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.

I am thankful to have the opportunity to tell others what a competent attorney Sara Neumann is. Ms. Neumann met with me regarding a very difficult custody schedule that was hurtful to my son. She listened to all the details of the case which had been going on for several years and involved international travel and custody schedules between states. I left her office feeling extremely confident that I had chosen the right attorney for the job. She understood the situation from the start and she worked hard to accomplish the goal. She was always responsive to me by telephone or email and she knew the right people in the field. My son has a much better schedule now and a more positive outlook on life. I feel confident knowing that Ms. Neumann will be right there if I need her again.

I was impressed with how Mr. Kim handled my divorce. He listened to my concerns, promptly returned my phone calls, was flexible in meeting arrangements, and consistently provided advice that could only come from his experience and understanding of my situation. In short, he was instrumental in helping me to successfully resolve an extremely contentious case prior to trial, saving countless hours and untold expense.

My ex-wife and I divorced about 4 years ago and moved away to another county, the verbal agreement that she and I had was that the kids would come and live with me once my oldest was ready for Middle School. Long story short, she conveniently forgot about the agreement. Sara Neumann was referred to me as an amazing attorney, after consulting with her over the phone I knew that I had to meet with her. After meeting with Sara I felt confident that she was the attorney that I wanted to represent me. She was really easy to talk to and down to earth. She made me feel like I was talking to a friend. I had many concerns regarding this sensitive case. First of all my children have always been with their Mother since we divorced upon mutual agreement. She had them during the school week and I had them every weekend and holidays. I now wanted my children to live with me during the school week so that I could help them with their homework and extra-curricular activities. I was concerned being a Father that the court would not want to place the children in my care and leave the children with their Mother. Sara reassured me that the court system has changed and Fathers rights are really taken into consideration. We met with her in October, filed paper work in November, had a court hearing set for January, and by June after a difficult fight I was able to have my children during the school week. I truly believe to this day that because of Sara’s expertise, knowledge and patience I was able to get what I requested. I will continue to use Sara Neumann as my attorney and highly recommend her. She will fight for your children.

Thank you for the outstanding work you did for me. What you did was the opposite of what many family lawyers do, and what the other lawyers wanted to do with my situation. With the letter from my son’s mom’s lawyer several months ago, they all wanted this to drag out in the legal system, it’s emotionally draining. You with your intelligence, savvy and “academy award” winning letters resolved the matter. I appreciate the work you did, and the integrity in dealing with me.

Tara Yelman is a Godsend. I had been representing myself in my child support case and was so frustrated with the entire process that I decided to hire an attorney. My ex, a practicing attorney, owed years of child support and dragged the case out for over a year by asking for continuances. With Ms. Yelman’s help, the continuances stopped and at the first court hearing I was awarded 100% of the unpaid child support. Ms. Yelman and her staff were amazing. They worked as a team to make sure we were prepared for the court hearing. They know the law and are very professional. They did such a great job that I have retained them to represent me in my next case. She came highly recommended to me and I am so grateful she was on my side in court.

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!!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 responsive 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.

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.

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!

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 asked 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.

My wife and I would like to say thank you for the outstanding work you did for us. Words cannot give our appreciation justice. You and your assistants were superbly efficient and professional. Your foresight on all matters on our case was truly remarkable. Your service and knowledge was second to none and you made the process very easy to deal with when we were nervous and anxious. It goes without saying that we will always refer to your firm if the need ever arises that we should need any legal assistance again. We will proudly recommend you and your firm to anyone we know who may be in need of legal assistance. Once again our heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

When going through such a difficult divorce it was extremely important for me to have the right person on my team.  That person was Tara Yelman.  Tara actually listened to me and fought for what I wanted and what was important to me.  She knows the law very well and was always professional, organized and tenacious in the courtroom.  She always responded to my calls very quickly and has a remarkable memory.  I am extremely grateful for everything that Tara and her staff have done for me.  I trust her completely and there is no one I would rather have in my corner during this battle.

I could write volumes about the highly professional service provided by the Yelman law firm in my divorce. I will be direct: the firm was not my first choice. I began the process with another firm that simply did not perform. Details had not been handled initially, but Tara Yelman and her staff took over, very quickly fixed all the deficiencies and handled a very complicated case with a relentless precision that brought the case to what I believe was a very fair settlement without a costly trial. Tara Yelman herself possesses an incredible energy in her approach, as I witnessed at each step in hearings, filings and organization. Different phases of my case were delegated to other attorneys and staff members and they all did great jobs. The firm was always responsive to any concerns I had.

Sara Driesen was instrumental in her relentless effort to fight for the betterment of my son and I. After many rational and reasonable efforts were facilitated and attempted by Sara to negotiate support payments out of court, opposing counsel would not settle. Mrs. Driesen researched and built compelling case arguments and evidence for our hearing. Her commanding presence and eloquent delivery of facts in the court room yielded a verdict in our favor. This was only possible by her dedicated efforts to fight for what is just. I highly recommend Sara Driesen.

I am thankful to have the opportunity to tell others what a competent attorney Sara Neumann is. Ms. Neumann met with me regarding a very difficult custody schedule that was hurtful to my son. She listened to all the details of the case which had been going on for several years and involved international travel and custody schedules between states. I left her office feeling extremely confident that I had chosen the right attorney for the job. She understood the situation from the start and she worked hard to accomplish the goal. She was always responsive to me by telephone or email and she knew the right people in the field. My son has a much better schedule now and a more positive outlook on life. I feel confident knowing that Ms. Neumann will be right there if I need her again.