Stearns-Montgomery & Proctor

DO NOT USE THIS LAW FIRM. Horrible. Horrible law practice.  I paid for a consultation, and the lawyer said he would let me know the cost for what I needed.  He knew how important and TIMELY this matter was which involved a divorce with minor children. I couldn't get a call back from him.  He wouldn't return my emails. The receptionist kept sending me to their "account manager" - basically the person who takes your money, which is fine, but no one would give me an answer as to cost.  RUN, don't walk from these folks.  Don't pay the consultation fee. There are plenty of other law firms available which care about their clients, especially in such emotional matters as a divorce.  I've now had to find another law firm which has set me back several weeks.

USE ANY LAW FIRM BUT STEARNS- MONTGOMERY!

Ryan Proctor was my attorney and he helped me tremendously. It got a little rough during our case due to COVID, but he and his team kept me informed and got me the results we needed.

RUNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!! These people are money hungry and will take advantage of you and do no work!!!!!!!!!!
If I could give zero stars I would. I contacted this law firm to help me with my divorce back in December 2022. I spoke to one of their attorneys, and I paid her $4,000 retainer and was assured that my retainer would be enough to file, serve and go to court. My husband was served around Feb 17th and by the time he was served my entire retainer was gone and they was asking for more money. During that 2 months, I barely spoke to them. I only spoke to my assigned attorney twice, so I don't know where all the charges came from. I even spoke to the secretary and told her that I was being overly charged and I probably wouldn't be able to continue my services, or me and my kids would end up homeless.
She assured me she would speak to my attorney. A few days later I get a call from another attorney that said she was assigned to my case, because she is cheaper, and proceed to keep me on the phone for almost an hour repeating the same thing she had just previously sent me in an email, then I get a bill for another $900. I finally fired them as my attorney and they sent me a final bill, so I thought.  I was wrong, because they still proceed to continue to email me and bill me. DO NOT, AND I MEAN DO NOT HIRE THEM. MONEY HUNGRY.

If I could give this firm 0 stars, I would. Of all the firms I've previously worked with, my experience with them has been by far the WORST. They don't just neglect their customers; they will also empty your bank account while doing little to no labor. Do not believe the deceptive advertising because they are only looking out for their own financial interests.  I blamed myself for trusting this firm to do right by me and my situation.

Do not retain this firm. RUN!! SERIOUSLY!! Tbe reviews are true. They are simply money hungry and out to make money. They overbooked me for work that was not done. I retained this firm to simply attend a 1 day guardianship hearing and make oral argument in a hearing that was 3 hours.  I paid $2500 for the attorney to attend and 2 years later they are still trying to extort me for money for a 3 hour hearing. they are threatening to sue me and claiming I iowe them interest in the amount of $5000 for a  3 hour hearing that was prepaid. They are very dishonest and will try to extort you after your case concludes. they will keep a file open even though the legal matter has concluded and will attempt to charge you interest when you don't pay their "padded bill" and inflated cost. Im waiting for them to file a lawsuit so I can expose this firm in open court because they need to be stopped. It's rediculous. I have evidence fir every I'm saying and will back it up in any court. Deplorable business practices. If you retain them you will be sorry. I'm serious.Go elsewhere.

And Mary Proctor will not do anything if you contact her. She just goes along with it because her goal is to make money. She backs her attorneys whether wrong or right.   Don't say I didn't warn you!!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THESE PEOPLE.

I used this firm 3x total since 2015. They have lots of experience and caring lawyers who try Hard to successfully resolve your case. I won against my husband and won big in 2015 and the lawyer then was Jenni Brown. All their lawyers are competent and experienced. Divorces can cost a lot of money and it's good to have lawyers who are straight with you and tell you what to expect in terms of cost and outcome. They are readily available to answer questions and will fight for you. Be prepared to pay but the cost is cheaper than losing your kids and having to unfairly divide property. I had not agreed with some of the billing on the third and final time I used them and they were willing to hear my grievance and remedy the situation.

I really wished I would have done more research than I had. Do not hire them unless you want to keep forking over cash and not even have a court date. I received more dates of them going on vacation than the date of a hearing. I was constantly told that they would withdraw if a payment was not made. I put a lien on my property with them in order to keep the process going and they still ending up withdrawing from my case. This isn't my first divorce, and the last lawyer worked me and allowed me to make the payment as we went until everything was paid in full. It seems that these new lawyers now a days are just after the money and not actually helping their clients. They just assume that someone will have $20k laying around to pay for a divorce. I wouldn't even recommend them if they were the last firm on earth. I spoke with the paralegal more than I spoke with the actual attorney on my case.

This firm literally crashed my life.  The attorney I hired took off.  Left the state.  Days before my mediation.  I was threatened with withdrawal if I didn't pay another retainer fee.  Ex was already 80,000 in arrears I have 4 kids and our home was in foreclosure.   After online mediation I was then notified that attorney had been fired and a third attorney was introduced to me via phone call while at my second job.  My bill hit 27000 months later and they withdrew, leaving me broke with no representation for court.  They only helped themselves to billing me , didn't even get emergency tpo for my children or myself.  I had evidence of adultery, stalking, physical abuse to me and one son, emotional abuse as well.  This firm will choose the narcissist over the client, they helped him destroy us all.  They shouldn't be allowed to practice

Terrible experience!!

This firm will charge you for every communication and drag it out so they can charge you more.
This is purely a money-making business to them, they do not care about what you're going through.
You will be charged for just requesting updates/status of your case.
And they do not give you legal advice unless you ask and probe.

Melody and her team (Kerry, Brigette, Loddie) all worked so hard on my case, they was amazing.  
Watching Melody in action is incredible; she's smart, nimble and fierce.
The support team (Kerry, Loddie, Brigette) are so talented and compassionate  it was a pleasure working with them.

There is uniqueness in this team's attitude, professionalism, and character. I used this firm in 2015 for a divorce involving child custody and again in 2017 to make some adjustments. In comparison to other cases, mine was simple/routine.  However it was an enormous worry of mine and I appreciate the attention/professionalism shown by Mrs. Shana Pennywel. The true concern shown from the entire firm before ever discussing cost gave me a sense of comfort that I would be well represented.