Cara Paige Oxenham

If I could give zero stars, I would. Over the course of four years, I paid Cara Oxenham approximately $3,000, hoping for advocacy, direction, and resolution in my divorce and custody case. What I received was barely any legal action, long periods of silence, and an overwhelming amount of emotional an...d financial stress. In 2021, I retained Cara and provided all necessary divorce paperwork. When I physically returned over a year later, she still had not filed anything—and she only learned I had reconciled with my ex when I showed up in person. She had made no effort to follow up on the case in that time. Despite that, I chose to trust her again in 2023, hoping for a faster, more professional outcome. Unfortunately, nothing improved. The communication was incredibly poor, with weeks-long delays on emails and voicemails—even during emergencies involving my children. When I finally got through, I was often met with a rude, dismissive receptionist, and no urgency or support. When I asked for the Virginia State Bar’s contact info, I was told to “Google it.” After years of mismanagement, I was suddenly billed $900 more—with no clear explanation of where the original $3,000 had gone. When I finally expressed my frustration and said I’d be reaching out to the Bar, I was immediately dropped as a client, with a cold email and no resolution, no refund, and no accountability. I was then labeled aggressive instead of her team being accountable. If your case had been dragged out longer than needed with minimal urgency you’d be mad too right? This experience added tremendous mental and emotional stress to an already devastating and prolonged legal situation. My ex-husband has already dragged this process out for years—and instead of being supported, I was left to fight for basic communication and respect from the very person I hired to protect me. It’s exhausting, heartbreaking, and unfair. If you want to feel valued, respected, and properly represented as a client, this is not the law office for you. I am now searching for a new attorney who will actually show up, fight for me, and help my family move forward with a small amount of process left.

Ms. Oxenham is hands down the most level headed and approachable lawyer I have ever met. In my last case I received a divorce and lost prime physical custody of my daughter. I used a different lawyer who I spent 30 times as much on (not an exaggeration). Bottom line is my daughter wanted to live with... me but I lost. After a year of not having my daughter full time I decided to try to get her again and I hired Cara. I emailed her on a Tuesday evening and she responded promptly and she discussed my case that night. We met in her office for a 30 minute consultation and after talking with her for over an hour I hired her. She pointed out past discrepancies from my high priced lawyer encouraged me to file my case. To make a long story short my ex had a lawyer who is considered a "bull dog" and rather abrasive but Cara effectively kept him on a leash and was not intimidated. My children loved her and I am forever in her debt as my ex decided to settle out of court shortly after receiving Cara's discovery of findings, allowing my daughter to return as well as split custody with my son. She provided specific instructions on what paper work I needed to file (even so much detail as the color of paper), provided an outline of what I need to write on all court documents, and assisted me in finding some FOIA documents pertinent to my case. Cara Oxenham was the best money I have ever spent on a lawyer, she will answer all your crazy questions regardless of the hour in a professional manner while showing compassion. My family considers her a friend more than a lawyer due to her personality and of course she actually cares. If I ever need a lawyer again she will get the call, thanks Cara!