Maria Elena Crabtree

I had a consultation with Ms. Crabtree and she was an absolute pleasure to speak with. She is honest, empathetic, and knowledgeable about the law. I felt comfort a speaking with her in regards to the facts around my face. She also is highly intuitive and that was impressive to me. I would definitely hire her to take on my case. She strikes me as an assertive woman that knows her stuff!

My wife and I spoke to Mrs. Crabtree on the phone for a 30 minute consultation that turned into and almost 1 hour phone call. At no time did she ask for a fee or try to convince us to hire her. I think she may be 1 of very few attorney's in the state of California that cares more about her clients than she does profit. Mrs. Crabtree explained exactly what we could accomplish on our own without the need for an attorney, and at what point we may need to think about one. As someone who specializes and teaches best business practices I can personally tell you Maria Crabtree is a very impressive attorney with a phenomenal moral compass who will stay in business for as long as she so chooses. I would hire her in a heartbeat, and if it comes down to it, she will be the attorney we hire for our case.

There were a few specific attributes I was looking for in an attorney whom I was going to hire to work on my case. 1. Expertise – A proficient attorney experienced enough to have seen it all and ready to change course as needed. My case was highly intricate, facing obstacles at every turn. Maria was experienced and skilled enough to surmount the impediments and remained solid, and her confidence was a strong anchor for me. 2. Attorney-Client relationship – An attorney who represents me and not just another divorce case, because every case is different, every partnership is unique, and a general rule is often not applicable. What impressed me the most about Maria was she dedicated her time and effort at the beginning of the case and attentively listened, studied, learned, and understood who her client was and the specific circumstances of the case in order to tailor the representation. Maria’s most impressive traits are her continual attention, and prompt responses to always be available to protect her client, even if it meant protecting me from myself, which built confidence, trust, and professional courtesy. 3. Comforting/reassuring – An attorney who is able to calm my emotions in an enormously stressful time. While I was panicking on the other end of the line, Maria helped put my mind at ease with her very thoughtful sound advice and her genuine warmth and care. I left her office feeling empowered and ready for my next steps every single time. Although the entire process was not fun, I think Maria and her staff made this as painless as could possibly be for me. 4. Ethical – Although, it is natural to want to “win at any cost”, but what was important to me, to hire an attorney who follows the rules of professional conduct, and obtain the best results with intelligence, skill, proficiency, and ability to practice the law rather than through unethical means. Although, Maria is aggressive with a purpose and fights hard when facing challenges, but she never lost the sight of the big picture – obtain the best results for her client through gaining the confidence of everyone involved – opposing counsel, the judge, and of course her client with her intelligence and skills. 5. Attorney’s budget – an attorney that knows when to lavish and when to be frugal about the budget. Maria not only never attempted to make my case about the money, but also she protected me from taking unreasonable risks and/or spending more money on the conflicts that had no merits. What moved me was her commitment to her client - she comforted me at times when I was concerned about sustaining my attorney’s budget, by ensuring that my representation will not be interrupted because of her fees. Many thanks to Maria and her staff!

Maria was my second attorney for my divorce. She's a young attorney, she's smart and doesn't back down at the appropriate times. She helped keep me to remain focused at settlement time. I always felt she was on my side and I trustee her. She won't fight dirty or engage foolishly with the other side... if you want a strong person to represent you with professionalism and class, call Maria... She also has a sense of humor which is vital when going through this process! Even when you're the wife and ypu have pay him!

I am finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, following 4 year emotionally and physically abusive marriage with a drug addict. I had initially planned on retaining Ms. Crabtree so that she could provide legal support for my permanent restraining order hearing. My husband ended up trying to fighting me every step of the way during the restraining order hearings. I also own real estate that I could absolutely not afford to loose. Needless to say, I ended up retaining her for much more of the limited scope than I had originally intended. I am an extremely independent woman with a DIY attitude. Unfortunately, I was completely out of my depth with this case. I had a consultation with another lawyer before I found Ms. Crabtree. The first time I walked out of her office, following my initial consultation, I knew things were going to be okay. I am also appreciative of the fact that she does her best to keep my overall costs low. Ms. Crabtree has a deep understanding of domestic violence cases. She pointed out some of my flawed thinking that I was able to see, fresh out of my abusive marriage. I could not have gotten through this alone.