Wendi Swinson Wagner

I was divorced in early 2020 after a 20-plus year marriage. After receiving underwhelming service and representation from the first two divorce attorneys I hired, I came right here, to Avvo, to do my research before I hired a third. Thank God I did because it led me to Ms. Wagner, who has completely ...turned around the prior dynamic I had been experiencing in my case, which mainly consisted of my ex's attorney (whom I've seen referred to, online, several times as the best, most ruthless in town) bullying my lawyers into serving her will and allowing her, and, by extension, my ex, to dictate terms of so many important aspects of my life, such as interpreting our mediated agreement in matters ranging from parenting schedule, holiday parenting schedule, distribution of assets, and maintenance issues on the marital home, to constant harassment and otherwise unwanted, attention from my ex. Eventually, I allowed my representation with both of my prior attorneys to lapse, deciding I could do a better job just representing myself. (The second guy would even fail to forward me critical emails from my ex's attorney and then claim he had, even though the time stamps proved otherwise!) For six months, I had no attorney on retainer and the issues with my ex and her lawyer continued, unabated. Then, it came to my attention that my ex had moved her new boyfriend in to the house I still own and, via my maintenance checks, still cover the mortgage payments on, in violation of the standard 'no cohabitation in a romantic relationship' provision in our agreement. So, I knew I would need to find a new lawyer and this time I needed someone competent, reliable, trustworthy, yet, within my price range. Ms. Wagner has proven to be all of these things and then some. The first thing she did was let my ex's attorney know that she would be representing me now and the harassment would have to cease immediately. When my ex's lawyer responded in her usual defiant manner, Wendi immediately responded the following Monday with a motion to the court to end all harassing communications from my ex, effective immediately, or face contempt of court charges! The other side agreed immediately and the quality of my life improved that day, as a result. I have witnessed, in subsequent court functions, via zoom, gotten the pleasure of seeing my ex-wife's attorney be humbled (as she obnoxiously chomps on her stupid gum.) at nearly every turn, as she's been out-prepared, outworked, and outclassed by Ms. Wagner. - Ms. Wagner will often respond to my emails within same MINUTE I send them out. - She listens to me and weighs my opinions and preferences out before responding with any pat answers. - Her billing statements explain every charge, plainly, accounting for every hour. If anything, she costs herself by undercharging me. The best example I have is when my ex calls her lawyer with frivolous and disprovable charges against me, a nearly weekly occurrence, Wendi simply forwards me the emails and saves my retainer for more pressing things, like court filing fees. This, alone, separates Wendi from other lawyers, in my experience. I could, literally, go on. I'm not one to tell others what to do. But if you were smart enough (unlike me the first two times) to do your homework before retaining an attorney, do yourself a favor. Call Wendi today.