Smith Strong, PLC Reviews

I have been working very closely with Van and his team for several months. After doing my own research and then coming highly recommended, there is no doubt I made the right choice when choosing a legal team that would not only defend my best interest, but also be there to support me during this difficult time. When you go through a divorce, it is decorated with emotions and the unknown. With the assistance of Van, Gabby, and Theresa, the journey has been a little easier, because I know they are bringing to the table years of professional expertise and a personal interest about the well being of me and my children. For my legal needs, I will always reach out to Smith Strong, because they are true to their name.

Jamie Allgood is currently representing me and my legal needs and she has excelled in accomplishing everything I have needed thus far. She is available, professional, and empathetic to handling my needs and I am so pleased with my experience with her and everyone at Smith and Strong, PLC. I have full confidence in Jamie and this law firm to always take care of me! I recommend to anyone!

I m so sorry it took so long for me to write my review. I want to give my greatest thanks to Alex and his assistant Kala. From the beginning of my divorce journey to the end, they both held my hand (literally) and made sure my case was taken care of. They were only a phone call away. Never rushed me. Took the time and patience to walk me through and guide me through the process. Every decision was discussed and they ensured I understood and was comfortable with them.
I m am beyond pleased with the outcome of my divorce. I have since then referred 2 clients to Alex. He will fight for you and your family. I know this because he fought for me and my children. Alex and Kala are rock stars
VBranch

I had a positive experience working with Michael and Tyler for my case. They always answered all my questions and stayed in touch, even during quarantine. I recommend this firm!

I am thoroughly happy with my experience using Smith Strong, PLC in my case. They are extremely professional in everything they do. My specific attorney was Keith Jones and April was the paralegal for my case. These two are a great team and not once did I ever feel like I was in the dark. I cannot recommend this firm enough. A+, worth every penny.

I am ever grateful for the opportunity to work with such professional and caring individuals. This stress filled time has magnified my needs and frustration, but Mr. Jones and the staff at Smith Strong have taken care of my every need in an effective and professional manner. I still have a long journey, but I am so thankful for these that God has put with me on my way. I am eternally grateful that they are able to deal with me at my worst and weakest.

Hurt after everything been through to hear smith strong on radio, charged over 300 for consultation but kept calling me wrong name, said I deserved to pay child support before looking at papers. Would not answer my questions or even listen to me. Did not even look at all of separation papers.

I would advise against using Smith Strong, based on my experience. I used them to open a custody case for me in the beginning of 2016.

To begin, I was given very positive encouragement as to the strength of my case by the attorney assigned to represent me in this matter. This advice would end up ruining me, financially speaking, for a time. My attorney failed to realize that the way the court measures income was different than the third party arbitration entity that had arbitrated our initial custody agreement. This resulted in my support going from 750/m plus half of daycare costs to an astounding 2300/m. She did not inform me of this until we were coming upon the final hearing. It was too late. This was information I had needed before deciding to ever open the case. She had my income from the very beginning. Furthermore, during this same time they charged me over 20k+ for a single pretrial hearing, a short and unsuccessful arbitration hearing, and a final hearing. Not to mention she told me that if I wanted to do the divorce as well, then that would be a whole other matter as the two could not be done together. This was flat out false. My current attorney, Scott Cardani of Bowen Ten Cardani, filed both matters (support/custody and divorce) together in the circuit court of chesterfield county and they were appropriately handled as such.

I visited countless law offices such as Cravens & Knoll, Bowen Ten Cardani, and others. Each firm guaranteed me this was an a ridiculous amount to pay for a single custody and support matter. This would end up playing out.

I have now had multiple custody, support, and divorce hearings and I have just reached half of what they charged me for the one pretrial, arbitration, and final hearing on custody and support (10 thousand). Not to mention that my situation has improved. I pay less child support and divorced. All for half of what they charged me for one set of hearings on custody and support.

I will state that in speaking with the owner of the firm, he did state that mistakes were made and refunded me just over two thousand dollars. However, this does not make up for the over seventeen thousand I still paid them as well as my child support jumping to over half of my take home pay.

I do not like to leave bad reviews and this review is coming a couple years after my dealings with them. But I recently ran into a young woman who was being represented by this firm and she told me a very similar experience. Therefore, after a lot of thought, I have decided to write this review. I hope it helps and if anyone would like more information for their own decision making process, you can private message me and I will be more than willing to discuss it.

As a single woman in her early 40's, I was not looking forward to estate planning. I knew I needed to put things in order for my children, but I procrastinated for a while. I finally decided to do something about it and asked for referrals. When I went to those websites, I did not feel comfortable about making an appointment. Then I saw Smith, Strong and I really liked what I read and saw. I called to make an appointment and the office was friendly and actually suggested I attend a free estate planning seminar done by Van Smith at the office. I'm glad that I went. It was informative and easy to follow and did not feel like a sales pitch in any way. After that seminar, I went to my initial (included) consultation and a few weeks later have walked away with a will and trust. I plan to use Van's services in the future as I build out a fuller estate plan. Thanks, Van!

H. Van Smith at Smith Strong, Plc runs a tight ship and throughout the divorce process, I felt like I had an Army beside me, fighting for my best interests and never blinking. Have you ever noticed that the big dogs don t bark and usually don t need to bite? That s how I felt the Smith Strong Team handled the other side in my divorce case.

Being a stickler for competence and details, I did my homework before choosing a divorce attorney. I made a well informed decision to go with Smith Strong, Plc to handle the ever important details for me and it is one of the best choices I have made in my life. Attorney Michael Gee, who gracefully spearheaded my case, is one of the hardest working gentlemen I have ever had the honor of having by my side during an extremely challenging life transition. I received great advice and an optimal outcome at a fair price. I always felt that I was much more than just another client. Thank you Michael, for always being a phone call or an email away, responding within seconds when it was urgent.

If you need a family law attorney who is honest, diligent, accessible, trustworthy, respectful and experienced then look no further than Smith Strong and Team. Michael Gee and all the kind, capable ladies and gentlemen at Smith Strong are, without doubt, the best of the best in Virginia - when it matters the most.

Please don t fool around with free initial consultations found elsewhere; they were little more than unimpressive, canned sales pitches. Go with Smith Strong, Plc if you want the very best team of lawyers to craft a personal plan of action, tailored to your specific needs and particular situation and let them work for your best interests.

I don t normally leave reviews but I was so impressed with how well the Smith Strong Team handled every aspect of my divorce, I felt compelled to spread the word. These folks are the real deal.

Alex Phillips was more than I could ask for in council for myself and son. As a new mother, there is a lot of uncertainties, even more that come with custody/visitation/support. Alex was always there to answer everything honestly, whether I wanted to hear it or not. When he says don t worry though, believe it. I had a difficult case where my sons father was going for primary physical and full legal custody with addition to a GAL, on the furthest side from mine. Alex fully prepared me for this hearing, and the end result was more than I could ask for! I can not thank him enough!

I experienced a very difficult divorce situation. I chose to leave the services of another well know firm and received a recommendation to use Robert Smith.
Robert Smith was an absolute blessing to me as I worked my way through the divorce.The journey through a divorce is full of emotions and legal hurdles. Robert and Owen(paralegal) never made me feel unsupported emotionally or legally. They responded to me quickly with any questions I had and let me know they would fight for me. They went above and beyond my expectations. They are both men of character, kindness, and are very talented . I give them the highest possible recommendation.

Extensive market research of estate planning firms in my area repeatedly lead me to Mr. Van Smith. Through a process of elimination centering on firms not returning my calls, charging for consultation, and unfavorable reviews, Smith Strong stood above at the outset.

Upon initial consultation, Mr. Van Smith developed a great attorney client rapport with me as he very personable and listens. During follow on strategy meetings, he listened intently to my needs and concerns, presented options, and developed an estate plan that is flexible with life changes. Being very familiar with military related dynamics was particularly valuable to me as a client.

Qualities personified in Mr. Van Smith are exactly what I was seeking in a lawyer, and found in him. I highly recommend him to those seeking strategic, thoughtful, and savvy representation.

I have been working with the Smith Strong group for several months now and they have been extremely helpful and very knowledgeable. I would recommend them to anyone who needs a attorney for any law matter. The staff is extremely helpful and very nice. I am extremely please with Keith and his paralegal Sara, they make a absolutely amazing team and have been more than a absolute blessing to me and my situation. Both Keith and Sara have been able to help me concentrate and not stress about the situation I am in and have really put me at ease. Keith has a very interesting approach when it comes to court with his very calm and laid back demeanor but he knows how to use that to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Sara has been a absolute blast to talk to and she has a very calming voice and very assuring, Sara has been extremely helpful and is always right on point with her email responses and phone calls. There have been a few other associates that I have talked to within the office and they have all been extremely helpful.

Complete ripoff. Paid 12k and he had a new attorney supposedly work our case. The date of a key meeting with the judge they didn't show up. Then the attorney assigned to my case left the firm. How convenient. They claim that although that was an unfortunate mistake they still did 12k worth of work preparing. FRAUD! Unfortunately, if your not a lawyer or rich you can't fight a lawyer.

Ended up getting a REAL law firm and won full custody after spending about 60k. If Smith was ethical I would have paid him that but due to his cheating and lying I will never recommend this firm. I was recently contacted by someone on Facebook that had the exact same thing happen to them.

If you need a great lawyer go with Barnes and Diehl. Professional and truly care about their clients.

Working with the Smith Strong law firm during my divorce was a great experience. I know that sounds weird, because divorce is never easy. However, knowing that you have someone in your corner that has your best interest at heart, and who is willing to fight for you, was very comforting. Theresa and Gabrielle were amazing to work with. They took very good care of me, were very professional, and were always available to answer my questions. If you ever find yourself in need of a Family Lawyer, you can certainly rely on the support of this trusted law firm.

Dog and pony show by Van who will hand off your case to one of his less capable partners or paralegals. Terrible reception desk. I would not recommend this farce to anyone.

I first met attorney Van Smith 4 years ago when I was in an urgent need of a divorce lawyer. In the last 4 years, I have been through a long, contested, and difficult divorce process, child custody battle, and several protective order hearings. In every situation I have been through, I have had attorney Van Smith represent me. I have had the option of searching for other divorce lawyers, but I choose to only have Van Smith on my side. The reason for this is simple. He is gone through several battles against my ex, an affluent neurologist who has hired several prominent attorneys, and has come out of each hearing winning my case. Through his guidance and expertise, I have maintained full legal and physical custody of my 2 daughters, obtained favorable division of our assets, and receive alimony to assist me as I begin my own career.
Van Smith and his legal team are not the typical divorce lawyers that focus on their own financial benefits. Instead, they are a caring, responsive and attentive group of individuals who take interest in their client s case. Van Smith personally makes sure to stay in touch with his clients by making weekly phone calls to reassure his clients of their case when necessary, as well as sending weekly updated emails. Every decision made by the law firm is discussed with the client and the options are fully explored. Throughout my ordeal, I have had full confidence in Van Smith and have never been disappointed by his performance in the courtroom. He is able to present my case to the judge with ease and is able to focus only on the facts while the other side tries to blur the judge s focus by bringing in false testimonies and countless motions. Van is skillful, seasoned and has tremendous knowledge in family law. I would highly recommend him to family and friends. I can attest to his work and know that he will provide excellent counselling and representation to his clients. Once you have Van Smith and his team on your side, you can rest assure that you will be taken care of.

I found Smith Strong by a Google search. I really liked and agreed with everything that was written on the site. I almost reconsidered after hearing the 1st time consultation fee and retainer but you get what you pay for so I decided to go through with it and I'm glad I did. Alex Phillips was assigned to my case and he was attentive, knowledgeable, and showed he had the experience right from the start. The consultation fee was well worth it from everything he shared with me so I had no reason to look any further. He was more than fair with payments and even credited me some calls and emails. The case cost less than half I thought it would when all said and done. Alex was always there even during some tense moments, he responded immediately. He showed that not only did he have my best interests at heart but my child's as well which was most important to me. He also excelled and impressed me in the courtroom. He reacted with the utmost professionalism and integrity I've ever seen. He took this on like it was personally affecting him. He showed his knowledge and experience in the courtroom and received the outcome we deserved when it very easily could have went the other way. I can confidently without a doubt recommend Alex to anyone that needs a lawyer that will always be there when you need them, be the voice of reason, have the knowledge and the experience to get you through the toughest of circumstances. I can't thank Alex and the staff at Smith Strong enough, they really helped me and my family and we are all better off for it.

The team at Smith Strong were professional and kind. They answered my questions, kept me updated and made the process of getting a divorce as easy as possible. They stuck with me when unexpected things came up and we re fair in billing me. If you need a divorce I highly recommend this law office.

Simple words can not convey how I truly feel about this firm. To me, these people are FAMILY. Over the past few months I've utilized their services TWICE! My (now husband) has used them THREE times! Their ability to take a sensitive area like family law and calmly discuss options and implement outcomes is impeccable. They assisted with my divorce and my estate planning. Van Smith, April Anderson and Taren Mitteer were AWESOME!!! I would especially like to say that April Anderson was especially helpful in all things legal and gave support on the phone during an especially emotional episode. The personal and heartfelt care is much appreciated.

I can t say enough good things about Alex Phillips and Kala Swenson. They helped me through what was an extremely difficult time for me!! Their demeanor and personability is what led me to choose them to represent me. I highly recommend this firm and Alex as your lawyer! Thank you again for all you did for me

For my divorced case was handle by attorney Keith, I am highly satisfied with the result and how he and April work to ending the case. He will be my family lawyer for the future, I don't put many reviews, unless it is really necessary, go with him, thank me later.

Smith Strong was very helpful with my divorce. I had moved out of state and they handled everything in RVA with almost no extra hassle on my end.

I cannot recommend Smith Strong, PLC enough. I specifically worked with Robert Miller, Nicole Gram and paralegal, Owen Tonga. This team was extremely responsive, caring and professional when working with me on my Divorce. They took time to explain each step of this process to ensure I understood what to expect and worked diligently to get this done quickly and with as little stress on me as possible. Best money I have ever spent!

Smith Strong is such an amazing firm. Great morals and leadership. Very responsive and helpful! They will go out of their way to make you feel like family.

He goes beyond , to get the job done, he is the best!!!

Court proceedings are never joyous; regardless of who's ruled right or wrong because someone is always left disappointed and/or disgruntled. I never envisioned having to ever enter the doors of a courtroom with my son's mother, but nonetheless that's where I found myself.

I bumped into Van on the the golf course, of all places, literally the day of filing. Conversation led to our faith along with our occupations and views of both. Being a very spiritual person, and undergoing a pilgrimage of my own that led to the separation of my son's mother and I, there was a tug of my heart that led me to enlist Van's services.

I can be a very analytical person that desires to cover every angle and possibility which caused a lot of questions. Van and his team made sure I was clear of during the entire process and proceedings.

In spite of expressed biased views from the Guardian Ad Litem, and in some regards the Judge, one pivotal point couldn't be denied. My son obviously knows who I am, loves me, I love him, and he deserves to have as much time with me possible; my main purpose for filing.

I didn't just find "a lawyer" that balmy day on the golf course, but I met a man of like faith who happened to be in the profession I needed assistance that I can now call a friend.

Thanks Van!!

A real weasel of a guy. Having to talk to a number of buffers and paralegals to finally reach Mr.Smith's voicemail. Never able to get a straight answer from this guy. Middle people get messages from Mr. Smith so he can always deny whatever you are told. Don't touch this creepy guy with a ten foot pole. Nothing upfront or honest here except when asking for a retainer.

Heidi Lewis and the rest of the staff are first rate! She is very professional, extremely knowledgeable, well-organized, easy and pleasant to deal with. A pleasure!

My fiance and I attended a free seminar covering wills and trusts. Van Smith and his staff are extremely professional, knowledgeable, and quick to respond to any questions, specifically during the drafting, review and funding meetings. Mr. Smith and his firm have developed a trusting relationship. If you are hesitant and maybe feeling in the dark when it comes to estate planning, trusts, wills, etc., Smith Strong is a great place to lay a foundation for you and your loved ones.

I have the honor and pleasure to call Van Smith my attorney. This is my first time needing a family law attorney so it would of been very easy to mislead me or overcharge me for services. Both Van and his team coached me through the process step by step and even would advise me on ways that I could save money. I would highly recommend choosing this firm.

Keith Jones has been an absolute blessing. He is intelligent, thorough, patient, has high integrity, excellent communication & analytical skills, tough in the areas that were important, empathic and kind in the moments I needed it the most. What started as a cut and dry child custody & support case quickly escalated into something way more complicated and scary. It required immediate action and attention over the course of 8 months. Keith and his team always made me feel top priority. Keith new exactly what needed to be done to protect myself, and most importantly my son. We will forever be grateful for him.

Keith and April has been very helpful throughout the process. They understand the psychological stress a client goes through. They treated me as a person rather than a case. I would highly recommend Smith Strong for your need.

Attended a (free) webinar via Zoom to learn about Estate Planning. Was very wary of a long, boring, overly-technical 'snore-a-thon' but instead was sorry the session ended and came away with a clear understanding thanks to to the lucid, enjoyable presentation by Attorney/Counselor at Law H. Van Smith. Absolutely NO strings attached. No sales pressure. No annoying calls. Van's natural/conversational style will quickly put you at ease and the depth of his subject matter expertise is amazing.
We are not from Virginia so Van is recommending a trusted attorney in our neck of the woods.
Anyone reading this who has a similar need - and we ALL do - should take advantage of this tremendous resource.

Smith Strong, PLC handled my case well. They were knowledgeable, concerned and walked me through all the details. I highly recommend them for your Divorce, Custody and Estate Planning needs.

Great lawyers, great people. They worked with me, they are very knowledgeable and know what they are doing. Anyone looking for a family law lawyer should at very least give them a call.

After attending a free lesson Van Smith taught on wills and estate planning, we worked with Van to figure out my father-in-law's plans. Van took the time to meet and discuss each detail of the plan, including significant time explaining the trust that he helped establish. He is an incredible teacher and made both my wife and father-in-law very comfortable with the plan they developed. After the trust was established, Van was available for some follow-up calls to answer a few clarifying questions. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Smith Strong on estate planning. An patient teacher and brilliant attorney.

Upon recommendations from friends, I scheduled an appointment with Van Smith. After our first consultation, I hired him. I knew I would have a tough battle in my divorce. Just over two years later, the long divorce process is complete. Van and the whole Smith Strong team were always available for any questions or concerns I had during this process. I would never wish anyone to have to go through a divorce, but if ever an attorney was needed I would pass along Van Smith's name.

Best Family Law firm in Virginia- If only I could give more than five stars. When dealing with a difficult divorce/custody case- this is the place to go. From a Client's perspective here are reasons why this is the place to go to: 1. Van Smith pays very close attention to crucial details at the most critical times in the case. His ability to recall intricate details that I would have otherwise not known to consider myself proved to be outstanding; and truly sets him apart from other attorneys. 2. The responsiveness of the firm far exceeds any other law firm that you will find. I can attest that I often had urgent questions and concerns that needed to be addressed rather quickly, and van and/or his firm was always fast to respond. 3. Van's superior knowledge of the law and legal expertise put me in the best position possible, to achieve the best outcome I could have possibly gotten. Through his advice and legal consultation; I was able to navigate a very difficult and stressful path with as much ease as possible. 4. I was NEVER overcharged for legal expenses- rather just the opposite. If I ever had a question about a bill, there was a staff member always available on site to answer any questions that I had. 5. Van's litigation skills proved to be far superior than that of very strong opposing counsel. My case was so complicated, I felt lost that anyone could handle my case. However, Van was able to always be ten steps ahead, and had legal foresight to have litigation skills that are far superior not only to opposing counsel, but to any other attorney that I have encountered. Lastly, Van always provided me with very realistic expectations and kept me abreast of any new developments in my case almost immediately as they occurred, so I was never left in the dark. Take home message from this review, is that not only is this firm quick to respond and advocate for you, the litigation results speak for themselves. Van and his team were able to achieve for me the best outcome possible, thanks to superior litigation skills and knowledge of the law

Jamie Allgood at Smith Strong, PLC is awesome. I can tell she truly cares about me as her client and I feel very confident having her represent my legal needs. I highly recommend her and everyone at Smith Strong, PLC to anyone!

These guys are the Justice League of family law in central Virginia. They're skilled, smart, sympathetic and just genuinely good people. I never thought my divorce would be the best part of my marriage, but it's true. The only other things you need beside Smith Strong lawyers are chocolate and a good therapist. #LiveLearnGetGoodLawyers

Van is awesome. My wife and I knew that we needed to set up a trust, but never seemed to find the time and structure to make it happen. Van met with us individually taking into account our specific asset protection needs, inheritance plans and need to have an understandable system. He set up the trust with minimal effort on our part. He then took time to ensure we understood how to utilize the trusts in every day life. I feel we couldn't have done better in selecting an attorney for our estate planning.

Divorce is a pain. I attempted to file on my own and made a mess of things. Gabrielle and the team at Smith and Strong understood and made the process worry and pain free. If I could do it all over again I would have come to them first. I will always recommend them.

Had a great experience with Van Smith and his team in writing our will and setting up a living trust for our kids. Van did an incredible job breaking down all aspects of the process in a way that was easy to understand and digest. The process of getting all the pieces in place was smooth and painless. Overall, we're very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone.

I can't say enough great things about Van and his firm! I have already recommended him to one friend and will to anyone else I can. Van Smith and Gabrielle Dennis have taken amazing care of me and the same follows for all the staff. This has been an incredibly stressful time in my life and everyone at the firm have been nothing but kind, empathetic, and very professional. Questions are answered quickly via email or phone and Van and Gabrielle made every effort to accommodate my schedule. The immense relief I felt after working with Van is immeasurable. I can't speak highly enough of his calm demeanor and decisive action to do what was right for me.

Smith Strong, PLC has been so wonderful to work with the last few months during my divorce. Keith Jones, Sara McBurney, and the rest of the group made everything easy to understand. If I needed something, I knew I could call them. I would highly recommend to anyone going through a divorce.

I had a very difficult custody situation with a narcissistic/controlling ex husband. I needed to release the control he had and Alex Phillips was the man for the job. After our consultation, I knew I could not pick anyone else, as he guided me without even being hired yet on my next steps. Because of him, I was finally brave enough to do so. Eventually I realized I needed his assistance and made the best decision which was to hire his services. This firm is great! They are in constant contact with you and Alex also has a sense of humor which made me feel comfortable in confiding in him. He prepared me very well for this case. The judge was very impressed with him! He has a calm tactic that really works well for him. He puts his heart into your case. I do not regret choosing him whatsoever. Between him and Kala Swanson, his paralegal, they made this so much easier for me and answered all my questions...I believe me...there were many! I recommend him completely! You will not be disappointed! Because of him, my ex lost control and he is not a happy camper! The battle will always keep going but I know who I trust bringing on that journey!

Thank you Smith and Strong!

I learned of this outstanding law practice while vetting eight other firms to meet my unique needs. I specifically found exactly what I required and desired In Smith Strong. A solid, experienced team, able to handle my Family Law situation combined with my Elder Law and Estate Planning to knowledgeably work my case and all of the complexities. All members of the firm who I came in contact were very personable, professional and highly proficient in their chosen areas of expertise. Smith Strong Law Firm has earned my complete trust and confidence, now handling a third project. If you are very particular in the assets of a law firm to represent you in any legal arena, then I highly recommend Smith Strong.

I highly recommend Van Smith and team for your legal needs. Not only were they patient but they were extremely knowledgeable, professional and attentive. Even with Van's busy schedule, he still managed to offer me personalized services, that meant a lot. You definitely get what you pay for at Smith Strong PLC. Try them, you won't regret it!

Smith Strong PLC, you are the MVP!

I am so thankful to have come across Smith Strong for my legal needs. The staff and attorneys are always kind, respectful, knowledgeable, and responsive. Attorney David Mitchell has been extremely helpful in meeting all of my legal needs More

I received a referral to Smith Strong from a good friend, and I could not have been more pleased with my experience. It is stressful and unpleasant going through a separation and divorce, but Heidi Lewis made the process so much smoother! Heidi and the other staff at Smith Strong were 100% professional, courteous, timely and very kind at each and every encounter and communication. I would highly recommend them to a friend or family in need!

Simply put - these people are the best. I am so thankful I chose Smith Strong to represent me. The entire staff has been competent, friendly and a joy to work with. In particular, my attorney Jamie Allgood has been extremely More

Keith Jones is a very experienced and knowledgeable lawyer!!!! He has be our lawyer for 14 years and has done a wonderful job to ensure our WIN.

I am very appreciative of Alex, Kala and others who worked on my case. Thanks to them the process went smoothly. Such a blessing to avoid the divorce nightmares that are so frequently broadcast. Highly recommended!

I only wish I could give less stars. After eight months of being pushed around and bullied, giving the ex whatever she wanted and paying the "lawyer" seven grand, the day I fired them I was told " but I'm ready to fight for you now"
They were supposed to be fighting for me the whole time. Huge waste of time and money, in three weeks the new lawyer got things taken care of.
And if you do get stuck using them make sure they send you any correspondence between lawyers BEFORE it gets sent to opposing counsel, I had a nice surprise of basically agreeing on a settlement amount. An amount I told Smith strong I would go to court before paying her, to bad Smith strong decided the amount for me and completely ignored my desires and instructions.
I also had to pay Smith strong to make corrections to paperwork, things like the year make and model of my truck. How do you get that wrong if you keep notes and pay attention or care about what your doing? And why did I have to pay for them to fix they're mistake that shouldn't have happened to begin with? And the settlement agreement looked very boilerplate, not sure why it cost 1700 to add names and vehicles to a template, if that is what it really was. When van Smith himself just kind of smiled at me when I was relating some issues I should have fired the firm then, instead I let them talk me into another few months of pouring money into them.
To be clear van Smith was NOT my lawyer, but a member of his firm was.
Call around and ask lawyers about them, don't go by reviews. Going by the reviews cost me thousands of dollars and many months of stress and lost sleep. I shouldn't have trusted a law firm that claims they are a "boutique" firm, wish they said that from the beginning and I had a better idea of who I was dealing with. Dissatisfied, disappointed and a whole bunch poorer now to say the least. I wish I could give the name of the new lawyer to save people the time in purgatory I was stuck in, good ones are out there. Call around and see who your dealing with before giving up that cash.

Attorney Van Smith was excellent. He was always quick to respond, and always seemed to be ten steps ahead of opposing counsel. He guided me through a very difficult process and placed me at ease. I highly recommend Van and his staff.

Keith Jones and Sara McBurney went above the call of duty when it came to assisting me with my custody & child support case. I've been battling with these issues for years and had come to the realization that I needed help ! Keith went to battle at each court hearing, making sure that I received fair and just treatment as a father; Sara was always prompt on responding to email or any inquires that I may've had. They both where a complete joy to work with and if need be I will most certainly use Smith Strong, PLC again !

Van Smith and his team have helped my clients and a family member of mine so I can confirm that these guys are the BEST of the BEST!!! If you need a strong team to represent you during a divorce or if you need someone to help plan for the future...call them today!!!

Going on strong recommendations from a friend I chose this firm to represent me in a "current situation" ..the staff were all friendly an accommodating..my case was reviewed in a timely manner an all processes explained to me..I had no issues here and if I need help again I'd definitely use this firm .

Highly professional and experienced. Supportive, reassuring and understanding. These are the words that come to mind when I think of Smith Strong. All staff and attorneys are very helpful, prompt and responsive with their clients. I would definitely recommend this law firm to anyone who needs assistance with family matters in the greater Richmond area.

Mr. Smith and his team have been wonderful to work with. They meet their deadlines and don't waste / bill unnecessary time. They have their way of streamlining the divorce process that has preserved me and my family. The best attorney experience ever!

I definitely recommend this law firm!! I was fortunate enough to work with Gabrielle Dennis and her team and they worked with me every second of the way! I live in Kansas and they were still happy to help me! I can t thank them enough for doing an amazing job! If I have anymore issues with child custody I know for a fact I will be coming back to Gabrielle! Thank you again for everything!!

I cannot say enough good things about this law office. They are smart, caring, good people - and exceptional lawyers. I give them the highest possible recommendation. If you are in need of legal expertise - Smith Strong are the people you want on your team.

David at Smith Strong helped me through a very difficult time. David and all of the staff were knowledgeable , caring and considerate and most of all, I knew someone had my back and was looking out for my best interests. If the need arises, Smith Strong is the best there is.

Van and his team created my trust. We have assets we wish to protect even though we are in our 40s. It is always smart to plan ahead so that others do not have to plan for us in the event of our death. We wanted to be sure our children were taken care of and went to the care givers we wish. Van is professional and friendly. We have recommended his business to several friends who have also been very pleased.

I could not be happier with Smith Strong. Through a very difficult divorce and custody situation, the attorneys and staff at Smith Strong were considerate, knowledgeable, and compassionate. They offered support both legally and emotionally throughout the process and advocated for me in a way that showed they genuinely cared about my well-being. I was impressed with their ability to guide me through the worst experience of my life in a calm, fair and understanding way, while helping me secure a good outcome. I strongly recommend them!

Van and his team are great!!! I have known Van for over 20 years he really loves what he does and cares for his clients.

I am a huge fan of Smith Strong, PLC. I consider Attorney Van Smith as one of the most respectable people I know.

I attended Van's work shop and learned so much about financial planning, I wish I would have found him sooner. After my FREE consultation, I can see that creating a piece of mind is his only goal. I hope everyone has the opportunity to meet with Van. 10 out of 10. He is the ultimate life coach.

Keith Jones: horrible! No preparation with family, didn't even return emails much less talk to this poor woman he was supposed to serve and protect. Took her money and left her in the dark. No plan. Do. Not. Use.

As a single mom and survivor of domestic violence, the Smith Strong law firm was truly a blessing during an extremely difficult time in my life. It can be hard to find attorneys that will care about what you're going through, but Van Smith and his team went above and beyond to help me and I am incredibly grateful.

His staff was organized, detailed, professional and they showed genuine care for what I was going through. Van Smith was not only knowledgeable with the law and the court system but he also had integrity and character that are rare to see in the world anymore.

I love when I see people helping others by using their gifts and talents to make a difference in the world and I believe that this firm is doing just that. I would highly recommend Van Smith and his firm to anyone looking for a winning team that care about you and your outcome.

My experience so far has been great, they're always there when you need them. When you email them they will email you right away. I like the fact they did not judge me what so ever when it came to my issues I was having. I will highly recommend SMITH STRONG to any body that need help with issues they may have. Thanks again to Alex and Kala

Van is knowledgeable and a good teacher. He explained clearly and with good visuals everything I needed to understand. He and his staff are charming as well as highly competent. I have already recommended him to friends and family.

During the most difficult time of my life, 2 people come to mind to alleviate me of the legal stressors of divorce proceedings. Jamie Allgood and Morgan Neal took the reigns, and freed me of traversing through the legal quagmire of paperwork and negotiations. Their professionalism, compassion, and advice were top notch! Thank You!

The team at Smith Strong made the legal process of getting divorced as painless as possible. I was nervous about making sure everything was done right and wanted to work with professionals who could make sure that it did. They made me feel comfortable and thoroughly explained the entire process during our first meeting with excellent communication throughout the remainder of the process. Really friendly and professional team. Highly recommend them for any family law needs!

We had been putting off making a will and planning for retirement for some time. Glad we met with Van Smith. His initial meeting was very insightful providing several options and a clear explanation. We are moving forward with planning for the future so our family will have no questions about our wishes. It's about time!

Robert Miller and his team were efficient and professional. I truly appreciate his transparency and honesty regarding my case. He provided me with the best ethical legal advice to ensure that I was equipped with all the facts needed for my case. I would highly recommend Robert and the firm.

I used Van for my divorce several years ago and all things considered it was a good experience. I felt like he truly had my back and listened to how I wanted things to proceed. I always felt that I could ask questions for clarification and he was always clear on each step that was being taken in the process and explained it thoroughly., He was professional yet very caring. I would and have recommended him to others.

Keith Jones handled my traffic case with my receiving the most favorable outcome in court. He was very professional and effective, and took time to meet with me and make sure I was fully prepared. I don't know what more one could ask for.

Dear MR.VAN SMITH,
I would like to thank you again for your help with my case.The results were great and I appreciate your candor and honesty with my situation. I am plased with the outcome and your handing of the case.I will gladly recommend your services to any of my friends or family that may ever need it. Once again thank you so much for your help...

Sincerely,
Mercy V.

Van and his law firm are very professional and listen to your case , highly recommended from my family.

I loved working with Van and his team. I went to the estate planning seminar to educate myself for myself and my clients. I had been putting off doing my Living Will cuz it seems so morbid, but I know it needs to be done. And I Really wanted a strong medical directive so that I am not kept alive in some heinous medical condition. I did not do the Living Trust/Asset Trust at this moment, but HIGHLY recommend having one as it protects you and your loved ones from becoming broke should you need long-term care or get sued, etc.
The whole team was also really fun to work with, with a lightness and great energy.
Thanks Van!

Mr. Smith and his team at Smith Strong, PLC, are very caring, passionate, dedicated, and knowledgeable. Mr. Smith's assistant, Morgan Sears, and his Associate Attorney, David Mitchell were sensitive, thoughtful and detailed in handling all the different issues throughout my case, and made sure they were always available to answer my calls when I needed them. Smith Strong PLC, was able to help me get through the rough divorce process, and also help establish an estate plan for my family. This firm comes highly recommended.