Challis Allen McNally

I hired her around April of 2025 and paid her up front fees, which apparently differed in price per month because first it was 3500 then 4500 so who really knows, she took my money and before she even filed one thing for me she said I had almost spent every penny of the money I paid her and that w...as just the first week without her even doing one thing. I asked how that was even possible and she said because she did XYZ, however she took my money and paid another clients bill with it. Then when I called her out on it she called me a liar and said she couldn’t be my attorney anymore. Then when she invited me into other motions that weren’t even my own case that is when I found out who she actually billed me for. She not only did that once but twice to me. With two different clients getting the bills paid out of my account, then she would send me there personal information that is supposed to be client attorney confidential. When I called her out on it she said it’s not a big deal it happens all the time. I was floored by that statement because I wouldn’t want someone else knowing my personal information or details about my divorce proceedings, That wasn’t even the worst thing she had done to me, she never once returned a phone call, not once, if I called to ask if I could talk to her they would say she wasn’t in the office even though on several occasions I sat outside of her office and clearly seen her inside and I overheard her telling her secretary to tell her she wasn’t in. I was just devastated. Divorce is hard enough especially after your husband leaves you after 35 years together for someone 14 years younger then to be ignored by the lawyer you paid to represent was extremely mentally exhausting. Then my X wouldn’t pay me for bills food ect, so I asked for her to file temporary orders for me, it took her months to do so and then would charge me to make corrections on paperwork that she made the mistake not me including my own name and not someone else’s being put on it, that right there I should have fired her for, but since I literally had 0 money I couldn’t, but yet that still wasn’t the worst she did to me, my first hearing she didn’t even show up too and the judge was furious but guess who got yelled at at me and because she wasn’t there I couldn’t say a word because I wasn’t being represented, but yet still not the worst, then she filled the hearing for temporary orders but a few hours before the hearing she sends me a email stating I should take my X deal, which I would only get 1000 of his 10 k he mad a month, I told her absolutely not because Idaho is a 50/50 state and I would not except that, but she just replied that is the best I would ever get, so we have the hearing and she tells the judge that I agree to those terms that would only pay my exs bills and that I would have to move out of my family home and live off the 1000 he would give me each month and not pay any of my own bills literally leaving me penniless, homeless and vehicle less, and during the hearing she never once objected to my x lawyer but agreed with him on everything and the judge allowed it because he knows my husband from working in family court, then after the hearing she never onced called me she just sends a motion saying she is going to be my lawyer any more after now leaving me penniless, homeless, careless and responsible for 3500 a month in bills to pay with my 1000 dollars, then she has the nerve to say I got everything I asked for REALLY!! Run far away from her I am not the only person she has done this too, she is so unbelievably unprofessional along with her staff who I literally caught on tape making fun of me. If you value your sanity or money never hire her.

I hired Challis to help me adopt my step-daughter this year. My daughter and I stepped into her office and felt right at home. Challis listened to us and really cared about us. She was honest, and open with us about the entire process. She did not try and push us into anything we did not want or need.... She only had a pen and a notepad and wrote our names and what we wanted on it. The rest she handled by memorization. That is saying a lot for an attorney. Trust me I know, as my husband and I have had many others prior to hiring Challis. She showed up to court before us, and met us outside the court room. That was also a first for us, as most times we were waiting for our attorney (sometimes 30 minutes) after the hearing was to begin. Challis was very kind, and that is something hard to find in an attorney. At least I feel like it is in our area. She helped me adopt a child that I had raised as my own for 13 years, along with adding my name to her birth certificate, which is something my daughter and I have longed for, for 13 years. When the biological mother tried to fight the adoption, Challis was calm and told us exactly what would happen, which helped us remain calm and confident in her. I would recommend Challis to anyone, for anything, especially for child custody or other family related cases. She is wonderful. In my opinion she is the best we have in Idaho Falls, and my family is very grateful for all she did.