Allyson Hilliard graduated, cum laude, from Northern Kentucky University in 2000 with a BA in Criminal Justice and with an area of concentration in Public Administration. During her college years, Ms. Hilliard worked as a licensed private investigator for Northern Kentucky Investigative Services, Inc. While at NKU, she received several honors including: The National Dean’s List; Alpha Phi Sigma – The National Criminal Justice Honor Society; Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges; Golden Key National Honor Society; Dean’s, Honor’s and Scholar’s Lists; and Order of Omega – The Greek Honor Society.
In 2003 Ms. Hilliard graduated from Appalachian School of Law and was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and before the Federal District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. She is also admitted to practice in the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. While in law school Ms. Hilliard was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and Who’s Who: American Law Students. She also received two Book Awards and earned a merit scholarship. During law school, Ms. Hilliard completed an externship with the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C. and clerked for a law firm in northern Kentucky. Upon graduation, she spent two years as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Charles E. King, Jr., Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge.
In 2005 Ms. Hilliard joined Swartz Law Offices, PLLC where she practiced primarily in the realm of family and domestic relations law. In 2014 Hilliard & Swartz, LLP was formed. Since 2005 Ms. Hilliard has devoted nearly 100% of her time to domestic relations cases, including issues involving divorce, equitable distribution, spousal support, child support, parenting, relocation, modifications, prenuptial and post nuptial agreements, etc. Ms. Hilliard served on the Kanawha County Family Court Bench and Bar Committee for several years and is frequently retained as a private mediator in complex domestic relation matters.
In 2016, Ms. Hilliard was inducted into and granted Fellowship into the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (“AAML”). The AAML was founded in 1962 and is made up of highly skilled family law litigators and negotiators. There are currently more than 1650 Fellows in the 50 states; however, West Virginia only has four members, with one of those four members being a judge. According to the AAML website, Fellows across the United States are recognized by judges and attorneys as preeminent family law practitioners with a high level of knowledge, skill and integrity.
Ms. Hilliard is a member of the Kanawha County Bar Association, Judge John A. Field, Jr. American Inn of Court and Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. In 2014 she was appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin to serve on the West Virginia Child Support Enforcement Commission. In 2021 and 2022 she was appointed by Governor Jim Justice to continue to serve on the West Virginia Child Support Enforcement Commission. Ms. Hilliard was also selected to Super Lawyers, 2014; 2015; 2016 and 2017 West Virginia Rising Stars in the realm of Family Law. In 2016 Ms. Hilliard was named one of the top ten under 40 Family Law Attorneys, in the State of West Virginia, by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. In 2016 Allyson was also selected for Membership by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys as one of the “10 Best Under 40” Attorneys for West Virginia, in the practice area of Family Law.
Allyson has coached JV volleyball for Charleston Catholic High School. In 2008/2009 Ms. Hilliard was a finalist to become a Federal Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, but decided that being a family law attorney was a better fit. In the spring of 2014 the Bureau reached out to her, again, seeking her admission. In her spare time Ms. Hilliard runs marathons. She has completed at least 35. Her goal is to finish a marathon in all 50 states. Ms. Hilliard is a member of the 50 States Marathon Club and Marathon Maniacs. Allyson resides in Putnam County with her husband, David W. Epperly, MBA, CPA, ABV, CFF, CVA.