Jonathan Baxter Lafrance

I retained Lafrance on June 16, 2021, and I had such an awful experience with this man. He never wanted to actually do any type of work to settle my divorce but just continued to deduct money from the $6,000 retainer. He was wasting time and meanwhile continued to deduct more money from the $6,000 b...ased on the emails that I was sending him, asking if he had read anything with the 2 months that I had given him. In order to be updated with my divorce case. He needed to take over where my first attorney had left off but his intentions were never to do any actual paperwork. He would respond to few of me and I asked him if he doesn't respond to emails much? Then he said..."we can go through each and every one of your emails to me, so,, that you feel thoroughly satisfied that you are being be heard". I was in SHOCK!! Because I did not pay him $6,000 just for him to tell that he just wanted to listen to me. I wanted him to do some actual paperwork such as spousal support proposal and legal fees but he never did anything like that. He was deducting more more money from the $6,000 retainer and then I told him that the Board of Attorneys of California clearly says that if a client has an objections regarding the bill, to speak to the attorney about it and try to resolve it but when I told him this. This is when he Kick Me to the Curb and told me to find myself another attorney. Then he said..."you should find yourself another attorney because you and I are not a good fit". I said...that's fine, I just want you to return all my original divorce documents as soon as possible so that I can find another attorney to take over bit I would like for you to return my $6,000 retainer because you didn't do any actual paperwork for my divorce. Then, he wouldn't respond for days after I kept sending him emails. Then later on August 31, 2021, I wrote a complaint against him with the Board of Attorneys because he refuses to return all my original divorce documents. Which he said..."you are not at any disadvantage because you told me that these were copies and you also said that you 2 flash drive". I told him that it doesn't matter whether I have 2 flash drives or not. Because I paid $4,148, to my previous attorney to print them out for me. When I called him on August 31, 2021, I told him that I would like to stop by his office the next day to sign the Credit Card Authorization-Refund and pick up my divorce documents. This is when began to scream at me over the telephone and said..."I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU HERE IN MY OFFICE" "I JUST WANT TO SIGN THE SUBSTITUTION OF ATTORNEY AND CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION-REFUND RIGHT NOW TODAY ". I was trying to talk but he would continue to raise his voice at me and which is something that I never had experience with an attorney, except my soon to be ex-husband who would verbally and physically abused for 35 years. I told him that the Substitution of Attorney already had my signature because he made sure that this paper was signed on the very day that I retained him. Which I didn't make anything of it. I thought that this was something that maybe some attorneys do? Because my first attorney never did it when I first hired her. I asked him...can I record our conversations because I don't want the same thing to happen again. Because my first attorney would things over the telephone and on her emails would be something very different. Then, he said..."No, I don't authorize the recording of Attorney-client telephone calls". I should of FIRED this attorney because all he has done is harass me til the present day. I even had to file a small claims against him, which it will take place in November 4, 2021. Everyone speaks very well of this man but he is not honest but he is deceitful. Especially when I told him that I was verbally and physically abused by my soon to be ex-husband. I truly believe that he is on my soon to be ex-husband side and this is why he did not want to do any paperwork to end my divorce

Attorney Jonathan la France did a great job defending me in a civil suit filed by my next-door neighbor in city of Malibu. As I was building my new ocean view home. The next neighbor filed a civil lawsuit to stop me from building my home. My neighbor felt that my house would block a small portion of ...his view. I had an approved set of plans stamp by the city of Malibu to build. The lawsuit was extraordinarily complex regarding lot lines, surveying, ancient landslides and lot line markers. Special surveyors had to be hired to be mitigate property lines. Mr La France and his team work extremely hard, day and night even weekends to get paperwork filed with the courts on time. Mr La France determination and attention to details resulted in the dismissal of the restraining order. This resulted in money saved and a brand-new home. Thanks Mr La France!!!

I hired Mr LaFrance to defend me in an "assault" case. I had gotten into a shouting/shoving situation and was arrested by the police. I was released OR and immediately contacted Mr LaFrance to help with my defense. He immediately went to work building our defense and after conferring with the plai...ntiff several times, we settled. Mr LaFrance was on top of the situation all the time, and I never felt that I had been abandoned. I was extremely satisfied with the work and concern put into this situation by Mr LaFrance and would definitely use im and any further legal matters I would run into

Unfortunately, I am now going through a divorce and I came to Jonathan in need of desperate help as my husband has unlimited means. Not only has Jonathan won every battle so far but his creativity and passion will outwit all other attorneys. He never gives up and has a great deal of patience. In fami...ly law, it's critical to have an attorney that knows how to negotiate. Jonathan is not about dragging out a fight, but rather focuses on finding the solution. He is a man who is devoted to his clients and will take my call at anytime and will truly work all night if necessary to come out on top. He is scholarly, ethical and the most amazing attorney I have ever known. He gives family law attorneys a good name! He is the only reason why I can sleep at night, knowing my life is in good hands. I trust him and I recommend him 100%.

Jonathan Lafrance is an excellent lawyer. I was in a situation where I was wrongly convicted of a traffic citation because I arrived 10 minutes late to the court room for the trial. The judge decided to have the trial in my absence without affording me due process. He left the court room after all... the other trials were completed and he did not give me the opportunity to speak. I was informed by the bailiff and the clerk in the court room that there was nothing I could do, that I had missed my chance. I called Mr. Lafrance who was recommended to me by a friend. He immediately sprung into action and assured me that he would resolve the situation. He obtained all of the per tenant details from me and put together a motion that was very well written. He even worked with me late into the evening by phone, as time was of the essence. The motion had to be filed within a limited period of time. It was successfully filed, and the judge accepted the motion and allowed me to have another trial. The police officer once again appeared in court and I was found not guilty. Without Mr. Lafrance, I would have accepted the initial court ruling (assuming I had no other option), and would have found myself with a charge for a violation which I did not commit, as well as with a point added to my record. He was highly responsive to me and acted quickly and knowledgeably. He knew exactly what to do. I would highly recommend Jonathan Lafrance to anyone looking for a competent, knowledgeable, trustworthy lawyer.