Kleppe Family Law & Mediation - San Rafael, California

Janine Smith

I hired to Johanna Kleppe to represent me for child custody for a very intricate and challenging case in family law court. She has extensive experience with domestic violence and understands the laws intended to protect families very well. In hindsight, It is surprising how many family law attorneys are not well versed in these laws and keeping up with changes so I feel so fortunate to have hired her. My case was must more complex than I could have ever imagined and Johanna did an amazing job at getting to a favorable outcome for myself and my child. She not only advocated for us but she was very mindful of keeping costs down. I understand that the opposing party is not fond of her as she was very effective so I can imagine that is why I see some bad reviews, but my experience has only been positive and I would recommend her to anyone who has the best interest of their children in mind and a fair dissolution.

Jeff Keiser

I was warned about divorce attorneys. That's why I got a recommendation from my old friend who's Mother is a divorce lawyer. I should have heeded the warnings. I don't know if Johanna is your typical divorce lawyer but after 7 months I have a pretty low opinion of her.
She offers a box of tissues in her office and has a pretty good bedside manor but when it comes down to being in your corner in the difficult moments to come, not so great.
She was suspicious of my motives, told me how "concerned she was "of the accusations against me and in the end advised me to compromise at every turn. To top it all off, she returned 1 out of every 6 emails I sent her with questions and concerns about the divorce. In retrospect, I think she's just a bad lawyer.
I only received justice once I fired her, then filed motions on my own with the court. The judge cares about the law and justice. Johanna Kleppe does not.

Bodywork•Therapy Collective

Ms. Kleppe does not return phone calls, or requests to have her mediate in family court cases. Sadly, some of us must sacrifice so that she treats others a little better.
If one calls oneself a mediator then why not actually mediate: able to see both sides and help them work things out. Isn't that what a mediator does?
But not Johanna. Maybe my complaint will help her do that for a change. But not for me.
She or her other clients will never give me the benefit of the doubt, always using fear as their weapon. Never Love or interest in family.

First, have her client fashion a perjury scandal to get a restraining order against her parties enemy, in most cases the parent with the least amount of money so can not defend themselves.
Then lie again just to have the restraining order become permanent even when the order was for verbal attacks. Wow, the fear and lack of love that the child will receive is enormous.

This ensures that her party will have to go through her, to communicate or establish any type of negotiating or relationship with the custodual parent of the child.
This has given her financial success by keeping unending drama between the two parties indefinitely. Lying to the courts about gifts given for the child to make the opposing parent look bad. Talk about lies. This makes the child think their own non custodial parent does not care about them just because they can not afford to fight.

I often wonder why someone would make a career off of causing completely unnecessary suffering to others for her profit.
It confounds me that she does not answer the basic communications, emails, phone calls, even though she has a paralegal/assistant working for her. The lies never end.
And anyone who complains, gets threatened by her or others of a lawsuit or some other type of court order.
No mediation here.

Sadly, the dishonesty and for profit stance of the Marin Family Court System coupled with people such as Johanna Kleppe completely destroy any opportunity for families to grow peacefully together.
Fear is her ruling tactic. Protection of the interest of drug addicts and narcissists as long as they can pay her.

Sadly, also Mrs Kelly Riter whom Kleppe shares her office with has sold out. She had originally wanted to protect me and gave sound legal advice to the effect that would help me when so many others were in it for the profit. I guess the money was more important than the family unit again.

It's best not to enable narcissists by being their attorney when you know full well you took them only for the money. But now you are doing it just to revenge those of us who criticized you.
I guess this will be used against me in the court of law because of her dishonesty and unwillingness to receive constructive feedback.
And any others she intentionally puts on here to review her to attack those of us for having an opinion based on actual experience.

And if you truly want to make a difference on Earth don't force people to do things without accessing their situation thoroughly first.
Like for example trying to get someone to pay massive amounts in child support when they have been living off of donations for 10 years.

And do you seriously think by forcing someone to be homeless in order to pay for their child, will REALLY empower them to get a job? And if the parents don't have real mediation, then how do you think they will find a compromise?
Nothing good comes through force. Ever.
If money is always the bottom line and that line is always about control and power then money becomes a tool of corruption.

Mediation means to see BOTH sides of any argument and all sides really.

Ms. Kleppe has a long way to go to reach that.

And instead of trying to ruin someone else's life's calling just to be forced to pay child support would only prevent you from living yours.

Brian Brazoot

It turns out that Johanna has a fairly limited knowledge of the intricacies of family law. Yet, she purports to be an expert on everything. She can be quite curt, impulsive, and will act on case details without preparation. Be prepared for a verrrry expensive ride full of frustration, promises, and empty swagger.

Alexander Lang

Heartless & cruel. I have witnessed a horrible railroad job against an honest kind woman with a custody case based on lies and deceit. Kleppe will not even send a picture of the daughter to the mother over email, saying that it is alarming for the mother to ask for some kind of connection to the father, since the father won custody in a filthy mire of lies and payouts to workers such as Kleppe. And the only way for the mother to see a picture of her daughter is if the father sends it, which he will vindictively and smugly never do out of hatred and jealousy.

Kleppe supports evil only to pad her pockets. DO NOT TRUST UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
If I could give negative stars I would. Evil evil evil.

Eric Larsen

I fired Johanna after she proposed I pay $33,000 more than my ex-was asking for. She had billed me over $4000 and had not listened to me nor understood the case or issues. Terrible.

Geraldina Waters

Dishonest

Melissa Waters