I would not recommend this firm for a custody case.
We originally had a consultation with Sydney Garcia, and based on that, we felt confident moving forward. However, after hiring the firm, our case was mainly handled by Desiree Duke, and the experience was very different from what we expected.
This is not about money it’s about how the case was actually handled.
From the beginning, everything felt very “by the book” with no real strategy or effort to think outside of that. There was no real attempt to explore resolving things before mediation or outside of court. It was always just the next step in the process, instead of guidance or options based on my situation.
I constantly felt like I was managing my own case. I had to ask what was going on, what had been done, and what the next steps were. Communication got worse over time & what started as reasonable response times turned into waiting 2–3 weeks for replies on important issues.
I was told a parenting plan was being worked on over multiple days, but when I finally received it, I was told it was incomplete and “not particularly useful.” That made no sense considering time had already been billed for it.
I also provided important documents, including financial information, early in the case. At mediation, I found out the other attorney never even received them. The mediator was clearly surprised by that, and also surprised that I still had not received my full file.
To be completely honest, even the mediator questioned how much had been spent on this case based on what had actually been done.
By the time mediation came, I was representing myself with no real preparation, no completed materials, and still no file from my former attorney. That should never happen.
Another issue was billing. I understand attorneys charge for their time, but I was being charged for almost every interaction even when responding to questions that were asked to me. It felt like I was being nickel and dimed for basic communication, which made it hard to even feel comfortable asking questions about my own case.
For comparison, I previously had a custody attorney in Oklahoma, and while I knew there were fees, the experience was completely different. I felt guided, supported, and informed. That was not the case here.
Also, to be fair had I received my full file before mediation and had clear communication about my refund in a timely manner, this likely would have been a 3-star review. But going into mediation unprepared, without my file, and without basic follow-through dropped this to a 1-star experience.
The firm had no issue moving quickly when it came to withdrawal paperwork and billing, but when it came to actually handling my case, communication and follow-through were lacking.
If you hire this firm, just be aware that you may end up doing a lot of the work yourself, while still being billed for it, and you may not get the level of guidance you expect and especially if your case is being handled primarily by Desiree Duke.
Tara Farley
Mar 2026
If I could leave zero stars, I would. I initially believed this firm would be trustworthy, especially given that it is led by women; however, that was not my experience.
In my interactions with four staff members, including Mrs. Robinson herself, I found their approach to be condescending and primarily focused on financial gain rather than providing meaningful support during an already stressful situation. I felt pressured to sign up for a credit card with significantly higher costs if payment was not made in cash, which raised serious concerns for me.
Despite paying nearly $10,000, I remain married and do not have a child custody order in place. I was also charged substantial fees for basic communications such as emails and text messages, as well as for court appearances that I believe were misrepresented.
Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this firm to others seeking reliable and compassionate legal support. I would strongly encourage potential clients to carefully consider their options before proceeding.
Sienna Jones
Mar 2026
A child and need of care case
Gregory Watt
Jan 2026
Absolutely great place for family law or criminal law services.
Tyler West
Nov 2025
Awful law firm. The whole firm should have their licenses pulled. Sydney Garcia is who we were paying to handle our case and to even give 1 star is being nice. Wouldn't file motion we asked for repeatedly. Failed to follow through with anything we discussed. Suzanne Robinson was awful and tried to intimidate us and once we stated we were recording the conversation then she tried to pretend she didn't. Their charges were out of control for a firm that did absolutely nothing in a case. Do not waste your time or money or your case with this firm.
Kimber Frank
Sep 2025
Thank you for all your help! Suzanne is a wonderful and professional lawyer who helped me with my case. She listened and took the time to make sure everything was taken care of for my family. I can’t thank you enough. I highly recommend this law firm!
Johnny Leavey
Apr 2025
I don't no yet
Mishawn Davis
Jan 2024
It is a shame it has taken me more than a decade to find a law firm that knows the law, operates in a top-caliber manner, and treats the client like a human. I have had a couple of attorneys at Hale, but the one who helped us the most was Suzanne. Not only is she a bomb a** attorney, but she also knows how to handle and run a business, be classy, and professional, and have customer service. I appreciate her no-frills approach to handling cases and client situations.She keeps a client-centered approach and looks out for everyone's best interest. Attorneys are indeed expensive but Suzanne makes sure the money spent on your case is allocated in a manner that does not leave your account on zero or paying unnecessary fees. She believes in transparency, honesty, and integrity; which is rare when an attorney is involved in difficult cases. She understands that the way she is represented in and out of the courtroom is a reflection of her business and there is not a time that she does not take her work seriously. The few times we had to speak with her on the phone, she has always been patient and attentive while listening closely to our concerns. She is very responsive and treats the attorney-client relationship as an important investment. You are not just a number to her, but a human. Should I ever need an attorney again, I will hire them again in a heartbeat. To all who work at Hale, we appreciate you. Suzanne, thank you for constantly standing on business and doing right by your clients. You are a real one.
Shelly Donovan-Crenshaw
Sep 2023
I truly can’t say enough about this firm itself, all the staff & Madison most excitedly. I needed time to heal my brain, she’s been so patient. I feel more than confident. She’s out for her clients best interests. Honest to say that her compassion is palpable. So communicative, it feels like her gift itself is language. I have to ask all the time to repeat.Honestly, the minute you walk in the office and feel the Zen, it’s less anxiety than ordering a cup of coffee.
Lucien H
Apr 2023
Loved my experience here! I won a free name and gender marker change from a contest at Pride. They treated me with great respect through the entire process, and made sure I understood each part of the process. Mia was so helpful and kind and made me feel comfortable asking questions, even the ones that seemed a little d**** I can't thank HRR enough as changing my name is tantamount to changing my life.
Trishe A
I would not recommend this firm for a custody case.
We originally had a consultation with Sydney Garcia, and based on that, we felt confident moving forward. However, after hiring the firm, our case was mainly handled by Desiree Duke, and the experience was very different from what we expected.
This is not about money it’s about how the case was actually handled.
From the beginning, everything felt very “by the book” with no real strategy or effort to think outside of that. There was no real attempt to explore resolving things before mediation or outside of court. It was always just the next step in the process, instead of guidance or options based on my situation.
I constantly felt like I was managing my own case. I had to ask what was going on, what had been done, and what the next steps were. Communication got worse over time & what started as reasonable response times turned into waiting 2–3 weeks for replies on important issues.
I was told a parenting plan was being worked on over multiple days, but when I finally received it, I was told it was incomplete and “not particularly useful.” That made no sense considering time had already been billed for it.
I also provided important documents, including financial information, early in the case. At mediation, I found out the other attorney never even received them. The mediator was clearly surprised by that, and also surprised that I still had not received my full file.
To be completely honest, even the mediator questioned how much had been spent on this case based on what had actually been done.
By the time mediation came, I was representing myself with no real preparation, no completed materials, and still no file from my former attorney. That should never happen.
Another issue was billing. I understand attorneys charge for their time, but I was being charged for almost every interaction even when responding to questions that were asked to me. It felt like I was being nickel and dimed for basic communication, which made it hard to even feel comfortable asking questions about my own case.
For comparison, I previously had a custody attorney in Oklahoma, and while I knew there were fees, the experience was completely different. I felt guided, supported, and informed. That was not the case here.
Also, to be fair had I received my full file before mediation and had clear communication about my refund in a timely manner, this likely would have been a 3-star review. But going into mediation unprepared, without my file, and without basic follow-through dropped this to a 1-star experience.
The firm had no issue moving quickly when it came to withdrawal paperwork and billing, but when it came to actually handling my case, communication and follow-through were lacking.
If you hire this firm, just be aware that you may end up doing a lot of the work yourself, while still being billed for it, and you may not get the level of guidance you expect and especially if your case is being handled primarily by Desiree Duke.
Tara Farley
If I could leave zero stars, I would. I initially believed this firm would be trustworthy, especially given that it is led by women; however, that was not my experience.
In my interactions with four staff members, including Mrs. Robinson herself, I found their approach to be condescending and primarily focused on financial gain rather than providing meaningful support during an already stressful situation. I felt pressured to sign up for a credit card with significantly higher costs if payment was not made in cash, which raised serious concerns for me.
Despite paying nearly $10,000, I remain married and do not have a child custody order in place. I was also charged substantial fees for basic communications such as emails and text messages, as well as for court appearances that I believe were misrepresented.
Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this firm to others seeking reliable and compassionate legal support. I would strongly encourage potential clients to carefully consider their options before proceeding.
Sienna Jones
A child and need of care case
Gregory Watt
Absolutely great place for family law or criminal law services.
Tyler West
Awful law firm. The whole firm should have their licenses pulled. Sydney Garcia is who we were paying to handle our case and to even give 1 star is being nice. Wouldn't file motion we asked for repeatedly. Failed to follow through with anything we discussed. Suzanne Robinson was awful and tried to intimidate us and once we stated we were recording the conversation then she tried to pretend she didn't. Their charges were out of control for a firm that did absolutely nothing in a case. Do not waste your time or money or your case with this firm.
Kimber Frank
Thank you for all your help!
Suzanne is a wonderful and professional lawyer who helped me with my case. She listened and took the time to make sure everything was taken care of for my family. I can’t thank you enough.
I highly recommend this law firm!
Johnny Leavey
I don't no yet
Mishawn Davis
It is a shame it has taken me more than a decade to find a law firm that knows the law, operates in a top-caliber manner, and treats the client like a human. I have had a couple of attorneys at Hale, but the one who helped us the most was Suzanne. Not only is she a bomb a** attorney, but she also knows how to handle and run a business, be classy, and professional, and have customer service. I appreciate her no-frills approach to handling cases and client situations.She keeps a client-centered approach and looks out for everyone's best interest. Attorneys are indeed expensive but Suzanne makes sure the money spent on your case is allocated in a manner that does not leave your account on zero or paying unnecessary fees. She believes in transparency, honesty, and integrity; which is rare when an attorney is involved in difficult cases. She understands that the way she is represented in and out of the courtroom is a reflection of her business and there is not a time that she does not take her work seriously. The few times we had to speak with her on the phone, she has always been patient and attentive while listening closely to our concerns. She is very responsive and treats the attorney-client relationship as an important investment. You are not just a number to her, but a human. Should I ever need an attorney again, I will hire them again in a heartbeat. To all who work at Hale, we appreciate you. Suzanne, thank you for constantly standing on business and doing right by your clients. You are a real one.
Shelly Donovan-Crenshaw
I truly can’t say enough about this firm itself, all the staff & Madison most excitedly. I needed time to heal my brain, she’s been so patient. I feel more than confident. She’s out for her clients best interests. Honest to say that her compassion is palpable. So communicative, it feels like her gift itself is language. I have to ask all the time to repeat.Honestly, the minute you walk in the office and feel the Zen, it’s less anxiety than ordering a cup of coffee.
Lucien H
Loved my experience here! I won a free name and gender marker change from a contest at Pride. They treated me with great respect through the entire process, and made sure I understood each part of the process. Mia was so helpful and kind and made me feel comfortable asking questions, even the ones that seemed a little d**** I can't thank HRR enough as changing my name is tantamount to changing my life.