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Almost everyone meets the family law system exactly once, at the worst moment of their life, knowing nothing about it. That gap is expensive. It is where people pay retainers they did not need to pay, agree to terms they did not understand, and find out eighteen months later what a sentence in their decree actually meant.
Know the process before you start
What gets filed, in what order, in your state. Residency rules, waiting periods, and the deadlines that quietly forfeit claims if you miss them. Free, for all 51 jurisdictions.
Understand what it costs
Filing fees are the small part. How property gets divided, what happens to retirement accounts and the house, and where legal fees actually go. Some paths cost a few hundred dollars. Some cost tens of thousands.
Research before you hire
Most people choose an attorney from an advertisement and a fifteen minute consultation. Read what former clients said about communication, billing, and outcomes, from a directory nobody can pay to rank in.
Know who is on the bench
Judges are public officials and how they run their courtrooms is a matter of public interest. We publish firsthand accounts from people who appeared before them, so you can walk in knowing what to expect rather than guessing.
None of this is legal advice, and none of it replaces an attorney. It exists so that when you hire one, you can tell whether they are doing a good job.
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Divorce Survival Guide
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MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS — November 2024 retention ballot
Samuel Scott Vigil, District Court Judge
The Sixteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 5-0, with four absent and one vacancy, that Judge Samuel Scott Vigil MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. Judge Vigil presides over civil, domestic relations, juvenile, and criminal matters in Otero, Bent and Crowley County, Colorado. His courtroom demeanor is consistently respectful and patient, creating a conducive environment for all parties. His written orders are comprehensive and well-reasoned, demonstrating a deep understanding of complex legal issues. Judge Vigil's command of the courtroom and docket control are exemplary, ensuring efficient and fair proceedings. Commission members observed these qualities during their evaluation and interview. The Commission appreciates Judge Vigil’s commitment to always improving through his continued education and constantly asking for feedback and incorporating that feedback. Based on these findings, the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Samuel Vigil meets performance standards. The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Vigil, reviewed opinions he authored, observed him in court, reviewed a self-evaluation survey, and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had interacted in Judge Vigil’s court. Among the survey questions asked, one was, “Based on your responses to the previous questions related to the performance evaluation criteria, do you think Judge Vigil meets judicial performance standards?” Of the attorneys responding to the survey, 100% answered yes. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 88% answered yes. A total of eight attorneys and seven non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance surveys expressing their opinion of Judge Vigil. Judge Vigil has been appointed to the District Court since 2022. Prior to his appointment as District Court Judge, he served as Bent County Court Judge since February 2013, and as District Court Magistrate since November 2020. Judge Vigil earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Robert O. Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico and his Juris Doctor (JD) from Tulane University Law School. Prior to appointment to the District Court bench, Judge Vigil served as a Deputy District Attorney for the 16th Judicial District’s District Attorney’s Office. Upon being appointed as a part-time County Court Judge in February 2013, Judge Vigil established and maintained a private practice in Las Animas focusing on local government representation and representation of indigent parents through the Office of Respondent Parent Counsel. Judge Vigil also served as Bent County Attorney, City Attorney for the City of Las Animas, Special County Attorney for Prowers County Department of Human Services and represented several Special Districts. Bent County Court
This evaluation was produced by Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation (2024). Read it at the source: 2024 Judicial Performance Evaluations (Legislative Council Staff compilation). This page is published by LegalReportCard, a service of CDWJ LLC, which is not Colorado OJPE. Questions about what appears here go to help@legalreportcard.com.
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Real accounts from people who have been through the family court process, in their own words. These are personal experiences, not legal advice, and one person's outcome does not predict yours.
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★★★★★
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★★★★★
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