I've done 4 closings with this office and never had a problem. Maria is prompt and efficient. My first and only choice for real estate closings
Review Left On 09/28/2019
Rick L
Friendly, good service call at reasonable prices.
Review Left On 08/28/2019
Review NorthEast
This is an independent review of Michelle Katz, Esq and Pinnacle Title company located in Jackson, NJ (same mailing address). This review is based on first hand experience of the services provided by this law firm and its affiliates. If you are reading this review, your individual experience may vary based on your legal needs and standards of ethics.
Michelle Katz, Esq has offices at 2200 W.County Line Road, Jackson, NJ 08527. Michael J. Kafton II, Esq. is junior lawyer working for Michelle Katz. Mainly handling day to day once the real estate file is in the motion. Pinnacle Title Company is what the law firm works with and suggest prospective clients to use for all the title/survey needs. Surprisingly has the business address as the Lawyer’s office 2200 W.County Line Road, Jackson, NJ 08527 Owner of Pinnacle Title Company is Michael Kafton Sr.
Experience: Admin Staff at the law firm is not personable at all. Maria answers to inquiries in an ambiguous manner, often using one liners and overall there is lack of attention to detail. Now remember most of the general public is not used to real estate transactions and the experience as first time buyers might be nerve racking. That said, there is a lack of empathy, almost a cattle class mentality within the Law office, where you are a file on their desk that needs to be cleared asap so everyone can get paid. There is no oversight as these companies, collect, transfer and disburse large amount of (your) money while making mistakes and errors at almost each step of the transaction; creating unwanted risk and stress that is unwarranted. .
The Jackson Connection: Additionally, note that- Mike Jr (lawyer). and Mike Sr (title company owner) are related, of course all new business is being diverted from Lawyer’s office to the Title company and it is a clear conflict of interest, especially since this not disclosed in the beginning of the transaction. This conflict of interest becomes obvious when Mike Jr. takes over the file and day to day and title company only communicates to the client via the lawyer leaving an untrustworthy environment. The only time Michelle Katz will interact is in the beginning, which begs the question on how customer service can be maintained if the principal is just a lead generator.
To hire these companies and retaining their services is up to the reader of this review and to the best of their judgement. I do expect some sort of reply from the law firm explaining there is nothing illegal about all these arrangements and they serve their clients to the best of their interests. That very well may be the case when it comes to being legal or not, but as any first year law student will tell you, ethics play a huge role when it comes to being a trusted lawyer and in truly protecting your clients interests vs. eyeing them as a money making machine from all different avenues. If any of these individuals ever get hired in a corporate environment, they will be fired before their first day ends. I do not recommend this law firm, any of their lawyers, title company or the admin staff to anyone who is looking for a smooth real estate transaction. This is especially important if this will be the most important real estate transaction of your life. STAY AWAY!
AVOID AVOID AVOID. Michele is lazy, rude, unprofessional, a liar and the list goes on. Please, do yourself the courtesy and look elsewhere. Her and her nitwit crew of minions stressed me out so bad near closing because they were so last minute, lazy, and unprepared. I had to go to the ER with a massive panic attack. STAY AWAY!
Law Office Reviews
Michelle Katz, Esq has offices at 2200 W.County Line Road, Jackson, NJ 08527.
Michael J. Kafton II, Esq. is junior lawyer working for Michelle Katz. Mainly handling day to day once the real estate file is in the motion.
Pinnacle Title Company is what the law firm works with and suggest prospective clients to use for all the title/survey needs. Surprisingly has the business address as the Lawyer’s office 2200 W.County Line Road, Jackson, NJ 08527
Owner of Pinnacle Title Company is Michael Kafton Sr.
Experience: Admin Staff at the law firm is not personable at all. Maria answers to inquiries in an ambiguous manner, often using one liners and overall there is lack of attention to detail. Now remember most of the general public is not used to real estate transactions and the experience as first time buyers might be nerve racking. That said, there is a lack of empathy, almost a cattle class mentality within the Law office, where you are a file on their desk that needs to be cleared asap so everyone can get paid. There is no oversight as these companies, collect, transfer and disburse large amount of (your) money while making mistakes and errors at almost each step of the transaction; creating unwanted risk and stress that is unwarranted. .
The Jackson Connection: Additionally, note that- Mike Jr (lawyer). and Mike Sr (title company owner) are related, of course all new business is being diverted from Lawyer’s office to the Title company and it is a clear conflict of interest, especially since this not disclosed in the beginning of the transaction. This conflict of interest becomes obvious when Mike Jr. takes over the file and day to day and title company only communicates to the client via the lawyer leaving an untrustworthy environment. The only time Michelle Katz will interact is in the beginning, which begs the question on how customer service can be maintained if the principal is just a lead generator.
To hire these companies and retaining their services is up to the reader of this review and to the best of their judgement. I do expect some sort of reply from the law firm explaining there is nothing illegal about all these arrangements and they serve their clients to the best of their interests. That very well may be the case when it comes to being legal or not, but as any first year law student will tell you, ethics play a huge role when it comes to being a trusted lawyer and in truly protecting your clients interests vs. eyeing them as a money making machine from all different avenues. If any of these individuals ever get hired in a corporate environment, they will be fired before their first day ends. I do not recommend this law firm, any of their lawyers, title company or the admin staff to anyone who is looking for a smooth real estate transaction. This is especially important if this will be the most important real estate transaction of your life. STAY AWAY!