team-member

Samantha VanTol

Grand Rapids, MI

Licensed for 13 years

Law Degree

Awards

Primary Practice Area

Child custody

Language

English

About

Jeff is a lifelong Grand Rapids resident. He attended Calvin College, where he majored in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Administration. Jeff went on to attend Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Prior to finishing law school, Jeff interned with the City of Grand Rapids Department of Law, clerked for the 17th Circuit Court Family Division, and worked as a research and writing clerk for a local law firm.After law school, Jeff opened and ran his own successful law practice for over six years, focusing on civil litigation, family law, and criminal defense. Jeff has extensive experience in most Michigan courts, and has drafted briefs for the Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court. 

Practices Areas

Criminal Defense

Child custody

Divorce and separation

Language

English

Contact

Shaw Law Group, PLC77 Monroe Center, Suite 507Grand Rapids, MI, 4950377 Monroe Center, Suite 507Grand Rapids, MI, 49503

Office: N/A

Website: N/A

Reviews

anonymous
September 17, 2018

My son entered in to a bitter, violent, and volatile divorce in July 2018. He reached out to Jeff because he is supposed to be a strong representative for fathers involved in a divorce. After hiring him on July 5, 2018, we found that my son's case was not held as a priority to Jeff. He often didn't return responses to emails or phone calls in a timely manner. Even though the safety of my son's children were at risk, he put other clients ahead of his case. When we brought this to his attention, he stated that he is busy and has other clients. Court paperwork in regard to temporary custody of the children was forwarded to my son for review without Jeff reviewing it first. There were many obvious mistakes including using the name of a judge that had retired 5 years ago, incorrect child support computation, incorrect directions for the exchange of the children, failure to include joint legal custody, failure to include that his spouse was no longer allowed in the home. When asked why the paperwork had not been properly reviewed, Jeff stated he was working on other cases and thought it best to get the information to my son as soon as possible. The most egregious action, however, was his biased opinion of my son and his chances of getting custody of his children. From day one, he used the word "jerk" when describing how a judge might look at my son. He told him the court system in which he had to file, was one of the worst ones to work with. When the friend of the court referee met with Jeff, he advised my son that the referee was not going to work with him and didn't even want to hear his case. Jeff advised my son to just accept whatever he could work out with his spouse's attorney as it would be the best he would get. This does not sound like an attorney that is willing to work for his client in his best interest. I would caution any male that is involved in a divorce to research very carefully before hiring an attorney to represent them. In the 6 weeks that Jeff represented my son, there was not one thing accomplished that would hold any weight in court. This allowed his wife to take his children, withold them from him, break into their house and take many of his belongings, and make constant threats. No one should go through this situation without an attorney that is willing to dig in and fight for them. We have since hired another attorney and are very pleased with her. She has gotten a court order that gives him time with his children, protection of his home, and personal safety.

anonymous
September 17, 2018

My son entered in to a bitter, violent, and volatile divorce in July 2018. He reached out to Jeff because he is supposed to be a strong representative for fathers involved in a divorce. After hiring him on July 5, 2018, we found that my son's case was not held as a priority to Jeff. He often didn't return responses to emails or phone calls in a timely manner. Even though the safety of my son's children were at risk, he put other clients ahead of his case. When we brought this to his attention, he stated that he is busy and has other clients. Court paperwork in regard to temporary custody of the children was forwarded to my son for review without Jeff reviewing it first. There were many obvious mistakes including using the name of a judge that had retired 5 years ago, incorrect child support computation, incorrect directions for the exchange of the children, failure to include joint legal custody, failure to include that his spouse was no longer allowed in the home. When asked why the paperwork had not been properly reviewed, Jeff stated he was working on other cases and thought it best to get the information to my son as soon as possible. The most egregious action, however, was his biased opinion of my son and his chances of getting custody of his children. From day one, he used the word "jerk" when describing how a judge might look at my son. He told him the court system in which he had to file, was one of the worst ones to work with. When the friend of the court referee met with Jeff, he advised my son that the referee was not going to work with him and didn't even want to hear his case. Jeff advised my son to just accept whatever he could work out with his spouse's attorney as it would be the best he would get. This does not sound like an attorney that is willing to work for his client in his best interest. I would caution any male that is involved in a divorce to research very carefully before hiring an attorney to represent them. In the 6 weeks that Jeff represented my son, there was not one thing accomplished that would hold any weight in court. This allowed his wife to take his children, withold them from him, break into their house and take many of his belongings, and make constant threats. No one should go through this situation without an attorney that is willing to dig in and fight for them. We have since hired another attorney and are very pleased with her. She has gotten a court order that gives him time with his children, protection of his home, and personal safety.

anonymous
September 17, 2018

My son entered in to a bitter, violent, and volatile divorce in July 2018. He reached out to Jeff because he is supposed to be a strong representative for fathers involved in a divorce. After hiring him on July 5, 2018, we found that my son's case was not held as a priority to Jeff. He often didn't return responses to emails or phone calls in a timely manner. Even though the safety of my son's children were at risk, he put other clients ahead of his case. When we brought this to his attention, he stated that he is busy and has other clients. Court paperwork in regard to temporary custody of the children was forwarded to my son for review without Jeff reviewing it first. There were many obvious mistakes including using the name of a judge that had retired 5 years ago, incorrect child support computation, incorrect directions for the exchange of the children, failure to include joint legal custody, failure to include that his spouse was no longer allowed in the home. When asked why the paperwork had not been properly reviewed, Jeff stated he was working on other cases and thought it best to get the information to my son as soon as possible. The most egregious action, however, was his biased opinion of my son and his chances of getting custody of his children. From day one, he used the word "jerk" when describing how a judge might look at my son. He told him the court system in which he had to file, was one of the worst ones to work with. When the friend of the court referee met with Jeff, he advised my son that the referee was not going to work with him and didn't even want to hear his case. Jeff advised my son to just accept whatever he could work out with his spouse's attorney as it would be the best he would get. This does not sound like an attorney that is willing to work for his client in his best interest. I would caution any male that is involved in a divorce to research very carefully before hiring an attorney to represent them. In the 6 weeks that Jeff represented my son, there was not one thing accomplished that would hold any weight in court. This allowed his wife to take his children, withold them from him, break into their house and take many of his belongings, and make constant threats. No one should go through this situation without an attorney that is willing to dig in and fight for them. We have since hired another attorney and are very pleased with her. She has gotten a court order that gives him time with his children, protection of his home, and personal safety.