Beware of Scams and Non-Attorney services:
A few of my clients have been the victims of scams on the internet. These clients have paid large amounts of money to non-attorneys for legal services before hiring me to correct the legal problems created by these non-attorney scam artists.
BEWARE: There are a lot of fathers groups, parents groups and cps groups that claim they can provide you with legal services for a fee to help you do your own case without an attorney. Most of these unscrupulous people ask for a fee like $2,500 to provide you with forms to do it yourself. They may even offer to help you fill these forms out and to file them. The average retainer fees for attorneys in divorce, custody, parenting time and CPS cases are $2,500 to $5,000. These individuals are not attorneys and if something goes wrong, they are not responsible for their actions. Common sense. Pay an attorney, not a lay person who has no license to practice law. Most legitimate groups out there ask for only an nominal fee, $100.00 or less, to continue to host their services on the internet, or to continue providing informational mailings, group meetings or informational rallies. Legitimate groups provide services you can see, feel or hear at little cost as it is spread among group members. Scam artists provide one-on-one services in exchange for a large fee that isolates you from meeting or discussing your issues with a pool of people. You will never meet their other clients, only other scam artists who are looking to take more money from you. There are usually no other members of a group. You will only meet the lone wolf or a pack of wolves who are his/her assistants.
Furthermore, many of these non-attorneys claim that you will win your case when you advocate for 1) "violations of your constitutional right to parent", 2) your "inalienable right" as a parent, 3) "the founding fathers intent", 4) this should be in federal court, and other colorful catch words. When you hear these words "RUN"! These are the words that scam artists use to draw you in and to take your money. They play on your emotions. In general, family law is a state controlled right. State courts have jurisdiction over divorce, custody, parenting time, support, and children's protectives services cases, not federal courts. Federals courts will not exercise jurisdiction to hear these cases. The individual that states,"give me $2,500 and I'll get your family law case in federal court" is a liar. Steer clear of any non-attorney that makes this claim to you.
Those of you who are dealing with CPS cases. There are too many unscrupulous groups out there. Beware of the catch all phrases: 1) "File an affidavit with your side of the story", 2) don't take parenting classes, counseling, etc. as these are admissions of guilt, 3) don't let CPS in your home without a warrant. No lay person should be giving you this advise. It is a sure way of immediately losing your children to state custody. Call an attorney for advise. Most attorneys will advise you while CPS is at your door.
HOW CAN I TELL A LEGITIMATE GROUP FROM A SCAM?
Most legitimate groups only offer information to help you understand the process and offer referrals to groups, counselors, and programs to assist your attorney or yourself in the legal process. Legitimate groups will be up front and advise you that you need to get an attorney (retained or court appointed) and the courts are no place to be representing yourself when it involves your relationship with your children. Most legitimate groups offer online support systems like talk groups or blogs where people in like situations can share their experiences and help each other out. The "Scam Artist" usually wants to keep you isolated and from talking to others. Scam artists want to control you and want to control every aspect of your case. Some scam artists want to control your attorney by reviewing everything they are filing or arguing in your case. Most scam artists will insist that you take control of your case and demand your attorney to fully cooperate with the scam artist. When the attorney refuses, then the scam artist demands that you get rid of your attorney usually stating the attorney is a scam artisit, incompetent, doesn't know the law, etc. Most attorneys spend 7 to 8 years in undergrad and law school learning their trade. Most scam artists don't have a high school education. It doesn't take a rocket science genius to figure out who is more competent in representing your legal interests.
I and many other attorneys have been the subject of "attorney bashing" on the internet. Please take a close look at who is doing the bashing. Most of these bashers are scam artists looking to take your money. Many of these bashers claim they are ex-clients. The truth, the attorney being bashed has never represented the basher. The basher usually has had success at luring an attorney's client into his/her grip and are trolling for more victims from the attorneys webpage or google. Bashers are scams artists.They play on your emotions and promise they hold a magic key, to make your problems go away, that the attorney has failed to find. There are no magic keys or magic formulas out there to make your legal problems go away. Most of these scam artists pretend and profess to be as smart or smarter than lawyers. Remember, most of these individuals don't even have a high school diploma. Use your common sense. Steer clear from these people. DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!
BEWARE: There are a lot of fathers groups, parents groups and cps groups that claim they can provide you with legal services for a fee to help you do your own case without an attorney. Most of these unscrupulous people ask for a fee like $2,500 to provide you with forms to do it yourself. They may even offer to help you fill these forms out and to file them. The average retainer fees for attorneys in divorce, custody, parenting time and CPS cases are $2,500 to $5,000. These individuals are not attorneys and if something goes wrong, they are not responsible for their actions. Common sense. Pay an attorney, not a lay person who has no license to practice law. Most legitimate groups out there ask for only an nominal fee, $100.00 or less, to continue to host their services on the internet, or to continue providing informational mailings, group meetings or informational rallies. Legitimate groups provide services you can see, feel or hear at little cost as it is spread among group members. Scam artists provide one-on-one services in exchange for a large fee that isolates you from meeting or discussing your issues with a pool of people. You will never meet their other clients, only other scam artists who are looking to take more money from you. There are usually no other members of a group. You will only meet the lone wolf or a pack of wolves who are his/her assistants.
Furthermore, many of these non-attorneys claim that you will win your case when you advocate for 1) "violations of your constitutional right to parent", 2) your "inalienable right" as a parent, 3) "the founding fathers intent", 4) this should be in federal court, and other colorful catch words. When you hear these words "RUN"! These are the words that scam artists use to draw you in and to take your money. They play on your emotions. In general, family law is a state controlled right. State courts have jurisdiction over divorce, custody, parenting time, support, and children's protectives services cases, not federal courts. Federals courts will not exercise jurisdiction to hear these cases. The individual that states,"give me $2,500 and I'll get your family law case in federal court" is a liar. Steer clear of any non-attorney that makes this claim to you.
Those of you who are dealing with CPS cases. There are too many unscrupulous groups out there. Beware of the catch all phrases: 1) "File an affidavit with your side of the story", 2) don't take parenting classes, counseling, etc. as these are admissions of guilt, 3) don't let CPS in your home without a warrant. No lay person should be giving you this advise. It is a sure way of immediately losing your children to state custody. Call an attorney for advise. Most attorneys will advise you while CPS is at your door.
HOW CAN I TELL A LEGITIMATE GROUP FROM A SCAM?
Most legitimate groups only offer information to help you understand the process and offer referrals to groups, counselors, and programs to assist your attorney or yourself in the legal process. Legitimate groups will be up front and advise you that you need to get an attorney (retained or court appointed) and the courts are no place to be representing yourself when it involves your relationship with your children. Most legitimate groups offer online support systems like talk groups or blogs where people in like situations can share their experiences and help each other out. The "Scam Artist" usually wants to keep you isolated and from talking to others. Scam artists want to control you and want to control every aspect of your case. Some scam artists want to control your attorney by reviewing everything they are filing or arguing in your case. Most scam artists will insist that you take control of your case and demand your attorney to fully cooperate with the scam artist. When the attorney refuses, then the scam artist demands that you get rid of your attorney usually stating the attorney is a scam artisit, incompetent, doesn't know the law, etc. Most attorneys spend 7 to 8 years in undergrad and law school learning their trade. Most scam artists don't have a high school education. It doesn't take a rocket science genius to figure out who is more competent in representing your legal interests.
I and many other attorneys have been the subject of "attorney bashing" on the internet. Please take a close look at who is doing the bashing. Most of these bashers are scam artists looking to take your money. Many of these bashers claim they are ex-clients. The truth, the attorney being bashed has never represented the basher. The basher usually has had success at luring an attorney's client into his/her grip and are trolling for more victims from the attorneys webpage or google. Bashers are scams artists.They play on your emotions and promise they hold a magic key, to make your problems go away, that the attorney has failed to find. There are no magic keys or magic formulas out there to make your legal problems go away. Most of these scam artists pretend and profess to be as smart or smarter than lawyers. Remember, most of these individuals don't even have a high school diploma. Use your common sense. Steer clear from these people. DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!