Analyzing 5,760,1035.8M ReviewsFor 15,83615.8K Experts
We graded 10 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 8,204 Google reviews of 65 top-rated child custody lawyers nationwide; 10 of them in Ballwin, MO. Updated October 28, 2026.
Pick the job — we re-rank companies by how customers rated that exact job.
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of child custody lawyers).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
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| 1 |  Traffic Law Counselors® 45BUCKS.com®Ballwin, MO | A 98How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%98+67.8Reliability 31%97+29.8Experts Score= 98Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 4.99 | — |
| 2 |  Law Office of Christopher P. Cox, L.L.C.Ballwin, MO | A 97How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%99+58.1Reliability 26%95+24.8Value 15%97+14.8Craft & service penalty98−0.2Experts Score= 97Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 5.00 | — |
| 3 |  First Ally Law GroupBallwin, MO | A 95How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%96+66.5Reliability 31%94+28.9Experts Score= 95Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 4.97 | — |
| 4 |  The McKay Law Firm, LLCBallwin, MO | A 94How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%95+55.8Reliability 26%95+24.8Value 15%90+13.7Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 94Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 4.95 | — |
| 5 |  The Law Offices of Jill Puertas LLCBallwin, MO | A 94How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%94+55.2Reliability 26%94+24.5Value 15%93+14.2Craft & service penalty97−0.3Experts Score= 94Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 4.97 | — |
| 6 |  Mid-America Law Practice, LLCBallwin, MO | A 90How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%93+50.7Reliability 24%90+21.8Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%42+3Experts Score= 90Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAAC | 4.94 | — |
| 7 |  D Freihaut Agency & Associates LLC American Family InsuranceBallwin, MO | A 89How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%89+48.5Reliability 24%83+20.1Value 14%92+13Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 89Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAAA | 4.88 | — |
| 8 |  The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C.Ballwin, MO | A 85How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%89+48.5Reliability 24%76+18.4Value 14%99+14Replies to reviews 7%57+4Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 85Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | ABAAAC | 4.91 | — |
| 9 |  The Aranda Law Firm, P.C.Ballwin, MO | B 75How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%78+42.5Reliability 24%75+18.2Value 14%97+13.7Replies to reviews 7%73+5.2Craft & service penalty98−0.2Momentum penalty56−4.4Experts Score= 75Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BBAACB | 4.85 | — |
| 10 |  Page LawBallwin, MO | B 73How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%82+44.7Reliability 24%73+17.7Value 14%66+9.3Replies to reviews 7%34+2.4Craft & service penalty84−1.6Experts Score= 73Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | ABABAD | 4.83 | — |
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
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How the 10 child custody lawyers we rated in Ballwin, MO compare, and what customers praise most.
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
Average stars per company.
Share of Google review highlights.
All price verdicts left with reviews.
Not enough data yet.
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
The 10 best-rated child custody lawyers in Ballwin, MO average 4.9★ on Google across 1,554 reviews. First Ally Law Group has the top rating (5.0★), and Mid-America Law Practice, LLC has the most reviews (340). Updated October 28, 2026.
10 companies that meet our bar: rated 4.5★ or higher on Google, with a meaningful review history (1,554 reviews combined) and currently operating. Request a call back and the company will phone you directly.
“Danny was my first phone call and he was kind patient and gave me all the information I needed and every time I called he answered anything I was concerned about. I highly recommend them! Brigid McNamara is my…” — Google review
“Lauren had a positive attitude and was ready to help from the start of the call to the end! Great job Lauren and keep up everything you do!” — Google review
“I had a great experience working with Azra and her team for my personal injury. They were helpful, professional, and took the time to help me through my situation. I appreciate the effort they put into my case and…” — Google review
“Robert and the rest of the team were absolutely wonderful. While their clients are never there for a fun experience, they do a wonderful job to communicate, de-escalate and listen to anything and everything their…” — Google review
“Dan is great person and has amazing interpersonal skills. He is well knowledgable insurnace agent and I always recommend my friends to join him.” — Google review
“My wife and I came to Kyle McKay for our Trust and Wills. It was a simple process. Kyle explained everything very patiently as we didn't know much about Wills and Trust and we had plenty of questions. The process was…” — Google review
“Estate planning is one of the most valuable actions you can take to protect your assets. The time spent on preparing our estate was made more understandable and efficient by working with the Law Office of Christopher…” — Google review
“Mirela was quick on her feet and knows how to navigate any questions I have without making things unnecessarily complicated which was greatly appreciated!!” — Google review
“Ben stuck with me through a messy, extended, unusual custody issue. He not only was a stalwart champion for my rights, but was also amazing at offering guidance while keeping me apprised of my legal standing. My kids…” — Google review
“I had a great experience working with Jill. She was very thoughtful, prompt and extremely efficient. Not only did she feel like a lawyer but also as a friend who supported and encouraged me throught the process. I…” — Google review
We scan Google Maps for child custody lawyer listings in and around Ballwin, keep only open businesses whose main category matches the service, and require a Google rating of at least 4.5 from at least 20 reviews. Companies are ordered by a confidence-weighted score that balances rating and review volume. We do not accept payment for placement.
First Ally Law Group has the highest Google rating on our Ballwin list: 5.0 out of 5 from 171 reviews (as of October 28, 2026).
Mid-America Law Practice, LLC has the most Google reviews among the companies listed here: 340, with a 4.9★ average.
Only open Ballwin-area businesses whose Google category matches the service, rated at least 4.5★ from at least 20 Google reviews. They are ordered by a confidence-weighted score of rating and review volume. Placement is never paid.
Analyzing 5,760,1035.8M ReviewsFor 15,83615.8K Experts