Zapolis & Associates

Before hiring, he promised quick turnaround as trust and will work was easy. After hiring he rescheduled several appointments and never did the work. Had to hire someone else. Avoid this firm.

He is exactly what I needed. Got me on tract, prioritized my needs.

Zapolis claims to specialize in contested estates for probate and trust litigation. “That is what I do” he stated while concurrently claiming the courts recognize his specialty. At retainer he was asked to review written discovery response completeness. Roughly 7 months later the Court was so impressed that it set a sanction deadline to complete written discovery. Between retainer and the sanction deadline, he reset meetings so he could finish reviewing material. At the second meeting, no mention of outstanding discovery issues while we discussed Covid and rehashed information. He claimed to be unfamiliar with controlling case law for self-settled trusts and even the general common law for same. Just days before the sanction deadline, he telephoned and we exchanged emails for info to complete written discovery using my retype. Thereafter and without prior warning, he telephoned allowing less than a week to find, organize, copy and deliver years of financial statements. Fortunately, I already started financial statements for a different period, which were forwarded to Zapolis but he didn’t realize the time period difference. Another time he left a message in the afternoon and wanted more documents faxed that night. Zapolis even demanded that I give him my original documents for copying, but the words “will return” were never stated. Seemed like the issues were just ahead of other sanction deadlines. Concurrently, I produced other documents and rendered an accounting and claims without any prodding. Maybe I was supposed to quit my job and wait for his next call. Generally most people think that when someone makes a sworn statement, a statement made under the penalties of perjury, and the person making the sworn statement has possession of documents or information refuting the sworn statement, then that person has committed perjury especially if another attorney made the statement. However, Zapolis didn’t want to discuss this issue. If not perjury by the attorney, then the answer would be simple and short. I never peppered him with questions, but concurrent to the above I asked 4 or 5 simple basic questions and some were pending more than 5 months. However, none were answered including repeated failed promises to send a list of documents produced by Plaintiffs, doubtful there were any. Just think. You hire an attorney for a legal matter but the attorney fails to answer even simple questions. Zapolis stated that he demands a high level of response, but gives zero level of response and may need court sanctions to perform required work. Anyone want to guess who Zapolis blamed when advising the Court? Multiple times Zapolis stated he read everything, but asked for short synopsis though synopses were tendered with the documents. If reminded without his prior question, then he was annoyed as I was wasting his time. However, a later Zapolis’ statement indicated he didn’t have the foggiest idea of one major issue in the litigation. These are only some issues. If you comment on the above issues, then you are critical which isn’t allowed. He does know how to generate a bill. I agree with other people that Zapolis recorded just as well as other attorneys from years past, all perfectly legal and most more than strange. (edit 12/5/2021) While federal and state agencies can investigate attorneys and the like, social media and internet posts can also be effective. But don't foget it is easy to create a contact group to send 500 or more news reporters and interest groups an email with info.

Good times

Rob the owner and principal attorney is the most knowledgeable attorney for estate planning I have ever met. He has been doing this for 30+ years and only does Estate planning. Which means he really good at this area of Law. He has the experience it takes to make sure your relatives are in good hands if something where to happen to you. I would not use anyone else for Estate planning and will refer all my friends and Family to Rob