During your separation and divorce, or your child custody and support dispute, Evolution is all those things for you – an experienced divorce lawyer who is right beside you as you walk through what can sometimes be a long and overwhelming process.
Chris Macturk
Founding Attorney
An accomplished Richmond divorce and family lawyer, Chris Macturk wanted to change how he priced his services in a way that offered a closer, transparent, and unfettered working relationship with his clients. Often hearing complaints about the uncertainties and anxieties presented by hourly billing, he decided to change his business model and open a firm offering Pre-Agreed Pricing. Evolution was born.
Chris has guided hundreds of individuals through separations, divorces and disputes over children and support. A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Chris is also past President of both the Henrico County Bar Association and the Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association. He is an active member of the Domestic Relations Section of the Virginia Bar Association and the City of Richmond Bar Association, having recently served as the chairperson of its Pro Bono Committee. Chris has also participated in many seminars and written a number of articles about family law.
Chris met his wife, Cynthia, while they both attended the University of Richmond. They have three sons and spend much of their time at Tuckahoe Little League – Go, Go Tuckahoe!
- Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association, President (2012-2013)
- Henrico County Bar Association, President (2008-2009)
- Virginia Bar Association, Domestic Relations Section, Council Member (2015-Current)
- City of Richmond Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee Chair (2016)
- Collaborative Professionals of Richmond, Member
- Virginia Collaborative Professionals, Member
- City of Richmond Bar Association, Past Pro Bono Committee Member
- Henrico County Bar Association, Past Pro Bono Coordinator
- City of Richmond Bench Bar Committee, Past Member
- Virginia Bar Association, Domestic Relations Section, Section Vice Chair (2020)
- City of Richmond Bar Association, Administration of Justice Committee Member
Makiba Jackson
Associate Attorney
Makiba Jackson originally worked inside the claims departments of insurance companies, collaborating closely with attorneys as they settled a variety of cases. “More and more, as I watched them do their jobs, I picked up an interest in legal work,” she recalls.
Already earning an MBA from Rutgers University, she decided to pursue a legal career and earned her J.D. at the University of Richmond School of Law. After overseeing corporate discovery for a technology and legal services firm, she sought a practice where she could help people in need — and get more face-to-face time with clients. She focused on family law, and later met the Evolution team. Today, she helps family law clients with a range of needs, including divorce, separation agreements, and child custody disputes.
“In family law, there is an opportunity to help people and families. If possible, even with a divorce, the process doesn’t always have to be adversarial, and you can find a way to make it as friendly as possible — especially when kids are involved,” she says.
“I like to think that I provide people an opportunity to set themselves up for a better future.”
She was drawn to Evolution, in part, by our firm’s pre-agreed pricing approach. “It takes the friction away between you and the client,” she says. “We aren’t charging by the hour, and there is an understanding that we are hired for the job and will do our best to help them achieve what we were hired to do.”
Makiba is a member of the Hill Tucker Bar Association, one of the oldest historically African-American bar associations in Virginia. She is a world traveler, avid reader, and always-improving gardener.
- Tucker Hill Bar Association
Kaelyn Kessler
Legal Assistant
Kaelyn is the first voice you’ll hear when you call our firm, and the first face you’ll see when you walk in. Hers is a special role — the first impression — that sets the stage for every client’s relationship.
“Working in law, I’ve found, is the best way I can use my skills to help people and make a difference for those who are in a difficult situation,” says Kaelyn, who keeps our attorneys organized as she pursues a bachelor of science degree in paralegal studies from the University of Richmond.
As the firm’s legal assistant, Kaelyn is tasked with scheduling appointments, drafting documents, ensuring filing deadlines are met, and, for clients, helping quell anxiety and fear that most divorce and child custody clients feel.
From the first meeting with a person in need, “I want them to feel as though they had a huge weight lifted off their shoulders,” she says. That reassurance, she notes, is thanks in part to Evolution’s pre-agreed pricing model: a flat fee, not hourly rates. “For a client to come in and know how much they are going to pay for their case gives them huge peace of mind.”
Family law was the first course she took and sparked her interest in a legal profession. One former law professor, a 35-year-practicing attorney, noted her “ability to grasp complex legal concepts quickly, and then effectively convey them through her writing.”
“I’ve had the honor of being taught by amazing professors while pursuing my education in the legal field. I have huge respect for them, and aspire to emulate them as best I can,” she says. “I include [lead Evolution attorney] Chris Macturk in this, as he’s incredibly patient in explaining, instructing, and mentoring me in my position here.”
While technically a Richmond Spider, Kaelyn is a Ram at heart; she loves attending VCU men’s basketball games with friends. Along with spending time with her family, Kaelyn enjoys visiting Virginia wineries, listening to true crime podcasts, and taking in independent films (she’s never missed an Oscars broadcast).
You be the judge.
The Evolution Service Pledge
Evolution Divorce is committed to exceptional client service.
If I don’t provide a high-level of service – good enough to earn your referral to others – then I will provide you with the opportunity to adjust your final payment.
I originally contacted Chris when I was going through a divorce. Chris and his team were very understanding and reassuring during that difficult time. Chris is very genuine and knowledgeable, and he is definitely an expert in his line of business. The Evolution team was considerate and patient during the process. I felt confident after talking with Chris that he understood my wants, and he made sure that I knew all angles of the case. He kept me updated when situations would occur and was prompt to respond to emails and texts. Even with his super-busy schedule, he made himself available, and I really felt taken care of. Chris’ pre-agreed pricing was a big reason I called him. I wanted upfront pricing — no nickel and diming. Chris’ patience and experience with other cases like mine was comforting to me. I am so relieved that I reached out to his team. I was stressed and emotional at our first meeting. Chris quickly put me at ease and was able to walk me through the process. His patience, kindness and expertise gave me the reassurance I needed.
I originally contacted Chris to see if I could get a divorce via publication. She was overseas, so my divorce had international implications, and it later became a contested divorce. The pre-agreed pricing was appealing because divorce is already a stressful matter and, as a client, I’d prefer not to be watching the clock when I’m talking or emailing with my attorney. Chris and his team shined because mine was not a standard divorce and required some research with international aspects.
I contacted Chris to understand the process of a non-contested divorce. He met with me twice at no charge to gather information and help me understand the process, which he did expertly. He explained technical legal jargon clearly and answered all of my questions patiently. I felt confident and comfortable moving forward with the divorce through Evolution because of how well I was treated and how much I felt valued. I also interacted with several other members of Chris' team throughout this process and everyone was friendly, communicative, punctual with responses and paperwork, and extremely helpful overall. They really helped alleviate a lot of the stress and anxiety that can come with going through something like this.Now, for his Pre-Agreed Pricing: All my life, I've heard horror stories of exorbitant legal fees creating financial crises in people's lives. Knowing I wouldn't be nickel-and-dimed was appealing because I could budget and predict my finances around this process instead of being hit with unexpected expenses and fees. Also, I was astounded just how much time and work was covered under one pre-agreed price. I honest and truly felt that I got much more than my money's worth.Evolution achieved the results I wanted, and even when the courts played their bureaucratic games with us and delayed the process several times (outside of Evolution's control), I unwaveringly felt that Chris and his team were dedicated to making sure that they saw this process through in as timely a manner as possible. They communicated clearly and consistently every time a legal challenge would present itself.
I wanted to get a no-fault divorce from an out-of-state spouse. I came across Chris through a search on Google. I had talked to about 7 or 8 lawyers already and was losing hope when Chris called to do our consultation. I explained my situation and he provided me with details on the process and how he and his team work. He explained that I needed a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL), an investigator who would advocate for my spouse and make recommendations to the court. Chris recommended someone who was great. The entire process was done virtually. Chris and his team called and emailed me all updates and next steps. Any time I reached out to them the response was quick.Evolution's pre-agreed pricing approach was wonderful for me. I had a budget and I knew my case was fairly simple. Knowing exactly what you're going to pay up front takes some stress out the equation. You also don't feel cheated by that hourly rate when you know your case is open and shut.I reached the desired results and it all happened within the time frame that Chris quoted me, even during a pandemic. We started the process in August and everything was finalized in October — that's with working with a GAL and an out-of-state spouse. If everything was local I believe it would've been even quicker.Chris and his team were professional and efficient from the beginning. They did all the communication with the GAL and the entire process was painless. I literally filed some forms, wrote a couple checks, signed a couple documents and everything else was taken care of by them. They have a client for life if I ever need assistance in the future. Highly recommend!
When the trust in his marriage was broken, Collin knew he needed a divorce attorney, but didn’t know anything about the process. So he turned to the only place he knew where to get one: Google.
A quick search, aided by reviews from those who have been through a divorce, led him to Chris Macturk and Evolution. “He is a caring professional and accessible, considerate, and measured in his advice,” Collin says. “He was also very sensitive to whether I wanted to initiate a divorce, or try to work things out. I didn’t feel pressure to move forward and felt I could make my own choice.” As the couple had no children, Chris was able to create a Property Settlement Agreement (PSA) for Collin. The PSA divided up property, debt, and other assets between the separated couple in a process that took six months. “The document met my needs and I was satisfied with how it turned out,” Collin says. “We achieved an ideal outcome.” Evolution’s pre-agreed pricing approach was also a plus, he notes. “There are so many other things you’re worried and stressed about, so knowing what you will pay is extremely helpful,” he said. “The price was quite fair.” And his advice to others facing a similar situation? “Practice forgiveness.”