TESTIMONIALS
I was extremely fortunate to secure the services of Tara Yelman and her team of associates in addressing my ongoing legal needs in matters of custodial time, child support, and other related post-divorce concerns. Tara was tremendously professional, incredibly efficient with her time, and achieved excellent results. She was able to uncover errors in custodial time calculations made in a previous judgment, and was able to craft compelling arguments to support an appropriate child support level. I had the privilege to observe her present my case before the judge and her command of the law and ability to present the information was phenomenal. I have now been divorced 5 years, and I was operating under the misconception that once the divorce was final that my needs for legal services would be at an end. I am tremendously grateful that I have found a law firm that I can trust and rely on for my future representation needs. Yelman and Associates represents a fantastic value and I would recommend their services to anyone needing legal representation in a divorce.”
D.L. San Diego
I am extremely appreciative for all you have done and continue to do for me. I truly believe someone was looking out for me when I found you to represent me at that horrific time in my life. You were with me every step of the way. I consider myself blessed. You and you entire staff are the dream team and I am thankful for all you do!! Thanks to every one of you!!
C.O. San Diego, CA
“Tara Yelman and her staff were extremely helpful and effective in my custody case. They quickly responded to my emergency situation within hours and reversed the situation heavily in my favor. Ms Yelman and I worked closely as a team; this gave me the knowledge and the confidence to move forward and accomplish my goals in this case. In the beginning, I was not knowledgeable of the intricacies of family law and was confused regarding my rights and what the recommended courses of action were. Yelman & Associates closely analyzed my situation, clearly laid out my options, provided her recommendation, and proposed a plan of action. Going into my mediation session, Ms. Yelman provided me excellent advice, talking points, and coaching; these were effective in getting the settlement that I wanted. Ms. Yelman’s tenacity, diligence, and cooperative approach are the main reasons why I now have the arrangement that I wanted.”
D.T. of San Diego, CA
“Sara Neumann is the first Attorney that actually "got it." She understands the nuances of my situation and I feel like she cares. My post-divorce life would have had far less issues if Ms. Neumann had been my Attorney from the beginning. I am very happy with the service and representation I received with Yelman & Associates.”
R.F. Escondido , CA
“I had the pleasure of retaining Yelman & Associates twice since 1995 to represent me. Ms. Yelman handled two very complicated cases; one being a move away order and the other an inter-state jurisdiction order. She worked extremely hard on both of these cases not only in the courtroom but collecting all data that we needed. She relieved me of any anxiety or worry. Ms. Yelman or her staff always returned my phone calls in a timely manner and kept me in the loop at all times. She was very thorough, always prepared to handle every aspect of the case. I have the utmost confidence in her and would not hesitate to retain her services again or refer Yelman & Associates to anyone who needs bright, perceptive and knowledgeable representation!”
D.W. Las Vegas, NV
“I should probably have sent this earlier, without the prompting, but I'd like to take this opportunity now to thank you (Charles Wesley Kim), Geoff, and the entire Yelman & Associates firm for your efforts on my behalf in my divorce proceedings. As you may remember, my former attorney had resigned upon hearing that my ex-husband had hired "the most litigious female attorney in San Diego" and I was feeling pretty desperate when I came to you. Not only did you accept my case (thank youl) but you immediately began working on it, not allowing anything to fall between the cracks during the transition. You spent hours and hours working my case, both with and without me present, making me feel as though mine was the only case you were working. I know, of course, that that wasn't the case but never once did I feel as though my case was anything but your highest priority. I appreciate the fact that you remained in almost constant communication with me - my first attorney kept me in the dark about much of what was going on and I never felt as though I knew what was happening. You returned my phone calls and emails, numerous as they were, and I always felt as though I was an active participant, or at least a knowledgeable bystander, in my own case. As you know, I referred a potential client to you which, to my mind, is the highest praise and is in recognition of all you've done for me. Your assistance and guidance post-judgment has been invaluable to me. I am eternally grateful for the time, energy, and effort spent by yourself and the Yelman & Associates firm during this difficult time for me. I appreciate all you've done and, while I hope not to need your professional services again, would not hesitate to retain you should the need arise. Your professionalism, tempered with humanity, made me feel as though there was a light at the end of the tunnel and this time, it wasn't an oncoming train.”
M. E. San Diego, CA
“Dealing with Family Law issues by yourself can be intimidating and confusing. It is great to know that Yelman & Associates has staff that is knowledgeable and commits the necessary resources to help guide Fathers through the process. I worked with Sara Neumann from Yelman & Associates diligently for 6 months and achieved results that far exceeded my expectations. Her staff provided excellent support service as well. I would highly recommend Yelman & Associates to anyone looking for a quality attorney that is dependable.”
E. C. Chula Vista, CA
“I was in the middle of an extremely contentious divorce, which had been going on for two and a half years with no end in sight. I felt as if my attorney was not working with my best interest in mind. I had spent several thousand dollars and was no closer to resolving my divorce that the day the initial papers were filed. Finally, I spoke with an acquaintance (who is also an attorney) and she recommended Tara Yelman. She told me that if she was in my situation, there was no one else she would want to represent her. I took her advice and immediately realized it was one of the best moves I could have made. Although this divorce had been going on for years, it didn't take Ms. Yelman very long to get caught up on the case. Thanks to her, things immediately began to progress throughout the court system. Her entire staff seemed to be up to date on my case. I was able to call anyone in the office and they could update me on the progress of my case. Tara fought for me and my children, but remained ethical throughout the process. She was very upfront with me about what I could expect in the process, what outcomes I could expect, and how much it would cost. Although I never plan to be in this situation again, I would recommend Yelman & Associates to anyone going through a divorce. Of the many lawyers I have encountered within the courthouse through the 3 years it took to finalize my divorce, I find Tara Yelman to be one of the most competent, intelligent, and genuinely caring attorneys that you can encounter.”
B.P. Oceanside, CA
“Sara Neumann handled my case in a very professional and competent manner. It is very comforting to have an attorney whom you can trust during what are typically very difficult and emotional draining issues. Ms. Neumann listened to my desires and was understanding as to the direction I wanted to take things. Her knowledge of family law and her negotiations with the opposing party were clear and effective. My divorce was ugly, to say the least, and the end result with child custody and the financial settlement was more than reasonable under the circumstances. I was highly satisfied with the result. I have referred several friends to Ms. Neumann, all of whom have been pleased with her service.”
M. H. La Mesa, California
“Ms. Yelman, I want to give you my heart-felt thanks for all the help you gave me throughout my restraining order/ divorce ordeal. Your competency seemed to be head and shoulders above any other lawyers I have worked with. Your referral to another attorney on another matter was perfect. I know I have been well served by you and your staff. Thanks for taking such personal interest in my case. It has been a tremendous pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
K.J. Oceanside, CA
“The purpose of this statement is to provide Yelman and Associates with the highest of recommendations in Family law and related cases. Through Ms. Yelman's knowledge of family law, understanding what the Judges want to hear, (we've had 3 different judges in the 8 years of litigation) and her organizational skills, I have been awarded full custody of my child. I retained Ms.Yelman in 1998 to represent me in a dispute regarding child custody and visitation. I have a very litigious former spouse and Ms. Yelman is still representing me to date. In addition to her professionalism, she has always been very fair and cognizant of the ongoing costs. In addition, her staff is knowledgeable and kind, which is important when you are dealing with highly emotional circumstances.”
S. - San Diego
“Before I retained Yelman and Associates I was lost. I had been through two attorneys, and felt lost and alone in every matter I had gone through. I needed someone that could stand up for me and keep me aware of everything going on. I needed a powerhouse in my corner. From the moment I retained Ms. Yelman she was able to straighten out the mess I was in, and advise with the confidence and comfort that I needed. The true test was when we into court. I must admit that after my previous court experiences I was scared. From the moment we went into court she controlled the environment. She made sure that I stayed calm and she was able to meet my ex-husband and his attorney half way. When my ex-husband and his attorney tried to pull a fast one she took control and handled the situation, and even got some attorney fees paid back to me. This, as everyone knows, is nearly impossible to get. I walked out of the court room amazed with her talent and care. I felt like finally someone was solely looking out for me and had the power to do it. My only regret is that I didn’t have her from the beginning. Court and custody battles can be scary, but when you have someone that is honest with you and a staff that advises and prepares you, some of that fear can be laid to rest. Thank you Yelman and Associates for all of your help and knowledge to make this stressful time a little less painful.”
M.E. of Escondido
“I was married for eight years and with the woman I divorced for 12. After being with someone for such a lengthy period of time, a person thinks and wants to believe he really knew the person he was with. As our separation and divorce progressed through the normal processes; counseling, divorce books and articles, arguing, anger, resentment, and eventually, choosing a lawyer, I made it perfectly clear to my ex-wife, that I didn’t need a lawyer and that I didn’t want our marriage to end up like so many others. I told her that I trusted her and that I only wanted to do my part and help provide for our two young children. I told her that we could use her lawyer to help mediate our divorce, so we could avoid the huge costs associated with two attorneys and court. She agreed and told me she would have her lawyer draw up a marital settlement agreement. Upon receiving the initial copy, I had quite a few questions, having never been exposed to such a document. Even after speaking with my ex-wife’s attorney, I still wasn’t clear and was a little confused about the dollar amount that I was being asked to pay for alimony and child support. I mentioned this to my ex-wife and she reassured me that she wasn’t going to ask for anything more than what she needed, and that I could still trust her. Nonetheless, I still asked her attorney to make a few changes and then I would consider agreeing to the document. Her attorney agreed, and also asked me to consider selling our house to my ex-wife. I told her that I would consider it. The dollar amount that she offered seemed very low, so I visited a financial advisor. After visiting the advisor, I began to think that maybe I should consider getting my own attorney, but again, I believed in my wife and didn’t think she would try and take advantage of me. I told my ex-wife’s attorney that I would agree to the sale, but increased the amount I would accept. My ex-wife agreed and her attorney drew up the paper work. Her legal assistant recommended that I have an attorney look it over and sign off on it prior to me signing and returning it. This is when I contacted Sara Neumann at Yelman and Associates. Sara reviewed the document, told me that she could sign it and all would be done, but then she threw in the “but…” She told me that she thought the MSA was inappropriate and that my ex-wife’s attorney left much of it unclear. She also told me that she could represent me and add clarity to the document, while making it fair for both of us. After having many sleepless nights and a constant ache in my stomach, thinking I might be making a mistake trusting my ex-wife and having that verified by an expert, I chose to have Yelman and Associates represent me. Ms. Neumann began representing me in July, and I was divorced by the end of August, which was something my ex-wife’s lawyer couldn’t get done in the previous 9 months. I’m not sure that anyone really wins in a divorce, especially when there are children involved, but I get to see my kids quite often, and I am still able to financially support myself, while providing for them. This is something I wouldn’t have been able to do if I didn’t utilize Yelman and Associates services. Ms. Neumann advised and represented me in a professional manner, yet with a personal touch. I walked away from a very emotional scenario feeling that I had the best representation possible”
N.G. Capitola, CA
“I retained Yelman and Associates to represent me in a difficult child custody/visitation dispute with my former spouse. I needed competent, aggressive representation, and that is exactly what I received. Ms. Yelman was retained and immediately got up to speed on the ongoing case. She advised me of my rights and the ramifications, both positive and negative, of moving forward with different strategies in my matter. I was kept up to date on the progress of my case and found Ms. Yelman's staff to be very resp onsive to my calls and questions. The documents submitted to the Court were well written, outlining my position, and Ms. Yelman was articulate when stating my position to the Court officials involved in my case. I was very happy with the representation received and would not hesitate to recommend this firm.”
G.B. San Diego , CA
“Ms. Yelman. Please accept my genuine appreciation for the attention and expertise that you have devoted to my family law case. You and your staff were extremely responsive and sensitive to the complex requirements of my case. Although family law cases can be difficult and emotionally draining, my experience with your office was always positive and very educational. You were instrumental in helping me stay focused on the important issues of my case and I was equally impressed with your pre-trial preparation and courtroom execution. I am exceedingly pleased with the results that you achieved and I am happy to say that your diligent efforts on my behalf will benefit my family not only now but in the immediate and long term future. Initially I was very selective when choosing an attorney to represent me and I realize now how important that decision really was. Thank you again for providing invaluable service and helping me effectively cope with a complicated legal and emotionally trying experience.”
M.M. San Diego, CA
Six months after my husband turned 50, he told me he wanted a divorce! It totally shocked me because there had been no evidence of unhappiness with our marriage. Needless to say, I was devastated. Given our 21 year marriage, I didn’t accept his idea of going to mediation without legal representation. I spoke with 3 attorneys but couldn’t see myself working with them. Feeling very lost and discouraged, my friend suggested that I call Tara Yelman. Her referral was based on the successful, positive experience of 2 other friends. So I made the call and Tara took my call immediately. From that moment on Tara has been a blessing in my life! She has taken me through the process step by step, each time explaining my choices – the possible outcome and cost. Tara and her staff have worked really hard for me. She really impressed me when she took all my husband’s financials and went through each deposit and expense. In the end, she discovered that he had been spending thousands of dollars a month for the past couple of years just on himself! No wonder we didn’t have any money!! If she had not been so thorough, the judge would have had no choice but to use my husband’s very distorted monthly income to establish my spousal support. I have every confidence in Tara’s ability to represent me in any situation because I trust her. She has integrity and is the most ethical attorney I have ever worked with. She listens with a caring heart so I know she understands what I want and need. She has a very knowledgeable, hard-working staff. I always felt like part of a team and that team was working for my best interest. I would highly recommend and have already recommended Tara Yelman to anyone who is looking for a very bright, competent,, knowledgeable, perceptive, experienced attorney. As you can see, I can’t say enough good things about Tara Yelman & Associates!
C. A., San Diego, CA
“We have been battling this child custody case for 8 plus years with thousands of dollars in expense. We have had 4 other attorneys. The other 4 attorneys just did their jobs with minimal results. We were tired of getting lip service and to quote other attorneys, one said "lets cross our fingers and hope for the best.” Another said "just talk to my secretaries and they will take care of you.” We could never get in touch with them. When we hired Yelman & Associates, we were excited by your willingness to serve us in a personal way, and to make an understatement, you went above and beyond the call. You were experienced, clever and did your homework when presenting our case. You always made time for us even when you were swamped in your busy schedule. You researched and obtained more in court than what we ask for and we won, won won.
A million Thanks. We appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts and God Bless you in your ventures.” UCCJEA Case.
T.G. Castroville, TX
I came to Yelman specifically because they assist out-of-state parents in divorce situations. At the time, my children were living in California and I lived in the midwest. Kelli Howe/Satterly handled my case from the beginning even when I was only suspecting my ex-wife would file for a child support adjustment in CA. She advised me through my numerous questions even before I retained her. She researched info and advised me on exactly what the best course of action was. When the time came to block the action, her research was extremely specific and relevant. Her manner is very client oriented including having expert knowledge and setting clear expectations. The precedents she cited were overwhelming and her presentation was persuasive. Kelli stopped an unjust situation from happening and I'm very grateful for her assistance!
B.K. Minnesota
Kelli Howe/Satterly was a great choice for me for my divorce case. She quickly helped me feel confident in that we had made the correct choice to have an uncontested divorce. I appreciated her experience and her accessibility the most but she was able to guide me through the process efficiently to help us get an amicable, expedient result that worked well for both parties. When you go through a divorce it is very emotional and overwhelming and having Kelli there to assist was very significant in making the legal process as simple and clear as possible. Her services were a big part of me being able to feel positive throughout about being able to get through the process. I highly recommend Kelli to anyone facing a dissolution of marriage.
J.M. San Diego, CA
I was so lost, scared and depressed going through my divorce. So a friend of mine highly recommended Yelman & Associates. My first phone contact was Tara Yelman. She made me feel so comfortable, relaxed and direct (which I truly appreciated). She then directed me to one of her associates, Kelli Howe/Satterly. Not understanding or knowing my rights, choices or the law, Kelli with her gentle nature, held my hand and walked and instructed me through each step with great encouragement. She understood my fears and was able to give me the push I needed to complete each task. I knew after the first meeting with Kelli Howe, she would handle my case honestly, professionally, thoroughly and aggressively. When Kelli said she was going to follow through, she did! I never felt taken advantage of or out of the loop. I also felt, I didn't just get Kelli as my attorney, but the backing of Yelman & Associates. Since my divorce, I have recommended several clients. They have shared with me how impressed they were with Kelli's tenacity, professionalism, communication and how she can thoroughly complete tacks in a timely manner. I am blessed to have met Kelli. She was my angel.
L.H. La Mesa, Ca.
I would like to personally thank Kelli K. Satterly and Yelman & Associates for everything they have done for my family. Ms. Satterly has gone over and above and done many things seen and unseen to bring justice to my family. Before acquiring her services, our family dealt with constant threats, harassment, and continuous attacks. Ms. Satterly believed in our case and went out of her way to make sure we finally had peace. Yelman & Associates services are dependable and stand apart from any other law firm that we have experienced. Ms. Satterly shows a willingness to listen and an attention to detail with every situation that we have encountered. This law firm is very thorough and willing to go the extra mile to help you win your case. I am grateful for this firm and appreciate all of the legal assistance in and out of court that they have provided to us.
C.M. Seattle, WA
When we first met Kelli, it didn't take us long at all to know that we liked her. It was easy to see her depth of concern, and she was able to quickly grasp the situation and offer up ways of resolving it. Simply put, she "got it", and that was very important to us. Her quick thinking and action got us the protection and security we needed, and we are very grateful to her. She's absolutely wonderful, and we wouldn't hesitate to ask for her help again.
G & S M - San Diego
Kelli Howe of Yelman & Associates has been a tremendous asset to me and my situation. I retained Yelman & Associates for a child support/custody modification and I was literally a nervous wreck. Ms. Howe was with me every step of the way. She listened to me and completely understood my issues. That was important to me. I had seen attorneys in the past that couldn't remember the names of their clients' children or how many children they had. Working with someone that takes the time to really know you and your situation helps a lot. An enormous weight was lifted from my shoulders because I was able to stop worrying. Any question I had, Ms. Howe was there--with no delay--with an answer for me (she still is). I was very proud that I had such a competent attorney speaking for me at the hearing. The case is over now but she is still in my corner, helping me with minor issues that arise and giving me appropriate advice. The way I currently see things, Ms. Howe will be with me for many years to come.
C.I. San Diego, CA
Disclaimer: These testimonials do not constitute a guarantee or warranty regarding the outcome of any legal matter for which Yelman & Associates is retained.
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