Michael J. Kretzmer - Manhattan Beach, CA

I am currently going through a high-conflict divorce in Los Angeles, California. Unfortunately, following allegations made by my estranged spouse that I believe are false, DCFS became involved in my family’s situation. I hired Mr. Kretzmer because of his reputation for working within the DCFS system in West Los Angeles. During the nine weeks Mr. Kretzmer represented me, I was extremely disappointed with the lack of meaningful progress on my case. He repeatedly told me he would contact DCFS County Counsel to advocate for increased visitation, help facilitate a change in my daughter’s school, and assist in getting her into therapy. However, after following up with him numerous times over the course of several weeks, I discovered that communications he had represented as having been sent earlier were, in fact, only sent that day. I was also deeply concerned by what I perceived as his unprofessional communication and conduct. He would regularly call me and yell or curse at me, send similarly hostile text messages, and speak to me this way in front of therapists. I also felt that he repeatedly mischaracterized my situation to County Counsel, which undermined my confidence in his ability to advocate effectively on my behalf. Additionally, he frequently confused facts from my case with those of other cases, which raised serious concerns for me about his familiarity with the details of my family’s circumstances. Despite these issues, I was billed for numerous hours without receiving what I considered meaningful work product. On at least one occasion, I drafted a memorandum to opposing counsel myself, and he subsequently sent it through his own email and billed me for that communication. Eventually, Mr. Kretzmer insisted that I seek other legal representation. However, he refused to return my retainer, despite my concerns about the work performed and the fees charged. While I was in the process of transitioning to new counsel, he blocked my phone number. This occurred during an especially distressing period when both my daughter and son were being detained by DCFS in connection with the situation involving their mother. One of my most troubling concerns involved my three-year-old daughter telling me that her mother was hitting her. When I raised this issue with Mr. Kretzmer, I felt that he dismissed my concern and told me I should not make such claims. To be clear, I was reporting what my young daughter had told me, not presenting it as something I had personally witnessed. I expected my attorney to take such a disclosure seriously and advise me appropriately on how to address it. Going through a high-conflict divorce involving DCFS is already an incredibly stressful and emotionally difficult experience. I hired Mr. Kretzmer expecting knowledgeable legal guidance, professional communication, and meaningful advocacy for my children and me. Unfortunately, my experience fell far short of those expectations. Based on my personal experience, I would strongly encourage anyone considering Mr. Kretzmer to carefully research their options, ask detailed questions about his approach to communication and case management, and thoroughly clarify billing and retainer-refund policies before hiring him. I would not choose to work with him again.

I hired Michael Kretzmer in January 2026 and terminated him three weeks later for gross negligence. He is, without question, one of the most arrogant, incompetent, and unprofessional attorneys I have ever encountered. Although he was recommended by a trusted family law attorney, I deeply regret ignoring the numerous negative reviews I found online. From the very beginning, Michael displayed an extremely short temper. He repeatedly yelled at me, cursed, insulted me, and spoke to me in a condescending manner. His behavior was shockingly disrespectful, especially toward a paying client. He frequently belittled me and made me feel foolish for asking questions. On the first day of court, he arrived five hours late. The day before, he had assured me he would make it on time after handling another case in Downtown LA -- something that was clearly impossible. He repeatedly gave me incorrect information about DCFS requirements. When I confronted him about it, he dismissively told me to "get over it" and that "it's not a hill to die on." He also advised me to speak with the police without an attorney present, which I found highly unusual and concerning. After everything I experienced, I find it difficult to believe he has 40 years of experience. His lack of basic professionalism, poor client treatment, and apparent unfamiliarity with DCFS and Juvenile Court procedures were alarming. When we appeared in Juvenile Court, no one seemed to know who he was, and the judge even questioned whether he was qualified to practice there. I strongly recommend avoiding Michael Kretzmer. This was a very costly and stressful mistake.

I hired Michael Kretzmer in January 2026 and terminated him three weeks later for gross negligence. He is, without question, one of the most arrogant, incompetent, and unprofessional attorneys I have ever encountered. Although he was recommended by a trusted family law attorney, I deeply regret ignoring the numerous negative reviews I found online. From the very beginning, Michael displayed an extremely short temper. He repeatedly yelled at me, cursed, insulted me, and spoke to me in a condescending manner. His behavior was shockingly disrespectful, especially toward a paying client. He frequently belittled me and made me feel foolish for asking questions. On the first day of court, he arrived five hours late. The day before, he had assured me he would make it on time after handling another case in Downtown LA -- something that was clearly impossible. He repeatedly gave me incorrect information about DCFS requirements. When I confronted him about it, he dismissively told me to "get over it" and that "it's not a hill to die on." He also advised me to speak with the police without an attorney present, which I found highly unusual and concerning. After everything I experienced, I find it difficult to believe he has 40 years of experience. His lack of basic professionalism, poor client treatment, and apparent unfamiliarity with DCFS and Juvenile Court procedures were alarming. When we appeared in Juvenile Court, no one seemed to know who he was, and the judge even questioned whether he was qualified to practice there. I strongly recommend avoiding Michael Kretzmer. This was a very costly and stressful mistake.

I hired Michael Kretzmer in January 2026 and terminated him three weeks later for gross negligence. He is, without question, one of the most arrogant, incompetent, and unprofessional attorneys I have ever encountered. Although he was recommended by a trusted family law attorney, I deeply regret ignoring the numerous negative reviews I found online. From the very beginning, Michael displayed an extremely short temper. He repeatedly yelled at me, cursed, insulted me, and spoke to me in a condescending manner. His behavior was shockingly disrespectful, especially toward a paying client. He frequently belittled me and made me feel foolish for asking questions. On the first day of court, he arrived five hours late. The day before, he had assured me he would make it on time after handling another case in Downtown LA — something that was clearly impossible. He repeatedly gave me incorrect information about DCFS requirements. When I confronted him about it, he dismissively told me to “get over it” and that “it’s not a hill to die on.” He also advised me to speak with the police without an attorney present, which I found highly unusual and concerning. After everything I experienced, I find it difficult to believe he has 40 years of experience. His lack of basic professionalism, poor client treatment, and apparent unfamiliarity with DCFS and Juvenile Court procedures were alarming. When we appeared in Juvenile Court, no one seemed to know who he was, and the judge even questioned whether he was qualified to practice there. I strongly recommend avoiding Michael Kretzmer. This was a very costly and stressful mistake.