Joanna Lynne Challacombe

After years of having a feeling something was going on while my son was at his father's house everything finally came to light. The judge ordered her as my sons Child Rep. I thank God every day that she was chosen to represent my son. She know the law extensively. She takes all of the facts, listens ...and truly wants what is best for the child. She is truly amazing and she has saved my son. There are no words to thank her for what she has done.

Joanna Challacombe is a tenacious lawyer. She is extremely well versed in the law. She is not afraid to go to battle with anyone. She took a very difficult child custody case with me and had to fight several attorney's on my and my kids behalf. Illinois is HORRIBLE for fathers rights!! But Joanna lev...eled the playing field!! While i occasionally thought i "knew better" or where i let emotions mess with me. Joanna kept me calm and always proved that she knows the law and the system inside out!! I would recommend her to anyone who is struggling to get custody of their kids. Especially any Men!! Are their less expensive attorneys out there? Sure. But i didnt want a "tv" law firm. I wanted a person who was not only excellent. But was someone i would see!!! Not some associate of an associate of the lawyer. I got what i paid for......MY SONS!!! I trusted her with my sons lives and she proved i made the right choice!! B.R. Des Plaines Il.

I filed for divorce from my abusive husband last year. My first attorney charged me $20,000 and obtained literally zero results for me. I was desperate not to have to live in the same house with him any longer, and I knew the kids needed me as the residential parent, and I was terrified that he would... make good on his threats to either have equal time with them or even become the primary parent. After months of being terrorized by him and getting absolutely nowhere with my attorney I did what I should have done in the first place. I asked the personnel in the courtroom which attorney they would hire if they were getting a divorce and Joanna’s name was always given so I let the other attorney go and hired her. Smart, tough, fearless, and compassionate is what they told me, and it has been true. Within 2 months she got him out of the house and despite a lot of obstacles we were able to enter an order for a parenting time schedule that I could live with 2 months later. Joanna believed me when I told her what my husband is like and understood that he would make the process very difficult and would not easily settle the case. I have always felt that she really cares about the outcome of my case and that I am not just a file to her but a real person who is going through a difficult time. She has a strong sense of justice that is tempered by an equally strong sense of pragmatism. In my case that combination has led to things actually getting done. If only I had hired her in the first place I think my nightmare would be over by now. Besides her intelligence and confidence she is also very conscientious. With my previous attorney I often got a feeling that she was a bit slick and was not completely trustworthy. I have never had that feeling with Joanna. Divorcing an abusive person is very difficult, and when kids are involved it can be pure hell. If you are in a similar situation I highly recommend hiring Joanna as your attorney.

Joanna came into my Divorce case after an inexperienced attorney had me scared of the court system and unable to sleep at night. Joanna gathered the facts quickly and was ready for the next court date in just 7 days. She is honest, always puts my children's best interest first and never forgets a d...etail. During trial she was professional and doesn't let anything get by, she is in it to win it and speaks her mind. Her knowledge of the law is second to none.

I walked into court with another very soft spoken attorney (intimidated by opposing council) and the daunting task of a single father trying to get custody of his four year old son. My son was "kidnapped" from daycare on the morning of the first day of court preceedings and taken out of state. Life... as I knew it was the worst!! After months of no-shows by my son's mother and excuse after excuse by opposing council, the courts appointed Ms Challacombe as guardian ad litem... that was when everything changed!! Ms Challacombe was not there for the money, prestige or for the man vs woman fight... she was genuinely concerned and focused on the current and future well being of my son. And she was NOT intimidated by ANYONE. I will admit that I wasn't "happy" with initial preceedings (as I stated, my son was allowed to be taken out of state and I had to pay child support), but Ms. Challacombe took the time to explain her position and that support of the child is the right thing to do. I assumed "That's it... I'm one man in a fight with 4 women"..."they've got my son and money... it's over", but I was wrong. Ms. Challacombe followed up with both opposing councils and parties to get background and determine where her client/our child would ultimately be placed. She met with me in my home and monitored my interaction with my son (once I was allowed visitation for the summer). Just when I thought her "investigation" was all for show, she showed up in court with additional evidence that supported my complaints and suggestions that the proper placement for my son would be with me, the father. Ms. Challacombe had done a thorough background check on both parents (including criminal). Her thoughtfulness and focus on the child (not the paycheck) was ultimately the deciding factor for the decision to place my son with me. As a single father, I had absolutely NO FAITH in our justice system and still believe MUCH change is needed, but... Ms. Challacombe did restore my faith in humanity. She could have easily told the judge to leave my son with his mother (after all... he was only 4), but she was professional and caring enough to do her job and represent her client's best interests. I would recommed Ms. Challacombe ANY DAY!!! She will fight for her client.