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About Michael
Biography
Michael B. Greenstein is not presently licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania. If you need legal advice or experienced representation for your family law matter, contact Attorney Tara L. Hutchinson at.
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Pennsylvania for 34 years
State: Pennsylvania
Acquired: 1991
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2018
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Michael Bruce Greenstein's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
25 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (25)
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Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews | Advocacy
Posted by anonymous | July 05, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
This lawyer is suspended !!
He is not a lawyer anymore and was a dirtbag when he was! Also he posts fake review! He represented a friend of mine and told her that he went to court when he did not. He also said that hearings occurred when they did not. As a result my friend lost her kids for months all because she listened...
Posted by chris | March 21, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation
Adoption
the attorneys are very friendly and we won our case (no thanks realy to our legal team). But other than that the experience was not the best.. I had to redo several things like my background check because they had me get it done too early and it was not accepted by the court by the time it was need...
Michael Greenstein
Replied last March 21, 2018Many people need legal services, but after more than twenty-five years as a family law attorney I have yet to meet the client who enjoys paying fees to a lawyer, especially when costs must increase after a case becomes more complex than the client had hoped. Court cases seldom offer a straight, smooth and level path no matter how simple it *should* have been. In Pennsylvania, adoption in particular is one of those areas of the law in which even after every detail has been seen to, challenges arise that no lawyer can prevent nor control, and that take additional billable time to address. Adoption judges are as cautious as they are thorough so that they may be sure that the families they weld together are safe from future attack by an angry ex-parent. This means that (for example) when a disinterested absentee parent appears in court to proclaim himself Superdad, the court will put the adoption proceeding on hold pending further investigation. We must pass on to the client the cost of the additional time we are compelled to spend to address such matters, because such unfortunate developments are no more our fault than they are the client’s fault. I cannot prevent a client from choosing to blame us for the unpreventable setbacks and delays that affected his case and how we had to handle it, but I can say this: we advised this client correctly, we did not (and do not!) lose documents, we successfully fielded every curve ball thrown our way, and we got the job done for him. Despite his apparent dissatisfaction with the process that led to his successful outcome, we enjoyed working with this client and I continue to wish him and his family the very best enjoyment of their shared lives. On a related note, I make it a point to advise every new client that if they should find themselves dissatisfied for any reason with the service we are providing, I will always be glad to address it with them at no charge. I always do my best to make sure that we are offering the level of service that our clients have every reason to expect, and I never want a client to hesitate to reach out to me to raise a concern for fear of being charged to address it. Some law firms might be set up to put barriers between their clients and the person in charge, but not ours.
Posted by David | November 03, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Family
Michael Greenstein -- The best family lawyer in Allegheny County
I retained Michael 17 years ago. Using Michael as my advocate in court several times in the past 17 years allowed me to maintain a close relationship with my child from infancy to today. When you trust your family with Greenstein Family Law you will benefit from the best family legal counsel availa...
Posted by anonymous | January 23, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Domestic Violence
Poor Representation
I hired this firm to represent me in a PFA case. Upon initially contacting the firm I was impressed with there quick response and willingness to answer my questions. I had a 2 hour consult with the Sr. Attorney at the firm the day after contacting them. The consult went ok but I did feel like very li...
Michael Greenstein
Replied last January 23, 2016Neither I, nor anyone at my firm, ever has nor ever will appear in court unprepared. Client service and client satisfaction are always priorities, and because results are beyond any lawyer's control, we also prioritize being a "reality check" on our own clients to ensure that we are working in partnership rather than at cross-purposes. No one likes to be told that he or she is contributing to a difficult situation, of course, and legal advice is always harder to follow than it is to give, but the bitter truth is that no lawyer can help you in any lasting way if you don't follow that advice. The most dangerous thing you can ever bring into a courtroom is the sure and certain knowledge that you are utterly right, that your ex is utterly wrong, and that anyone who cannot see that essential truth must either be stupid, blind or corrupt. Judges will always see your situation differently than you do; and the judge's perspective and priorities must also become your own if you want any hope of success in a courtroom. This is why I always call things for clients as I see them, without a sugar-coating, because I believe that clients should hear hard truths from me across a desk or over the telephone before they have to hear them from judges across a courtroom. Any lawyer of long experience can tell you that some clients don't respond well to that. Some clients will argue with their lawyers when encouraged to abandon a black-and-white perspective that no judge will buy into, and then -- when the judge doesn't buy into it, after all! -- choose to blame the lawyer they didn't want to listen to in the first place. It's not a perfect world of course, but I suppose that's just as well given that a perfect world probably doesn't need lawyers. The commenter's description of events during the brief period when she was a client of my firm is highly inaccurate, but I nevertheless hope that she ultimately finds the kind of satisfaction she seeks.
Posted by Elizabeth | January 06, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Adoption
Brought our family peace
Michael handled my case of termination of parental rights and subsequent adoption of my son by my husband and our family could not be happier with the results. The long, difficult, and drawn out process of parental right termination was stressful and scary. Michael and his team made sure we were full...
Michael Bruce Greenstein's Lawyer Endorsements
"I wholeheartedy endorse Michael Greenstein, Esq. as a child custody attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer. Michael has a huge breadth of knowledge in the area of family law and his clients are the beneficiaries of such knowledge. He is a dedicated lawyer and advocate for his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. Michael is an outstanding lawyer. He shows great concern for his clients and fights hard for the best result for them. He has a lot of experience and knowledge in the areas of divorce, custody, support and property settlement. I highly recommend him."
"Michael Greenstein will not rest until his client is completely satisfied. He truly cares about his clients and is very sensitive to their needs. Michael takes the time to listen to his client, and then utilizes his exceptional intellect and legal knowledge to craft a winning argument. I highly respect Michael Greenstein and endorse his ability to effectively represent his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. Michael is an excellent family law attorney in all areas."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Greenstein has wide breadth of legal acumen, as evinced by his comprehensive responses on Avvo. He has the knowledge and dedication to be an effective advocate for his clients."
"I have known Michael for more than ten years, both as opposing counsel and as a fellow attorney practicing in the area of family law. I have always found Michael to be honest, sincere and responsive in his handling of cases, as well as more generally in the legal community."
"Mike strikes the perfect balance of zealously advocating for his clients while still being a true gentleman and exercising professional courtesy at all times. He makes it possible to creatively and amicably resolve cases in ways that truly benefits the clients, and not just the attorneys involved. For that reason, he is respected by the Court and his colleagues, and I look forward to having many more cases with him!"
"I have known Michael for going on eight years now, having had several cases against him, and having seen him in action in other cases as well. He is an ethical, smart, excellent advocate for his clients. He is straightforward, and you can trust his word."
"When I opposed this lawyer, I found him to be extremely tenacious and a zealous advocate for his client."
"Michael has a wealth of knowledge in the area of family law--there is no issue that he doesn't know how to address! He is also a wonderful mentor to newer attorneys and sets a great example for colleagues."
"Attorney Greenstein is one of the most well respected members of the legal community. His knowledge, experience and trustworthiness set him apart from other lawyers. I highly recommend him."
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Greenstein is an outstanding attorney with an exceptional reputation. He is a strong and zealous advocate for his client and a credit to the legal profession, I highly endorse him."
"Michael Greenstein showed me something a few months ago that every lawyer and every divorce and family law client needs to know about. Back in April I found myself having to be in 2 places at once. As a result, I needed someone to cover me for one complex family law matter while I took care of the other equically complicated personal injury matter. I asked Attorney Greenstein to cover me on the family law situation, and I can't stop talking about the results! Michael Greenstein took on the complicated family law project on short notice, and quickly went to work. He broke the project down into managable parts and poceeded to do an excellent job. Most importantIy, because of Michael, I could take care of the other legal matter with peace of mind and laser focus - which , in turn, helped me and my client in that case. I would not hesitate to refer divorce and family law matters to Michael Grteenstein in the future, and in fact, I do!"
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Experience
Professional misconduct
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2018.
Suspension issued in PA, 2018
updated on 11/06/2020Suspended means an attorney lost his or her license to practice law for a period of time. The attorney typically returns to practicing law when the suspension expires.
Honors
2016
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Work Experience
2009 - 2010
Associate, Notaro & Associates
2003 - 2009
Partner, Voelker, Gricks & Greenstein
1998 - 2002
Owner, Law Office of Michael B. Greenstein
1995 - 1998
Partner, Slivinska & Greenstein
1992 - 1995
Owner, Law Office of Michael B. Greenstein
Associations
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Member
Allegheny County Bar Association
Member
2014 - 2017
Pittsburgh Savoyards, Inc.President
Sample of Legal Cases
Valerie H. Miller v. William R. Miller et al.
Favorable
Education
1991
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Juris Doctor
1988
Brandeis University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2011
Continuing Legal Education session for legal professionals
Better Than King Solomon's Solution? PA's New Custody Law
Publications
2015
Attorney's website
Testifying as a witness in family court: everything you need to know
2014
Attorney's website
What are retainers, and why do lawyers charge them?
2013
Attorney's website
Do I need a prenuptial agreement in Pennsylvania?
2013
Attorney's website
Fighting for justice in divorce court
2013
Attorney's website
How can we afford to separate?
2011
Attorney's website
How long will my divorce take, if my spouse won't agree
2011
Attorney's website
How long will my divorce take, if we both want it?
2011
Attorney's website
I got served with divorce or custody papers in PA. What do I do?
2010
Attorney's web site
What should I expect from my family law and divorce attorney?
2010
Attorney's web site
Surviving your separation
2010
Attorney's web site
Dealing with Separation
2010
Attorney's web site
Paying support: a survival guide
2010
Attorney's web site
Divorce: some questions and answers
2010
Attorney's web site
Common law marriage
2010
Attorney's web site
Child custody
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
How long in Allegheny County does it take for a final decree to be mailed after Praecipe to Transmit Record has been filed?
08 Nov 2016
Q&A
Filed a PFA on behalf of my minor children. Do they need to be present at the final PFA hearing?
27 Sep 2016
Q&A
If I don't want to show up for a pfa hearing against me can I go to jail
26 Sep 2016