When my ex-husband, who can be charmingly nefarious, abruptly stopped paying spousal support my trust attorney referred me to Laura Schantz.
It was fairly easy to schedule with Laura over several months.
My concerns/questions were legal, financial and, of course, personal.
Laura offered me solid, non-judgemental advice and helped me to make decisions that were agreeable on all counts.
The front desk staff, Kaylee Ogle, was always personable, helpful and smiling.
I was most satisfied with my experience.

In the fall of 2018 I visited with Laura Schantz on the advise of another attorney concerning my marital status. I found her to be professional, compassionate, knowledgeable and non-judgmental.. Her counsel gave me the strength to continue to try and save my marriage and the knowledge I needed to end it if that was my decision. When I returned to Schantz Lang P.C to end my marriage in the fall of 2019, I was again dealt with professionally, compassionately, knowledgeably and without judgement. Every person I encountered was professional, kind and efficient. If you have to go through a divorce, I believe you will not be disappointed if you choose Schantz Lang P.C.

I am writing this review in hopes that it saves someone else the painful experience I had with this firm.
Lawyers are hired to consult and advocate on one's behalf. Chris Fanning did very little to consult me, to explain the process, prepare me for what to expect at the most crucial time of my divorce process, the settlement hearing. He was even scolded by the judge for this during the hearing. Chris also did very little to advocate for my benefit. 'Non-confrontational' would be the best way to describe Chris and take it from me, that is not a good quality to have in a divorce lawyer. During that hearing, Chris advised me to agree to a 6-month window of 'Reunification Therapy' with my daughter in order to get more parenting time down the road. I agreed to it as Chris had advised me to do so. It wasn't until later I found out that there are only 3 or 4 therapists in the Portland area that actually have this qualification, and they all start with a retainer of $4,000. I also found out that my situation doesn't actually qualify for this specific type of therapy. Chris had all my bank statements for the past few years and know that I am living paycheck to paycheck and that I had to borrow money from family to hire the law firm in the first place. I called and explained this to Laura and though she did apologize and agree that she would have handled the whole situation differently she refused to give me any of the money that I had paid them over the year, even though I now have to pay $4,000 for therapy I didn't qualify for in the first place. This law firm put me in a much worse situation than I should be now. After looking back on this whole terrible experience I realized that if you don't have a bunch of money at stake, Schantz Family law just wants to quickly close your case and move on. Then if you complain they'll tell you 'it could have been worse'.

TLDR: Schantz Family Law does not care about their clients.

If I could, I would give Annalise Lang and her team 10 stars! Annalise heard all the details of my case and developed a thorough understanding of what my needs were. Not only was she knowledgeable about the law as it pertained to my individual circumstance, but she also thought of all the details and advised me on where I might be in error. While I forgot key elements that would have had a long-term negative impact on my life, Annalise remembered and got everything right. She had compassion for both me and my ex-spouse and treated us both with dignity and respect. I could not have asked for a better experience and I am truly grateful. I also want to mention that the receptionist at the firm was always truly caring and polite, and that gave me great confidence that I had chosen the right firm. I want to offer an enormous thank you to Schantz Law for providing superior service during a very difficult time.

There are no words to express the level of professionalism and expertise that Annalise showed for my custody case. No outcome was promised and Annalise was constantly striving to better understand my situation to be able to accurately represent it to the judge. She was a shark when she needed to be but always represented in a respectful manner.

Thank you all for all that you do! I will take any future family law issues to this firm.

There is not a high enough rating I could give for Schantz Law. If you’re reading this then let me be very clear, you want this firm to represent you. My husband and I have been in a court battle about my step son for most of his life, in and out of court every year. We had a lawyer previously but didn’t feel that they helped us to clearly explain our situation to the judge, we also represented ourselves once and both times we were overwhelmed and stressed beyond belief. This last time we had a recommendation from a colleague and had a consultation where we were not told that we would automaticallly win but that if we went with this firm they would fight with us to paint a clear picture to the judge. Our second meeting we met with Annalise (our lawyer representing us) to discuss details about our upcoming hearing and her thoughts. This meeting moved me to tears because it was the first time during our 6 year custody fight where I truly felt that someone not only heard our side but was ready to fight to have our side heard. During the next couple of trial preparations we had several communications with Annalise where she answered any of our questions and asked for as much information as we had; she was also in direct contact with the other party who at times was very difficult to communicate with, answering questions in an extremely professional manner. We went into our custody battle prepared with a 15+ page memorandum for the judge and booklets with various pieces of evidence. My husband prepared himself for the witness stand armed with questions from the lawyer, we were so nervous going into this as sole custody was on the table. The level of preparedness that Schantz Law showed convinced the judge that my husband should have sole custody without my husband having to answer a single question!!!

If you are looking into a firm to help you in any family law case, you want this firm. I wish we had known about them earlier because I sincerely believe that we wouldn’t have had this long of a battle. I am forever grateful for Annalise being our lawyer and helping us to finally get an outcome we deserved!

Annalise was professional and efficient throughout the proceedings, however I learned the hard way that negotiating is not a particular strength of hers. After making no attempt to settle the case, we went to mediation without even a list of objectives. She was overly deferential to the mediator, and as a result my ex-wife got a vast majority of the parenting time, her pick of the marital assets, and spousal support at the high-end of guidelines. I probably could have gotten a better result at a trial.

Schantz Law Firm attorneys showed a great degree of intuitive sensitivity, broad case experience, strong legal competency and impressive financial expertise. Annalise was able to quickly decipher my situation and to strategize a reasonable settlement like an expert chess player, always having another backup plan in anticipation of the other counsel's move. In addition, she had to be aware of changing legal and tax laws at the end of 2018. As well, my children's welfare was always at the top of her list of priorities and she helped us navigate this transition without too much mental and emotional strain on our children. Everything she did was from the perspective of the children's welfare first and foremost. She displayed a perfect balance between compassion and cunning strategy. How safe I always felt to know I had this secret weapon in my pocket. I am so thankful she was there to help me transition through a harrowing experience. I can finally breathe! Thank You Annalise. :-)

Annalise impressed me from the start. When going through a difficult process like a divorce, having a person with strategic bent on your side is an enormous asset. I could trust Annalise' judgement to come from an understanding of the case as well as how the court is expected to rule. She is a busy attorney- she usually had at least one trial every week. Despite this, the time and focus she puts into trial prep was respectable (even though it was frustrating to get reach her on those days.) Amanda was great support, especially on these days.

With an extremely adversarial, even hostile opposing counsel, Annalise made every effort to keep the discussions fruitful and focused. She found opportunities in difficult negotiations to keep the opposing counsel engaged and successfully settle the case.

Good guidance through a tough time

I used Schantz law to help negotiate a new agreement with my ex. After 6 years of following our original divorce agreement it was time for some changes. While the process with my ex got nasty and a lot of tears were shed, I think the advice and counsel I got from Laura was spot on. In the end my ex and I were able to negotiate a new agreement in mediation and we avoided a costly and ugly court battle. I appreciated how quickly Laura got back to me during the process, often within an hour of me reaching out. I would use them again in a heartbeat.

I'm pretty sure I spent my whole first meeting with Laura just bawling my eyes out, trying not to look like a crazy person. She was always compassionate while also being a straight shooter with me. The other lawyer in our first and only four-way meeting came across as arrogant and rude and seemed to have no problem with the idea of battling it out in court. Laura was upfront with the bottom line from the get-go, and successfully kept me out of court with my ex by gently but firmly negotiating with the other party over the course of many months. Our legal process was lengthy, not due to anything on their part, it's just the way it worked out. I learned and grew so much througout the process, and I'm thankful I was able to choose Laura and her team to help get me to the end.

I had an extremely complex and nuanced case that involved a need to relocate for employment and custody concerns. Annalise represented me in court and did an expert job that I believe won the case. Ultimately, the final agreement was mediated, but I never would have been able to do so without the compassion, guidance and expert advice from Laura and Annalise. I would recommend this firm without hesitation because they do care about you and your family and they are professional, accessible and incredibly hardworking.

I had a very good experience with Schantz Law. Laura handled the stalking order against my ex with extreme professionalism. She was very knowledgeable and compassionate. I wish I had found her when I originally filed for divorce, as I know she would have given me much better advice therefore a better outcome. She is very experienced and knows her stuff. I highly recommend Laura & will be using her in the future,

The experience I had with Schantz Law was astounding. The staff there go above and beyond taking care of the matters at hand and are very considerate in all aspects. I highly recommend Schantz Law!

I've consulted many attorneys over the years and Laura and her team are by far the best. I found them to be extremely knowledgeable, professional, patient and compassionate in explaining my best options. They were always there with a tissue for my tears and suggestions to make my life going forward as productive and smooth a transition as possible. I felt they instinctively knew my pain and adapted at my convenience. They explained every step of the process in detail and even going forward, I plan to use Schantz Law. I highly recommend them to anyone who expects the utmost in knowledge and professionalism.

I have worked with two different attorney's over the last 11 years. Switching to Laura and her team was the best decision ever made. They were very thorough in explaining the legal process, available when needed for consultation and supportive during difficult times. Laura goes the extra mile from pretrial negotiations through the trial itself. I would recommend Schantz Law to anyone going through a divorce or custodial situation!!!

This case should have been a simple one. Yet my case dragged on for two years almost, not by any fault of my attorney.

Update: my attorney is still working hard to ensure my ex sells our jointly purchased vehicle. Annalise is extremely dedicated and hard working. I know my ex is difficult to work with and often uncooperative. I know that eventually this matter will get resolved.

As I searched for an attorney and firm to represent me in my recent divorce, I was referred to Schantz Lang and was immediately impressed by Annalise Lang. In our initial consultation, in which I intended only to get a bit of advice about how to proceed through mediation (my preferred course), I felt so confident with the "fair yet firm" approach that Annalise offered that I was ready to have her handle everything right then and there. While my former spouse and I were not yet on a legal path towards divorce - and were not committed to separate legal representation - as soon as it became clear that I would need my own counsel, I did not hesitate to retain Annalise. As we worked through a variety of difficult issues (aren't they all?), she was a fair and firm advocate for my interests, but always kept her eye on the ultimate goal of making sure the children were properly considered and cared for. Later in the process, as circumstances led to a quickening of the pace, Annalise fully understood the need to expedite matters and moved swiftly to respond to multiple communications from both myself and opposing counsel. I am confident that her incredibly fast turnaround on a great many issues was a key in helping resolve matters quickly and fairly, and at a very reasonable cost.

At the end of all of this, while I hope to never need such services again, I would not hesitate to retain Schantz Lang, and Annalise Lang specifically, to represent me. She and her firm have earned my highest regard and recommendation.

Sincerely,

Jim

I highly recommend Chris Fanning and the Schantz Law Firm. Chris Fanning and his team got us through a very rough time. My son went through a very difficult divorce with NO cooperation from his ex-wife. Because of the lack of cooperation there were several court dates, which involved custody, divorce and three contempt hearings. My son was represented better than I could have imagined. His opinions were valued and his doubts were always reassured. Chris represented my son professionally; he fought hard for him and was excellent in court. Chris was extremely prepared, gave a great defense, which resulted in highly optimal results.
My son is now able to start a new life with his child. I thank Chris and everyone at Schantz Law for making that happen. I will highly recommend and refer this firm to my friends and family.

Chris did a great job helping me with my pre-marital agreement. He contributed some good suggestions and was sensitive to my timelines. Recommended.

We as a team made forever friends.

Both Cyndy and I were totally impressed with Laura's services. She takes a sincere interest in the case at a personal level. We felt very confident in her knowledge and recommendations. She gives you her honest opinion regarding your case. We would highly recommend her services.

I'm writing this review on my mom's behalf who over the past 9 months has been a client of the Schantz Lang firm working with Christopher Fanning and his team. She was in need of legal council and was referred to them by a friend and like most people she was a bit overwhelmed when it comes to dealing with "lawyer stuff". After the first meeting she had with Chris, all those fears went away as he walked her thru the steps, (in plain english), addressed her concerns and answered her questions and he continued to do so thru the entire process which resulted in a positive result for her at the end of 9 months. I also had the opportunity to work with Chris when my mom needed additional help and he was very flexible and understanding, it was my first experience with this "lawyer stuff" as well and if you find yourself a bit overwhelmed and alone trying to get legal help give Schantz Lang a call and ask for Chris.

I highly recommend Schantz Law Firm and Attorney Laura Schantz. My personal experience with her representing my case is that she constantly has the best interest of her client in mind. At times she can provide 'tough love' which may not appear to be the best solution to me (her client) in the moment but after the case closed it was very clear that the path she was suggesting was truly in my favor. Over the last 3 years of working with Laura on and off I never had to go to court so there were no surprises. Looking back I see that my family and I were taken care of and truly had the favorable outcome in all aspects. The best thing about Laura is that she provided logic and reason during an emotional timeframe. I would absolutely recommend her and use her again.

After I came to the slow, painful conclusion of being in need of a divorce, I got a referral from another lawyer and started the process. Laura took the case, advised me of my rights, encouraged me to ask for a better deal, answered questions,and listened. When the judge signed the final papers, Laura has kept in touch, making sure the terms have been upheld.

Thank you, Laura

I retained Annalise Lang as my attorney to help me through a contentious divorce, custody and relocation case. From the first meeting she was kind and listened to the issues I was concerned about. Throughout the year that she worked with me there were lots of stressful moments but Annalise was always there to help me and fight for me. I highly recommend her and Schantz Law to anyone who needs a lawyer they can trust and get results from.

Went to Schantz after my original attorney left the firm she had been with when she represented me. Chris at Schantz kept things from returning to court, worked things to my advantage, which saved me money.

Divorce wasn't in my vocabulary, but I unwillingly found myself needing a divorce attorney. Laura was recommended to me by someone at my church. She was compassionate, listened carefully, and always had my best interest in mind. When I wanted to just give up, she pushed back just enough to help me realize that her experience was worth listening to. I felt legally protected and emotionally understood. Laura has the perfect balance.

Our son would have been lost without Laura's guidance and focus on his divorce case. She is such a strong advocate. Her ability to listen and understand his needs, the needs of his children, and the ever constant taunting threats from his wife and her attorney were met by her excellent knowledge of family law and how to protect him and his children. It's a scary world out there for those whose spouses are vindictive and unreasonable. He needed her excellent assistance to help him get the appropriate protection under the law. In court, she is a superstar: her demeanor, so professional; her language, so articulate and strong in front of the opposing side and the judge. Totally recommend her and her competent staff. A. Goldsmith

Laura is a consummate professional. Not only is she the most strategically gifted and resilient family law attorney I've met, she's also one of the most empathetic and caring lawyers in what can be a difficult field. From her conscientiousness about the financial aspects of a client's case to her concise communication, Laura exhibits foresight that only comes from years of experience. I can confidently say there is absolutely no other attorney in this space I'd trust for my friends, family, or myself.

I have pondered writing this review for months. I felt that no review no matter how glowing and positive would be enough to describe what Laura has meant to me and my life. When I needed a family law attorney I went to the internet and picked the first one I saw. I could not have had a better stroke of luck! First, I will tell you that Laura has a huge heart. When I first met her I was in such an emotional state I could barely string a sentence together. I was afraid she would see what a mess I was and decline to represent me. Laura had no reservations about helping me. From that first meeting Laura gave me the attention and consideration that made me feel like I was her one and only client.

During the arduous process of divorce there were some serious ups and downs...mostly downs. When Laura saw me hurting, she hurt for me. I could see it in her eyes. Her empathy was so appreciated. When we were involved with court hearings and mediation, Laura represented my interests with remarkable talent and competence.

Early in the divorce process Laura told me that these years could be the best in my life. Of course, I just could not see that. She was right, I am happier now than I have been in years largely because of the hard work Laura did for me during my divorce.

Laura's assistant, Julie was terrific too! She and Laura are a great team and have been for many years.

By the way, I was right! I don't think this review does Laura and her team justice. In short, you simply cannot do better than Laura Schantz.

Annalise and Damarise provided excellent legal support for my painful divorce. They carried me through the process, I was painfully useless, keeping me up to date on the proceedings and always ready to help me with my questions.

Tim Sayre

I was so pleased with my experience working with all of you at Schantz! I definitely rate you a 10 out of 10, and I've already recommended you to several of my friends who have family law issues. Of all the family lawyers I've interviewed or worked with, your firm was the most helpful, giving me experienced advice about my case, and really making me feel protected from being pressured into unfair terms proposed by the other party. An huge stressful burden was lifted off my shoulders when I finally was able to speak the truth in court and have a positive result. Thanks to our new legal agreement we have fair boundaries, and my anxiety has gone way down.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I have had the opportunity to work with Laura and her staff on several occasions. I really admire the approach she takes to very sensitive family matters. She has given me excellent legal advice and assisted through some very difficult times.

It is with sincere appreciation to Laura Schantz for the extraordinary effort and support she put forth in my dissolution of marriage. Her tenure experience, professionalism, and attention to detail from the initial consultation through mediation, and closure. My experience with Laura is characterized as best-in-class in support of my legal rights during these difficult times. I would highly recommend the representation of Schantz Law legal services to all others.