Angela M. Hatley

I am writing this review in regards to a child custody modification case. I retained Angela Hatley as an attorney in April 2019. I had to be present in court on 5 June 2019 because my ex was attempting to block my summer visitation to suit her agenda via an ex parte. Prior to showing up in court, I w...as informed to have pictures showing my family, home, and asked for affidavits about my character and people who were familiar with my ex-wife, child, and myself. I expended resources and got it done, only to be told that it was the best presentation of documents the office had seen, but was followed with a backhanded comment saying they had to tear it all apart and make copies, which they charged me for and never used, and ostensibly I was charged for them uploading documents that were printed off initially. In June 2019, "after my ex parte trial, I requested that the firm subpoena records from school systems and doctor's offices to support the case. Their response was that we would have time. During this entire time, my ex had been alienating me from our child and not adhering to our order that received Full Faith in NC in September 2019. She (my ex) was in contempt countless times during our attorney-client relationship extending 19 months. I stayed in communication alerting Mrs. Hatley and her staff of all things transpiring. To my surprise, Hatley told me "the good thing about that is, she will have to answer for that when we go to trial." We were initially supposed to go to court in November 2019. I along with my wife met with Mrs. Hatley in November 2019 for pretrial. To note, she was over an hour and a half late for our appointment, and she attempted to rush through it in less than 15 minutes when it was scheduled for an hour. She probably did this because there were 8 other clients waiting who she had appointments with as well, and it was 6 at night. (Keep in mind, I drive from Alabama to come to her office.) So, there was a lack of respect for my time and resources as well as countless others. After preparing for court that was supposed to occur a week and a half later, we did not go because a continuance, that was not in agreement with, occurred. I tried to have faith in my attorney. However I was requested to make another appointment for a Pre trial appointment for January 2020 court date that would also be continued, which was strange to me considering the first session was a complete waste of time. Needless to say, I was growing even more suspicious of the miscellaneous charges that quickly add up. Fast Forward: After other continuances being granted and the COVID situation, the court date was continued to 26 September 2020, at which time Hatley agreed to a Special Sessions request and thus extended the case further out. October 26, 2020 was set for return status on the Special Session. I decided to drive up to NC from Alabama to sit in on Calendar Call. I sat in the court room from 0900 till 1430, just for Hatley to tell the judge that she could not provide a date for the Special Session to occur. She attempted to whisper this to the judge but to no avail, I heard it and the judge stated " I will set this aside until a date has been decided. I decided to do a check on the case load and I find out that Hatley had 38 cases on the docket for the week of 26 September and 26 October. Hatley, will intentionally draw out your case and will charge your for unneccessary work. In addition, if you have Amber Leatherwood as your paralegal, I wish you luck, because Amber is her daughter and if Amber makes a mistake, which she WILL.. The law firm will blame you for it, or Hatley will attempt to chastise you instead of placing blame where it should be. This type of attitude and culture are why the reviews for Hatley are getting worse. What Hatley couldn't do in 18 months, my new lawyer did in 3 days. Established an MOJ that Hatley said was not possible. As my grandfather once said, "Everybody can't tell the same lie"...

I was a client of Angela Hatley. What is negative about my experience with this lawyer is she took over 20 months to get permanent child support and 9 months to get temporary child support. Also in contract to try to have defendant pay lawyer fees. Instead of finishing her job like it stated in contr...act she filed a motion to withdraw as our attorney. She didn't even try if she would have filed paper work and fees were not paid by defendant I would have no issues. She did not answer my messages and phone calls for 6 months then she removed her self as our lawyer with a motion of withdrawal. She did not submit motion to have defendant pay lawyer fees.. If you want a long drawn out case pick her then have her not complete the job. The front office staff is also unprofessional the secretary will not let you know you have a court date. Are call you 5 min before court and say you have a court date or it has been canceled due to Mrs. Hatley having a more important court case. If you are a single parent and need the money for your kids. I would not use this lawyer you will go broke before you see a single penny from the other partner who owes child support. I hope this review helps other people and heed warning using this attorney.