Carly Ashby Almonte

It took a while to find the right attorney for my divorce case, yet Carly Almonte was well worth the wait! After talking with many of the family lawyers in town who encouraged me to simply "stick it out" until my kids were older--even as my husband became increasingly coercive, controlling, and vi...olent--I was understandably frustrated and discouraged. I could not fathom how this well-meaning advice was best for myself or for my two daughters barely 2 and 3 years old. Carly was the first attorney who took my situation seriously, and I'm so grateful she did. Carly listened patiently as I explained my experience and quickly identified my situation as more than a traditional divorce case. The thread of domestic violence throughout was clear. Her steady presence and clear head led me through each step of the process from drafting and receiving a domestic violence protection order to strategizing the usefulness of evidence for his psychological evaluation to successfully negotiating the final terms of the divorce including parenting plan, child support, and division of assets. Her efforts undoubtedly saved me the pain of a lengthy and costly trial. Multiple attorneys in town told me I should expect to lose my kids, my home, and most of my assets in the divorce. They could not have been more wrong! In the end, I received primary custody of my kids, sole decision-making on their behalf, and limited residential time for my ex. I did not have to pay for alimony nor was the division of assets inequitable. Finally, Carly was even able to successfully advocate for a 22% increase in the child support I received between the temporary and final child support order. I cannot recommend Carly enough for any domestic violence, divorce, or child custody cases.