Elizabeth took on our very complex child custody and subsequent adoption case in 2021. There was family infighting, death of the child's parent and extensive legal sparring that threatened to tear apart an entire family. Elizabeth's careful guidance, excellent communication, understanding of the law, of our case facts and nuances, and her inherent compassion for the child involved made her the perfect attorney to navigate our case. We are celebrating our first week as adoptive parents and owe that successful outcome to Elizabeth's skill and determination to do what was right for us as clients, and what was best for our adoptive child! We will be forever grateful and would highly recommend her to anyone needing a skilled Family Attorney.
Elizabeth was our attorney during a lengthy custody case and despite it being a difficult case with the other party being outside of our local area she was extremely efficient, researching local rules and keeping us advised every step of the way. She was extremely responsive, and there for us every step of the way. Her fees were reasonable and worth every penny. She also gave us helpful and practical advice to navigate the emotional minefield that often accompanies these type of situations, always keeping in mind the child’s needs as a priority. Definitely recommend!
Child custody matters involve establishing initial custody orders in cases where parents were never married, or when a non-parent caretaker is involved. Custody matters may also involve modifying any existing custody order including post-divorce matters.
Divorce and Separation matters involve negotiating (Collaborative Law), mediating or litigating contested issues related to marital dissolution (divorce) and legal separation (where parties intend to live apart permanently but not to end the marriage). Issues include parenting schedules, child support, division of the marital estate, and alimony.
Mediation is an alternative to traditional litigation where the parties and their attorneys come together to attempt to reach an agreement that benefits all parties more than litigation of the dispute. Mediation is far less expensive than traditional litigation and can be an important factor in successful co-parenting of children following divorce.
Child support cases involve establishing initial child support orders, modifying existing orders due to changes in income or other factors, and collections/enforcement of child support orders.
Family Law cases include cases relating to marriage and family: divorce, separation, child custody, child support, relocation with children, enforcement of existing domestic relations orders, adoption and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
I understand that your case involves the most important thing in your life--your family. I also understand that each case and each client are different.
My philosophy is that there is no "one size fits all" divorce. I work actively with my clients on all aspects of their cases. I know that working closely and communicating effectively with my clients ensures that I understand each client's unique goals. This allows for the best possible outcome for every individual client.
My approach is to avoid the expense and stress associated with litigation whenever possible, utilizing collaborative law and mediation when appropriate. This approach preserves family relationships, minimizes trauma to children, and saves tremendous amounts of money and time.
Unfortunately, sometimes settlement is not an appropriate option. In litigated matters, I rely on thorough trial preparation and aggressive advocacy to protect what matters most to each client, keeping in mind the client's goals and budget.
As a mediator, I assist both parties and their counsel (if represented) in settling their disputes themselves. I help both sides work together to attack the problem instead of each other. The successful result is a settlement that best meets the needs of each individual family. Avoiding litigation saves money and time, but more importantly, preserves important family relationships for the future.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Compassionate and Skilled
Elizabeth took on our very complex child custody and subsequent adoption case in 2021. There was family infighting, death of the child's parent and extensive legal sparring that threatened to tear apart an entire family. Elizabeth's careful guidance, excellent communication, understanding of the law, of our case facts and nuances, and her inherent compassion for the child involved made her the perfect attorney to navigate our case. We are celebrating our first week as adoptive parents and owe that successful outcome to Elizabeth's skill and determination to do what was right for us as clients, and what was best for our adoptive child! We will be forever grateful and would highly recommend her to anyone needing a skilled Family Attorney.
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Posted by Lesley T. | August 23, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent Child Custody Lawyer
Elizabeth was our attorney during a lengthy custody case and despite it being a difficult case with the other party being outside of our local area she was extremely efficient, researching local rules and keeping us advised every step of the way. She was extremely responsive, and there for us every step of the way. Her fees were reasonable and worth every penny. She also gave us helpful and practical advice to navigate the emotional minefield that often accompanies these type of situations, always keeping in mind the child’s needs as a priority. Definitely recommend!
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Posted by Chet & Teresa | August 18, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Child Custody case
We were in a child custody case for approx. 5 years due to appeals from the parents. Beth represented us for the entire 5 years.
In the end we were granted custody of our little girl. If it weren't for Beth's professionalism & determination we would not have been awarded custody. We feel she put her heart & soul into our case, We highly recommend her.
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Posted by Paige | August 17, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Professional and Personable Representation
Beth represented me on a traffic violation and did an outstanding job. Beth went above and beyond in teaching me about my options knowing I was financially vulnerable at the time and taking that into consideration when providing counsel. Even though this typically isn't Beth's primary legal focus, she provided me with the care and support I needed for this matter in the same professional fashion. I would recommend Beth 100 times over; she tells me like it is with my best interest at heart.
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Posted by John | August 13, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Making sense of it all
When I got divorced, I was young and had only been married for a short time. We had no children and very little property to be divided so I thought it would be simple. I completely underestimated how petty my estranged wife would be. The first attorney I hired had basic competence but was unable to deal with the situation when it became clear that my ex was going to make the process as difficult and time-consuming as possible. After months of frustration and when discussing my situation with a friend, they suggested Mrs Yarbrough. I felt bad about firing the first lawyer but decided that something must be done to end the stalemate. I wish I had known about Mrs Yarbrough from the start. The difference was night and day. She was very familiar with both the judge in our case and the opposing counsel representing my wife. In a short amount of time, she was able to negotiate a marital dissolution agreement that gave me the outcome I wanted while still being acceptable to my ex. Mrs. Yarbrough helped put the situation in perspective and was able to convince all parties to find a sensible middle ground and get the whole thing over with! Common sense and good communication over grandstanding wins every time.
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Posted by Jennifer | August 13, 2020
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
I wished I could have hired her!
Mrs. Yarbrough listened intensely as I explained my situation. She took notes and gave advice. She offered me multiple Solutions. Mrs Yarbrough had a lot of knowledge on the topic. Unfortunately it turned out to be out of her field. Even though I couldn't hire her, I was very impressed with her professionalism and friendly personality.
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Posted by Tammy | August 13, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Caring lawyer
Beth safe my grandsons life . She fought hard for me to get custody of my grandson from a horrible situation. She is a hard working, honest and caring person and will work for you to get the best results.
Posted by anonymous | August 12, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Mr
I have use the services of Ms. Yarbrough on several occasions over the years including lengthy and detailed advice on divorce, estate planning and drafting of wills for myself and my family members, and appeals of property values with the tax assessor.
She is very accessible and responds promptly. I can highly recommend MsYarbrough and feel you will also benefit from her services.
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Posted by Sharon | August 12, 2020
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Prompt Response!!!
Thank goodness I reached out Atty. Yarbrough to help me with a very sensitive family situation. This scenario has been plagued our family for years and there seemed to be no reasonable results in which all parties felt a win win. Within the hour of the initial email, we received a detailed response which made us realize that we had overlooked many options that no one else had pointed out! I can't believe how quickly we were able to resolve the issue and put it behind us. I received multiple follow up emails after the issue was resolved, just ensuring every detail had been met by all parties. What I enjoyed most about Atty Yarbrough was her demeanor during the entire process. I needed an empathetic ear, but also someone that that didn't sugar coat the scenario! 100% Recommend!
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Posted by Susan | August 12, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Ms.
I highly recommend Mrs. Yarbrough as legal council! She has the confidence to push any case no matter how small or large! She fought for me and walked me through every step! Great communication and fair pricing! I feel blessed to have been represented by her!
Posted by Katherine | March 12, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Extremely Competent, Professional and Caring
We have been working with Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough since 2010. She has helped us navigate a very complicated case involving our Granddaughter. Our son has been able to obtain custody of our Grandaughter and it is very uncommon for the Father to be granted custody. Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough also worked with us for 35 months to get my sons child support order terminated and a order in place for the Mother to pay Child Support. To make matters more complicated, this was a interstate case. This was not an easy path for any of us. When you go to Juvenile Court in Shelby County you can expect delay after delay that has nothing to do with your attorney. The wheels move very slowly and you want Elizabeth on your side helping you navigate. If we had not been blessed to hire Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough and her very accurate skill set in navigating the legal system this case would not have come to the happy ending that it did!!! Most lawyers would have given up but Ms. Yarbrough kept pushing through for us. I absolutely can not say enough positive things about Mary Elizabeth Yarbrough. If you need someone to stand and fight for you and your family, Mary Elizabeth is the attorney you want!
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Posted by Courtney | January 18, 2013
Excellent Counsel
Beth Yarbrough's knowledge of the law is both practical and personal. She is well-versed in the technical aspects of the law, but as importantly, she can interpret the law to help her clients make informed choices. She knows how to use the law to help her clients achieve positive outcomes.
Posted by anonymous | January 16, 2013
A Very Competent Attorney
Ms. Yarbrough represented me in a divorce recently. At our first meeting she patiently answered my questions and put me at ease with information about the divorce proceedings. She did what she said she would do in the time frame she promised regarding filing my motion and communitcating with my exhusband's lawyer. She was prompt in returning my emails and phone calls. On my court date she explained the protocol of the court and what I would need to do when appearing before the judge under oath. It was a day of high emotions for me and Ms. Yarbrough's professional, calm manner helped get me through the tough day in court. Ms Yarbrough satisfied my goals for property divsion and got me the divorce in a timley manner.
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Posted by Tracye | January 14, 2013
Genuine
I intended to go through my divorce without the assistance of an attorney, but soon found myself facing issues that I couldn't handle on my own. After our first conversation, I knew I'd found the one person who understood my situation and related to me as a human being, not just a client. She was a very genuine person and came across as a friend, not just my attorney. She guided me through the process and the outcome was exactly what I wanted. I've since used her for other legal matters and have referred her to my friends who were facing similar situations.
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Posted by Eric | January 7, 2013
I was glad I hired her
Ms. Yarbrough was a very effective attorney. The attorney who handled my divorce told me that I wouldn't have a chance of getting my ex wife to pay me what she owed me through our divorce settlement, but Ms. Yarbrough took my case. Ms. Yarbrough filed a petition for contempt and was so persuasive that my ex paid what she owed without my even going to court.
Ms. Yarbrough and her staff were courteous and professional every time I spoke to any of them. My case was handled in an expert and professional manner. You can't go wrong hiring this lawyer.
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Posted by Tony | March 22, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Didn't want to write this
I retained Ms. Yarbrough almost three years ago for my divorce. This is a hard review to write, but it’s one offered not in the “heat” of the immediate aftermath of a divorce, but in the “cool” of years of reflection. I found her personable (unlike some of the other negative reviews) but that’s not enough.
After the agreement was finalized, I had real concerns. But I decided to wait before posting anything. I wanted to be fair to her, and also to see how what she negotiated held up. For the record, my former spouse and I remain on good terms. We speak regularly about issues concerning our children. So that’s good.
In the years since retaining her, however, I have only grown to regret my decision more and more – which is why I decided to leave this review today.
I was not represented well at all. I wish I had pulled the plug after the first signs of trouble
In my judgment, Beth failed at basic things – super slow response time (sometimes no response at all for days), lack of focus (checking phone, long digressions about tangential issues) during meetings, and errors (which I had to correct several times) in her review of documents central to the case.
These things were not fatal, but they were annoying and stressful for me. They signaled lack of preparation, poor organization and flawed time management skills. I did not feel supported or like I had someone who cared enough about my own interests to focus their attention.
But here’s the thing that, in retrospect, I now realize, and which is fatal for an attorney: She seemed totally intimated by the attorney representing my former spouse. Lots of “well, I’ve seen her [other attorney] do xyz in the past, so….” This anxiety clearly put her off balance. We talked lots about what the other attorney might do, but it never really panned out. She constantly “misread” that attorney’s moves and intentions. She would, at turns, overreact to certain things…but then totally miss other things. Again, lack of focus.
For example, she missed significant shared debts that the other attorney excluded from the MBS to privilege her client. I had to point this out at the final hour.
She missed tax provisions in the final decree that have since put me at a major disadvantage, and unnecessarily so. She didn’t even discuss these with me or point out their impact. This has cost me thousands of dollars.
Again, she wasted too much time talking to me about the other attorney’s “thinking.” That time should have been about the nuts and bolts of the negotiation, including wording about child support, terms over shared costs, and basic issues tied to how our incomes were entered into the agreement.
Again, I found her personable. And others have different experiences, which is good to hear. Glad those worked out.
But my opinion of the entire process has only become worse as time has gone on. I cannot recommend her to anyone going through divorce.
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Posted by anonymous | February 28, 2017
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Unprofessional/Rude
She was very unprofessional. She talked about other clients Infront of me about very personal things! She was extremely vulgar and rude. She yelled at me in her office over payment method confusion. I will never ever use this woman again.
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Family Attorney | Jan 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. She has years of experience in the domestic practice area and I would retain her services for myself, which is the highest endorsement I can give. She has a good balance of fair, tough, knowledgeable and all without running a bill up needlessly."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jan 07
Relationship: Co-worker
"I have known Ms. Yarbrough for seven years. She is very professional in her approach to the law and each situation, and very personal in her approach to her clients."
Family Attorney | Feb 15
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Beth is a fantastic mediator. I’ve used her many times on a variety of different family law matters and she has always done an excellent job. I endorse her."
Family Attorney | May 01
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Beth Yarborough is a true professional with great experience and knowledge in the specific practice of family law. She is an direct, ethical, and respectable adversary. As a fellow family law attorney, I endorse her."
Family Attorney | Sep 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Beth is a very knowledgeable attorney and it's obvious she loves the practice and genuinely cares about her clients. She's an excellent mediator, as well, and I always enjoy working with her!"
Family Attorney | Mar 24
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. I worked opposite Ms. Yarbrough on a family law matter in Juvenile Court. Ms. Yarbrough was reasonable yet zealous in her representation of her client."
Mediation Attorney | Jan 14
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I have used Beth's mediation services over and over. She is sympathetic to the real concerns of both sides, while also not being afraid to confront the parties about unrealistic expectations. She has settled cases where I thought there was a 100% chance we were headed straight to trial. It also doesn't hurt that she is relatively inexpensive and provides a sliding scale for low-income families. Beth is awesome and I recommend her mediation services without reservation."
Mediation Attorney | Oct 20
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I would recommend Ms. Yarbrough for any family law or mediation needs. I worked with her in one of my toughest cases, and she showed a great deal of compassion and understanding of the issues. She is also a great person and a thorough attorney."
Family Attorney | Aug 21
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse Beth Yarbrough. I have worked with Beth in several capacities. I have been her adversary & utilities her mediation skills. She is reasonable and fair no matter the role. She maintains the highest level of professionalism while being an advocate for her clients. She is very knowledgeable & dedicated to whichever hat she chooses to wear."
Family Attorney | Sep 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Beth is highly regarded and well-respected in the legal community, and for good reason. Both as an advocate and as a mediator, she has always impressed me with her ability to achieve her objective with professionalism."
Family Attorney | Feb 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Yarbrough is well respected for his expertise in the area of family law. Anyone represented by Ms. Yarbrough is well-represented."
Adoption Attorney | Feb 05
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I worked with Attorney Yarbrough in an adoption matter and found her to be straightforward and honest. She represented her client very well and made sure that all conflicts and issues were quickly and efficiently mitigated. Working with her reinforced my belief that there are still attorneys that bring honor to our profession."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jan 29
Relationship: Supervised lawyer
"Beth is an excellent lawyer with compassion for her clients and a commitment to excelling in the practice of law. Excellent person. Outstanding person."
Family Attorney | Jan 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Beth since were were students in law school. I have had the pleasure of working with Beth on several divorce cases. Beth is a very well rounded attorney who truly does care about her clients and their needs. Beth and I have both discussed our approaches to practicing law. We both agree that it is so very important to listen to your client's needs so that you can determine in which direction to move their case. Beth does that. She is a consumate professional who is well veresed in the law. She is prepared to do battle in court if the need arises, but she is smart enough to try to use her skils to resolve matters outside of court if possible. When my friends and family ask me for referrals to attorneys, I do not hesitate to give them Beth's name because I know she will do a great job and will take care of the person she is representing and not just their legal issue."
Family Attorney | Jan 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have had the fortunate experience to not only work with Beth in a professional setting, but to train with her in furthering our legal education. To expand the services she can provide to her clients and better meet the needs of those seeking solutions to their legal needs, Beth became a Rule 31 listed mediator in Family Law.
It is reassuring to work with an attorney, whether as a colleague or a client, that you know is going to consider you as an individual and look at your "big picture", as well as your specific legal needs. I know Beth to be a caring, considerate woman aware of the intricacies and demands of practicing in the family law arena. It is a pleasure to work with a fellow attorney who is knowledgeable, competent and cooperative."