Ruth Ann Nelson
Seattle, WA
Licensed for 39 years
Law Degree
Awards
Primary Practice Area
Bankruptcy & Debt
Language
Spanish
About
Practices Areas
Bankruptcy & Debt
Language
Spanish
Contact
Reviews
Even though I have medical insurance, this is my second time going bankruptcy due to medical bills. Ruth has been there through the whole step of the way. She will promptly respond to any questions or concerns you have along the way. She explained the entire bankruptcy process and what to expect. Everything with Ruth is transparent. Flat rate pricing is really good where as others charge a lot more for the same services. Some people on here posted that she was rude, I believe its tough love much like a nurse in the hospital trying to get you up after a surgery. You probably though she was the meanest person in the world but she was only helping you get better and stronger.
I first met Ruth when working at a firm representing mortgage lenders. I was impressed by her competence and ability and her zealous representation of her clients. At the same time, our professional relationship was always mutually respectful, and she did not demonize my clients. I've referred several people (including a relative) to her, and have always heard good things.
After reading the two reviews I felt the need to defend Ruth, as I just got out of a meeting with another lawyer and found myself singing her praises again and wishing she worked in corporate formation law. So let's get real: The Good Ruth knows her stuff, she's no-nonsense, and she absolutely OWNED the courtroom when the time came to truly declare bankruptcy in court. She knew the (it's been a few years so forget the not-judge/offical Federal rep) and had a great relationship with him, it seemed. In stark contrast to the 10 or so other attorneys in the room that day (I was SHOCKED at how unprofessional, unprepared, and frankly criminally shoddy some of the work/speech/knowledge of the other attorneys was) Ruth had prepped me so I was minimally nervous, ran me through what he'd ask and how I was to respond (still messed it up anyway but Ruth made a joke and it was fine), she showed up on time, and, most importantly, she got my bankruptcy D-O-N-E. Her advice was fantastic and she got me back on my footing.. The Bad Four years in corporate finance negotiating contracts for a large corporation, I know lawyers a unique breed of person. Ruth is no exception. Lawyers are pretty clear, no nonsense, direct, and STRONG personalities. They have to be. Ruth is not a touchy-feely kind of lawyer. Frankly, I've not met one who is. She can be a bit prickly, but she has to cut through a lot of loca/cultural/WASPey fluff that's endemic to the Seattle area and Washington state in general. Personally, I was delighted by her more direct and gruff qualities as it's a refreshing change to most the locals. I'm from LA and SF - I can handle uncomfortable directness. If you can't, Ruth is NOT - repeat NOT - for you. The Ugly Per my statements above, most Washingtonians and Seattlites, with their ingrained submissiveness and self-defeating aversion to conflict or assertion of even the smallest amount, are probably to Vitamin D deprived to understand the problem is really themselves and not Ruth. Ruth is a lawyer. This is "The Ugly" bit of my review - the law is ugly. Most polite, sensitive, white Washingontians neither understand or can handle the uglier truths of life - like that people can be mean, rude, and cruel. Often. And repeatedly. Ruth isn't hear to coddle your feelings during bankruptcy - her skill at anxiety relief comes through getting the job done. Scattered local culture results in scattered local attorneys who embarass themselves and their clients in the courtroom. Ruth will not embarass with lack of knowledge or incompetence. She's good at what she does, she does what she says, and she WILL do what you ask. But don't expect your feelings to be handled with kid gloves. That's not a lawyers job. Their job is to get you out of trouble with The Law.
We saw Ruth for a Bankruptcy. We used her because she was the cheapest. She did get the job done, but she will torture you during the process by being rude, condescending and belittling. I wouldn't describe her as just straight forward, I am that way and don't need to be coddled. Declaring BK is such a hard process to do anyway but she doesn't make it any better. If she is all you can afford, she will get the job done, just prepare for some abuse along the way.
Her fee is a little less than others, but you'll experience a poor attorney/client relationship skills, she will disrespect and humiliate you in every instance with total lack of human decency. She also schedules multiple hearings in the same - very unprofessional! Do yourself a favor and find someone else.
My experience with Ruth was unfortunate. Despite being obviously hard-working, knowledgable and experienced, Ruth's "people skills" leave something to be desired. Communication was poor, her behavior odd and ultimately I terminated before filing with her due to her being extremely rude and abrasive with me. I'm pretty thick skinned - but I had a very hard time communicating in a productive way with this attorney, and ultimately was not comfortable having her represent me in court. Despite spending minimal time on my case - she charged me $550.00 anyway and only refunded $150.00 of my pre--paid $700.00 fee.
Even though I have medical insurance, this is my second time going bankruptcy due to medical bills. Ruth has been there through the whole step of the way. She will promptly respond to any questions or concerns you have along the way. She explained the entire bankruptcy process and what to expect. Everything with Ruth is transparent. Flat rate pricing is really good where as others charge a lot more for the same services. Some people on here posted that she was rude, I believe its tough love much like a nurse in the hospital trying to get you up after a surgery. You probably though she was the meanest person in the world but she was only helping you get better and stronger.
I first met Ruth when working at a firm representing mortgage lenders. I was impressed by her competence and ability and her zealous representation of her clients. At the same time, our professional relationship was always mutually respectful, and she did not demonize my clients. I've referred several people (including a relative) to her, and have always heard good things.
After reading the two reviews I felt the need to defend Ruth, as I just got out of a meeting with another lawyer and found myself singing her praises again and wishing she worked in corporate formation law. So let's get real: The Good Ruth knows her stuff, she's no-nonsense, and she absolutely OWNED the courtroom when the time came to truly declare bankruptcy in court. She knew the (it's been a few years so forget the not-judge/offical Federal rep) and had a great relationship with him, it seemed. In stark contrast to the 10 or so other attorneys in the room that day (I was SHOCKED at how unprofessional, unprepared, and frankly criminally shoddy some of the work/speech/knowledge of the other attorneys was) Ruth had prepped me so I was minimally nervous, ran me through what he'd ask and how I was to respond (still messed it up anyway but Ruth made a joke and it was fine), she showed up on time, and, most importantly, she got my bankruptcy D-O-N-E. Her advice was fantastic and she got me back on my footing.. The Bad Four years in corporate finance negotiating contracts for a large corporation, I know lawyers a unique breed of person. Ruth is no exception. Lawyers are pretty clear, no nonsense, direct, and STRONG personalities. They have to be. Ruth is not a touchy-feely kind of lawyer. Frankly, I've not met one who is. She can be a bit prickly, but she has to cut through a lot of loca/cultural/WASPey fluff that's endemic to the Seattle area and Washington state in general. Personally, I was delighted by her more direct and gruff qualities as it's a refreshing change to most the locals. I'm from LA and SF - I can handle uncomfortable directness. If you can't, Ruth is NOT - repeat NOT - for you. The Ugly Per my statements above, most Washingtonians and Seattlites, with their ingrained submissiveness and self-defeating aversion to conflict or assertion of even the smallest amount, are probably to Vitamin D deprived to understand the problem is really themselves and not Ruth. Ruth is a lawyer. This is "The Ugly" bit of my review - the law is ugly. Most polite, sensitive, white Washingontians neither understand or can handle the uglier truths of life - like that people can be mean, rude, and cruel. Often. And repeatedly. Ruth isn't hear to coddle your feelings during bankruptcy - her skill at anxiety relief comes through getting the job done. Scattered local culture results in scattered local attorneys who embarass themselves and their clients in the courtroom. Ruth will not embarass with lack of knowledge or incompetence. She's good at what she does, she does what she says, and she WILL do what you ask. But don't expect your feelings to be handled with kid gloves. That's not a lawyers job. Their job is to get you out of trouble with The Law.
We saw Ruth for a Bankruptcy. We used her because she was the cheapest. She did get the job done, but she will torture you during the process by being rude, condescending and belittling. I wouldn't describe her as just straight forward, I am that way and don't need to be coddled. Declaring BK is such a hard process to do anyway but she doesn't make it any better. If she is all you can afford, she will get the job done, just prepare for some abuse along the way.
Her fee is a little less than others, but you'll experience a poor attorney/client relationship skills, she will disrespect and humiliate you in every instance with total lack of human decency. She also schedules multiple hearings in the same - very unprofessional! Do yourself a favor and find someone else.
My experience with Ruth was unfortunate. Despite being obviously hard-working, knowledgable and experienced, Ruth's "people skills" leave something to be desired. Communication was poor, her behavior odd and ultimately I terminated before filing with her due to her being extremely rude and abrasive with me. I'm pretty thick skinned - but I had a very hard time communicating in a productive way with this attorney, and ultimately was not comfortable having her represent me in court. Despite spending minimal time on my case - she charged me $550.00 anyway and only refunded $150.00 of my pre--paid $700.00 fee.
Even though I have medical insurance, this is my second time going bankruptcy due to medical bills. Ruth has been there through the whole step of the way. She will promptly respond to any questions or concerns you have along the way. She explained the entire bankruptcy process and what to expect. Everything with Ruth is transparent. Flat rate pricing is really good where as others charge a lot more for the same services. Some people on here posted that she was rude, I believe its tough love much like a nurse in the hospital trying to get you up after a surgery. You probably though she was the meanest person in the world but she was only helping you get better and stronger.
I first met Ruth when working at a firm representing mortgage lenders. I was impressed by her competence and ability and her zealous representation of her clients. At the same time, our professional relationship was always mutually respectful, and she did not demonize my clients. I've referred several people (including a relative) to her, and have always heard good things.
After reading the two reviews I felt the need to defend Ruth, as I just got out of a meeting with another lawyer and found myself singing her praises again and wishing she worked in corporate formation law. So let's get real: The Good Ruth knows her stuff, she's no-nonsense, and she absolutely OWNED the courtroom when the time came to truly declare bankruptcy in court. She knew the (it's been a few years so forget the not-judge/offical Federal rep) and had a great relationship with him, it seemed. In stark contrast to the 10 or so other attorneys in the room that day (I was SHOCKED at how unprofessional, unprepared, and frankly criminally shoddy some of the work/speech/knowledge of the other attorneys was) Ruth had prepped me so I was minimally nervous, ran me through what he'd ask and how I was to respond (still messed it up anyway but Ruth made a joke and it was fine), she showed up on time, and, most importantly, she got my bankruptcy D-O-N-E. Her advice was fantastic and she got me back on my footing.. The Bad Four years in corporate finance negotiating contracts for a large corporation, I know lawyers a unique breed of person. Ruth is no exception. Lawyers are pretty clear, no nonsense, direct, and STRONG personalities. They have to be. Ruth is not a touchy-feely kind of lawyer. Frankly, I've not met one who is. She can be a bit prickly, but she has to cut through a lot of loca/cultural/WASPey fluff that's endemic to the Seattle area and Washington state in general. Personally, I was delighted by her more direct and gruff qualities as it's a refreshing change to most the locals. I'm from LA and SF - I can handle uncomfortable directness. If you can't, Ruth is NOT - repeat NOT - for you. The Ugly Per my statements above, most Washingtonians and Seattlites, with their ingrained submissiveness and self-defeating aversion to conflict or assertion of even the smallest amount, are probably to Vitamin D deprived to understand the problem is really themselves and not Ruth. Ruth is a lawyer. This is "The Ugly" bit of my review - the law is ugly. Most polite, sensitive, white Washingontians neither understand or can handle the uglier truths of life - like that people can be mean, rude, and cruel. Often. And repeatedly. Ruth isn't hear to coddle your feelings during bankruptcy - her skill at anxiety relief comes through getting the job done. Scattered local culture results in scattered local attorneys who embarass themselves and their clients in the courtroom. Ruth will not embarass with lack of knowledge or incompetence. She's good at what she does, she does what she says, and she WILL do what you ask. But don't expect your feelings to be handled with kid gloves. That's not a lawyers job. Their job is to get you out of trouble with The Law.
We saw Ruth for a Bankruptcy. We used her because she was the cheapest. She did get the job done, but she will torture you during the process by being rude, condescending and belittling. I wouldn't describe her as just straight forward, I am that way and don't need to be coddled. Declaring BK is such a hard process to do anyway but she doesn't make it any better. If she is all you can afford, she will get the job done, just prepare for some abuse along the way.
Her fee is a little less than others, but you'll experience a poor attorney/client relationship skills, she will disrespect and humiliate you in every instance with total lack of human decency. She also schedules multiple hearings in the same - very unprofessional! Do yourself a favor and find someone else.
My experience with Ruth was unfortunate. Despite being obviously hard-working, knowledgable and experienced, Ruth's "people skills" leave something to be desired. Communication was poor, her behavior odd and ultimately I terminated before filing with her due to her being extremely rude and abrasive with me. I'm pretty thick skinned - but I had a very hard time communicating in a productive way with this attorney, and ultimately was not comfortable having her represent me in court. Despite spending minimal time on my case - she charged me $550.00 anyway and only refunded $150.00 of my pre--paid $700.00 fee.
Even though I have medical insurance, this is my second time going bankruptcy due to medical bills. Ruth has been there through the whole step of the way. She will promptly respond to any questions or concerns you have along the way. She explained the entire bankruptcy process and what to expect. Everything with Ruth is transparent. Flat rate pricing is really good where as others charge a lot more for the same services. Some people on here posted that she was rude, I believe its tough love much like a nurse in the hospital trying to get you up after a surgery. You probably though she was the meanest person in the world but she was only helping you get better and stronger.
I first met Ruth when working at a firm representing mortgage lenders. I was impressed by her competence and ability and her zealous representation of her clients. At the same time, our professional relationship was always mutually respectful, and she did not demonize my clients. I've referred several people (including a relative) to her, and have always heard good things.
After reading the two reviews I felt the need to defend Ruth, as I just got out of a meeting with another lawyer and found myself singing her praises again and wishing she worked in corporate formation law. So let's get real: The Good Ruth knows her stuff, she's no-nonsense, and she absolutely OWNED the courtroom when the time came to truly declare bankruptcy in court. She knew the (it's been a few years so forget the not-judge/offical Federal rep) and had a great relationship with him, it seemed. In stark contrast to the 10 or so other attorneys in the room that day (I was SHOCKED at how unprofessional, unprepared, and frankly criminally shoddy some of the work/speech/knowledge of the other attorneys was) Ruth had prepped me so I was minimally nervous, ran me through what he'd ask and how I was to respond (still messed it up anyway but Ruth made a joke and it was fine), she showed up on time, and, most importantly, she got my bankruptcy D-O-N-E. Her advice was fantastic and she got me back on my footing.. The Bad Four years in corporate finance negotiating contracts for a large corporation, I know lawyers a unique breed of person. Ruth is no exception. Lawyers are pretty clear, no nonsense, direct, and STRONG personalities. They have to be. Ruth is not a touchy-feely kind of lawyer. Frankly, I've not met one who is. She can be a bit prickly, but she has to cut through a lot of loca/cultural/WASPey fluff that's endemic to the Seattle area and Washington state in general. Personally, I was delighted by her more direct and gruff qualities as it's a refreshing change to most the locals. I'm from LA and SF - I can handle uncomfortable directness. If you can't, Ruth is NOT - repeat NOT - for you. The Ugly Per my statements above, most Washingtonians and Seattlites, with their ingrained submissiveness and self-defeating aversion to conflict or assertion of even the smallest amount, are probably to Vitamin D deprived to understand the problem is really themselves and not Ruth. Ruth is a lawyer. This is "The Ugly" bit of my review - the law is ugly. Most polite, sensitive, white Washingontians neither understand or can handle the uglier truths of life - like that people can be mean, rude, and cruel. Often. And repeatedly. Ruth isn't hear to coddle your feelings during bankruptcy - her skill at anxiety relief comes through getting the job done. Scattered local culture results in scattered local attorneys who embarass themselves and their clients in the courtroom. Ruth will not embarass with lack of knowledge or incompetence. She's good at what she does, she does what she says, and she WILL do what you ask. But don't expect your feelings to be handled with kid gloves. That's not a lawyers job. Their job is to get you out of trouble with The Law.
We saw Ruth for a Bankruptcy. We used her because she was the cheapest. She did get the job done, but she will torture you during the process by being rude, condescending and belittling. I wouldn't describe her as just straight forward, I am that way and don't need to be coddled. Declaring BK is such a hard process to do anyway but she doesn't make it any better. If she is all you can afford, she will get the job done, just prepare for some abuse along the way.
Her fee is a little less than others, but you'll experience a poor attorney/client relationship skills, she will disrespect and humiliate you in every instance with total lack of human decency. She also schedules multiple hearings in the same - very unprofessional! Do yourself a favor and find someone else.
My experience with Ruth was unfortunate. Despite being obviously hard-working, knowledgable and experienced, Ruth's "people skills" leave something to be desired. Communication was poor, her behavior odd and ultimately I terminated before filing with her due to her being extremely rude and abrasive with me. I'm pretty thick skinned - but I had a very hard time communicating in a productive way with this attorney, and ultimately was not comfortable having her represent me in court. Despite spending minimal time on my case - she charged me $550.00 anyway and only refunded $150.00 of my pre--paid $700.00 fee.