Gina Maria Costello

I gave one star rating since there is no zero star. She was my divorce attorney and had the worst experience with her. At the final reading (agreement to) the dissolution in mediation, I started to get very emotional and excused myself to go to the restroom to compose. Right after I entered the ba...throom and was crying, she followed me in and proceeded to raise her voice and told me harshly to get myself together and get back out there so we could wrap it all up. I told her I just needed a few minutes to compose. She continued to hound me to get back to the room in a very rough way. I then told her I wanted my ex to pay for my attorney fees ($6,000) since he had cheated on me for 5 yrs. She said there was NO way they would pay that... NO way! I asked her "how do you know if you don't ask?". She begrudgingly agreed to ask. It was agreed upon that he would pay 1/2. If I hadn't forced her to ask, I wouldn't have gotten ANY fees paid!! I had to argue with her just to get $3,000 for attorney fees! Shouldn't have to do that! In addition to that, she later billed me for phone/email charges in addition to the $3,000 retainer fee I had already paid her for a few short months. I researched the phone logs on Verizon and found that she was over billing me by several hundreds based on her and her paralegal's pay scale for calls/time. I asked her to provide any records of verification of call time she had so I could compare it to mine. She left me a nasty, mean voicemail stating that she didn't operate that way and would NOT provide ANY records. So I ended up sending her a check for the amount that I showed to be correct based on phone records, etc and a note that if she had any issues with the amount that she could contact me. I never heard from her again. In addition to being cheated on by my ex for 5 yrs, this was a horrible experience to go through at a time when you need support, compassion and advocacy. She was rude, brash, and didn't advocate for my best interest financially. For 23 yrs of marriage, I received only 4 yrs of spousal support (and 1/2 attorney fees at MY request). I would not recommend her.

We hired Ms. Costello for our daughter's divorce. She was unprofessional with her writing, grammar and punctuation in her court reports! Really bad. I have to re-do her work multiple time. She must have been working too fast, or dictating without editing. Many of her sentences and paragraphs did...n't make any sense. Her paperwork was never in order during court hearings. The judge commented several time that he couldn't find what she was talking about. The way she wanted us to work with her was quite manipulative to both parties. Sneeky, sly communication with the exiting spouse in order to catch him. Really not my style. She yelled at us a few times when the going got tough and we were frustrated. She even told the judge, in open court, that she smoked marajuana, in an attempt, I think, to minimize the act of using. She also told us that one of her visits was free, then later charged us full price for the same visit. With the multitude of attorneys in Spokane...no one should ever use this person for any legal proceedings. Never.

In the initial interview Gina listened carefully to the facts of my specific situation and ultimately agreed to a different approach than she might have taken. I appreciate that she evaluates each client's individual needs and it resulted in a no-fault divorce that went off without a hitch and in rec...ord time. Gina's staff was wonderful and supportive, with special thanks to Leanne. Thank you, Gina!

I left an abusive marriage about five years ago. My ex-husband was able to get a restraining order against me and take our four children by claiming I was homeless and on drugs. A friend suggested that I contact Gina Costello. After consulting with Gina I hired her. She and her staff were a godsend. ...I was in such a vulnerable state. Gina not only represented me exceptionally well in court but also gave me invaluable advice to keep me safe, help my children to heal and protected me emotionally in court. If I had paid double her fees, it would have been worth every penny and then some. Another thing that I really respect about Gina is the way she brings her values into her business and into the courtroom. Gina is fighting the good fight. I can't say enough good things. I am just so grateful that I found Gina Costello.

She is a rude and unethical person. She took 3500 dollars and i had her less than a month. She would have her paralegals email me paperwork i had already given them and charge me for it!!! Then when it came to giving my ex a depo she had a date that wasnt even a correct one. She had put a date that w...as a sunday and wrote monday. Then at the last minute she cancelled. Then when i went in to with draw she yelled at me and told me how stupid i was and continued to yell at me til i signed a parenting plan she had drew up. And the parenting plan was completely different than what i had wanted because my ex and i had settled on one and she didnt like it. Then she went on to say that id be lucky if id even see a penny back when she had done absolutely nothing besides draw up paperwork!!! How is that 3500 dollars worth of time in less than a month of having her!!! I would not reccomend this woman. She is aweful!!!