Shannahan Law Firm - Monroe, Georgia

Matthew H.

Melissa was the GAL in my case. I got everything I was after in my case. It is about how her and her office handled the after math of my case and the fact that once she did her first interview I never heard from her again. In the final custody order that Melissa approved it stated that both parties are to split all GAL fees evenly. I have already paid $1500, the other party has not paid anything. We stared asking what the final payment was a month and a half before our court date. Her office kept telling us that they would get it to us. Finally 3 business days before the court date Melissa sends a bill for $232.50. come to find out that was billed twice once to the other party and once to me. for the total $465.00. My attorney and I told her office that I have already paid $1500.00 so that money needs to come from the other half. Melissa also informed us that she would seek further attorneys fees if I fought it and we had to go to court. Her office is unprofessional and likes to do things at the last second so you can't fight it. Please use someone else. I'll update when we go to court.

Suzanne C.

Melissa handled my divorce 4 years ago, mediocre at best. The only reason I had to seek an attorney was because my stbx offered 25% of his 401k, after being together for over 27 years, married 23. Believe me that’s all I got, minus half of $80,000, he said he had before we married, she should’ve advised me to seek half of that also, but didn't, she nor the mediator did. My experience also got the home, because I am the one who moved out, but I didn’t get a penny to start over, except a 401k, you basically can’t touch!

Anyway, now I am approaching SS benefits, & I never received a copy of my divorce. Called her office & after almost 2 weeks of them “searching”, for my case, they advised me to either call courthouse to receive my copy, or maybe my ex’s Attorney!

She was not very easy to respond to calls, emails, etc. my last contact I tried to have with her is an email, I sent to her, approximately 5 days before my divorce’was final, no response, but sent me a letter stating when in fact it was final, about 3 weeks after the fact, again with no divorce certificate. I paid several thousands of dollars for basically only one meeting, a few emails, & that’s all.

I would not refer anyone to her.

J W.

Very unprofessional from start to finish. She was the Guardian ad litem in a custody case. She took the side of one parent. Never verified anything ex had said against other person. Made assumptions about one parent. If she would have done some fact checking she would have found out the one parent was lying about the other parent. She cancelled multiple interviews with witnesses several times. This added months to the court case. Was told by her secretary that the GAL had Vertigo. And that was the reason that the interviews was rescheduled. And the secretary even said she had to pick up Melissa Shannahan from home and drive her to the office. This was all due to her not being able to drive because of her medical condition. If she isn’t able to drive she should not be making legal decisions for a child. She also TRIPLED her fee. Guess it was due to her canceling interviews and rescheduling due to her condition. That added a lot of extra hours that she billed for.

Really don’t know how she can sleep at night knowing she did not do the right thing for a child. Can only imagine this wasn’t the first time this happened by her. Probably not the last either. Would not recommend her as a guardian ad litem to anyone. She is located in Monroe Ga.