Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder - Bastrop (TX)

5 /5 Kaye Leidy: I consulted Derek regarding a guardianship and then for legal issues following my husbands death. I was always kept up to date, involved in the process, and treated with courtesy and kindness. Ill always go to Derek for legal work.

5 /5 Dorothy Matheson: My husband and I have used this firm twice now. The first was to get the title of the manfactured home my Mother had transfered to us. After a couple of tries by us we hired the firm to do this transfer with the state agency. They did complete it and the house is now in our name. We also needed new wills and other papers like powere of atourney do for my husband and I as we are getten older. Those papers were done and signed. The price was stated for each of these papers and was completed for that price. We are pleased with our interaction with the office.

5 /5 Skylar Mcburnett: Derek assited me in a child custody case that had been started by another law firm in Bastrop. The ball was dropped by the other attorney and Derek was able to pick it up and run with it. My case was over 3 years long with Derek and I was constantly worried I was never going to succeed. At the final hearing, a wave of comfort, security and gratitude came over me. Derek helped me achieve all my goals, protect my kids and solidify my childrens well being. I could not recommend him more.

1 /5 michelle Green: I hired Derek for a divorce in 2019. It was an easy divorce that cost me 5k but Derek did not send The correct paperwork to the attorney general so I never got child support taken from my ex-husband’s check. After Covid, I decided to try to see if I can get visitation of my step children and hired him again. He asked about child support and I told him that the Attorney General is waiting on the paper and he said that he would take care of it. Months go by and right before court, I find out the first trial is for child support which I already was awarded the first time. The judge of course awarded me child support again and also said that my ex-husband had to pay those fees( the child support portion) to Derek DIRECTLY . The judge even asked Derek why we were even there. It made no sense . I asked Derek how I was supposed to get the money from my ex-husband for those fees and he said he would take care of it. Legally I had no way to sue my ex-husband when he owes Derek directly. I agreed to pay Derek the remainder of what I hired him for for on a payment plan. But he insisted that he wanted what my ex-husband owed him too. I had already given him 8,000 for absolutely nothing. I still haven’t gotten child support. Instead of getting the money directly from my ex-husband, he took me to court and sued me for it. So not only did he not do it right the first time, made me pay for a trial again, he’s making me pay the fees that I don’t owe him. His fees are four times what my ex-husband owed to begin with. There was literally no reason to go back to court when there was already an order for him to pay child support in place. All he had to do was send the right form to the Attorney General. There is no way I would have willingly paid him again to go to court a second time and pay $8000 for $2000 in back support. Anyone can easily search him and see that he has sued dozens of his clients. I have personally spoken to many of the people that have left negative reviews and we all have the same story. Because of his actions I have not seen my stepchildren in three years, I have not received child support for my own child and I continue to struggle to care for my children by myself. This man should be suing the person the judge says owes him the money, Not the single mom that gave him $8000 and got nothing in return.

1 /5 Thomi Beadnell: Ive had to take a beat (read: several months) before writing this because I wanted to make sure I said everything I needed to (and Ill probably still miss something). Dont walk. Run. Literally anywhere else with your money. Dont trust this man with anything of import in your life. I made that mistake and his failure to do his job in court and self-stated "tactical error" altered the course of my familys lives and those of four kids. We spent countless hours *ourselves* compiling and organizing evidence against the opposing party, which we dropped off to Dereks office on a flash drive with labeled files in labeled folders. Amanda (one of his paralegals) is so nice, helpful, and seems to be really good at her job. She prepared those files and made an annotated packet/spreadsheet thing for Derek to refer to during the hearing while, you know, *presenting* said evidence. Not that Derek capitalized on any of that in court...as literally none of it was presented, causing our entire case to be dismissed. Not to mention the absurd amount of money wasted. Of course, he then tries to blame it on the "high burden of proof, blah blah" which is irrelevant when you present no evidence to begin with. I saw that he just raised his rates, which is pure insanity because he wasnt worth what he was charging before. Likely needs it to cover the gaps from all the former clients hes suing (go ahead and look that up). Save yourself the money and grief and find anyone else. Hell, youd probably get better results if you did some Google research, watched a couple episodes of Law & Order, and represented yourself.