Paralegals
Ellen B. Wheeler
Ellen grew up in Athens, Georgia and has lived in Toccoa for the past twenty-five years. She attended college at Samford University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies. Ellen has been a litigation paralegal for over thirty years working in all areas of litigation with a concentration for the past twenty years in all aspects of family law. Ellen works diligently to assist in the detailed fact-finding process of a custody case which enables the client and attorney to be successful with a positive outcome. Ellen is committed to helping people as they navigate their way through challenging life changes.
In the past, Ellen has worked with several prominent law firms and attorneys including Sanders, Ranck, and Skilling and Blasingame, Burch, Garrard, and Bryant. She also has done legal contract work through her own paralegal business with many fine attorneys including, Ann Pickett, Tricia Hise, Allyn Stockton, and Nina Svoren and Judge Russell Smith
In her free time, Ellen enjoys writing, traveling, and spending time with her fun-loving husband Bill, and their spunky children.
Ivy Grace Hinchliffe
Ivy was born and raised in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia. Ivy is the daughter of Christy and Brian Hinchliffe also of Gainesville. Ivy is honor graduate of Chestatee High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Minored in Spanish at the University of Georgia, graduating in 2024. Ivy is a member of Corinth Baptist Church. Ivy serves as a paralegal in our family law practice specializing in uncontested and contested divorce cases. Ivy also heads up our discovery team and handles processing discovery, communication with clients on document production, redaction, and responses to discovery. Ivy is an integral part of our family law team and truly enjoys helping people in need. Her family breeds Aussie Doodles locally, hence her love for animals is prevalent. For fun, Ivy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, shopping, and watching the DAWGS play.
Mariana Latimer-White
Paralegal
Mariana Latimer-White is a Gainesville native who graduated from Brenau University in 2018. She joined the Law Office of Candace Williams as a paralegal in October 2025 and hasn’t looked back since. Mariana is a people person with a compassionate approach and a genuine heart for helping others. She takes pride in supporting clients through challenging times and serving the community that raised her. When she’s not working, she’s spending quality time with her husband and son—or attempting to take up golf again after a 15-year hiatus.
Madlyn Hansird
Receptionist
Madlyn Hansird is from Jackson County, Georgia. She attended Jefferson City High School and currently lives in Athens, Georgia. She serves as our firm Office Manager and Receptionist. She is the first voice and face of our law firm. Originally from Jefferson, Georgia, Madlyn has always been a leader in her community and committed herself to public outreach and volunteering. She discovered her passion for helping and serving others and has honed these skills throughout her personal and professional life. She participated in two mission trips to Nicaragua, where she developed strong skills in leadership, teamwork, and cross-cultural compassion. From her experiences, she is now passionate about assisting clients during some of life’s most challenging moments. Her compassion, attention to detail, and commitment to client care reflect her belief in making a positive impact through every case. She is the first voice and face of our law firm. Her background in customer service and strong interpersonal skills combined with her proactive attitude, and proficiency in managing office logistics ensures the smooth and professional operation of the front office. Madlyn is responsible for greeting clients, managing a multi-line phone system and maintaining the scheduling of appointments. Madlyn’s proven ability to handle high pressure environments and maintain meticulous organization makes her an asset to the firm. We love having Madlyn part of our team. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially playing with her niece and nephew that she is crazy about. Additionally, Madlyn is an adventurer and loves hiking or relaxing at the beach.
Alexandria Bryant
Legal Assistant
Alexandria Bryant is a Gainesville native and proud graduate of North Hall High School. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business and Health & Human Services from the University of North Georgia in 2025. Alexandria is currently pursuing her Paralegal Certificate at the University of Georgia, further expanding her knowledge and professional skill set in the legal field.
In her free time, Alexandria enjoys traveling and spending time with her dog, Baxter.