The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. - Wheaton, Illinois

Mark S.

Michael Murphy was able to walk me through the entire process and manage expectations. Would definitely recommend him. The staff was also very polite and responsive.

Rosa G. V.

The 2nd star for this review only comes from our final outcome of the case going our way. Our very first meeting went very well and we were assured this would be an easy case for terminating parental rights and moving forward with adoption. After that initial meeting, things went down hill. Communication seemed very limited with constant emails on our side reaching out about questions and paperwork that would go days/weeks without a response, not to mention every single document we received from the assistant of the attorney had someone's personal information incorrect or misspelled and when informed of this, she would tell us "it doesn't really matter". I would think a law firm would take pride in spelling legal documents correctly especially personal information like names, DOB and contact information. Overall it was an 8 month process from our first meeting to our final court date where we finally gained full custody of our child from an absent/neglectful "parent" however it appeared more nerve-wrecking and hectic due to the lack of professionalism by the attorney and supporting staff.

Marie G. P.

I chose Stogsdill Law Firm based on a strong reputation and all of my expectations were exceeded. Brett Williamson is my divorce attorney and I am completely satisfied. He is a skilled litigator, to the point, and gives level headed advice that never wasted my time or my money. He saw me through a contentious divorce that went to trial, was appealed, and in both circumstances we won. He guided me through a difficult custody issue to my satisfaction and crafted a strategy he knows is in the best interest of my family and one that will win. I went into this divorce thinking it would be smooth and that I wouldn't need such a skilled firm. I am so thankful I went with the best when things turned for the worst.

Eric O.

I am pleased with my attorney at Stogsdill When you net it out he saved me far more $$$ than the fees they charged to handle my case. Unfortunately this was not my first rodeo and I've had some ringside seats with divorces of friends, in-laws and out-laws. My first atty from many years ago was good. My atty from Stogsdill seemed to be far smarter and a better "tactician" shall we say. I never felt he prolonged the case to get more billable hours.

I have some cognitive issues. Brian was very patient with me, made sure that I understood what he was doing and why. He very patiently listened to what I felt I needed in the settlement and he clearly explained what I was entitled to by the law and what I could expect to finish with. I truly felt like I had a partner in the battle and yes, by definition divorce is a battle. In my experience the "amicable divorce" is a myth. In my case, Brian was a great war time consiliere. (go watch The Godfather)

Another thing that sometimes gets overlooked is that Stogsdill has a great staff. They treat you respectfully. They are well coordinated and on top of your case. Just really nice folks to do business with.

We finished up my case a month or so ago. However as these things often go my ex has not yet satisfied her taste for blood. Like Michael Corleone said in Godfather III; "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." So be prepared, forge a good relationship with your atty. You're going to need him/her for the long haul. My atty certainly did his part in forging that partnership.
Your mileage may vary.

RainForest M.

Chris Zaruba has been the single most effective and supportive member of the support system I've relied on during separation from my ex-partner. If it wasn't for him, the manipulation and abuse I was enduring would have resulted in the loss of my parental rights.
He has been my guardian angel.
Cannot possibly recommend this firm highly enough!!!

Christian B.

As the president of a professional services firm myself, I know what clients expect and deserve when they hire us. I am not an attorney but had high hopes when I hired the Stogsdill firm to handle a post-decree matter for me. Unfortunately, I got little of what was promised or expected from a firm of that supposed reputation. The attorney assigned to me was indifferent and did not care about me or the case. I had to coach him through most of the process and then I found that he walked me right into a trap laid by opposing counsel. Needless to say, the results were tragic and unnecessary.

What adds insult to injury is the fact that, when confronted with the situation, the fim's principal did not even have the courtesy to call or request a meeting. Instead, they took action against me. So now I am worse off than I was before engaging this firm and am fighting a protracted battle with the very firm that I hired to help me.

Needless to say, I would recommend further due diligence among the many fine firms in Wheaton.

Nodalities

Immediately after my divorce my ex-spouse refused to comply with court orders and left the country. I sought help with enforcing the judgment and was fortunate in meeting Justin Smit. Since hiring Justin Smit to represent me, and despite several convoluted and complex financial issues, he has successfully collected valuable property, a large amount of assets and unpaid alimony. His firm’s staff is courteous and responsive, and I’m extremely grateful for Justin Smit's integrity, professionalism and outstanding, cost-effective service.

Maureen L.

Please read this...

Michael Chiero was not at all interested in my case and was always too busy to talk to me. He was not ready for court when trial day came, and I had to call him less than a week before, when I found out from my ex that we were going to court. Michael said he thought it was later in the month. Not so, and he was not at all prepared and ended up pressuring me to sign an AWFUL agreement. So bad that my new lawyer is stuck with trying to amend what he can and claiming it is "mind boggling" how awful the settlement was. Other people I know have had good experiences with Stogsdill, but are also shocked at what an awful job Micheal Chiero did.