Divorce is tough and I'm beyond grateful for finding Melone Hatley PC. No one can prepare you for the emotional toll and financial stress, but after a year, my case is final. Personally it was the hardest thing I have ever experienced, but my team was AMAZING!! Arian Selah and Claudia Mendez were the dream team! Shout out to Erika Williams who came in and assisted in the end. Arian from the start was so sweet, gentle and a beautiful soul. Her team would work on my case late into the night and always communicated with such respect. It's disappointing to see negative reviews on any of these individuals. If you aren't prepared financially, don't blame the experts. If you don't agree with their professional advice, perhaps it's not a good fit. I have nothing but positive things to say about who represented me. If you are looking for a compassionate lawyer who is sweet as pie, ask for Arian!! Her team will not disappoint and they'll get you to the finish line. Thank you so much!!! read more

Let me first say that I do not like leaving bad reviews which is why I deleted my original Google review, but after the interaction I just had with the attorney who handled my case and the way she responded to my feedback, I won't be deleting this one. I want to start by saying that I do not believe the entire process was bad at all nor do I believe every interaction was bad. I also want to add that I do not blame the firm for the judge's decision or the GAL's report nor do I believe the attorney could "control it" as they say. There were definitely times where I felt that like I was being listened to with the upmost professionalism, but other times where I felt like I had to basically chase them down to figure out what was going on or what was being said. There would be times where I wouldn't hear a word from them, but that didn't stop a large bill from coming my way. Ultimately they could really use to improve client communication. If you have a client that asks you questions or says "hey can you please give me some updates here or there so I'm not in the dark", why would you not simply just reach out and say "hey so this is what's going on". Your bills are going to be large regardless so why not just communicate. I initially left a negative Google review that I deleted because the attorney who handled my case decided to reach out to me and I felt bad about it. I *specifically* said that I felt like the GAL portion of the case could have been handled better, and specifically said I did not like being told "I highly doubt the GAL said this" in reference to the other party telling me what the GAL told him (just for it to be true and included in her report) just for the attorney to turn around and basically say those words to me AGAIN. Instead of examining the criticism the attorney instead decided to speak to things that weren't even brought up in my response to them. Snide remarks about Virginia Law protecting parent's rights "regardless of your feelings about the other parent or his past conduct" was not needed in our exchange. Talking about my disappointment with the outcome of the case had absolutely nothing to do with what was said in my review, I was not blaming them for what the judge decided. I was saying that more advocacy could have been done when it came to the GAL instead of just letting her run the show. The response "the GAL's recommendations carry significant weight with the court" literally just affirms what I said about them letting the GAL run the show. The exchange has left a sour taste in my mouth and I encourage you to really weigh your options, do your research, and find a firm that has experience with a situation like yours before deciding to go with this one. read more

Attorney Jae Chang, I DO NOT RECOMMEND! I fell for the scam and I should've listened to the reviews. They will sell their ass's off to get you to retain, claiming it's the client's. I had a simple custody and visitation case and i looked like a fool in court. Attorney did not respond to emails, over price, & are very very very unorganized. Quality of work is terrible, attorney failed to read emails from the court appointed GAL, my emails, failed to fix mistakes on cross petition, failed to submit cross petition in time, and failed to communicate with me after speaking with the opposing party or the GAL. I didn't hear from him for a WEEK after my hearing date bc he "had other clients to tend to". He is not a clear speaker AT ALL. Also I was charged 1,200 for my attorney to go from Fairfax to Arlington. INSANE! My bill was 5,000 for 2 weeks. for him to claim to be a Christian man Jesus Christ you're doing the devils work! STAY AWAY everyone in the comments leaving reviews are right. REPORT THEM ASAP read more

My experience with Melone Hatley was ultimately very disappointing and emotionally exhausting. Family law matters are already stressful, expensive, and deeply personal, which is why communication, transparency, and client support are so important. Unfortunately, those were the exact areas where my experience fell short. While there were moments where I felt heard and some staff members showed professionalism and genuine effort, the overall handling of my case felt inconsistent and at times neglected. The biggest issue throughout my experience was the lack of communication and responsiveness from the firm, particularly while working with attorney Valerie Fisher. There were long periods where I felt completely left in the dark regarding important updates, case strategy, timelines, and next steps. I often had to follow up repeatedly just to get basic information or clarification. Instead of feeling guided through the legal process, I frequently felt like I was chasing answers and trying to piece together what was happening on my own. When someone hires a law firm, especially for family law matters involving major life decisions, stress, and emotional hardship, they expect communication to be proactive, organized, and compassionate. Clients should not have to constantly wonder whether their concerns are being prioritized or whether anyone is actively paying attention to their case. Unfortunately, that is exactly how I felt much of the time. To be fair, I do not believe every interaction was negative. There were moments where professionalism and care were shown, which is why I would describe the experience as bittersweet rather than entirely terrible. However, those positive moments were outweighed by the ongoing frustration caused by inconsistent communication, delayed responses, and the overall feeling that my case was not being handled with the level of urgency or attention it deserved. Legal representation is not just about filing paperwork or appearing in court. It is also about making clients feel informed, supported, and confident during one of the most difficult periods of their lives. Sadly, I did not feel that support here, and the lack of communication created additional stress during an already difficult situation. I genuinely hope the firm improves its client communication, responsiveness, and case management practices moving forward because those issues can make an enormous difference in a client's overall experience and trust in their legal representation. read more

DO NOT TRUST THIS LAW FIRM!!!! Do not ignore the bad reviewsYOU WILL PAY FOR IT!!!! A lady Morgan called me and sold me on Lelan K. She said i had to pay the retainer first before meeting with the attorney. RED FLAG! I let her know that if it was not a fit, will i get my money back. She said yes. I met with Lelan K and it definitely was not a fit. He told me he had to "break me" to understand the process. He has a defeated mentality. The same day i let him know i would not be using him to represent me. Two days later i got a bill for almost 1700!!!! Not good at all. The bill is attached. Look at the date of this review and he has Admin fees on 4/1. I asked what is that for and no response. MH MELONE HATLEY, P.C. Your Partner in Divorce & Estate Planning Melone Hatley, P.C. 12110 Sunset Hills Road Suite 600 Reston, VA 20190 bassanela askins Fort Worth, TX 76244 008-C-Haskins, Cassandra-2026-Haskins-00954 008-C-Haskins, Cassandra INVOICE Invoice # 67870 Date: 03/19/2026 Due On: 03/23/2026 Type Date Attorney Notes Quantity Rate Total Service 03/05/2026 IL Review file. Conference and instructions from attorney Kirk. RE: Called client to recieve initial information and scheduled a initial client meeting. Note to file. 0.40 $275.00 $110.00 Service 03/05/2026 IL Review file. Conference and instructions from attorney Kirk. RE: Created a client's physical and digital file. Note to file. 0.90 $275.00 $247.50 Service 03/10/2026 LK Initial Client Meeting - In Office 1.80 $385.00 $693.00 Service 03/11/2026IL Review file. Conference and instructions from attorney Kirk. RE: Had a client meeting. Note to file. 1.00 $275.00 $275.00 Service 03/12/2026 LK Final Letter 0.20 $385.00 $77.00 Expense 04/01/2026 LK Cost Fee: One Time Administrative Cost Fee 1.00 $250.00 $250.00 Total $1,652.50 Payment (03/19/2026) -$1,652.50 Balance Owing $0.00 Page 1 of 2 Invoice #67870 - 03/19/2026 read more

DO NOT HIRE THIS "FIRM" I am convinced that this firm is a scam. Spoke with someone named Morgan, then with someone named Jada, then with someone named Emily. You never get to speak with an attorney.. I WISH I WOULD HAVE LOOKED THE REVIEWS FIRST. Told them to send me.a refund and then a receipt for the consultation fee. She said could send me a screenshot of the payment. THIS COMPANY IS A SCAM, STAY AWAY! read more

Let me start off by saying I never leave negative reviews. As an independent contractor I know that your reputation is all that if you have, and I would never want to be the reason that someone's business failed. If I have a bad experience with a company I go my separate way and never work with them again. However, this law firm is so shady that I feel compelled to warn everyone. As others have said, if I could give this firm negative stars I would. I really wish I had read the Yelp reviews beforehand instead of believing their fake google reviews. This firm does not look out for your best interest. All they do is figure out a way to bill you for as much as possible. The billing is endless and ridiculous. $100 for a welcome letter, $30 to save a file that is already in their shared file system, $40 to "review" my claim and I still had to tell my attorney what was in the claim as she missed major aspects. Like a lot of people, I have never been divorced before and I have no idea what is in my best interest and what is not, so I blindly put my faith into my lawyer, Arian Saleh. Arian Saleh, the attorney who was assigned to me took advantage of my trust and faith. Luckily, I realized this after 3 weeks and after spending a "mere" $4,000. It could have been a lot worst. I could have stayed with them for this whole nightmare divorce journey and ended up being billed tens of thousands of dollars. I fired Melone and Hatley and am with a different attorney now and the difference in service and billing is night and day. My new attorney asked me if I was sure I wanted to have a Pendente Lite trial because it was costly and unnecessary. So Arian Saleh said she would file a Pendente Lite for me, but did not tell me what it was and did not explain that it was not necessary and definitely did not tell me that it would have cost me tens of thousands of dollars becuase of billable hours to Melone & Hatley. DO NOT WORK WITH THIS COMPANY, they are not looking out for you, it's all about billable hours for them. read more

Melone Hatley, PC - Bill after my first week with Melone & Hatley - Divorce & Family Law Near Me - Reston, Virginia

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I never come on here to leave a negative review but now I have to. As I approached the firm to handle my rule to show cause case, I assumed I was in good hands with such a good reputation at the time, despite the high costs of charges. I received a senior lawyer and was willing to push through and pay it. About one month out from trial I receive an email from the firm on a friday afternoon around 4pm notifying me that my lawyer no longer works for the firm, and the firm will not be representing me anymore. That is a cheap underhanded administrative tactic that ive seen offices in different fields do but never thought it would happen to me. I had no choice but scramble to find another firm. While trying to get my case worked, my new firm was asking for the lawyer fees charged by my Melone Hatley so I can request to get that reimbursed should I win my case in court. They outright refused the firm I was working with. Now I was out of months of charges while working with them. Needless to say, I DO NOT recommend this firm. read more

I was charged 1,950.00 for an email to be sent. I was lied to by Joe Simpson because he said that I would be able to get an emergency hearing that was completely wrong! Then all Ms. Shortt did was send an email for me . I got a bill for 1,950.00 She sent the email while I was in her office. To me I was grossly overcharged! BEWARE PEOPLE!!! read more

I used the services of Melone Hatley, P.c., to represent me in a divorce case and my experience with the firm was a total disappointment. Although they charged high fees in advance, the company did not deliver any services as promised to them. The lawyer, who has been handling my case, has retired and left me without anyone to represent my case, during a serious period. This left me scrambling to find another lawyer at the last minute which was very stressful and costly. During the process they gave various promises about the kind of service and commitment that they will deliver, however none of those promises were kept. The level of communication was low and it felt like I was left alone without any kind of support. It was my impression that professionalism and accountability is expected of a firm as large as this, but it was not. I would advise anyone who needs a dependable law firm to avoid Melone Hatley. My experience was exasperating, expensive and in the end left me losing more than when I started. read more

Attorney Jae Chang recently helped my wife with a traffic infraction and was fantastic - he was professional, knowledgeable, and helped her swiftly navigate the process while making her feel at ease every step of the way. He has also assisted those I know with other family law matters. Whether it's a highly contentious custody battle or "simple" divorce, he excels at protecting their interests while being personable throughout the entirety of their cases. He exceeded our expectations, and would highly recommend him and Melone Hatley to those needing assistance! Thank you Mr. Chang! read more

I'm currently going through a divorce and was feeling extremely nervous and overwhelmed. From the very beginning, William Koontz at Melone Hatley took the time to calm me down and reassure me that he was in my corner. That support meant everything. In court, he more than proved that--he represented me with skill, confidence, and dedication. After our first hearing, I walked away feeling a true sense of relief and progress. My interests and assets are now protected, and I have full confidence in the path forward. I also want to recognize Patty Disher, his paralegal, who has been incredibly helpful throughout this process. She was always responsive, organized, and kind--making sure I had everything I needed and never leaving a question unanswered. Her support made a stressful process much easier to manage. Together, William and Patty went above and beyond what I expected. I'm incredibly grateful to them and the entire team at Melone Hatley. Jeff Hovland read more

I thought that this was a reputable firm but it has proved otherwise. I was assigned a lawyer by the firm. The lawyer abruptly resigned (sounded fishy). They charged me administrative fees and consultation fees and the bills kept coming. I also paid a $2500 retainer. I only had a quick intro with the lawyer and minimal contact with the paralegal. The law firm did not offer to replace the lawyer but discharge me as a client. I had nothing to show for over $800 that was paid. When I requested a refund of the $250 administrative fee, I received a email stating that it would be a potential refund. That was infuriating. I asked for the administrative fee back because that fee was for postage and other minor things. None of that had been completed. I still have not received that money back. I let the firm know that this was something that should have been handled before I even asked. It wasn't until I looked into my "file" and all that was there was all the paperwork I submitted. Don't use this firm!! read more

All they do is steal your money and then fire the attorney right before your meeting. No one has called me since to even see if I needed help of any kind. $1,000 and nothing to show for it. read more

Melone Hatley was there when I needed them most. I greatly appreciate the time, patience, and guidance they offered at a very difficult time. I would recommend them to anyone going through a difficult situation. read more

I agree with all negative comments on here. They are money hungry and hardly rally for you. I did 80percent of the leg work and my attorney didn't plan to use any of my evidence or witnesses when it came to showing the abuse I endured. My attorney left the firm suddenly 2 months for my final hearing and they did not provide me with another representative and forced me to end the relationship with them. I'm $12g in the hole with nothing to show for it and I'm still making payments on the loans. Absolutely horrible. They only redeeming factor is they did return my retainer fee after I pressed them continuously. One kind lady in the front office helped usher this along. Do NOT recommend. read more

This firm is the worse to hire in a contested divorce matter. Their attorneys "especially Eric Schell" is the worst to have on your side. Their representation not only cost me time and money but cost me what i deserved as an outcome. even going with Their attorney's advice to settle for the QDRO. I have to hire a lawyer to get me my award. The worse firm for family matter.... to expensive an no result period read more

This firm (AMANDA) is quick to take your $400 and then had the audacity to send me to court with no lawyer. Looking like a fool. Don't waste your money. read more

My experience with Melone Hatley law firm has been absolutely depressing . On October 2022, I hired Mr. James Whitus of Hatley, to handle my divorce proceedings . However, after a year of repeated information about my case , and no movement forward, and a bill that ran into several thousands of dollars , I decided to switch to another firm .Upon speaking with Erik, a supervisor at Hatley, I was recommended to work with Julia Stitley as an alternative.I decided to work with her since I did not want to start from scratch. However, I was extremely disappointed and traumatized by how Ms. Stitley handled my separation of Agreement hearing September of 2023. I was clueless as to why she proceeded to give the opposing party everything they asked for during the hearing without any communication with me . I wanted to report her to the Virginia Bar Association. However , I submitted a complaint to their Concierge at Hatley, but never received the promised follow-up information from Ms. Sttiely. Her actions increased my bill by an additional 1,505.00. May 2024, I contacted the billing department to inquire about the release of my retainer check. May13th, 2024 I received an email from Julia Stitely informing me my case was closed and that I would receive my check in the mail. Around June 3rd,2024 I contacted Joleen in the finance department to report that I had not yet received my retainer check I was informed for "whatever reasons," the check had not been mailed out and will be expressed by June 7th. June 20th, I called the billing department and I was offered the tracking number so I wouldn't "keep calling the office." On June 22nd, 2024 I contacted their Concierge to obtain my retainer check . Melone Hatley law firm exemplifies in every area the worse law firm to do business with .Their incompetence and apathy towards their clients' well being has resulted in excessive legal bills. I experienced lack of enthusiasm, ineffective communication, and lack of communication. There were no strategies put in place to help my case which caused me to have a very emotionally and traumatized experience. Please save your money and sanity . FIND ANOTHER FIRM!! read more

I just finished paying off legal fees that began in May 2022. From May 2022 to October 2022, I was handed off to six different lawyers, each one billing me for them to get up to speed on my case. Turnover in this firm is high. The original attorney handling my case quit the firm, and then the firm sued him so he could not continue to represent me. At that point I was in it for several thousands of dollars, i.e. "sunk costs." I couldn't afford the retainer for another attorney. The final attorney who represented me didn't even contact me for over two months after she had been assigned to me, until the escrow from the sale of my house was to be sent to the firm to hold until my trial. I filed a complaint with the Virginia Bar for overbilling. Save your money. They don't care about clients. read more

Hello All , Here is my review for this firm and for my attorney Eric Brandon Schell. I live in another state .My divorce has been going on for eight years....the judge where I'm from called it a "womb to tomb " . It's a high conflict divorce . I have had and met more attorneys then I would have liked in my 57 years . Now the case is moving to Virginia. I called a bunch of law firms. I finally spoke with someone on the phone who I thought understood me. She was the Intake/receptionist person. Soon I was connected to Claudia, a paralegal and then to Eric ..aka Brandon . He was direct . He listened to everything I said. He fired off questions to me .He was a quick thinker .I had to really concentrate to keep up ! .Claudia was efficient and was in constant contact with me. The intake person called a few times to check on me ... so communication was excellent between all of us . I was very nervous about this because I think the family court is like the Wild West . There can be a lot of injustice in the legal system. As I am writing this... my case isn't over ... it's just getting starting . I'm going to tell you about my recent court experience meeting my attorney for the first time . When I arrived to court Brandon was there and he had brought along a new associate. He had sent me a list of questions that he might ask me on the stand but I didn't see the list because it got lost in my email. I only had time to look at the basics ...name ..kids names...ect ..and then we had to go into court. He was serious. He was polite..but very quiet . I was a nervous wreck. My Ex went first and he was rehearsed and well spoken . Brandon studied him and his attorney intensely . My case is very complicated ..it includes a special-needs boy and that in itself is a whole other world. When Brandon got up he was confident . It's like he had a photographic memory. The way he questioned my ex , the points he brought up , his responses ..his thought process ...Brandon was so on point .. so perfect.. I was amazed. When it was my turn on the stand , I didn't even know what he was going to ask me. He led me through being on the stand by asking me questions as if he had known me for 20 years. I was able to answer the questions because of the way he asked them .He guided me through one of the most scariest experiences I've ever had.... Because this outcome will affect my kids so that makes it feel like life or death. Again , in closing arguments...he was in the zone. He just nailed it. After it was over , we had to wait for papers. I chatted with him and his associate( also very nice) and learned a few things about him. He was now relaxed and out of the zone . He's extremely intelligent and well traveled . He's experiences have exposed him to interesting events ..his travels have shown him the lesser parts of the world... the sad parts of humanity .He comes from a family line of attorneys . He cares about people and family.. He's compassionate.. . he believes in justice and doing what's right . I actually think he would serve the world better and help more people if he went into politics .He's that kind of person . But not until he's done with my case obviously ha! My case is far from over.. I don't know the end result .. While driving home I thought about it the whole way. I felt I found someone that is actually looking out for me. I found someone I could trust. I found someone extremely competent and I felt so lucky. I felt like I was in good hands ..It was the first time I actually slept through the whole night in months .. if you're still reading this I guess what I would like you to know is that this firm ... from the intake person to paralegal...and the person helping me with my payment plan ( they are working with me and I appreciate that ) ) and of course my attorney is the right choice . I know how hard and painful this ordeal is ... it's almost unbearable .. Brandon is worth every penny ..if you want someone on your side ...he is the right person to call.Good Luck and God Bless. read more

Primary Lawyer (Arian Saleh) had no idea of how to tell me what I would benefit if I went through with planned law action. Kept referring to her "MIL or Mother". She told me all about her personal experience, without asking me any questions, or helping me determine what the landscape might look like in the future. She had absolutely nothing to say. She was done after 30 minutes. She stated she would give me a full refund. Come to find out "her supervising attorney" stated no. Do NOT Go To This "Law Firm". They have absolutely nothing to offer. read more

For the money that I paid I got piss poor representation by J. Stitely in Virginia Beach. I could have done better representing myself.

If I could give less than zero stars, I would. This looka Like a big, established firm, but it's really a scam who're they hire young, inexperienced lawyers and pass you around from one to the other. I had three different lawyers in a year! No one returns calls or emails when you need them. What a nightmare. read more

Requested Wills/Trust paperwork and initially met with a Paige Davis who said she would send me paperwork to complete. Never received any paperwork. I reached out multiple times to get in contact with her or someone else and no one ever reached back out. Wasted time trying to get something setup. Not sure what is going on with this company. read more

Darley Twiddy achieved in a 1 hour court hearing more than what our old attorney achieved in 2.5 years, countless hearings, and over $50,000 of our life savings. I am not a crier by any means, but once court was over I was so grateful I was crying and hugging her. She knows the law and she knows how to navigate it to make sure her clients are heard even when the evidence is hard to use. These days with tech and text messages it is SO hard to prove things even if you KNOW they are true, there are certain hoops to jump through. She was personable, organized, professional, knowledgeable, and even had a break down of the questioning and timeline (something we NEVER saw before). Our old attorney never had ideas, we left feeling disappointed time and time again and it seemed like we had to tell him what to do by researching (he never gave us advice). Darley had SO many good ideas. She knocked it out of the park! I am so grateful to have connected with her. I so impressed watching her do her thing! She is truly a great attorney!!!! I finally feel like I was advocated for and I had someone creative and problem solving in my corner. She succeeded in protecting my children from a very dangerous person despite the legal system time and time again letting us down! I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS! Also, the whole staff from start to finish was very nice as well! From the front desk to the paralegal, just a great experience! Don't go to Holcomb Law! GO HERE! PLEASE. read more

This is the worst experience ever. I am on my 3rd lawyer with the firm and now I found out the paralegal has left. I filed Jan 2023 still don't have a pre-trial date. I'm paying all of this money to keep repeating myself to the next lawyer that charges me even more For the same information that I gave the previous attorneys! I will be going to the Va bar. I emailed for an update on Valentine's Day the paralegal was supposed to get back and still no response! I called to speak with the concierge I believe and she was supposed to call me back because someone said she was in a meeting! Every time they switch me lawyers they said I can move with the lawyer or sty! well I cant keep paying retainer fees!! I'm being charged for nothing. I will contact the Va bar to see what I can do because this is ridiculous!!!! read more

hired this firm (Reston office) to help me get a quick, amicable divorce. I had my consultation with Mr. Vazquez, (4 yrs practicing) paid my fee, then he wanted the separation agreement my last lawyer typed up. (Last lawyer had to refund my money because he opened his own firm under a new name.) I was reluctant to provide another attorneys work to them but they said it would save me money rather than them starting from scratch. They literally took 7 days to cut and paste some new text into the document and return it to me. Me and my spouse have no issues with separation of our property and we don't have kids. If they could not give me what i wanted (divorce papers), then they should have said it in the beginning instead of taking my money. There was absolutely no confusion about what I wanted because I followed up the call with an email. After I posted this 1-star review, he called me to discuss it, left a VM and charged me $ for the call. Additionally, he requested documents in multiple emails (some docs he didn't use or need) totaling over $1k. The Virginia Bar told me to get an itemized list of what they billed and that's how I found out that I paid $ for him to get advice from Senior attorneys at the firm. They also sent me the documents that I paid for in Draft so I couldn't even use them if I wanted to. I contacted the Virginia Bar and paid for arbitration/mediation about this matter. I am still wondering how an uncontested divorce without kids costs over $2k in 7 days and my new lawyer didn't ask for any of that paperwork and for $1,000 less, i will have my divorce in a few days. read more

We worked with Charles for a year and was always impressed with his punctiatly and thier commitment as a firm. I would highly recommend Charles and the entire team at Melone Hatley. read more

This was a very bad move the complete process was bad. I thought this was a good firm had good reviews. I needed an Attorney for my Divorce case Motion for Temporary and Permanent Possession of Martial Property. RICHMOND, VA HENRICO! I contact by text message on phone received a reply. My first interaction was with Robert King Client Services Coordinator very professional and explained to me about applying for loan through AFFIRM because i did not have 2500.00 upfront fixed income disable veteran. This was in July 28, 2023. I was also sent a link for esign once i paid the retainer fee. I did get the loan and it was sent directly to Melone Hatley Firm around August 4th, I received confirmation from Affirm. I never received a follow up once the funds had been received. So i went back to the original text message on my phone to ask about this was almost two weeks with not response then on August 14, 2023 i received a message from Liz Ryan confirming my appointment Attorney Phillip on August 16th, at 11am. which would be a phone interview and she also sent me a link to forward my court papers. Liz did not tell me i would be charge 37.00 for sending my own papers by email. This was not seen until i received my first bill of 472.50 on August 18th after reviewing there we some invalid charges in was concern with the emailing and as well as the Mr. Lecky charges. The adjustments were made after phone call with Mr. Lecky. On August 21, 2023 there was recap email that i was to have received never took place. I asked to Speak with Mrs. Hatley to discuss my dissatisfaction with billing issues. The only message i received was from Liz Ryan checking to see if Mr. Lecky had spoken with me. This was my consultation and legal strategy which im not sure what the strategy were not came up in consultation? I asked continuously to speak with Mrs. Hatley in email messages with no avail. I was set up with a phone conversation with Mr. Mc Cauley and we talked and i explained the complete situation from the beginning of sending my retainer fee to the conversation with Mr. Lecky and billing issues. There was a meeting schedule with Mr. Lecky September 28th, at 1pm. He was late did not show up until 1:20pm. Again i gave him all court papers caused i did not want to be charged for copies. So i made my own copies for him. We met and discuss no strategy i was repeating the same information i gave over the phone consultation. When i left i had concerns about his ability to represent me. i receive a Transition letter that Mr. Lecky would longer be representing me and i could keep the firm or hire another firm. My court date was October, 02 2023 and they still had me retainer of 2500.00. so i elected to stay with them and they sent me a information on my new attorney Ms. J Gerlach and they said she would be contacting me the weekend. Ms. Gerlach did call me and i told her the same thing i told the last attorney and they did not charge me due to the firm removing Mr. Lecky form my case and the firm. Again i did not know what to expect at court from Ms. Gerlach we meet on Monday the day of court still not answer about strategy or our defense. The opposing attorney did not show up and Ms. j Gerlach stated to the Judge she had just taken over the case a one ago. Mr. Gerlach did come to court and asked if attorney fees be added but it would be considered is what the judge stated. I get my bill from Melone Hatley from the court date and i see another charge of 265.00 from cynthia who helped Ms. Gerlach strategize my case?? never talked to this women i did not know the strategy so not sure how she could help wtih my case. I discussed all this with Mr. McCauley after speaking with him i asked for proof i received a called from Ms. J Gerlach stating the will be withdrawing from my case. Now in they starting charging all these fees that have exceeded my 2500.00 and say i owe them 32.00 WoW. DO NOT USE THIS FIRM GET SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST TO WORK ON YOUR BEHAVE NOT THEIR POCKETS! REMEMBER I AM ON A FIXED INCOME DISABLE VETERAN! ALSO I HAVE A COURT DATE ON FEBRUARY 05, 2024 THEY SENT ME BILLS AND THAT ALL THE RETAINER IS 0 BALANCE. WoW! read more

Rebecca Melone was referred to me from a friend, and she did not disappoint. She always responded quickly and was the advocate that I needed for me and my kids during my divorce. read more

Save your money and go anywhere else, Rebecca will rack up the billable hours and give you little to nothing in return. Rebecca was my attorney for over a year in the lead up to a custody and support matter that ended horrifically for me. For the custody part she passed me along to an associate who couldn't answer the basic question of why I deserve to have custody of the children to the judge, which was clearly spelled out in my Petition and the Interrogatories. For the support part Rebecca tried to ditch me as a client two weeks prior to the court date after having paid her close to $30k in the lead up to the trial, then on our day in court she left court room while I was sitting on the stand under examination from the opposing counsel. Rebecca biased the court on her way out claiming I had lied under oath to the judge, which I clearly had not, she didn't even give me the chance to explain my statement before she just up and left the courtroom. The Judge did not offer a continuance, and in-fact made me represent myself for the rest of the trial. I had no idea where any of the evidence documents were, nor did I know how to defend myself, so in the end I ended up owing not just the full amount that my ex claimed plus interest I had to pay her attorneys fees on top of it. It was the worst possible outcome and any lawyer could have done a better job. You would be wise to steer clear of this charlatan who has no scruples and will charge you a fortune and take your money then leave you on the stand defenseless. In short Rebecca ruined my life and you would be wise to heed this warning and go elsewhere for legal counsel. read more

I wish I could rate them lower than one star, their service across the board is abysmal. As a client I would have to send multiple emails, message them through the website, and make a call just to get anyone to pay attention to me. I genuinely felt I had no choice. They did nothing about my divorce for two years and non-stop padded the bill so that somehow I spent thousands and thousands for nothing. I had to fire them to get any movement in my case (with new representation) and they are still sending me bills for services they provided two months ago even after refunding my retainer and closing my case. These people are absolutely only out for themselves in the most disgusting fashion. My first lawyer stepped down (surprise!) and they only provided an hour of complimentary time to catch up the case. (Not sufficient and a waste of my money and time!) The second lawyer they appointed me was slightly less horrible. It took two years to get a pendente lite hearing scheduled and by the time it rolled around I had absolutely ZERO confidence that anything would go in my favor because no one at Melone Hatley cares about anything other than their paycheck. Do not under any circumstances hire them, they will just take your money and pretend they're working until you give up from frustration. DO NOT HIRE THEM. read more

My case for legal custody when on for 8 months due to an associate with health problems handled my case. Received a few emails, even though I had sent the lawyer dozens of emails. No communication, no follow up. I primarily received responses from the legal assistants even when I addressed the lawyer directly. Appointments were scheduled and rescheduled over and over. Over the duration of 8 months I received only two email responses. I was charged for very ambiguous things such as "read email." Please, please do not trust these people. I had an awful experience. read more

They are by far the best divorce lawyers in Virginia. I had a divorce and child custody case that was in Fairfax and then ended in Virginia Beach and they were able to help me every step of the way. read more

Eric Schell was my divorce attorney and I have had such s bad experience. First, i'm still not divorced and my case has been ongoing since February. There is absolutely no communication and I have to send an email for an update. Eric does not put a pressure on my husband's attorney to get the paperwork back. I also did not feel confident in going to trial because, one, the paperwork he submitted had many grammatical errors and I was not confident in Eric. So I decided to settle for less. Also Eric has accused me of dodging communication from the billing staff. When I have been paying my payments every single month and no one has emailed me nor called me and my bank statements show I have been paying on time. Eric threaten to drop my case but I had to reach out to him to get this information. It was also confirmed by the billing department that it was a misunderstanding. So Eric "assumed" I wasn't paying when I was and isn't working on my case. Go somewhere else don't waste your money here read more

I was referred to the firm by a friend, and these are by the far the best divorce lawyers in Virginia. Thank you for your help!

I used Melone Law recently for a legal matter, and Rebecca Melone exceeded my expectations. She was prompt in her responses, courteous and efficient, and my legal matter was resolved in a timely fashion to my satisfaction. Happy to recommend. read more

To say that Shirley Chim with Melone Law exceeded my expectations would be an understatement. Since I live several hours away she was able to file a plea in my absence. I expected to have the charge reduced but she was able to have the whole thing dismissed. I can't say enough good things about Shirley. I am beyond pleased with the results. Thank you so much, Shirley. Sincerely, Vlad in Va Beach, VA. read more

I received outstanding representation from Melone Law. Rebecca and her team are true professionals. I would recommend the firm with no hesitation. read more