly effective and highly supportive attorney. I would absolutely recommend Todd.

Posted by Kristin | May 25, 2017

Unsettling experience

I called desperately seeking an attorney for some family law matters. I needed help to revise a parenting plan to be exact. After giving the paralegal a brief description of what was going on, she then went on to tell me how important my case was and how it was time sensitive and that she could get m...e an appt for a consult in the next hour. Eager to finally have had someone hear me out and take my case as a priority, I went online and filled out the intake form as Keri advised. After that was completed, I received a call Back from her. The first question out of her mouth was how was I going to pay. Now I get that this is a business and at the end of the day you want to get paid, but I was very thrown off by this. She then went on to say that Todd wants $5000.00 up front. I mean he hadn't hadn't even reviewed my case or even knows me at this point. And after all, they do advertise "free consult". The free consult was not a worry of hers at this point. She only wanted to know how I was going to pay, should I hire him. I expressed to her that I didn't have the entire $5000.00 up front. Man did her demeanor change. All of a sudden my very important, time sensitive case became disposable. Disregarding the fact of me wanting a consult, she then directed me to what she called a "more affordable lawyer" at an entire different firm. So we get off of the phone. Because of Todd's raving reviews, I wanted to consult with him. In tears because as a mother I'm desperate to seek help for my children, I called back. Keri answers and I express to her how much I really wanted to consult with Todd and to please ask him if he would be willing to take $2000.00 now and then the remaining in payments. After all, there was no divorce litigation needed as we were never married. It was a simple parenting plan revision. So I felt $5000.00 was kind of steep anyhow. She goes on to tell me because she likes me, she would personally ask Todd and then get back to me in a few minutes. That was two days ago. I still haven't heard anything and I'm sure it's safe to say I've probably been pushed to the side. Now I understand that this is a business and he wants to get paid. (He would have got paid) Yes I get that, but at the end of the day, what in the heck happened to compassion? I'm a desperate mother seeking legal aid and to just get the door shut in my face because I didn't have the entire funds up front, boggled my mind and gave me less respect to humanity. Out of all the other attorneys I called, they were all willing to schedule payment arrangements. This firm gave me the impression that they absolutely won't offer any payment plans. Regardless of my pleas. Here you see, I couldn't even get my free consult. What if he heard me out? What if he liked my case? What if he felt I had a strong case? What if he felt $5000.00 was entirely too high for a simple revision of a parenting time plan? Did he even know that I called or did Keri just dismiss me entirely? Did he even know of my pleas? Sometimes don't you just wish someone would stand up and stand beside you for what's right? (FYI I did not get the consultation either this site made me select one.)

Todd Burnham

Replied last May 25, 2017

I remember you Kristin. You said you couldn't get a free consult. In fact, my office scheduled a consult but you missed it. You bring up an important issue regarding costs. Yours wasn’t a "simple parenting plan revision." It sounded to me like a post decree relocation (See case IRM Ciesluk), which is perhaps the most challenging and in depth representation that this, or any law firm, can attempt. It is also perhaps the most time consuming and expensive representation compared to all others, often including court appointed experts (Parental Responsibility Evaluators). Litigation may well have been necessary. The fact that you are not married was irrelevant. You are correct that, while there are times when we offer payment plans, we would not do so in your case. Cari (our remarkable and committed New Accounts Manager) was simply being honest with you yet still scheduled the Monday appointment. There are less expensive solo practitioners that we refer such cases to because they could perhaps offer you unbundled services or perhaps flat fee agreements...neither of which we offer. Not every case is a fit for my firm. This doesn't mean that we aren't compassionate. It means that I know what it takes to successfully handle a post decree relocation case, and the reality is that in my opinion you would have been required to hire and pay for at least one expert witness. Regardless, knowing that you had limited resources I did set up the initial consultation because we wanted to help. If we don't call back then we wish you well nevertheless. -Todd Burnham”

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