Joan-Marie Kettell Dean

A very easy to work with and very detailed lawyer, Joan Marie got me through a tough Appreal receiving a full decision in my favor. Her genuine demeanor is a fresh relief from some in her profession and I would highly recommend Joan Marie to take on any case! Her background with the State Jud...iciary System makes her top notch with very honorable credentials. Joan Marie and her stafff will work for you

My husband and I were recommended to Joan-Marie by another attorney . He did so because we needed an attorney that has experience with Appeals and he said she was the best. We have been in an adoption case for two years. Long story short, we were handed a 7 week old baby whose birth parents were more... concerned with drugs than him. Both parents have been incarcerated and thru our legal system the birth father was given an appointed attorney to represent him after the adoption was finalized. The birth father wanted to appeal the adoption. We have been thru so much with our case and all we wanted to do is protect our baby. Joan Marie accepted our case and immediately after our initial meeting I felt a huge burden lifted from me. She explained everything to us and what to expect. I left her office knowing our son would be protected because Joan-Marie was fighting for him. She went to court for us once and almost immediately she won that round. We never had to see a court room again. The Alabama Appellate court dismissed the appeal the birth father filed due to her diligence. We have our son who can now have a happy safe life and the adoption is final. We owe much of this to Joan-Marie and the role she played as our attorney.

I hired Joan-Marie over 10 years ago to represent me in a custody dispute. The suit was filed unexpectedly and I was living out of the area at the time. I hired another male lawyer here in Huntsville first. He totally bungled my case, failing to object to irrelevant testimony, hearsay, etc. As a resu...lt of his ineptitude I ended up losing custody at my pendente lite hearing. Devastated, I began lawyer shopping. Joan-Marie was recommended to me by another attorney in town who did not have time to take my case at that point. I met with her and liked her immediately. She went right to work ordering transcripts and researching to prepare for the court date which was only 4 months away. I was most impressed with the way she put her heart into our case. It was abundantly clear that she had a personal interest in us not just as clients but as people. Her representation of us in court was head and shoulders above our first attorney and I have no complaints whatsoever about the way she handled our case. Unfortunately, the judge did not rule in my favor, leading us to file an appeal first to the civil appeals court and then to the Alabama Supreme Court. Joan-Marie really shines in written appeals. As mentioned by another reviewer, she is the editor of Alabama Law Weekly and is intimately familiar with decisions that are being written by all levels of the judiciary in this state. Her appeals arguments are extremely well written and the facts well documented. I have been in and out of court several times on this custody situation and have been forced to file multiple appeals, but it is in no way a reflection of poor representation on Joan-Marie’s part. I have recommended her to others and will continue to do so. I cannot imagine ever finding a lawyer who will put so much of her personal energy into a case. Her billing has been reasonable as well.

I have been in the court system in Alabama, Huntsville in a total of over 5 years. I have hired 3 attorney's in this length of time. I ended the hiring process with Joan Marie Dean. As previously stated by another client Joan Marie is sometimes unable to attend a hearing due to another client, she... should not be held accountable for scheduling conflicts due to the Judges itinerary's. At no time do I feel disconnected from her office. If she is unable to speak with me her legal assistant is always available, and passes along any messages or concerns that I may have. Joan- Marie has almost fixed all the blunders that the previous lawyers messed up, as well achieved extra money that was left on the table by them.. I have a deadbeat ex husband, who ignores his kids and tried to make bastards of them.. My children are special needs and Joan Marie is making sure that we/they get what they deserve!!! Everyone feels that there case is more important then the next, but Joan- Marie trys and achieves to make everyone equal!!! She is a busy lawyer who is trying to fit everyone in and her schedule has conflicts just like everyone else. The court system in Alabama is way to busy and not enough judges!!!! 30.00 and hour is not much for the level of care Joan Marie gives her clients...I spent 60-150 an hour for other lawyers who essentially screwed up!!!! My opinion is Joan Marie is excellent at her job....as a client you need to have patients!!! Perfection takes time!!!!! P.S. She was able to get a judge overturned in an appeal that doesn't normally ever get over turned!!!! Truly amazing!!!!!!! Sincerely Daisey