Smal Otte Advocatuur & Mediation

Meanwhile Esther Smal has helped me through five family lawsuits concerning an emigration. I have experienced her as an energetic, skilled and realistic woman with a passion for law. Together we have made adequate preparation for every case and as a result we have been proved right in all cases. Mrs Smal is also very easily accessible. For urgent matters I could almost immediately go for advice. The fact that Mrs. Smal is also a mediator has helped a lot in the process. As a result, I was able to spar with her very finely about what is real for my situation (think of intercourse and alimony) and especially with regard to the children. I hope to be able to leave the lawsuits behind me now, but should it ever happen again, Esther will be the first to call.

Good assistance and good contact.

When Esther Smal assists you as a lawyer you have to deal with someone who understands her job, and also not lose sight of human contact. She gives a clear overview and considers the interests of the child to be of paramount importance at all times. As a client you feel heard and expertly gives her advice to take the right path. I got to know her as an honest man. Someone who understands business and an eye for the person behind the client. I do not think there is a better combination. Esther Smal, lawyer as a lawyer should be.

Not a very good experience with Mrs. Smal as a lawyer. I received the advice for the Smal Otte office through the Rechtswinkel in Heiloo and the first 2 conversations (by telephone and face-to-face) were very promising. The rest of our communication was via email (most practical because of my full-time job), but it turned out that I still had to call in the back regularly to ask when I could expect an answer to my messages. In the end I did receive an answer, but not always to all my questions (my e-mail messages not read properly? Sloppiness?) And sometimes clearly drawn up quickly (in other words, in my experience). The measure was full for me when I first had to wait 3 weeks for an answer to a very clear and urgent request for help (cry for help actually) and after calling twice in the back, I finally did not receive the help I had requested and clearly needed had. That she played the ball back to my ex-husband and me for the umpteenth time, but that in the meantime I was confronted with a peppery bill. In the second interview (face-to-face), I was told by Mrs. Smal that she had previously mediated in an exactly the same situation as mine, which gave me the impression (apparently wrongly) that I was the right place for help and I would be properly assisted by her throughout the divorce proceedings. Relief prevailed. Just what I was looking for and needed. It was not a second too soon. But the contact afterwards was rather messy and the assistance has turned out to be a deception. Little use. In the end I finally (after six months) sought refuge with another divorce lawyer who did answer within a few days, is decisive and also has a much cheaper hourly rate than Ms. Smal ...

Divorce is not the happiest time in your life. There is a lot to be arranged and done, especially things that you normally do not think about. Esther Smal has helped us through this emotional time in a great way. She accepts everyone in their own way and allows both parties to tell their story in peace. I hope never to experience it again, but I have experienced tremendous support from Esther's professional approach.