Shirley Clark Ayers

After using Ms. Ayers in 2002 unless things have changed I would not recommend her. Until we went to mediation, I felt we had a strong attorney that supported my son's best interest, due to his mom's proven lack of care for 3 years. I did receive custody (which prior to court wasnt in writing, but w...asnt hard to prove) She did not stand up for anything. She said that I should give in to only recieving $250.00 a year in support. Because my ex did not baulk at paying this much, she fought for custody if she had to pay support. That I should give in and drive our son 1 hour and pick him up after each visit (when I or her parents had done all the driving to ensure Wesley knew who his mother was in another state) That I should pay for his insurance and all his medical bills. She basically backed down on EVERY item that I had origanally hired her for, Short of a piece of paper that said I had Primary custody (which I had on everything but paper before we even went to court) She did not seem to have any confidence once we went to mediation. In the end I have had to have the state of Florida persue my ex for what I paid a LOT of money for my attorney to do. In essence wasting time, money and now the states time and money. I would not recommend her unless you have no other option. As I stated, in the office I thought we had a good lawyer with my son's best interest, in the end I left with what I already had. And as I assumed all the things my wife got on paper, for extra visitation, and no child support and having to drive only one way rather than making her responsible for being a parent, fell by the wayside the week after the judge asked her "do you realize what you are doing by signing away primary residental custody" My ex stated "yeah". Not one wednesday, not 1 (3rd) weekend in months with 5 weekends, half the summer he spends home with us rather than with her, she now pays 171.00 in support ordered by the state of which only pays enough to gain back her license occasionally. Would have been so much easier if Ms. Ayers would have shown ANY sense of confidence in the mediation.