Garfield Legal

The intake caller at Garfield Legal was courteous and efficient. She was a good listener and was attentive to the details about my case. I really appreciated her professionalism and calm demeanor. The only small area for improvement would be a bit more follow-up communication, but overall, the experience I had was positive and made me feel confident in the firm's services.

Even though I didn't have to use Garfield Legal, when I called they provided me with all the information I needed. They were super responsive, professional, and gave me all the answers I needed! Couldn't recommend them more!

After the death of my father, I was caught in a very complicated Estate battle that entailed three separate but touching parcels in a pristine downtown location, a stubborn and incompetent "executor" living on one of them rent free for years, and potential environmental issues. At the advices of a family friend and successful attorney in San Jose, Ca, I was connected with Mike Johnson. Mike was very clear about the costs and complications up front and the opposing Estate attorney and executor were not afraid to play nasty by ignoring communications, refusing to pay basic utility bills, and even lying in court documents. Thanks to Mike's clever thinking and strategy, we were ultimately able to force the opposing party's hand and arrive at a cost saving and efficient settlement that brought things to and end and that we were content with. During this ordeal, Howard Garfield also communicated our position clearly and effectively to the opposition and he provided clear summary of what transpired and where we were headed. Lastly, when I came by or contacted the office, I had a lot of contact with Kat Paniagua. She was always prompt and professional when welcoming us into the office our relaying our needs to the attorneys. If you find yourself unexpectedly needing legal help or are ready to get to planning, you need excellent representation, and I highly recommend Garfield Legal. While Mike, Howard, and company are willing to meet the opposition in the middle to get things done, they are not afraid to play hardball when necessary when it is in the best interest of their clients.

I would caution others before retaining this law firm. Our family's experience, particularly with an assistant named Mike Johnson, was extremely unprofessional. Let's just say Mike lives up to the reputation that "Johnson" can sometimes imply. He is rude, dismissive, and completely lacking in professionalism. The legal team seemed more focused on billing than on providing any meaningful service. Aside from a few brief phone calls and emails, which were of limited value, we were charged thousands. There was no substantial legal work done, and communication was minimal at best, they held all of the retainer with nothing to show. If I were Howard, I would take a hard look at how the office is being managed, especially who is answering calls and interacting with clients. Mike's conduct and the firm's lack of oversight send the wrong message about its values and practices. Trust is everything when working with a law firm, and unfortunately, that trust was broken here.

Garfield Legal provided outstanding service and handled my case with professionalism and care. Their team was knowledgeable, responsive, and took the time to explain everything clearly. I felt confident throughout the process and highly recommend them to anyone seeking reliable legal support.