My experience with Ellen Dague as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in JDR was extremely disappointing. From the beginning, it was clear that she was biased and judgmental, favoring one side rather than focusing on my children's best interests. She demonstrated a lack of understanding regarding my children's disabilities and seemed unprepared to handle the complexities of my case. Despite my qualifications and background in education, Ellen treated me as if I were incapable of parenting. She appeared to hold my past mental health challenges against me, even though I am fully recovered and doing exceptionally well. On one Zoom call, she insulted my family and predicted I wouldn't secure full-time employment for ten years--yet within two weeks, I obtained a full-time position and have been thriving ever since. I was relieved when my current attorneys successfully had her removed for our circuit court case. Circuit Court has been far more fair and evidence-driven, highlighting just how misaligned Ellen's approach was with the children's best interests. I have also met several other GALs and visitation supervisors who are far more competent and professional. In my opinion, Ellen Dague should seriously reconsider her role as a GAL, and I am exploring ways to ensure that parents facing mental health challenges are not subjected to her judgment in the future. read more

Ellen Dague is a danger to children who cannot speak/advocate for themselves as well as to Mothers and Fathers that fight to protect their children from negligent, irresponsible and mentally unstable parents. I can attest to the fact that she blindly picks a parent to advocate for, ignoring the facts of the case. She does not look into the factors that will ultimately determine the fate of a child's life forever. This is not a review based on my case not going in my favor, because in my case, I received the desired/favorable outcome, but not due to the GAL that was assigned to advocate in the best interest of my child. My daughter was 5 months when my custody battle really began and Ellen performed her first home visit with my estranged Husband and myself separately. My Husband who happened to be an Alexandria Police Officer at the time, was caught cheating and kicked ME out of our home. Ellen told me that it was one of my "Achilles heels" that I was "homeless" and used it against me although it was out of my control. She showed up in court (even after we reached a temporary custody agreement) and tried to paint me as some unstable parent. She asked during my home visit if I had a "locker" for my firearm and I replied "no". I did not have a "locker" because I had no home at the time, but my firearm was locked in the case and stored under the seat of my vehicle. In court, she enthusiastically told the Judge that I was riding around with a firearm in my car. Then excused my Husband for having his firearm on his hip at all times because he's a Police Officer (even when he was off duty and home with our child). She performed my home visit with a friend I was staying with temporarily and was intrusive looking at every inch of their home and taking pictures. Then told me that she didn't go upstairs in my Husband's home and allowed him to send her pictures instead. In the end, she waited until the last minute (1 week before court) to complete her final home visits. My attorney informed me she would be reaching out to both my Husband and I that week. Interestingly enough, I never heard from her, but she made time to see my daughter at my Husband's home again. She then allowed our attorneys to sign off on our custody agreement (where I was granted primary physical custody) without even visiting the home where my daughter spends most of her time! HOW is that working in the child's best interest??? I'm the one that had to secure a new residence and you negate to perform a home visit? WOW!!! She can't be very intuitive either because my Husband LIES about everything and the lies are so easy to detect. He had moved his paramour and her 6-year-old son in the home with him. It's a 2 bedroom/1 bathroom. I hired a PI to document this. That means my infant baby was either sleeping in-between my Husband and his paramour or in the same room with a 6-year-old BOY whom is not her brother. Meanwhile, she lectured me on co- sleeping! Other things she did not consider or missed: * I found weed (I think it was estimated as a pound) in my Husband's paramour's bag hidden in a closet in our home that they had been smoking IN the home. I called and reported this and a theft to the police dept that he worked for and in the city we lived in. Because of this (in part) he was placed under investigation and eventually terminated due to this and other disturbing factors that were found during the investigation. * I found that he had been giving weed to minor females * He obviously hid the fact that there were 2 additional occupants in the 2-bedroom home, one who is an avid weed smoker. This after declaring that he and my daughter were the only occupants in the home and that she had her own room/closet with a crib and dresser in his discovery responses (UNDER OATH). * He was caught leaving our daughter with his paramour while he worked although our temporary custody agreement stated that we were not to have friends of the opposite sex present during our time with our daughter. The PI provided evidence of this every single time he had visitation with our baby. Also violating Right of First Refusal. * He returned our daughter to me in a short-sleeved onesie in 55-degree weather because he didn't want to send "his" clothes to my house. Thankfully, I'm a REAL parent and always keep extra clothing with me in the car. * She was suffering from RSV and a double ear infection while with him and he did not take her to the doctor. He self-diagnosed her with a "cold" and didn't even bother taking her temp but lied and said he did. I believe Ellen showed favoritism because of his position as an officer and ignored the signs of his reckless, irresponsible and negligent behavior. I PRAY no other child falls into her hands as the fate of their life/wellbeing is being decided upon. I PRAY no other Mother or Father who is truly fighting in the best interest of their child experiences this biased interference by Ellen. read more

I would leave zero stars if I could. HIRE AN ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY if you obtain her as your Guardian ad, especially if you're colored. I would even advise that your attorney is present during her home visit or have your home cameras recording.PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND COURT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY!!!! read more

Ellen was responsive and straight to the point. We needed to get married legally before heading to our destination wedding ceremony in a few weeks. Got married on 2/15 and really appreciated how she filed for us same day so we were able to receive copies of our marriage certificate as well. Thanks Ellen! read more

Ellen M Dague - we're married! - General Litigation Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Ellen M Dague is very one-sided and prejudgemental person and by no means, she should not be an attorney representing children because she does not even bother to talk to the children. Unfortunately unlucky children will fall into her hands read more

This woman has no interpersonal skills. She does not appear to be interested in provided her services as an officiant. During a time that is suppose to be happy and exciting she instead is rude and miserable over the phone. I would hate to meet her in person and have her rain on my parade. Also, she is listed as a Spanish speaker but was unable to communicate appropriately. Really I have not even called the other two options and I am positive they will be a better bet. ...If you don't like what you do then don't do it, if you need a vacation then take one, and by all means if you have low frustration tolerance get a therapist so you can get some coping skills. read more

Ellen M Dague - General Litigation Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Ellen Dague may be a great attorney for a civil marriage ceremony. She may be good as a defense attorney for you in a child custody issue- as she has few scruples and, in the absence of evidence, will simply make things up. You have to understand Alexandria court is a very small pond; most attorneys and court officers and judges know each other. They see each other at parties and at official functions. So, in court, they all greet each other warmly, but are cold and professional with you. You know immediately it feels wrong and you won't get a fair shot. When you go against them without an attorney (a necessity if you do not come from money) expect they will tell you you must follow all the rules, but will bend them, exploit them, or outright violate them. Example: Ellen Dague presented a public library book of sculpture to the corrupt Judge Lisa B. Kemler, claiming I was sharing porn with my teen daughter. Yes, there were nudes, but it was a discard from the PUBLIC LIBRARY, and I was appealing to my daughter's love of sculpture and drawing, hoping to foster more of it. How did they treat a video of my daughter tearfully telling me that her mother was forcing her (my kid) to say terrible things to me and she didn't like it? Dague said it was me just being manipulative. Kemler agreed, calling the video "chilling." (a gross misuse of the term). Yet, three witnesses I had, who had seen my daughter and me interact many times and who had witnessed what my daughter said about her mother's manipulation -- all were discounted by Kemler as soon as she found out they were my witnesses. Yet, the ex wife, who couldn't keep her story straight, who refused to answer questions, who trafficked in hearsay which the judge willfully allowed, she was pronounced more credible. Dague and Kempczynski with Legal Services - two liars you never want to be against. And the judges? Worse. They pronounced that I simply didn't like their decisions. But the system punishes those it's supposed to serve, and my daughter suffers now as a result of their cruelty. read more

When you apply for a marriage license at the Courthouse in Alexandria and tell them you'd like a list of marriage officiants authorized by the city to perform civil ceremonies, two things happen: One, you get a funny look that conveys, "What kind of crackhead wants a quick, civil ceremony without a poofy dress and readings from 'The Prophet'???" And two, you get a list of 8 or so officiants. Names, addresses, phone numbers. That's it. No way to tell anything about these dudes. Googling reveals very little. Yelping reveals even less. How to pick? Well, randomly. And it was a random set of events which found us on the doorstep of Ellen's office on Monday evening so she could perform our wedding ceremony. I was so nervous, because we had just sort of landed on her and I had no idea what to expect. So I was really happy and pleased when she greeted us -- she was warm, open, a bit zany, and very funny. She put us and our families right at ease. Her office was a pleasant surprise, too: an old brick row house (OK, technically detached) at the western edge of Old Town. Rather than a cold and impersonal conference room, she married us in the little, Colonial-style law library surrounded by beautifully bound books, old portraits of Lincoln, and faded copies of the Declaration of Independence. And the vows she selected to read were really lovely and lyrical without being cheesy or sappy. SIGH. OF. RELIEF. And then I sat down and Yelped her for the rest of you Alexandrians who need guidance picking your civil ceremony marriage celebrant...no? Just me? read more

Clearly a better wedding officiant than she is a Guardian ad litem. NEVER put the interests of your child in these hands. Have not ever seen quite as much bias and lack of interest on the part of someone who is supposed to be a child advocate... shame on you - stick to wedding officiating where you can't do any REAL damage! read more

I chose Ellen M. Dague based on the previous review so thank you very much MacRae O.! You were very helpful! I loved every minute of our ceremony. Ellen was very nice. She kept making jokes and made us all feel relaxed. I was afraid that because it's a civil ceremony, it might be very short and not as official as it should be. But the speech and the vows were very sweet and memorable. Thank you, Ellen, for helping to make our day so special!!!! read more

I disagree with Personal I and Kathryn R- they probably lost their case because Ellen happens to be a very smart and competent GAL. If your attorney cuts corners or fails to disclose something- be sure to know Ellen will find it and expose it. As far as a family law attorney, yes she is aggressive and well-connected, but you get what you pay for since she is very sharp. She also has no problem making mincemeat during cross-examination. She was my attorney during a civil protection order hearing. She also represented my daughter's best interests expertly in the custody negotiations and we compromised with her father- worth every penny. I'm very pleased. Dissenters: get better representation...she's good! read more

As a GAL Ms. Dague will pick a parent and blindly act as pro bono counsel for that parent without really defending the best interest of the child. She refused to speak to the other parent and the other parent's counsel. How is that in a child's best interest? A judge relieved her from a case because of her unethical conduct. read more

I really can't believe Alexandria city advertises Ms. Dague as an officiant for wedding ceremonies. She seems to have zero interest in doing them. I called in August, she said it was very early to book something with her. Which is understandable... I was told to call back the beginning of September. I've called almost ten times without even a call back. If she's booked, I understand. But have the decency to call someone back and let them know. I couldn't bare to give 1 star, because that's rude on my part as I have no clue how she actually is as a lawyer or officiant. If you go with one of the three lawyers from the City's list, go with Dennis. At least he answers calls and is upfront with people. read more