Adrienne Alise Spiller

In spring 2025, I filed a contempt motion pro se after my ex-husband failed to pay what was owed. I had already appeared before the judge, who was willing to hear evidence of contempt. Opposing counsel initially indicated his client would pay, but then stopped communicating with me entirely. At that ...point, I retained Ms. Spiller again to help present the contempt case. While she ultimately helped me reach a settlement, I was significantly disappointed with the representation. Cost vs. Outcome: I spent $6,000 in legal fees to collect $2,145. This was a cut-and-dry contempt case - my ex was clearly in contempt, I had already filed the motion and done the foundational work myself, and opposing counsel had already agreed payment was owed. The judge was willing to hear the evidence, but it was never presented. Instead, I was pushed to settle immediately. Billing Practices: I was charged for every email I sent providing evidence - the very information needed to build the case. I had no idea I would be billed 20-30 minutes of attorney time simply for her to read emails containing evidence. I was essentially charged for providing the documentation needed to represent me, and then that evidence was never used. The final bill used my entire retainer plus an additional balance. Attorney Fees: I raised the possibility of requesting attorney fees multiple times and was told it was unlikely. I have since learned from a Boone County attorney that this judge does award fees in contempt cases. This advice cost me thousands of dollars and left me significantly worse off financially than if I’d continued representing myself. Errors: I had to identify and correct errors in legal documents myself, including the holiday schedule designation that opposing counsel then weaponized to claim I was violating the custody order. These oversights created additional conflict and should have been caught. Approach to Representation: I never felt like my attorney fought for me. Every time I provided evidence or pushed to present the contempt case, I was directed toward settling quickly rather than pursuing what I was legally entitled to. The approach seemed more focused on maintaining a cordial relationship with opposing counsel than on zealously representing my interests. At one point during our work together, I had to explicitly tell my attorney “I need you to be on my side.” High-Conflict/DV Cases: I did not feel the representation adequately addressed the dynamics of a high-conflict domestic violence situation. When I raised concerns about manipulation tactics and financial abuse being used through the legal system, I was encouraged to settle rather than strategically counter them or present this evidence to the judge. Communication: Communication was challenging throughout both periods of representation. Responses were often delayed or unclear, and I frequently felt I was driving the case forward myself rather than receiving proactive guidance. Jurisdiction: Ms. Spiller practices primarily in Hannibal, not Boone County where my case was heard. The lack of local court familiarity was a significant disadvantage, particularly regarding what this specific judge typically awards in contempt cases. Recommendation: If you have a high-conflict domestic violence case in Boone County, especially a clear-cut contempt matter, I strongly recommend hiring an attorney who specializes in DV cases and practices exclusively in that jurisdiction. You need someone who will actually fight for you and present your evidence to the judge, not someone who will push you to settle for far less than you’re entitled to while charging you thousands of dollars for the privilege. I have retained new counsel who speciali