My Reflections on Transparency and Client Guidance…read more ADVICE: Ask for an example of an inventory before you begin. This was one of the most challenging items that ended up costing additional money because it was not explained in detail and every change I made, was an additional expense. If I had known, I would not have sent it to them until it was completed. My rating would have given them a 5 but they cost me a great deal of money so I am giving them a 3. Based on my experience with two probate cases, I can share insights into how these cases are managed, particularly in terms of communication, transparency, and billing practices by this firm. At the outset, I was informed that certain details might not be communicated proactively, as the attorneys handle these matters routinely and may inadvertently omit information. In practice, however, I found that the information provided was often sufficient only for the immediate next step. This incremental approach meant that I frequently needed to ask additional questions to fully understand my responsibilities and the process as a whole. One of my primary concerns was the billing structure. Every inquiry or clarification I sought resulted in additional charges. Had I been better informed from the beginning about my duties as well as the specifics of the fee arrangement, I believe I could have saved both time and money. A more comprehensive briefing at the outset would have improved my ability to anticipate tasks and associated costs. While it is possible that this approach is common among attorneys, the experience left me feeling that my lack of familiarity with probate proceedings was not fully addressed. I felt that greater transparency and client education would have been beneficial, not only to foster trust but also to empower clients to make informed decisions. In summary, my experience managing probate cases highlighted the importance of clear communication and upfront disclosure from legal professionals. Prospective clients may wish to ask detailed questions early on and seek explicit explanations regarding their responsibilities and all potential fees to avoid unexpected costs and ensure a smoother process.

I hired Colby for what should have been a straightforward child support modification case. From…read moreearly on, communication with his office was a problem. His paralegal was not aware of the current child support net resources cap that Texas had recently raised, despite that figure being central to my case. She also called me repeatedly regarding routine matters, even after I gave clear written instructions in email that I preferred communication in writing due to my work schedule. In addition to these calls, the firm scheduled multiple intrafirm conferences, each of which generated additional billable time. Colby told me that opposing counsel was unwilling to negotiate or engage in settlement discussions throughout this process. Despite this, I was billed over $7,000 in under four months, including time billed for researching mediation venues and identifying a potential mediator. Mediation never actually occurred -- the case went straight to a preliminary hearing instead. The firm's communication practices also created unnecessary billing. It wasn't limited to discovery documents -- even routine communications, such as requests for dates or questions relayed from opposing counsel, followed the same pattern. The paralegal would send a request and not wait for my response before following up with a phone call, and then again with a follow-up email -- generating multiple separate billable communications for what should have been one exchange. On several occasions, I received three billable communications within a period of less than 16 hours, despite the firm being fully aware that I work shift work with long hours and had asked them, more than once, to reduce this pattern of communication. After I repeatedly asked the firm to stop over-communicating in this manner, Colby filed a motion to withdraw from my case, citing 'lack of communication' as the reason -- this occurred a little over a month before my scheduled hearing date. After withdrawing, Colby refused to send me the settlement negotiation history or documents from opposing counsel, stating he had 30 days to transfer my file, which would place the transfer after my hearing date had already passed. As a result, I went to my hearing representing myself, without knowledge of any prior settlement discussions or offers. At the hearing, opposing counsel and I negotiated and reached an agreement within the first five minutes. During that conversation, she stated that she had never actually been presented with the settlement offer that Colby claimed he had extended to her on my behalf.

Miss Meredith was prompt and pleasant. She answered my…read morequestions easily and asked me the right questions so that she could give me the right path to proceed. Thank you very much, Gary

The picture here isn't their current location. Regarding the location, I'll be honest, I was a…read morelittle skeptical at first! We had a closing with SBA, a federal agency. So when my husband and I pulled up to an old hospital building in Denton, we were like "Be like SBA to send us to a place like this." We walked inside and took the elevator up to the 4th floor. When we stepped off, it was like stepping into a New Orleans styled, classy oasis. It was just beautiful inside! Note the pictures. Regarding their work, they were very professional, super helpful, had a lot of insight and charged reasonable fees. Can't ask for much more!

They are absolutely wonderful! We used their services two different times, and were completely…read moresatisfied. Attorney Alyssa Herrington and Paralegal Jodie Costley are amazing! They answered all of our questions, explained thoroughly, and took time with us, We appreciate them very much, and would not hesitate to recommend them to friends and family.

Hastings Hanshaw, David Wortham, Trey, Cassidy, and the entire team at Hastings Kennedy and Hafen…read morewere incredible. They were responsive and able to help take our case quickly. They prepared extensively and researched everything thoroughly. They were always available when we had questions and helped guide and educate us while we were navigating the legal process. Hastings and David fought hard for our case and helped us reach a favorable outcome. If you are looking for an employment lawyer, Hastings Hanshaw is the very best.

Very professional, I retained Jackie Cannon. she did way more than I could have ever ask for in my…read moredivorce. I was offered multiple options on to handle my divorce and she gave the best legal advice. I had been trying to get divorce for 4 YEARS!!! She got it done for me in a timely manner. Customer Service: I was always in the loop. Jackie was firm but sweet. The front desk was always clear on the phone and helped me when needed. After the consultation the office manager I believe, came in and went over paper work for me and explained everything. I left feeling confident that my case was not hopeless. After 4 years and child custody that felt amazing. 5 stars on customer service alone. * * * * * Cost: I do have to agree with other post, I do believe that the money goes really fast. My retainer was use in about 8-9 days of work. Because of this it did cause stress, to make sure I could cover the cost. I do suggest that you save money outside of the retainer because you never know how much they will be asking for on the next billing cycle. 3 Stars on cost. Over all experience is why I gave the team and Jackie Cannon 5 Stars. I got what I wanted. They handled it fast (1 month and 5 days) It was done without any cracks. I'm happy!! Thank you

Highly recommend Jackie she represented me in a high net worth divorce and handled it perfectly!read more

I would not recommend this firm to anyone dealing with a family law case…read more During one of the most difficult periods of my mom's life, her case was repeatedly bounced between different attorneys. Every time a new lawyer was assigned, she was billed to "get them up to speed" on information she had already provided. That alone felt excessive and unnecessary. On top of that, she was pressured into settling when she did not feel fully comfortable doing so. Instead of feeling supported and strategically advised, she felt rushed and steered toward a resolution that benefited efficiency over her best interests. We are now carefully reviewing the billing statements and are extremely concerned about the mediation charges. The amount billed for mediation -- and preparation surrounding it -- appears inflated and unreasonable given what actually occurred. Family law clients are vulnerable. They deserve transparency, consistency, and ethical billing practices. Unfortunately, that was not our experience. If you value your case and your money, I strongly recommend asking very detailed questions about billing practices and attorney assignments before retaining this firm.

disappointed in this firm they are very shady please make sure you listen to ALL OF THEIR…read moreWORDING.. don't let them send any funds to their office they will give you a crazy bill. I was awarded a 19,500 bill for the 20,000 my ex sent for me and they intercepted and took it.. terrible way to treat clients

Gary is a fabulous attorney. I have had several lawyers through the years and Gary Kollmeier is far…read moreand away the best. Some years ago he helped my family through a difficult divorce. He thought of how to protect our family in ways that never occurred to us! We will forever be grateful for his protection and it was life changing. More recently we had him do our Wills and estate planning. Again, he outdid himself and thought of everything. If you hire him he will most definitely be in your corner.

Total Scam!! His communication skills are terrible. His office employees are extremely rude. He…read morecharges for every little thing done on your case without actually doing anything. He typically cleans out clients at the end of the year if he knows he cannot mediate their cases. This is one attorney you need to avoid. I lost thousands of dollars and I'm trying to warn whomever comes near to hiring this attorney

This attorney and his staff represented me in Family court. I gather there have been growing pains…read morein the past with changing staff attorneys. All I can say is that the odds were stacked against me getting the truth across in family court and I was not even going to be able to submit my evidence. Dominic worked extra hours late into the night with and without me to prepare and then managed to get the facts across so the judge in my case could have a clear picture and decide on a ruling that was really in the best interest of my children. I could see how much Dominic cared and even though he did a great job, he was hard on himself leaving the courtroom. I have also seen his work in criminal cases and seen how much he cares about the defendants he represents. I know first hand that he will go the extra mile to get the truth heard in the courtroom.

Dominick was very hands on with communicating my case for a whole year! We also won our case and…read moreI'm so happy I hired him! Great job

Sarah is the BEST ATTORNEY IN DENTON COUNTY hands down! She will fight tooth and nail for your…read morecase! She definitely takes pride in her job in making sure you get the best outcome for your case while all at the same time making you feel like family and a close friend! I will never forget this woman and what she has done for me! Wish I could rate her 10 stars!!!

I consulted Sarah after another attorney dropped the ball, gave me advice that could have gotten me…read morearrested again for failure to comply with court orders, and did not work on my case as promised. With 5 minutes of getting on the phone with Sarah, she gave me more information and insight into my case than the previous lawyer had done in a year. I hired her, and the end result was much better than I or anyone else I spoke to thought was possible. She will expect you to do your part, but she will work for you like no one else.

I highly recommend Mr. Vrba. He will talk to you about your situation and give his honest opinion…read more He is very professional and always willing to listen. His staff is the same, they keep you informed and are always there to answer questions. I really appreciate both he and his staff for representing me and would not hesitate to use him again if needed. Bob C.

Mr Vrba truly cares about his clients. It's rare to find someone who will listen to you…read more From my initial consultation until the very end, Mr.Vrba and his staff gave excellent service with kindness and efficiency. He took care of my case for a reasonable fee and had my issue resolved within two days. A++

The and professionalism were outstanding far beyond what our expectations would have provided…read more very pleased with the job that we had.

Leigh Hilton's office has made the process of the Living Trust easy for us. Leigh and her…read moreassociates are knowledgeable, efficient, effective, and easy to understand. Mary at the Bartonville office was a great help too. I will be using their services again.