In May of 2023 I retained Julianne Vandergrift to handle my divorce and custody case, with the…read moreexpectation of a competent and supportive advocate during a challenging time. Unfortunately, my experience fell short of these expectations. There was a lack of effective communication, timely updates, and diligent case management from Julianne and her office. On multiple occasions, I felt overlooked, misled, and lost throughout the process.
Mediation was scheduled, and I reached out via email to seek guidance.
I was scheduled for a telephone appointment with Julianne on Sunday afternoon, the day before the mediation, but no specific time was provided. I waited all day for the call and eventually emailed the office at 8:06 p.m. Julianne responded the following morning at 9:11 a.m., after the mediation had already concluded. The mediation itself was highly distressing; I left the session feeling as though I had done something wrong. The mediator remarked that I was too emotional and advised me to "get myself together," which only added to the frustration of an already difficult experience.
I retained an attorney to help guide me through this tremendously difficult process, but I was left feeling overwhelmed, confused, and fearful.
My initial court hearing was scheduled for mid-July 2023 but was postponed the Friday prior due to a family emergency involving Julianne. The rescheduled hearing did not take place until October 2023.
I met with Julianne for the first and ONLY time at the October 2023 hearing.
By February 2024, I had incurred over $10,000 in legal fees while still attempting to resolve my case, with monthly billing for services that were unclear. There were extended periods with no communication from the office. I was fighting for retirement accounts that, based on my understanding of California law, should be considered community property and divided equally in a long-term marriage.
In mid-February 2024, I received a $3,000 invoice from the office. When I sought clarification and requested a call with Julianne, I was instead sent an email stating:
"Unfortunately, we cannot begin working on responding to this until you have replenished your trust account in the amount of $3,000.00. Please be sure to speak to Diana, our billing specialist, at your earliest convenience. Once you have deposited the necessary amount, we will be in contact with you to ascertain the triable issues in your case in order to respond accordingly."
My interaction with Diana from the billing department was particularly disheartening, as she was rude and unprofessional.
Despite my concerns, I replenished the trust account, as the first status conference was scheduled for March 2024. However, I had no clear understanding of the purpose of the conference, and no explanation was provided. Furthermore, I was informed that Julianne would be on vacation and unavailable to attend Daniel her associate attended in her place.
By late May 2024, after incurring $12,000 in legal fees, I found myself unable to continue paying Julianne for her services.
I felt completely overwhelmed and taken advantage of, having to navigate my court case independently without prior knowledge of divorce, custody, or the associated legal complexities.
While I recognize that legal matters can be intricate, the lack of professionalism, communication, and commitment I experienced only exacerbated an already stressful situation. I cannot recommend the Law Office of Julianne Vandergrift to others undergoing a divorce unless significant improvements are made in their services.