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Steven Jon Cone

Divorce and separation Attorney at Palo Alto, CA

4.0   4 reviews
Free consultation Virtual consultation available
Free consultation Virtual consultation available
  • Licensed for 44 years
    State CA
    Acquired 1978
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Steven

Learn Steven’s areas of practice.

DI MARIA & CONE: WE HELP YOU GET INTO MARRIAGE AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK WE HELP YOU GET OUT.

I am a Partner at Di Maria & Cone, a Palo Alto law firm where we practice family law exclusively. I've been practicing law since 1978 and can provide my clients with extensive experience and knowledge. Our firm handles the broad spectrum of family law issues, such as child custody, child support, spousal support, property division and domestic violence restraining orders. At Di Maria & Cone, we pride ourselves in taking the time to get to know our clients because it will allow us to carefully tailor our representation to the client's goals and best interests. Also, we know that each client has a unique situation and we never lose sight of how the legal advocacy we provide affects real children and parents. We represent clients in most of the Bay Area counties, but primarily in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Please contact our office for a free consultation.

Specialties:Family law, divorces, complex property issues, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, pre-marital (prenuptial) and post-marital agreements

Awards

Top Contributor 2021,2020,2019,2018,2014
Top Contributor
2021 2020 2019 + 2 ...

Contact Steven

Di Maria & Cone

Reviews

4.0 / 5.0
  4 customer reviews
5 Star
 
75%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
0%
1 Star
 
25%
Posted by John | May 14, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Experienced and level-headed guidance to victory
I engaged Steve for a financially complicated divorce from start to finish over a period of years. With Steve's guidance, I assembled an international team of forensic and tax accountants. I emerged with an astonishing settlement. This was one of the best collaborations in my career, legal and business experience. The experts who worked with us seem to have a similarly positive impression of Steve. Some reviewers say that Steve is interested only in fees. Well, I have quite a lot of experience paying Steve and I was not overcharged. He always guided me toward the least inflammatory, most economical approach; I did a lot of the work myself. I got good value for my money. In the interest of full disclosure, I want you to know that in my case only finances were contested. There were no children and no trial. My ex-wife, her attorney and I were all businesslike. Still, from what I have seen Steve has the experience and personality to guide you through a more emotional divorce. Get a consultation and judge for yourself.
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Posted by Frederique Georges | July 27, 2020
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
clarity and precision
I got excellent advice from this attorney. Others have remained vague and missed the information that I wrote so they did not give me precise replies. This attorney spoke from his experience dealing with courts and clerks, did not take a wild guess and I felt respected in my inquiry and now I can move on. Thank you.
Posted by anonymous | August 24, 2019
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
SOMEONE I CAN TRUST
Mr. Cone was excellent. He gave me solid advice, explained what he felt were my best options and listened to me. I felt I could trust him and also flt my best interests were his first priority.
Posted by anonymous | November 2, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Pathetic Lawyer
I hired this lawyer because I saw his answers on many questions posted here. I was very apprehensive about hiring him as there were no reviews but thought may be he is old school so that's why. It was indeed foolish of me. He charged me a big retainer which he agreed could be paid in installments and if I didn't like his work he would return the money. Mr. Cone only indulges in emails, will charge $450/- an hour, has no team and is all about being vague with no plan for your case as a client. He has no assistants aides to help him, so even for minor stuff you will get charged $450-an hour flat. He charged me $300/- just for serving papers to my husband. His emails are vague to the extend that you will be left puzzled and more confused than ever. He had no clear idea about my case. Please be careful with this lawyer. There is a reason there are only 2 reviews for him, even on Yelp. I trusted him with my money and with my case but i was very disappointed. Ive had to hire another lawyer and this time i was careful about it. Mr. Cone didn't have a plan for me, I had to keep asking him for stuff and he just made a big bill for me for the vague emails he sent me. And later says that's how he makes money. In the end, when I switched lawyers, I've had to pay a bigger retainer to the new lawyer, but at least I have hired a lawyer with good reviews. Reviews mean a lot - there is a reason they are written. Written with intention about the character of the lawyer, his style of working and about the work ofcourse. Please don't hire reading his answers. In a career spanning over 45 yrs, he has only 2 ratings here, which mean something. I started feeling I will have to change soon after I filed and realized how much he had charged. I finally took him off my case when he emailed me, after reading a random post on AVVO which was written by someone else and not me. This showed me he didn't know my case at all. And to email me asking about some random case is absolutely absurd and ludicrous. Who has time for this ? He does, because he books clients by taking the retainer and then enjoys posting on avvo here to questions as his hobby. He refuses to pay me the amount he owes me. Upon calling him, he tell me do what you have to but this is it. I am shocked at the way this lawyer has behaved! Pl save yourself money, time and disappointment and hire someone who may be ready to take your case, puts in some effort and really has integrity and the intention to help you.
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Response from Steven Cone November 4, 2020
The review ignores much of the history of our attorney-client relationship. Sometimes lawyers take on a client and find out that they don't connect. My client praised much of my work as it was being done, but as time went on she seemed to think I had some power to take care of getting her what she wanted without her participation or input. I would propose actions we could take and she would not respond; I would ask her for documents to use in preparing papers in her case and she would not respond. I suggested she let me go and sent her a substitution of attorney. She demanded I return all of the money she had paid me but wouldn't sign the substitution. Within a few days I received an email from her in which she praised me and asked me more questions about her case that I answered. In the course of about a month, it took 3 or 4 rounds of this back and forth before she found another attorney who finally sent me the substitution. I did not charge her for the time I spent on her case after her September bill, and returned her remaining retainer last week. I do use AVVO because I enjoy helping people make their way through family law cases. I have received over 50 best answers and numerous attorneys have agreed with my answers. I wish I could win them all but in this case it didn't happen. I wish for my client that her case will come to a successful conclusion.
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 30 minutes
  • Hourly Rates $ 500-500 per hour
  • Retainer Always
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 7.7 (Very Good)

Work Experience

  • Partner
  • Di Maria & Cone
  • 1997 - Present
  • Attorney
  • Self Employed
  • 1995 - 1997
  • Attorney-Editor/Manager
  • Bancroft-Whitney
  • 1985 - 1995
  • Associate
  • Di Maria & Cone
  • 1982 - 1985
  • Associate
  • Wade Hover, Esq.
  • 1977 - 1982
View all work experience

Education

  • Santa Clara University School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 1978
  • University of California - Santa Cruz
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1973

Associations

  • San Mateo County Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2009 - Present
  • Palo Alto Area Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2003 - Present
  • Santa Clara County Bar Association
  • Member
  • 1997 - Present
  • State Bar of California
  • Member
  • 1978 - Present
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Attorney endorsements

Received (6)
Given (1)
Endorse Steven
Divorce and separation Attorney | Nov 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Cone provides a much needed service on Avvo. He donates his time to individuals who are in need of immediately legal answers."
Family Attorney | Apr 14
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Marriage and prenuptials Attorney | Jan 09
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"The answers of Mr. Cone are consistently accurate, analytic and customized to the needs of the Avvo askers. These are exactly the qualities that every client would look for when hiring an attorney."
Alimony Attorney | Oct 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Cone provides a much needed service on Avvo. He donates his time to individuals who are in need of immediately legal answers."
Unknown Attorney | Oct 22
Relationship: Other
"I highly endorse this attorney, While maintaining excellent client service and ethics, they are a well-respected member of the legal community."
Unknown Attorney | Oct 09
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have only known of him as an excellent advocate."
View more endorsements
Divorce and separation
Palo Alto Divorce and separation Lawyer Steven Jon Cone
Steven Jon Cone
Divorce and separation Attorney
Palo Alto, CA
Licensed for 44 years
Free Consultation
Virtual consultation available