Humor is the key
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Practice Areas
33 years | 1,500 cases
33 years | 1,500 cases
33 years | 1,500 cases
33 years | 1,500 cases
Always
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Chat withState: California
Acquired: 1993
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19244 Redwood Road, Suite B, Castro Valley, CA, 94546
1301 G Street, Suite A, Modesto, CA, 95354
I Sansome, Suite 3500, San Francisco, CA, 94104
23 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews | Child Support
Posted by anonymous | March 18, 2015 | Child Support
Honest and ethical attorney
I worked in the legal field for over 10 years and it is rare to find such an honest and ethical attorney like Bernie Kempen. He did an outstanding job for me regarding custody and support.
Thank you for your review and I am pleased to have been of service. Clients come and go, judges come and go, but lawyers stick around for a long time. It's therefor crucial for any attorney to maintain a pristine reputation for honesty and ethical conduct. I am a Rotarian and am guided by our 4-way test in everything I say and do; 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships. 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned.
Posted by Christine | March 22, 2013 | Child Support
Grateful, Grateful, Grateful
I used Bernie and his staff during my first divorce over 10 years ago. I will be ever grateful for the guidance he gave me, as I was completely lost. The other parent was a complete snake and used my own friends and family members to gain inside information during our divorce proceedings, even ...
Thank you, Christine. Many clients thank me years later for telling them the truth they didn't want to hear. Those are difficult times for the best of people and it's important that you have an attorney who looks out for your best interests; does not necessarily do you bidding and does not promise unrealistic results. The satisfaction I get from my job is to do my best for the client on the facts presented.
Posted by anonymous | October 01, 2012 | Child Support
$40k later and still married.
The following statement is my personal opinion based on my experience with Attorney Bernie Kempen. I would not recommend Bernie to anyone getting a divorce. Initially Bernie made me feel comfortable and that this case was a slam dunk. $40k later I am still married and left not knowing what to do. ...
This is Bernie Kempen. Regrettably I recall this client well. Contrary to her statement that she spent $40,000 in litigation, she demanded the litigation against my advice and when the court eventually allowed my request to withdraw from the case, she promptly (as is her right, of course) filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and discharged approximately $37,000 of the owed attorneys fees and costs. She did so without any regard to the effect of such a bankruptcy filing on the families working in the office of a sole practitioner. This is a common risk for any sole practitioner. Where a client can relieve an attorney as attorney of record at any time, the attorney cannot discharge the client without court approval and needs to continue providing legal services in the interim. It is essential that my clients follow my advice. If they don't, then they need to find another attorney. The work of a family lawyer is similar to that of an emergency room physician. You have to perform the best task with the facts presented to try to salvage whatever you can from a disaster. Very seldom can you achieve 100% recovery. You do what you can. There is no justice in a divorce, no retribution. It is merely emergency work with the hope of a decent recovery and the hope of a new life. As in this particular case, where both parents were at the time competent and involved, California State law prefers that the court orders a custody plan that ensures frequent and continuing contact with both parents. This client cannot blame me that the father of her children does not want to exercise his visits now (three years after I was her attorney of record). State law also provides that the community portion of all retirement plans be shared or offset equally. The court has no discretion to order otherwise. Judges and lawyers do not control the facts of a case. Here both parties opted to jump into new relationships too fast. My client started cohabiting with a partner whom she had to support, while her husband chose a new partner with a six figure income and two homes. The new partner came to all court appearance dressed to kill. She provided husband with a new boat and a new car. I have no doubt that this conduct was partly designed to rankle my former client. Naturally this was and continues to be distressing to her. It also became clear that Husband would try as long as he could for the divorce to become final so that he would not need to marry his new partner and would continue to be the recipient of his new partner’s gifting. By California State Law, the court cannot take new partners' incomes and assets into consideration when ordering child support and will only in narrow circumstances order alimony where there is cohabitation with a new partner. Attorneys are frequently blamed for the dysfunction in family relationships. This is called transference. This is one of those cases. It is my hope that this client will eventually learn that her situation will not improve until she stops trying to blame others for the situation she has helped to create and accepts personal responsibility. In the meanwhile she dealt my solo practice and my staff with a crippling financial blow and attempts to do more damage with this review. She refused to discharge me as her attorney when I asked her to and now she complains about the representation? Does that make sense? My mistake was to continue trying to help her and by not asking the court to relieve me as counsel sooner.
Posted by anonymous | December 29, 2011 | Child Support
I highly recommend Mr. Kempen and his firm.
Mr. Kempen assisted me with my child custody and support matters. He was diligent, knowledgable, and fought hard for me in Court. I ended up with a result that was fair and beneficial for my children, I highly recommend Mr. Kempen and his staff.
Thank you! I strive to be at your side and on your side. I believe that I serve my client's best interest when I am able to come up with results that are in the best interests of the children, who do not have the same abilities as adults to handle adversity and dysfunction. Another important aspect is client service. I strive the make sure that any queries my clients may have are promptly handled
"I endorse Mr. Kempen because I know he can do the job for you correctly and swiftly, with the utmost in professionalism."
"I endorse this lawyer. Bernie is an experienced, certified family law specialist. He is also a Rotarian that lives by the motto "service above self"."
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Kempen provides thoughtful, educated and experienced answers to the questions provided herein. Attorney Kempen provides a needed service by providing voluntary and free legal assistance to the individuals herein who are in need of immediate legal answers."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have had many cases with Bernie. He is professional, well versed in family law and has an excellent common sense approach to resolution of pending cases."
"I endorse this lawyer's work. Bernie is a very knowledgeable Certified Family Law Specialist. He has appeared on matters on my behalf. He has a true ability to evaluate a case in light of the applicable law and proceed accordingly. His clients are very well informed and advised. He is knowledgeable of not only the law but also the practice and customs of our legal community."
Family lawyer
Family lawyer
Business lawyer
Family lawyer
Family lawyer
2015
BV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Certified Specialist - Family Law, State Bar of California
2014
BV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2014
Certified Specialist - Family Law, State Bar of California
2006
Volunteer of the Year, CVUSD
1996 - Present
Sole Practitioner, Kempen&Company
1993 - 1996
Associate, Cunningham & Lansden
1990 - 1993
Clerk, Alameda County Public Defender's Office
1987 - 1990
Marketing Director, Biomed Canada
1984 - 1987
General Manager, Casterm Plastics Los Angeles
1981 - 1984
Partner, Linestar Productions
1978 - 1981
Account Director, J. Walter Thompson Ad Agency
1977 - 1978
Advertising Manager, FIAT SA
1974 - 1976
Articled Law Clerk, Balsillie Watermeyer and Bosman
2012 - Present
Friends of The Company (Young People's Teen Musical Theatre CompanyPresident
2007 - Present
Castro Valley Arts FoundationPresident
2004 - Present
Alameda County Bar Association
2003 - Present
Castro Valley Rotary ClubPast President
1993 - Present
Stanislaus County Bar Association
2014 - 2015
FoSOTA (Friends of the San Francisco School of the Arts)Trustee/Board member
2014 - 2015
Castro Valley MattersCaretaker Board Member
2010 - 2011
Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of The Arts Site CouncilChairperson
2008 - 2011
Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of The Arts PTSAVP
2006 - 2008
Creekside SchoolPTSA President
2006 - 2007
CVHSPTA President
2006 - 2007
CVHSBoosters Club
2002 - 2004
Association of Certified Family Law Specialists
2002 - 2003
Proctor SchoolSite Council Member
2001 - 2002
Proctor SchoolPresident PTA
Presumed Gay Parent Status
1993
JD - Juris Doctor
1978
B.A.
2007
South Africa
2006
South Africa
2010
English
Afrikaans
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