Stacey Hendrix Mcnelis

In 2008, I was referred to Stacey McNelis through a military lawyer referral program at Fort Shafter, HI. I explained my situation to Ms. McNelis and gave me legal advice that I followed exactly, which caused me to lose custody of my son for two years. I hired her immediately after an emergency motio...n was filed against me in Polk County. At the hearing, she allowed the judge to threaten kidnapping charges against me without speaking up to tell the judge that she was the one who told me I could legally pick up my son the way I did. For a year, I worked with Ms. McNelis from Hawaii, in a completely different time zone. She constantly charged me full rates (in ten minute increments) for voicemails I would have to leave and emails due to the time difference. Her assistant at the time, Yesenia, was very helpful but I normally spoke with her and got charged just to turn around and have to speak with Ms. McNelis and get charged again. After paying her over $7,000, a year later, with no movement on my case, I terminated her services and hired another attorney. Within a year, I was at a final hearing and was awarded custody of my son again. After my hearing, I contacted Ms. McNelis and asked her to refund half of my fees for her overcharging me and not being able to progress on my case. She refused. I am still active duty Army, and aside from the money I wasted on her services (or lack thereof), my son still deals with emotional scarring because he was forced to remain in an unsafe home due to Ms. McNelis’ initial failures through her unsound legal advice.