Robert Helland

I needed a divorce attorney asap and was referred to HLG. There was a lack of time and energy put into my case. I expected them to tell me step-by-step what I needed to do and they never gave me all the info/details I needed. Ex. - Before my hearing, they told me which documents were required by... the court but failed to tell me there was a page limit. Also, I thought the first hearing would determine the custody/divorce. I didn't know I would wait months for the hearing that would determine everything. Bob handed my case over to Andrew without letting me know. Less time/attention was put into my case after the first hearing. I only got phone calls/emails from them when the court required something. There were numerous times that I had to call/email them to ask them to answer my first call/email after days of no response. I was charged the minimum time allotment (I think 20 mins) for them to read an email which asked them to respond to my first email. When a g.a.l. was appointed, I was mailed some paperwork and Bob said I didn’t need to fill any of it out. Then after getting an email from the g.a.l. asking for paperwork, I looked through the papers and realized that I did need to fill it out. This was embarrassing and made me look bad. Andrew went with me to mediation. Most of the mediation was me just sitting there and Andrew chiming in every now and then. I didn't get the help and guidance that I paid so much for. I also got very mixed signals in terms of feeling like he was on my side and trying to protect me from the stuff my ex-husband and his attorney were trying to get away with. He pointed things out a few times that they had tried to sneak into the parenting plan and he said this isn’t ok and needs to be changed. Other times he seemed indifferent/like he didn’t care and was super quiet. By the time my court hearing came up I wanted to find a different attorney but felt like I didn’t have enough time to do so. Due to all of the above, I made a decision that I will regret for the rest of my life and made a deal with my ex because I felt I had no other choice. After all of the paperwork was finalized and I was mailed copies of everything, I was told by Andrew that I could go ahead and change my name at any time. I went to the DOL to update my license only to find out that my copy of the paperwork WASN'T CERTIFIED and that I would need to come back with a certified copy. I had to call and ask that they send me one without charging me for it... When my bf picked up my trial retainer refund, Dena was super rude and unprofessional towards him and laughed at him when he was surprised the refund was only $300. She joked about it with the other office staff saying we thought we were going to get it all back. My bf corrected her and said no we didn't expect to get it all back but we expected more than that since we didn't go to trial. The next year, my ex moved with our kids out of the boundary that's listed in our parenting plan. I had to take him to court, so I found a new attorney. My new attorney was a MILLION times more helpful. She said if Helland had asked me for documents for dr./dentist visits for my kids showing that I took them to their appts. that it is a HUGE factor in determining custody. NO ONE AT HELLAND TOLD ME THIS/EVER MENTIONED IT! She ALSO said attorneys who nickel-and-dime people don't like those clients and most attorneys who have ethics/morals don't do this. Knowing that I easily could have gotten full custody (especially after going to court and seeing other custody cases where the mother was awarded full custody despite not working or had things that I thought were "negative" going against her) and HLG failed me/took my money is incredibly depressing. Helland Law Group has negatively affected me and my kids' lives for the rest of their adolescent years. I will regret the choices I felt forced to make due to their failure to properly help me for the rest of my life.

I Hired Barbara Mcinvallie for a week. I thought I was going to proceed with a divorce. She told me that there was a restraining order placed on my soon to be Ex husband. I called 3 times to make sure it was in effect and that he could be served. I was told 'YES' by her twice and office staff twice. ...I called the police to have him served and not one, not two, but THREE officers to me nowhere was their a restraining order in place. They called south sound 911 records, the court, even my soon to be Ex's probation officer. Nothing! Another month passes and now they said I do owe them $300.00. For ..? Doesn't say on the bill. I called and The receptionist says it's basically my fault because I was "pressuring" them to hurry up and issue me the refund? I called two maybe three times about it because it seemed to be taking forever. Do not hire anyone from this law firm! You will pay double for lousy service!

Robert Helland has handled legal matters for me for 20+ years. He most recently helped me with a personal injury case involving a hit and run pedestrian injury accident. Within the first week that I came to Mr. Helland with this case he located an eye witness and obtained a statement as well as the... police investigation reports and filed the appropriate papers to initiate a lawsuit. He was very well prepared and professional in dealings with the insurance company and opposing council. He successfully negotiated an acceptable settlement to avoid the cost and time involved had the case gone to trial. Throughout the process I was always kept aware of the status of the progress of the proceedings and what to expect as the case neared completion. I could not have been more satisfied with the final settlement and resolution of the case. In addition Mr. Heeland always informed of the costs associated with the proceedings and always obtained my approval before incurring any expenses. I have obtained the services of other attorneys for various issues over the years but none more honest and up front than Robert Helland. If he feels that something is not within his field of knowledge he will tell you that and recommend someone that may be better equipped to handle your issue. His honesty and professionalism is outstanding. I would not hesitate to recommend Mr. Helland to my closest family and friends.