Todd Christopher Hawkins

Todd Christopher Hawkins

2.3
Rating: 7.9

Licensed for 22 years

Family Lawyer at JOPLIN, MO
Practice Areas: Family, Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI ... +7 more

113 S Main St, JOPLIN, MO

About Todd

Biography

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Missouri for 22 years

State: Missouri

Acquired: 2003

Good Standing, Active

No misconduct found

Location

Defending Your Family - Springfield - Joplin - Lawyers

113 S Main St, JOPLIN, MO, 64801

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Todd Christopher Hawkins's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

2.3 /5.0

12 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (12) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews | Trustworthiness

Posted by anonymous | December 25, 2024 | Family

NOT THE BEST INTEREST FOR CHILDREN

DO NOT HIRE THIS ATTORNEY. It's a JOKE that his law firm is "DEFENDING YOUR FAMILY" Todd is NEVER OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN. NEEDS TO BE DISBARRRD

Posted by Justin | September 13, 2024 | Divorce & Separation

NOT THE BEST INTEREST FOR CHILDREN

Hello I have two children which are teens at this time. I have been in their lives everyday since they been born. 2017 went thru divorce, I am the Constodial Parent. Since Mr Hawkins has been representing my ex wife since 2021 for financial gain purposes I haven't seen or heard from my children a bi...t. Due to Mr Hawkins having pull thru the Jasper County Courts System and With the G.A.L that is represented on my case. I have tried everything to have contact with my kids. Mr Hawkins is even going against Judges Order and not sending them to their home to see their Father. MR HAWKINS IS NEVER IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE CHILDREN IN ANY CASE. HE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO THE CHEIF OF DISPLINARY COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE. DO NOT HIRE HIM TO REPRESENT YOUR FAMILY

Posted by anonymous | May 28, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Get diffrent lawyer and firm

We did not have a good exsperince anytime i asked him todo something it was tooth and nail to get him todo.it and todd even put me on the spot and argued with me in the middle of a court session about private details i did not wanna share with the court we gave him a list of questions to be brought u...p during court sessions and out of 6-10/questions each time one question was asked... Next probelm is this we where quoted 2500$ for the case half way though the case we get a bill for $4130.58 and we did do.our best at the time to make payments but because of the case it hindered my work by 85% and they dropped us after taking our money... Get a diffrent lawyer firm.

Todd Hawkins

Replied last November 14, 2022

I am sorry, but we are unable to contact you directly since you did not leave your real name. An attorney will act in the best interest of the client, and that sometimes is to be very real with them and the decisions they are making, and if the court is requesting information, we will abide by the court's request. Every client is given a fee agreement clearly stating how the fees work. This type case would have been contested and hourly billing per the fee agreement would have been incurred. Every client is given several notices to keep payments current. No client is only withdrawn from if the payments are kept current or working with our office on arrangements to pay.

Posted by Keith | May 30, 2019 | Divorce & Separation

Simply put - he failed me.

Hawkins represented me for a divorce and child custody case. I was in a time crunch and he was quick to see me to take on my case. He even took on a flat fee that I paid upfront in full - which was a mistake. He paid more attention to my case that during that first meetiing than he did over the next ...6 months combined. There were multiple times I needed guidance as how to approach a situation that was thrown at me and he was constantly unavailable. I would send multiple emails documenting correspondences with the respondent needing advice as how to proceed and wouldn't get a reply, if at all, weeks later. Very hard to track him down and once i was able to, he was distracted. It was apparent that the paralegals there were overworked by how cranky and grouchy they were. As a father, i had put myself in a great position by maintaining primary custody of my daughter while waiting for the court date. There was no preparation for court. When I met him in the courthouse lobby the morning of court, he had already worked out a settlement with the opposong attorney without my direction or input. I trusted him to take care of my best interests and instead I've unfortunately had to learn over the years that his advice and the course of action he took that day put me in a worst position long term when,amongst other things, he told me that it wasn't possible to put a provision in the settlement dictating where the child would go to school because "the judge wouldn't rule on that because the child wasn't of school age." This wasn't true and he hard sold me with lies to persuade me that there wasn't another realistic option but to settle. Now I live with those consequences.

Todd Hawkins

Replied last May 30, 2019

Mr. Hawkins has changed offices, and we promise a kind friendly greeting when you come in. Unfortunately, Family Law cases are difficult and emotional. If you would like to contact us at his new office Defending Your Family - Springfield - Joplin - Lawyers at 417-881-0881 or email at [email protected], we will have your call/email returned to answer any questions you may have.

Posted by anonymous | May 30, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Like finding a good dr, get several opinions and do your homework.

He handled my divorce. After I agreed to the ex's divorce terms as to who would get what and that there would be a standby at which time he would then be given his titles, my ex wouldn't answer his phone or respond to my text. I gave up. Then I received a contempt of court by his new attorney. I me...t with Mr. Hawkins and he said he would need $750 up front for court, paperwork, and contacting the ex's attorney. On court date, he told me we didn't have to go in the court room and that I could just sign over titles and house. Thinking he already had something for my ex to sign, i willingly obliged. Was I ever wrong! All I got was yes, he agreed to drop your things off in your yard. Days later I came home to a FEW broken and dismantled items that were dumped off in the yard. I met with Mr. Hawkins, explaining the situation and asking about credit cards that the ex agreed to pay off, he told me that it can't be enforced anyway and that although my contempt case didn't go before the judge (he called the ex's attorney and told her I would comply) he was justified in taking my $.

Todd Hawkins

Replied last May 30, 2019

Contempt cases unfortunately can be uncivil and difficult to understand. Not all parties in a case do what they agree to and act inappropriately. We wish everyone would treat all parties and their property with the proper respect. Please contact us at his new office of Defending Your Family - Springfield - Joplin - Lawyers at 417-881-0881 or [email protected] if you need any further assistance.

See All Client Reviews

Todd Christopher Hawkins's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Todd
Elizabeth Ann Warrick headshot
Elizabeth Warrick

DUI and DWI lawyer | Feb 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly endorse this lawyer."

Brett James Shirk headshot
Brett Shirk

Family lawyer | Feb 27

Relationship: Co-worker

"I highly endorse this lawyer."

Shelly Renee' Reece headshot
Shelly Reece

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Shelly Renee' Reece headshot
Shelly Reece

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  7.9 (Very Good)

Work Experience

2019 - Present

Attorney, Defending Your Family - Springfield - Joplin - Lawyers

2016 - Present

Municipal Judge, City of Seneca

2008 - 2019

Criminal Defense Attorney, Parrish, Cross, Genisio and Hawkins

2005 - 2008

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Jasper County Prosecutors Office

2003 - 2005

Assistant Public Defender, Missouri State Public Defender

Associations

2003 - Present

Jasper County Bar Association

Member

2003 - Present

The Missouri Bar

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Due to the sensitive nature of Family Law cases and privacy of children we do not publish case information online.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2001

University of Tulsa College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1998

Missouri Southern State University

B.S. Criminal Justice Administration

Languages

English

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