Emily Jo Rapp

She was appointed as the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in my case, and my experience with her was extremely disappointing. In my view, she did not conduct a thorough or impartial investigation. She did not contact the individuals I listed on my GAL intake sheet, and communication with both me and my attorn...ey was limited and very inconsistent throughout the case. At one point, a meeting was scheduled with her. Prior to that meeting, I provided extensive documentation via email, including Our Family Wizard messages, videos, and audio recordings relevant to the case. On the day of the scheduled meeting, she did not attend and did not respond to repeated phone calls, emails, or messages during or after the meeting time. Several hours later, her office contacted me to reschedule. Throughout the case, she advised both parties that knowingly false reports to DCFS would result in loss of parenting time. Despite this, when the other party later made what I believe to have been a false DCFS report against me during the divorce proceedings, she stated that she conducted an investigation. Ultimately, she chose not to bill either party for approximately $6,000 in work, explaining that this was to offset a prior overbilling. This raised concerns for me regarding both the handling of fees and the scope of the investigation into the DCFS allegations. Additionally, no substantive changes were made to the parenting order as a result of this process, other than requiring our child to attend counseling, with the other parent responsible for scheduling and transportation. Based on my experience, I believe there were significant issues related to communication, thoroughness, and impartiality. I filed a complaint with the ARDC as a result. I would encourage others to exercise caution and conduct careful due diligence when selecting Emily Rapp as a GAL.

I cannot say enough good things about this firm! Emily and Alexandra were excellent attorneys from the very start. They were both knowledgeable about legal process and the best way to proceed based on my specific set of circumstances. I always knew what to expect with my case. They returned my calls... and emails promptly, and the office manager was always willing to listen and be empathic. I never felt rushed. They gave balanced advice, were efficient and prepared in court and pushed my case to conclusion. And always cost conscious, which I was relieved about. They invested their energy towards getting me the best possible outcome, and I did – full custody of my daughter. I am forever grateful for their hard work and would highly recommend them.