Ashley Renee Elem

I would never recommend this attorney to anyone dealing with a custody or divorce case, especially when children’s safety and stability are involved. I began my case in 2023, and it is now 2026 with no final custody decision in place. Throughout this entire process, I have felt ignored, uninformed, a...nd completely unsupported. Communication has been one of the biggest issues. Emails, phone calls, and text messages often go unanswered for extended periods of time. There have been multiple occasions where I went months without hearing from her regarding major developments in my case. When urgent situations involving my children arose, responses were delayed or nonexistent. I have continuously provided evidence regarding the father’s behavior and instability, including incidents involving the children disappearing during school hours, declining grades, and the father now being banned from school grounds. Despite providing this serious information, I have seen little to no urgency or action taken. Most recently, I shared documentation regarding the school situation and did not hear back for over a week. There have also been restraining orders involved in this case, yet I never felt that my attorney fought to properly protect me or my children. I am constantly left confused about the status of my own case and unsure whether important legal steps have even been completed. For example, I was told divorce papers were served, but I have never been provided proof or clear communication regarding the progress of the divorce itself. One moment that especially concerned me was when the judge had to question her in court about why certain paperwork had not been filed. As the client, I should not have to sit in court wondering why required legal actions were missed. It seriously damaged my confidence in her ability to properly manage my case. Another major issue is that I often felt like I was expected to come up with the legal strategy myself. Instead of guiding me with professional legal advice and a clear plan of action, she repeatedly asked me what I wanted to do. I have already made my goals very clear from the beginning: I want to protect my children and obtain custody. I hired an attorney because I needed someone with legal knowledge, urgency, and direction — not someone waiting for me to figure out the next step on my own. This entire experience has felt extremely lackadaisical and unprofessional for such a serious and time-sensitive matter. Custody cases directly impact children’s wellbeing, education, and safety, and I expected far more diligence, communication, and advocacy. On top of everything else, her courtroom appearance and preparation often came across as disorganized and unprofessional, which further damaged my confidence in her representation. Overall, this experience has been incredibly disappointing, stressful, and emotionally exhausting. I regret hiring this attorney and would strongly caution others before trusting her with a custody case.