Appointments
I set my own appointments to assure we are not interrupted or pressed for time. Since you are paying for my time you deserve and will have my undivided attention. If you would like to set up a consultation appointment, please contact my office.
Consultations
My consultations last approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours. Sometimes, as a result of a consultation, the client will not need further legal advice and/or action. During the consultation I will review documents, offer suggestions on how to approach a situation and/or assist in the preparation of documents if called for. I charge a fee of $300 for a consultation. I charge for consultations because I am furnishing a service, with the goal of assisting you to resolve your matter without further legal cost.
At the conclusion of the consultation I will quote a retainer if you wish to hire me as your attorney. If you retain my services, your consultation fee will be deducted from the retainer.
Second Opinion Consultations
Due to the significant legal consequences of your dissolution, if you are currently represented, this would be an ideal situation for a second opinion.
Retainers
A retainer is the up front payment from a client to an attorney in order to secure the attorney's services. The retainer may vary depending on the complexity of your case and the number of resolved and unresolved issues. The retainer is placed into a trust account and reduced only as work is performed. If the balance of the retainer is not used by the time your case is resolved, the unused portion of the retainer is returned to you.
Who am I?
I have been practicing law since 1994, concentrating on Family Law. I have conducted multiple day lengthy trials in addition to extensive representation in short cause hearings and settlement conferences. The focus of my practice is exclusively family law matters. I have been selected a Super Lawyer multiple years
Meet the Attorney
Richard A Schneer
I received my undergraduate degree in San Diego State University with distinction in Political Science in 1989. I received my law degree from Drake University in 1992.
I have practiced family law exclusively since 1994. I was employed at a family law firm for ten years as an associate attorney and later a partner. I opened my solo practice in July 2005 and have been at the same location in downtown Pleasant Hill since opening my doors to clients.
I opened my practice to provide clients with legal representation that is assertive, thoughtful and cost effective. I do not use a cookie cutter approach to family law matters but instead provide individualized assessments and action as dictated by the facts and circumstances of each case. No two cases are the same and there is no such thing as a “typical divorce” or family law matter.
I believe that one can receive good solid legal advice and quality representation without having to outspend the opposing side. I am committed to providing services that are cost effective and designed to quickly resolve issues and reduce overall costs.
How Does It Work?
There is no reason to look any further for a family law attorney. I simply can't say enough good things about Richard. Further, I can't think of one single thing I was unhappy with. He is not only very knowledgeable, he is very easy to work with and he takes the time to completely answer all questions and concerns. He responds quickly to emails and he kept me informed every step of the way. His work ethic is incredible. He goes above and beyond to get the job done. He took me through one of the most difficult times in my life and made the process as easy as possible. He represented me as if I was family. He truly cares. Also Cyndi, his assistant was very helpful and friendly. Please give Richard a call. You'll be happy you did!
I thought my divorce from a long term marriage was a fairly simple matter with no minor children and few assets. I had no money and no legal background but attempted to represent myself and realized I was in way over my head and in fact, my husband had no intention of "working things out between just us". A friend recommended Richard and I will be forever grateful. He took the time to sit with me, explain the process and options, keep me focused on the law and the task at hand, not all of the related drama ( and there was a lot) and guide me through all of it. This was not at all easy for me but certainly once Richard was on board, I truly felt that I was not alone and that I had very knowledgeable advocate looking out for me. He was available, professional, and gracious through all of it. I really appreciated that he extended those traits to all involved including the judge and opposing counsel, as he was after all, representing me. He was classy throughout while taking care of business. I would absolutely recommend him to you.
Lauri
I went through a very contentious divorce involving children and a former spouse who was determined to never work again. I was truly a wreck as I did not want the divorce to begin with (initially.). Rich was just the right balance between compassionate and tough. He laid out all the options and was fair and allowed me to make the final decisions. He stayed away from the all too common theatrics of the courtroom and just let the facts speak for themselves.
I can't recommend Richard Schneer enough!! He is well respected in the courts and has an ability to work with both difficult opposing attorneys as well as their clients. I never got the feeling he was over billing me or taking advantage of my situation for his own benefit.
I truly feel lucky that I had the opportunity to have Richard represent me. He is extremely knowledgeable with his facts of the law, and also takes a humanistic approach when dealing with situations and others. He listens very carefully and is able to be very effective with putting together best-case scenarios to prepare for what could happen, can happen and will happen. He is very responsive and always kept me up to date with any information he received. Richard also has a great personality and is easy to talk to , which makes the situation easier to deal with. I highly recommend Richard to anyone that is in need of family law services, you will not be disappointed!
Chris
Richard is fantastic at Family Law. I have used his practice for the past 10 years. I highly recommend him to anyone who is in need of this kind of service. He is professional, accurate, thorough and compassionate as others have stated.