Michelle Rose Ahrens

I had previously reviewed Michelle last year after my divorce was finalized. I should have waited to review considering 1. The restraining order against my ex in my divorce decree was not filled out correctly, so technically it wouldn't hold up in court. When my ex did violate the restraining order i...t was the police who told me the restraining order was basically not enforceable because it was not filled out correctly. (I should have recognized the red flag as during the divorce I was consistently editing her paperwork, but hindsight is 20/20). When I brought this to her attention, she told me she would have to re-file and it would cost me more money. So money, I would have to pay because her office lacks attention to detail. 2. After the divorce she had told me I had a case to change the parenting plan. So we filed a motion. When my ex put up a stink, she actually said to me, ' this is why I didn't think you should do this'. Not ONCE did she ever say that to me. I had to bite my tongue as we were already months into it and wouldn't help to argue. So, after months of pursuing changing the plan she had me withdraw. Of course, after withdrawing my ex got himself a lawyer and tried to finally have his supervised visits without following up on the other parenting plan conditions. When I pushed back Michelle basically said I need to let him have supervised visits regardless if he followed through on the other conditions. This surprised me as why were those conditions in the parenting plan in the first place? Finally, afters weeks of going back and forth with his lawyer, she tried to push me into a corner to acquiesce to my ex because she was going on vacation and his lawyer was threatening to file a motion of contempt on me. I still pushed back and told her I need to think about it and she told me she would call me back. However, two days went by and I hadn't heard from her, even after leaving her a voicemail. When I finally talked to the receptionist she told me Michelle went on vacation and NO ONE was covering her cases for her while she was out (even though Michelle assured me someone was covering). With that said, I immediately found another lawyer. While switching, I had to escalate to another lawyer within Michelle's firm to send an email to my ex's lawyer (an email I had to dictate verbatim to a lawyer who sounded irritated that he had to help me) to let my ex's attorney know that I am not trying to restrict my ex from visitation and that I am switching attorneys. With that said, within days of switching my new attorney got my ex's lawyer to start backing off, in fact my ex's lawyer withdrew from his case. The last straw I have with Michelle and this firm is I just called them as my files were never sent to my new lawyer, even though we requested those when I switched firms. They sent the copies today with a bill of $65. A bill, my new lawyer doesn't believe I should have to pay and a bill I wasn't told I was going to get. When I called to ask about it, I was told this is standard. Even if it is, it would have been nice to know I was going to get charged. No apology at all from them. With that said, if I could give 0 stars to this firm and to Michelle, I would. Michelle's legal advice seem to change based on what fit in her schedule. I didn't feel she fought to represent me or my best interests. On top of that, her lack of follow through and attention to detail were mediocre at best.