Earlynn Mae Stillwell

I finished up a case over a year ago that drained my bank account. I used a prominent attorney in Milton,Florida,and chose to go with stillwell because her retainer was affordable and she "works with you on payments".Like many lawyers, she seems competent to do the work required at consult,but then f...alls off the face of the earth after the retainer is paid. She could probably handle a case that was in the bag and required no work but if you need her to go to bat for you and get things done,she is not the attorney you should retain. She files incorrect information and cares more about emailing informally with opposing side than filing motions with the court. The office Lost my financial affidavit TWICE and came back and asked me for it a third time and I refused. They never answer the phone and leave the office early at whim so it is nearly impossible to get in touch. Left several voicemails and emails that went unanswered time and time again. Got a hearing that was too far out and needed one sooner because ex wife removed son from district he has attended school for two years and changed our visitation schedule we have followed just at whim,which was in complete contempt of our order. Stillwell said nothing could be done but she contacted opposing attorney AGAIN after me pleading to file a motion for contempt. She claimed she could file a motion for contempt "without delay" yet the very same day went and filed a motion to withdraw from my case without even ATTEMPTING to let me know. She needed to get paid for the emails sent back and forth to the other attorney that included misinformation and nothing I wanted done has been done. This has been a huge waste of time. I am making an appointment with Jennifer Byrom this week since my final hearing is merely a month away and nothing has been done to rectify what is going on. You get what you pay for and my child is definately worth the effort that I did not get here. I am very disappointed in the way this was handled and the lack of communication I have experienced with this office that has kept me wondering what is going on to the point that I have to keep up with my case thru the clerk of the court. Her filing a motion to withdraw was a blessing and I will be clear with my new attorney that communication is a MUST when it comes to working out an agreement for the most important thing to me...my child! And when I contacted her asking her why she has said nothing about the motion to withdraw,she said she automatically withdraws from cases that go over 500$. I have worked with a VERY prominent attorney in Milton,Fl and did not think I could afford him again because retainer was 2500.00 and I still had a 2500.00 bill when things were over and done but he worked with me from beginning to end and my bill was BEYOND 500.00 It was very strange and unsettling to me that she would email me in the morning stating she would file a motion for contempt without delay and by that afternoon,when I checked my mail I had a letter to withdraw. Very bad business.She should let you know upfront that she files motions to withdraw at whim and is proactive in communicating thru email with the opposing party instead of doing the work that needs to be done on YOUR behalf. I should have gone with the other attorney I used before or Byrom from the beginning as this was a waste of time. Not only has time passed with nothing done but also the misinformation presented on my behalf did not represent the things I wanted or what was in the best interest of my child.

This is an overall review of the office as a whole. Stillwell has a suitable retainer agreement for clients,but her staff have no clue what they are doing. The communication between staff and client takes over a week for someone to get back to you with an answer. The previous review about paperwork b...eing lost is still correct. Staff continue to lose paperwork. The staff does not file documents in a timely manner and the attorney does not have her clients review legal documents before sending it to the recording office. Positive: Stillwell does take the time to explain and answer questions if you communicate with her directly. Negative: Her staff does not follow direction well by a) taking messages from a client and b) follow-up process for client/attorney communication