Trudy E. Innes Richardson PLLC

Thirteen months. More than $8,000 in documented payments. By the end, I dreaded court appearances because I no longer trusted my own attorney to protect my interests. I hired Trudy Innes Richardson, PLLC, in August 2025, with Lily McLauchlin handling my family-law case. By September 2026, I was seeking replacement counsel while still separated from my daughter and waiting for critical parenting-time issues to be resolved. Attorneys cannot guarantee outcomes. Clients can, however, reasonably expect dependable communication, preparation, advocacy, and a clearly explained strategy. In my experience, this firm failed to provide them. I repeatedly had to pursue basic information about scheduling, discovery, strategy, and the injunction hearing. The firm’s website promoted prompt return calls, but my experience was substantially different. Promised calls did not occur, updates required repeated follow-up, and arranging a substantive conversation became another burden I had to manage during an already exhausting case. One especially telling incident occurred after I was told to expect a call. No time was arranged, the call did not happen, and I received no update. After repeatedly following up, I eventually learned that my injunction hearing—originally set for July 1—had been scheduled for October 27. That information could have been delivered in a brief text. More troublingly, I received a date but no affirmative strategy for challenging the continued delay or seeking interim contact with my daughter. When an earlier hearing was postponed because of Lily’s medical emergency, I understood the emergency. What I did not understand was arriving at the courthouse without the backup representation or clear contingency plan I believed the firm would provide. I had already paid for hearing preparation, yet I was left to absorb the consequences. I also repeatedly raised overdue discovery and asked what action would be taken. I did not see a timely motion to compel or receive a clear plan for addressing the missed deadlines. I found and supplied relevant legal authority myself but did not see it used effectively. Evidence I considered important was not presented in court. After hearings, I heard praise for opposing counsel’s performance while feeling that my own position had not been adequately advanced. The central problem was not losing a particular argument. It was paying thousands of dollars while continually having to demand communication, identify unresolved issues, ask what relief was actually being pursued, and press my own attorney for a concrete plan. After thirteen months and more than $8,000 in documented payments—excluding other litigation expenses—I had lost confidence in the firm and began seeking replacement counsel. Based on my experience, I would not trust this firm with a high-stakes family-law matter, and I would not recommend it to anyone who needs responsive communication, proactive advocacy, or confidence that their attorney is treating the case with appropriate urgency. Update, October 17: It took approximately a month for the firm to post this brief response. In my experience, that delay is representative of the service I received: late responses that left the underlying concerns unresolved. The firm has now offered to refund $1,710 in DVI-related fees and waive another $50, including returning the $80 charged for cancelling the hearing. Its substantive response to my billing objection arrived four days after my requested deadline. I acknowledge the offer. The dispute remains unresolved. Prospective clients should consider how much time and effort it took to reach this point. Having already paid for representation, I then had to make scrutinizing the bill and pursuing answers another responsibility of my own.

This Law Firm is absolutely the best! so trust when I tell you this place is so thorough and they took the time with me that my wife and I needed to understand everything that was going on. Kudos to Trudy Innes Richardson! And staff. Staff always replied back within 30 minutes when I text or email my questions during the case, and always explained their processes like no other. Sincerely Thank you Trudy! Darrell and Liz Morrow

We are incredibly thankful to Trudy and her team for representing us in our second parent adoption case. As a same-sex couple, securing our parental rights in today’s climate felt especially important, and having an attorney willing to support our family meant everything to us. From start to finish, the process was smooth and clearly explained, which gave us so much peace of mind during what could have been a stressful time. She made us feel seen, respected, and fully supported every step of the way. Her compassion, professionalism, and commitment to protecting families truly set her apart. We are forever grateful for her generosity and highly recommend her services.