Divorced by Design

Garrett and Wendi were a huge help navigating a process that is very difficult and time consuming. I am so happy I chose Divorced by Design to help me.

Mr. Rice (my attorney) and Mr. Rafael Velasquez (my paralegal) were truly such a blessing during one of the hardest times in my life. They went to bat for me at a moment’s notice and were quick to step in, explain the laws and regulations, and help me navigate an unexpected situation outside of court. They also worked with me financially, which I genuinely appreciated. And when everything was said and done, they were right on the money. I remember hearing friends and family complain about how they could never get ahold of their legal team, and I would think, “Not my legal team.” 😂 Mine was literally a phone call or text away. Rafael was incredibly responsive-often getting back to me the same day, or at the very least letting me know he received my message and would get back to me within the next day or so. That kind of communication gave me so much peace of mind during an already overwhelming situation. I also really appreciated that they never brushed off what I wanted the outcome to look like. My biggest priority was keeping everything child-focused and working toward a step-up program rather than simply fighting for the sake of fighting. They listened to that, respected it, and helped me achieve it. Mr. Rice even took the time to assist my daughter’s father when he had questions, which really showed me his character and good nature. I was dealing with an incredibly difficult situation and a lot of fear and stress, and feeling heard, respected, and supported made such a difference. Both Mr. Rice and Rafael brought compassion and even a sense of humor into situations that could have felt extremely scary and intimidating. Somehow, they managed to make a very serious process feel a little less overwhelming. In the end, we were able to reach a settlement on all of my terms, including the step-up program and, most importantly to me, a child-focused outcome. The way Mr. Rice handled things in the courtroom was professional, fair, and incredibly reassuring. Even with protective orders in place, the way everything was handled helped ease some of the tension between both sides and ultimately created room for a healthier relationship between my child and her father. They both knew how important that was to me through the DV / Custody case. They understood that I didn’t just want to “win.” I wanted to protect my child while still leaving room for her relationship with her father to improve when it was safe and appropriate to do so. They helped me accomplish exactly that—and more. I would absolutely recommend Divorce by Design to anyone looking for a legal team that will actually listen to you, communicate with you, advocate for you, and treat you like a person rather than just another case number. I’ve already recommended them to friends and family, and they’ve come back and thanked me for the recommendation after having great experiences themselves. I’m incredibly grateful I had Mr. Rice and Rafael in my corner. ❤️

I highly recommend Mr. Rice and his team. Mr. Rice and Rafael were both very helpful throughout my case and always took the time to answer my questions and explain things when I was unsure of what to expect. Family court can be stressful and overwhelming, and I really appreciated having them there to guide me through the process. I also want to mention Ryker at the front desk. Most of the time when I called, he was the one who answered, and if he wasn’t available, he always made sure to return my call that day or the next. I really appreciated how responsive and helpful he was. Even though the outcome wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for, I truly appreciate the time, effort, and work Mr. Rice, Rafael, and Ryker put in throughout my case. Thank you all for everything you did for me.

I would absolutely recommend Mr. Rice to anyone needing representation in divorce or custody matters within the family court system. He represented me for nearly two years through an extremely difficult and high-conflict divorce. His fees were reasonable, and he consistently fought for the best interests of me and my children while helping me understand and navigate an overwhelming legal process. After my divorce was finalized last year, my former spouse continued fighting over custody. Mr. Rice returned to represent me for approximately the last six months and helped guide me through that process as well. At times, his caseload affected how quickly certain matters were finalized, and toward the end I did need to be persistent about following up. However, Mr. Rice and his team continued working on my behalf and did not back down, even when the process became prolonged and difficult. Ultimately, the case concluded with an outcome that provided greater safety and stability for my children, and I am deeply grateful for Mr. Rice’s advocacy throughout both my divorce and custody case.