Hartley & McGehee LLP

Hartley & McGehee LLP, located in the picturesque Windward community of Kailua, represents the gold standard of family law representation in Hawaii. This distinguished firm, led by Steven L. Hartley and Elsa F. M. McGehee, brings together complementary legal talents, deep courtroom experience, and an unwavering commitment to achieving superior outcomes for families navigating life's most challenging transitions.

Steven L. Hartley has dedicated more than 22 years to the specialized practice of family law, making him one of Hawaii's most experienced divorce and custody attorneys. His educational foundation is exemplary: he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science cum laude from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1991, followed by his Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii in 1996. This formal legal education combined with more than two decades of focused practice has created an attorney of extraordinary depth and sophistication in family law matters and the interpersonal dynamics they involve.

Hartley's professional accomplishments further demonstrate his exceptional standing in the legal community. In October 2015, he received the distinguished appointment as a Per Diem Judge of the District Court of the State of Hawaii—a recognition that comes only to attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional legal knowledge, professional integrity, and sound judicial temperament. Additionally, Hartley holds a prestigious BV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the nation's most authoritative lawyer rating system, placing him among the highest-rated attorneys in Hawaii. His license to practice extends to both Hawaii and Indiana, evidence of his credentials' strength and portability across state lines.

Hartley's professional affiliations reflect his commitment to ongoing legal development and contribution to the broader legal community. He maintains active membership in the Hawaii State Bar Association's Family Law Section, the Indiana State Bar Association, the American Bar Association (serving on both its Family Law and Litigation Sections), and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. These memberships demonstrate his engagement with cutting-edge family law developments and his standing among his peers nationwide.

Complementing Hartley's extensive family law specialization is Elsa F. M. McGehee, a skilled litigation attorney whose career encompasses multiple areas of civil practice. McGehee brings a distinctive background to Hartley & McGehee's family law practice. Early in her legal career, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Virginia L. Crandall of the First Circuit Court for the State of Hawaii, an experience that provided insider understanding of how judges approach legal reasoning, evidence evaluation, and judicial decision-making. This clerkship background proves invaluable in crafting persuasive arguments that judicial officers find compelling.

McGehee's educational credentials are solid: she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1990, followed by her Juris Doctor from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii in 1997. Since beginning her legal career in 1997, McGehee has practiced across multiple areas of civil litigation, including family law, personal injury, insurance defense, and employment law. This broader litigation experience brings valuable perspective to family law matters, as many divorce and custody cases ultimately turn on evidence presentation, witness credibility evaluation, and persuasive advocacy.

Together, Hartley and McGehee create a powerful combination. Hartley's deep family law specialization ensures sophisticated understanding of Hawaii's family law framework, recent statutory developments, and precedential case law. McGehee's broader litigation experience and judicial insight provide tactical and strategic advantages in contested matters. The partnership is synergistic—clients benefit from both specialized depth and broader litigation acumen.

Hartley & McGehee's practice encompasses the full spectrum of family law matters: divorce, child custody, spousal support, property division, paternity, guardianship, and adoption. The firm handles both contested divorces requiring aggressive litigation and uncontested divorces for couples who have reached agreement. In contested matters, the firm brings sophisticated legal strategy, compelling courtroom advocacy, and the experience that comes from managing hundreds of family law disputes.

The firm's location in Kailua reflects its commitment to serving the Windward communities of Oahu. Families facing divorce no longer need to seek representation in downtown Honolulu; Hartley & McGehee brings world-class family law expertise to Kailua and surrounding communities.

For families throughout Oahu seeking family law representation from attorneys with proven expertise, judicial respect, and deep commitment to client success, Hartley & McGehee LLP stands as the natural choice. Contact the firm at 808-263-6900 today to schedule your confidential consultation with Hawaii's most accomplished family law advocates.