Kermisch & Paletz LLP – Divorce Lawyer ( Family Law & Child Custody Attorney )

On two different occasions, Daniel Paletz, Jorge Guardado, and their team at Kermisch & Paletz were able to help me advocate, achieve, and maintain a better situation and schedule for my son. The entire team is attentive and understanding. Not only is this firm good at their work, they have excellent sensitivity and compassion in dealing with the difficult cases they handle.

I had a deeply disappointing experience with my attorney, William Kermisch during my recent child support case.

Aug 11: I notify William of a child support case notice dated 7/30/24.
Aug 12: He responds and requests documents and a retainer.
Sept 19: He reschedules the Oct 31 court date to Nov 13
Sept 20: He notifies me he will be out of town that day for Halloween
Nov 6: He shows me a copy of the wrong address served to my ex
Nov 7: He requests a list of expenses and gross income
Nov 8: $12,050 taken from my bank account for Sept/Oct child support. I'm confused because I have been following William's lead since day 1.
Nov 13: My case was continued because the opposing attorney hadn't received requested documents. Additionally, a request was made for my personal car and home loan applications, yet my attorney did not pursue similar documentation from my ex, even though I had informed him she was hiding assets (which she later confirmed she was).
Nov 25: $12,050 is taken out of my account for Nov/Dec. I tell William as I'm confused why he didn't direct me to make any payments since Aug. I am not allowed to speak to the bank levy department because I have a lawyer and William did not call them when I pleaded to help me.

By Dec 2, I sent the requested documents, which were extensive and required multiple emails. However, in the days that followed, my attorney failed to review or discuss them with me. Aside from a single question about the date of a loan application, there was no communication or mention of needing supplemental documents.

On Dec 12, I received a late email reminding me to attend court the next day, but there were no details or strategy outlined. Despite my concerns, I trusted his expertise.

On Dec 13, just before the hearing, he EMAILED me asking where I was, then called me from a blocked number, further illustrating a lack of regard for client rapport.

During the hearing, the judge almost called for another continuation because she hadn't received the documents I sent weeks earlier. My attorney's explanation? "The file was too large, and I didn't know how to send it." This response was not only unprofessional but also deeply frustrating.

Throughout the trial, my attorney's lack of preparation became glaringly obvious. He failed to address key aspects of my case, such as my bankruptcy filing, which the judge noted was relevant to my "true financial situation". He also allowed the opposing attorney to question me extensively about my transactions without stepping in, even though the answers were in the documents I had provided. His lack of proactive questioning during cross-examination of my ex was equally disheartening--he missed critical opportunities to challenge her financial claims.

To make matters worse, after lunch, my attorney was late to court due to having another case and showed little engagement when the judge disallowed several of my deductions due to insufficient documentation--documentation I had already provided but which he failed to utilize effectively.

Following the trial, I received a dismissive email stating that the outcome was "less of a reduction than we hoped for but still worth doing." This summed up his apparent lack of concern for my situation. Despite filing bankruptcy and providing detailed financial records, I was left with an outcome that felt preventable had my attorney been more prepared and attentive.

In hindsight, I feel I could have represented myself with the same results, saving both time and money. It was evident that my attorney prioritized moving to his next case over providing me with the representation I deserved.

While I considered addressing these issues with my attorney, his lack of professionalism and communication throughout the process has led me to simply move on. This was a hard lesson learned, and I've shared my experience with the friend who referred me.

Daniel and Lauren are absolutely brilliant. They both truly care about their clients and go above and beyond to make sure you understand your case and rights. My case was far from easy, but thanks to Daniel and Lauren’s vast knowledge, they were able to help me secure full custody of my daughter. I am forever grateful for their team’s hard work and dedication. Highly recommend!!!!