John Matthew Orr

I hired Matt to represent me in a custody case after leaving a difficult and abusive situation. I presented substantial evidence that I later learned could have supported sole custody. However, Matt put forward a vague and generic custody proposal that I felt did not fully protect me or my child. Whe...n we went to court and my ex arrived without representation, Matt persuaded him to settle, explaining that he would likely get less if the case went to court. While I appreciated Matt’s effort to resolve the matter quickly, the agreement we reached left me feeling vulnerable, especially considering the background of abuse that Matt was aware of. Unfortunately, when I later returned to request a modification, I was informed that Matt had left the practice. Another lawyer reviewed the agreement and expressed concern about the lack of protective measures for myself and my child, which made me feel that my case could have been handled with more care. As a result, my child and I had to endure ongoing challenges for two years to gather additional evidence that could have been presented in court from the start. I wish the original custody agreement had been more case-specific, as this would have provided greater protection for my family.