The Biggest Compliment....

Tina Taylor

2 reviews

a day ago

I spent five years embroiled in a highly contentious divorce in which I lost everything. As well, I was attacked by my ex-husband during that divorce, leaving me disabled and unable to work. My attorney did nothing to address this violence and in fact colluded with the other parties counsel. Judicial misconduct also took place in this case.

Obviously, this has left me in a difficult situation both legally and financially. I've spent the better part of a year searching for legal help with no luck whatsoever......... until I called Ms. Chan. Although she is not able to take my case, do to the county where it took place, she actually talked with me.

Not only did she speak with me for more than a few minutes sharing useful information with me, she did so pleasantly, willingly and for no charge. If that wasn't already more than kind and generous, she phoned me a week later giving me the address of a website that has proved extremely helpful.

Ms. Chan's moral principles and ethics are admirable, refreshing, and deserving of respect! Additionally, I read about Ms. Chan's advocacy for animals in her bio and in my opinion, that earns her extra points as a responsible attorney and a fine human being

Attorney posts this above---because:

(a) it is true
(b) things like this situation are more common than people realize
(c) Lassen County is definitely corrupt

(d) attorney herein has experience in family law, civil cases, criminal defense, bankruptcy, animal law, and probably a little more.....and even if attorney does not know the answer (which happens at  times)-- attorney is always willing to try and find out the answer....
(e) attorney believes that all clients appreciate it when attorney treats them like people, just normal everyday people, with common courtesy

(f) attorney believes that many clients are not treated very well by many attorneys generally
(g)  attorney believes that law school does not prepare attorneys to handle people at all, and that many attorneys simply believe they are too high on the chain, and must talk down to people
(h)  attorney doesn't believe that winning is everything in all cases, but for many of the cases, it is crucial.

 Last but not least, attorney has been involved in animal law cases and related issues, and has what would be considered a very high degree of knowledge in animal law issues, including breed specific legislation, dangerous dogs, personal injuries involving dogs/animals, negligence involving animals, animal control/animals, seizures, illegal seizures, humane society groups, fraud by alleged "humane" non profits [good,bad,sued or fake],  lawsuits involving animal control/animals/owners, replevin or writ of possession, abandonment/fines, rescue animals/groups [bona fide/not] issues of rational basis/health/welfare/safety, improper application of the BCS method used to convict owners, constitutional law published cases on First Amendment involving animals; issues involving service animals, therapy and emotional assist animals, vet negligence, animal abuse (or claimed abuse), penalties for alleged abuse or convictions, and more.   

OMG Our 5 Star Reviews Vanished Online!!! Google Wants Us to Pay for Ads?

Google's entire format for businesses changed after they implemented their https deal apparently.....attorney's site was not even showing up, much less the reviews. However, all of attorney's factual reviews are all positive. 

But since attorney has previously been physically attacked inside a Federal Courthouse [during animal law litigation, go figure..] it is not surprising to find  attorney's site or personal data is the victim of hacking. It has already happened, so it's not really new.  

We just spent  7 hours making a new listing, etc.  Have never seen that happen before, but, since everything happens for a reason, attorney doesn't have time to overthink how it went down, since we have more sites up, but not every site has a separate business listing. 

DON'T WORRY--- ATTORNEY IS WORKING 
AS USUAL AND TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS!

Do You Want to Win Your Case? Should You Hire a Litigator? Do You Care?

What Type of Attorney do You Really Need? Do You Want to Win? You Don't Care?

Do you have a case where you want to win, or need to win your case?
Do you have the winning facts?  Do you know what law would or would not support your position? Do you want or need an actual litigator for your case?

Hiring an advocate (attorney litigator) is not the same as hiring collaborative attorneys. Also, mediating* a case with only one attorney means ...The mediator helps people talk the issues through, supposedly helping to "settle" the dispute themselves. In this attorney's opinion, it would not be recommended in most cases, because typically the overbearing spouse simply bulldozes the other spouse.

*[Mediation for visitation is not the same thing as mediation of an entire divorce case. Mediation for visitation/custody is required by law when there is no agreement.]


There are many pitfalls that can arise in divorce; many of them involve financial transactions that one spouse had no knowledge of; assets that one spouse did not know about; children that were conceived outside the marriage and spouse never knew other spouse was paying; secret business dealings that was predicated on all cash; illegal actions by one spouse implicating the other spouse who had no knowledge; large debts racked up by one spouse, without the other spouse even knowing such debt existed; one spouse signing the other spouse's name for a credit card, then ruining the other spouse's credit.... NONE of these things, in this attorney's opinion, should be addressed in either mediation or collaborative law scenario.
That is because there was a huge breach of fiduciary duty that has serious consequences to the guilty spouse. That should be done in court since the guilty spouse should have to pay for wrongdoing. (Of course if you are too afraid because your spouse might try and kill you then you better go get help right away.)
                                           


Especially if you have issues in the 3 lines below, which happened BEFORE the case finalized---- you should never hire anyone except an advocate litigator. Aggressive at that. Plus, there are huge time barriers to trying to set aside any of this!

Fraud, Duress
Mistake, Coercion,
Failure to Exchange Declarations (Assets Debts)
We live in a society where people often want what they want, and when clients hire attorneys to get something done, especially in family law, it's often because one SIDE tried to take advantage of the other side.  If you have a family law case where both of you AGREE on everything then of course you don't really need an attorney, except perhaps to create a settlement agreement.

HOWEVER, the vast majority of most divorces and break ups, is because the couple cannot agree on a lot of things, including (just an example....) post judgment orders.........

How to raise the kids-- too lenient?  too strict?
How to spend income from employment or inheritance
How to train kids  to have moral values
How to get along with other family members that don't live with you
How to avoid too much tv, too much bad influence, too much Facebook?
What to do with a lazy spouse that refuses to help out--with anything?
What to do with spouse that is either dangerous, aggressive, drinks too much
How to get out of supervised visits?? You have an ex spouse also?
Spouse drinks, smokes, gambles, does drugs, shops too much? Hoarding?
Spouse AND kids do nothing but stay on Facebook and phone 24/7??
Your kids are not only lazy, they are spoiled rotten and you blame the spouse?
Your spouse is bipolar and can't be controlled?


Of all the problems attorney has seen over several decades, the problems around children tend to generate the worst issues, followed by physical harm, financial issues, and alcohol or drug use.

And remarkably, attorney has seen clients REFUSE to take what he/she is entitled to, and then SETTLE a case by using an attorney who ONLY settles cases--- in other words, the attorney is not a litigator. That is absurd.  

If you are entitled to something, why would you pay someone to settle a case when you could have settled it without help????   Collaborative law and mediation means if you don't settle the case using whomever you hired, those attorneys cannot represent you in court anyway.

You THEN have to hire new attorneys!!   While mediation and collaborative may be good for some cases (which means you are settling case by paying people to settle it without court)-- it is essentially negotiation. Judges are not involved. If you work something out and then don't like it later--- what you have is a problem.
              Some of the down sides of  collaborative law (which includes hiring people like accountants and other experts) and makes it costly:

The Expense; Impact of termination and cost of new counsel; No advocacy for one or both parties; directed conversation between parties, power imbalances, difficult issues might remain secret (such as domestic violence, addictions, drugs, gambling, infidelities,etc.); Possible inadequate information collection, potentially less support for views of children.
Basically, in mediation there is no advocate for YOU.  In collaborative law, BOTH sides work on issues, but NO ONE is an advocate for YOUR side.  The collaborative view is to work out issues, not really take sides as an advocate----a true advocate is there to represent YOU, not the spouse.

This is part of the reason that most people in a divorce WANT an advocate, and need a litigator --- because they are being taken advantage of, steamrolled, or being misled or manipulated.

Chico Family Law Lawyers - Justia

https://www.justia.com/lawyers/family-law/california/chico

Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media. Mr. Maria Amaya. Chico, CA Family Law Lawyer. Geoff A.Dulebohn, Esq. Chico, CA Family Law Attorney. Carolyn J. Chan. Chico, CA Family Law Attorney.Michael Odowd Hays. Chico, CA Family Law Lawyer. Norman Jenkins Ryker III. Valerie Ann Miller.David Mikel Howard.

Chico , California Divorce Lawyers - Justia

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Compare 17 divorce attorneys serving Chico, California on Justia. Comprehensive profiles including fees, education, jurisdictions, awards, publications and ...

Chico Child Custody Lawyers - Local Attorneys & Law Firms in Chico ...

lawyers.findlaw.com › Child Custody › California

Results 1 - 20 of 100 - Find your Chico, CA Child Custody Attorney or Law Firm. ... The legal issues surrounding a changing family dynamic can be stressful.

Top Family Law Lawyers in Butte County, CA | FindLaw

lawyers.findlaw.com › Family Law › California

Results 1 - 20 of 100 - Family Law Lawyers Serving Butte County, CA (Chico) · Law Firm Profile. Free Consultation. Sample Image. Law Office of Ronald A. Lange.

Butte County Family Law Attorney | California Divorce Lawyer

www.rykerlaw.com/

At our Chico, California, law office you can get the effective representation you need and the sense of urgency you deserve. Family law and divorce attorney ...

Melissa A. Atteberry Law Offices: Family Law | Chico, CA

www.atteberrylaw.net/

For all family law matters, from prenuptial agreements to divorce, the team at Melissa A. Atteberry Law Office in Chico, California, offers professional ... Having an experienced and compassionateattorney on your side is a smart move, whether ...

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Chico CA. 95928 (530) 899-5100. Willows Location 333 N. Plumas Street ... The attorneys and staff of Henderson & Howard are here to assist you with many of ... whether it be helping you through a painfuldivorce or bankruptcy or leading you ...

Chico Family Law Attorney Christina LaPointe | Free Consultations

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Chico Family Law Attorney Christina Lapointe handles all Divorce, Child ... I passed the CaliforniaBar exam on my first attempt, and since that time I have ...

New Alimony Law Affecting Payors in 2019--Are You Ready?

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) eliminates the alimony DEDUCTION for the payor spouse as applied to divorce orders or modification orders executed on or after 1/1/19 if the modification states that the TCJA applies. POTENTIAL payors of alimony may want to obtain a divorce agreement or order before the end of the year.

Conversely, recipients of alimony may want to hold off until 2019 so that the alimony payments are non taxable.   https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2018/03/19/marital-dissolution-planning-after-the-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act/?slreturn=20180611105622

Without the alimony deduction as to the payor's taxable income,  the payor would have a tax increase, therefore obtaining the order prior to the cut off will likely end up saving the payor some funds in many cases. It is suggested that contacting your tax consultant is a wise idea.

Did You try and Do Your Spousal Support Hearing... by Yourself?

If you DID try to do this alone, and you had no idea how it would work, it would not be uncommon to find that people would not know what to do.  Many people believe they can outsmart the ex and devise all kinds of theories on how to get it done.  In attorney's experience, it usually does not work and will come back to haunt the person who did it.

Modification of spousal support is often a difficult issue because it can involve many factors. When the client has not adequately prepared for these, (and most clients haven't because they likely don't know what they are nor do they know what judges are likely to do), we have seen some clients get burned and not be able to recover.  For example, we have seen a case where the parties only were really married for four years but one party's attorney--the paying party's attorney--told the client she had to stick with 9 years, even though they didn't live together for 9 years. Actually, not living together is only part of the equation, as clients can be married and be separated physically. However if the relationship is broken down and one party simply pays the other party to survive, it could be argued that this was spousal support even if it wasn't ordered. If that could be true, then that paying party has been paying for years on that--there should be some credit for that, if the relationship was over and the parties dated others?

That's just one example. Surely there must be many more on this type of issue. Don't make a big mistake to save a few thousand and then get caught later for MANY thousands due to a mistake. A big one at that.