Cheryl Ann Powell

Cheryl Ann Powell

4.1
Rating: 3.9

Licensed for 37 years

Child custody Lawyer at Mount Vernon, IL
Practice Areas: Child Custody, Divorce & Separation, Family ... +3 more

815 Broadway, Suite 10, Mount Vernon, IL

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2019
See Details

About Cheryl

Biography

Practice Areas

6

Practice Areas

Child Custody 30%

Child custody within divorce or separation, parentage, post-decree, and orders of protection.

38 years | 2,500 cases

30%
Divorce and Separation 30%

Many divorces and separation cases involve child custody cases mentioned below. They also include child support; medical insurance and expenses as well as college expenses for minor children, dependency exemption allocation; alimony/maintenance; property settlement and debt division. Restoration of a former or maiden name is also possible.

38 years | 4,000 cases

30%
Criminal Defense 10%

Traffic, misdemeanors, felonies.

26 years | 1,000 cases

10%
Domestic Violence 10%

Orders of protection, domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery, battery.

38 years | 1,000 cases

10%
Mediation 5%

In civil areas, mainly divorce, custody, parenting arrangements.

19 years | 20 cases

5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 275-275 per hour


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Illinois for 37 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 1988

Active and Authorized to Practice Law

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2019

Location

Law Office of Cheryl A. Powell

815 Broadway, Suite 10, Mount Vernon, IL, 62864-3055

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Cheryl Ann Powell's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.1 /5.0

14 Client Reviews

5 star (11)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (3)

Posted by anonymous | September 30, 2024 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

Sarcastic

Came off rude and belittling in her Avvo response. Also gave me her own thoughts and feelings about what I reached out for, instead of actual legal advice. I wish someone else had answered my question. She was not helpful at all.

Posted by anonymous | November 8, 2022 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Horrid woman

Reading her reviews I was happy to hire her. She didn't care at all about my case. Wasted all of my retainer. Took very long time to get back with anything. Kept me waiting 45 minutes when I drove and hour and a half to see her. Just plain rude

Cheryl Powell

Replied last October 4, 2023

Interesting that this person chose not to reveal their name. I vaguely recall having a client who had some of these complaints. As I recall, she was impossible to communicate with because she did not get cell service at her home nor could she check emails there. She was working during the day. After work she was with her children and could not talk after they went to bed because she did not get cell service at home over by Indiana. As I recall, if I am thinking about the correct woman, she waited 15 minutes for her appt. I was hurrying up with another client who was almost done and had arrived late, having to work over. I told her I would be with her in about 5 minutes. She had driven 1.5 hours to meet with me. As I recall, when I tried to work things out with her, she was scheduled to be at a child's practice or game 1.0 hours after her appt. was over. The problem of communication was on her end, not mine. I write emails to clients all the time. If she didn't get them, I do not know what happened.

Posted by Tad | July 18, 2022 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Cherly is the Best lawyer I have ever seen.

Cherly Powell is a top pick. She has went above and beyond for me. I had a very bad experience when I first hired another lawyer for my child custody case. The first lawyer promised me alot and delivered very little, it was a $3500 lesson I learned and I was forced to seek other legal advice. I was t...old about Cheryl through another friend and I scheduled a consultation. Cheryl told me up front the truth about what she felt about the case. It was very honest and it was the truth. She told me that it would take time and with all the factors in the case that I may not get what I want. I could tell that Cherly knew her stuff and was not going to steer me wrong. I hired her and she got right to work. Cherly work consistently for 1 1/2 years on my case. She is very responsive to my emails and she never left no stone unturned. I couldent have asked for a better lawyer. She was aggressive need be and kind when need be. She is a true professional. Even when we had a rough trial day she kicked it up another gear and pulled out everything she possibly could to help me gain custody of my daughter. I am forever grateful for her. She is worth every single penny spent and then some.

Cheryl Powell

Replied last October 4, 2023

Thanks so much, Tad!

Posted by anonymous | March 5, 2021 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Negative stars if i could. Save your money and go elsewhere

She by far is not capable of practicing law. The level of professionalism is horrendous! When it was on my time to meet with her she would often complain about other clients right in front of me. Her and her secretary Cheryl! Then in the middle of my case she told me she was goin on vacation for a co...uple months. Only to find out she had gotten in trouble for running her mouth about a case to another client!!!!!! Imagine that!!! Yes she stated that to me! She is not capable of wording a legal document or doing even the slightest of investigating work to find out the amount in an account i should have been in titled to during the divorce process. Instead the hearing for the divorce took place shortly after her “vacation” was over. Only after the court date did i find out she FAILED to word the document correctly causing my children to loose out on over $5,000.00 worth of money that could have went for their education funds. I had to do most of the work on getting the proper documents needed to establish child support. I found out in COURT that she was the one who was holding the papers and blaming it on the lawyer of the other party, stating he was not responding. I’m talking like months to respond, when in reality it was her holding the document all along. She also has nothing to do with you after the initial court date. Once the reason you hired her is over look elsewhere. You need advise on anything look for another lawyer cuz the will charge another retainer fee of $1850 just to answer one question. By far the worst, inconsiderate, unprofessional, lazy, lying sack of crap lawyer. Save yourself the time and look elsewhere. The states attorney for free is 1000000000% better than Cheryl!

Cheryl Powell

Replied last October 4, 2023

I have no recollection of these events. I do not complain about my clients in front of other clients. I never got in trouble for talking about other clients. I am not sure what document this is or why I would have wanted to hold it. That is rare as I do not want to keep a client's originals at my office. Unfortunately, I can not respond more fully to this comment since the person did not use their name. I would invite you to review other comments on this thread.

Posted by Chad | October 31, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Great lawyer that actually cares!!

She is a great lawyer that will actually care about your case. She has a different way of doing things, but will get the outcome you need!!! Deff worth the $. I would highly recommend her to anyone goin through custody & or divorce battle!! Thank you Cheryl for helping me do whats right for my child!...!

Cheryl Powell

Replied last October 4, 2023

Thanks, Chad!

See All Client Reviews

Cheryl Ann Powell's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Cheryl
Anthony Bettencourt Cameron headshot
Anthony Cameron

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"This is not a rote endorsement. I know Mx Powell from attending multiple Continuing Legal Education events. Her intellectual curiosity and energy are impressive. Her desire to improve as a practitioner is one of the most precious things a practitioner can possess. I am not going to pretend I don't know about her disciplinary history. I have taken the time to read the whole thing. She had a medical problem. She got medical attention. Some clients had hardships as a result but she set out to make it right and the other lawyers around her picked up some of the consequences. If I had a relative with criminal, traffic, family or domestic violence law, I WOULD NOT hesitate to recommend Ms. Powell. Finally, I have been around her ancillary to Continuing Legal education events. It would be hard to find a more pleasant personality. Jefferson County is fortunate to have her. Oh, the only reason I limited this to Criminal Defense is because the robot only let me pick on area."

David Patrick Balmer headshot
David Balmer

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Ms. Powell has provided insightful analysis of the legal issues presented in the AVVO community. I endorse her."

Jeremiah Stephan headshot
Jeremiah Stephan

Child custody lawyer | Sep 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mrs. Powell routinely volunteers her time within the AVVO community to assist the general public in understanding the legal system. She provides excellent and thorough advice and has demonstrated she is highly knowledgeable in the area of family law."

Howard M Lewis headshot
Howard Lewis

Divorce and separation lawyer | Jun 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Powell is an outstanding attorney whom I highly recommend."

Maria Lavelle Barnwell Hafford headshot
Maria Hafford

Family lawyer | Mar 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Cheryl is aggressive, smart, and compassionate. She always does what is best for her clients and they can depend on her legal expertise to get them the best results in their case."

Steven Francis Hanagan headshot
Steven Hanagan

Unknown lawyer | Mar 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Cheryl has long been regarded among her colleagues as having the highest degree of honesty, integrity, and skill in the legal profession. She has a Master's degree in Social Work, which enables her to understand and handle the most complex of client problems, particularly in the areas of family law, juvenile law and criminal law. Cheryl's compassion for the personal and legal situations that her clients find themselves in has no bounds!"

View All Endorsements
Steven Francis Hanagan headshot
Steven Hanagan

Unknown lawyer

Experience

Rating:  3.9 (Caution)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2019.

Partial Stayed Suspension and Probation issued in IL, 2019

updated on 11/06/2019

This type of suspension means an attorney lost his or her license to practice law for a period of time, and must meet State ordered requirements. While on probation, the State monitors the lawyer's activities in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.

Cheryl’s comment:

“This attorney was suspended for 60 days and was reinstated in August, 2019.”

Honors

2010

Legal Services to Military, Illinois State Bar Association

Work Experience

1999 - Present

Attorney, Mediator, Guardian ad Litem, Law Office of Cheryl A. Powell

1999 - 2002

Assistant Public Defender, Marion County Public Defender

1995 - 1999

Associate, Law Office of Doug Antonik

1987 - 1995

Family Law Task Force Coordinator, Senior Staff Attorney, Land Of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation

Associations

1987 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association,Family Law Section

1987 - Present

Jefferson County Bar Association

1987 - Present

Marion County Bar Association

Sample of Legal Cases

In re Probate of Sam Conyers

Mother's guardianship remained intact..

See More Legal Cases

Education

1996

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

MA - Master's degree in Social Work

1987

Northern Illinois University College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1983

Northern Illinois University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

1982

College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois

Associate of Science

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2019
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution