My ex and I could not have gotten through one of the hardest things in our lives without Colleen. I am so relieved to have found her. Divorce is hard and emotional enough...and over-whelming is an under statement. Colleen provided a safe and neutral place both physically and mentally. She had such patience, empathy and confidence in both my ex husband and I as she went through everything and explained things so thoroughly. There can be a lot of confusion and second guessing in a divorce, and Colleen truly provided a peace of mind. She genuinely was wanting the best for BOTH of us, and her #1 priority was the happiness and security our our children. When I think about all that has gone on lately in this divorce, I continually think how greatful I am to have had Colleen there to walk us through everything and lead us in the right paths. Thank you Colleen, so much! read more

Having to make a decision to separate or divorce can be emotionally and physically draining. Thinking divorce can be a difficult and lengthily process, assuming it will become "messy" with your spouse and not knowing what to do during the legal proceeds can be off putting. Working with McNamee Mediations was an experience that left me feeling whole again. Colleen is kind and understanding to both parties and truly looks at what is at the best interest for your situation. If you are ever in need of a mediator, which I highly recommend if you can go that route, please reach out to McNamee Mediations. I want to thank you Colleen for your guidance, understanding and advice throughout this experience. Divorce can be easy and tolerable and I have to you thank for that. read more

This was the most stressful and most difficult time in my life, but with Colleen's expertise, she made the process incredibly fast, simple and easy. She was responsive and has excellent communication throughout the entire process. For anyone considering mediation I would highly recommend Colleen! read more

If you are contemplating divorce and have no idea how to navigate its muddy waters you must contact Colleen McNamee! Colleen was able to turn a potentially confrontational and terrifying experience into a smooth, professional legal transaction. She made the entire process understandable. Her fair and logical approach put us at ease and helped us to focus on the facts, not emotion. Her communication skills and demeanor helped us to agree on a win win outcome for our children and each other. Her legal knowledge and connections allowed us to move assets, create trusts, record deeds and handle other legal events that we feared with the simplest of ease. I am very satisfied with our outcome. Thank you Colleen for making our divorce simple, fair, and a much more amicable experience than we were ever anticipating....I wish I could give you ten stars! DO2 read more

So I am divorced and now remarried. My judgment terms with my ex seemed to be pretty outdated now that our children are getting older and I was wondering if it needed to be updated. I had consultations with 3 different attorneys and walked away frustrated every time because I didn't feel like I was getting any answers. I had pretty much given up and figured I would just leave things as is. Then my current wife found Colleen online and called and spoke with her. She really liked Colleen and felt like she was open, honest, and forthcoming with answering my wife's questions without forcing us to come in for an appointment to get any answers. My wife and I decided to set up an appointment with her. We met with Colleen for 1 hour and I literally received so much more information in that one hour from her than I did from all three appointments with the litigation attorneys! She answered every single question I had concisely and explained to me the how, when, and why for each thing so that I would clearly understand it. Then to top it off, she came up with a creative idea for my wife and I to do that would not upset my ex wife or upend our current agreement, but that would still produce some necessary results that would be in the best interest of everyone, without there being any financial compensation for Colleen with this solution! Honestly, my wife and I were really blown away by Colleen and if there are ever any issues in the future we will absolutely use her again. We both now refer anyone we know going through a family law related issue to Colleen..... read more

I would highly recommend Colleen McNamee for divorce mediations. What could have been a quite unpleasant experience was very civil because Colleen kept discussions and negotiations neutral and professional. She was able to find mutually acceptable solutions for some of our sticky points. In the end, we were able to part ways with dignity without spending an arm and a leg like we would have with a traditional divorce. read more

Wow! From the moment I spoke to Colleen I was immediately at ease... and so was my now ex husband. She was fair, trustworthy, kind, empathetic and got the job done as quickly as possible for us. She was able to get us through a negative moment of our lives as positively as possible. I am SO happy to have found her on a mom Facebook group. Thank you Colleen for everything you did for us. You are SO appreciated. read more

My husband had retained an attorney to start our divorce process and then we decided to use Colleen's mediation services instead because we didn't want it to turn into an expensive battle. My husband's attorney convinced him to keep him on retainer while we went through mediation "just in case he needed him". Within a couple of months we had worked through all of the details with Colleen and we're just finishing up one last issue. Apparently my husband told his attorney this because his attorney then sneakily filed something with the court requesting a court date. Obviously he realized he was about to lose his client and the fees along with it! I have no doubt that this attorney's intention was to blow up mediation and that's exactly what it did - it immediately created distrust between my husband and I. It took us two years to litigate our divorce in court and thousands of dollars in attorney fees! This should have never happened. My husband and I BOTH agree we should have stayed with mediation and finished things with Colleen. Not only did we spend a lot of extra money having to litigate this, and 2 extra years of our lives, but the litigation process itself further tore apart our fragile relationship and we are not even on speaking terms any longer. I truly believe that never would have happened had we continued the mediation process with Colleen. If you're considering divorce and trying to decide whether to retain an individual attorney or go with mediation, I strongly encourage you to contact Colleen. That is the right choice!! read more

Colleen came very highly recommended to me by a very close friend. I wanted to do mediation but my ex was already consulting with an attorney and was dubious about proceeding without her own individual counsel. She was pretty adamant, but I convinced her to at least have a consultation with Colleen. We had a fairly long first appointment and I could see this was going to be a challenge to get my ex to come around, but by the end of the appointment she had agreed to at least try mediation. By the end of the second appointment, she was completely on board. Colleen started building trust and credibility with us right from the get-go! Going through a divorce is never easy and it's difficult for everyone involved. My ex and I both felt like Colleen was there for us at each turn, and when every challenge arose. She was patient and always explained things, sometimes repeatedly, until we each felt comfortable and could move forward. You can tell that Colleen has a lot of experience, is very knowledgeable & creative, has a strong skill set, and also genuinely cares about her clients. I would highly recommend her services to anyone considering going through a divorce, and have done so myself since completing mediation with her. She really does deserve these five stars! read more

Divorce is ranked up there as one of the most difficult and stressful experiences that anyone can ever go through, it usually leaves you bitter and emotionally and financially drained. However, because Colleen was our mediator we were able to avoid most of the ugliness of divorce. She is extremely professional, knowledgeable and compassionate. She is truly dedicated to helping you dissolve your marriage in a manner that is unbiased and efficient. Despite having a long-term marriage of nearly 12 years, 2 young children aged 5 and 1, and a business, we were able to have a divorce settlement signed within 6 weeks. Colleen is also extremely available via email. She would always respond to my emails within the same day, or if I emailed late in the day she would reply very early the next morning. She is motivated to help you move on with your life by ending a marriage that is no longer working, and not motivated by nickeling and diming you. Her fees are extremely reasonable given her level of expertise and 18-year experience. My heart breaks for those who end up litigating in court. I have several friends who have litigated in court, and the process usually drags on for at least 2 years, is extremely costly because of exorbitant lawyer fees and turns an amicable relationship with your ex-spouse into something that is contentious and hostile. Because my priority is to be able to co-parent our children with love and respect, it was very important for me to end the marriage in a respectful way that honors our time spent together as well as our individual journey. Colleen is very mindful of how difficult and painful a divorce is and uses her compassion and expertise to artfully navigate you through any challenges that may arise. If you are in the unfortunate position of ending your marriage, please go through mediation with Colleen! She will save you a lot of heartache and money, but most importantly, she will finalize your divorce with your physical, mental and spiritual well-being intact. She is a true gift to humanity. Thank you so much Colleen, it was a blessing from the universe to have you as our mediator. read more

as divorce is such a difficult and trying experience....it was made much more manageable with Colleen by our sides to guide us through each and every turn. i would guess it was less painful and far more productive than if we had each hired attorneys and fought it out in a courtroom. Colleen is intelligent, well spoken and knew how to help resolve the issues we came across during the process. i will recommend her services to anyone who seeks to divorce fairly and peacefully. read more

I worked with Colleen in regards to my divorce. She came as a recommendation from a colleague and my goodness she was amazing. Her expertise and composure are beyond words. She helped me understand terminology, feel safe with understanding financial situations, separation of assets and all the issues I did not see coming. Also, I need to express this, she has a calm energy. Her energy helped us get through tense feelings and hard decisions. I truly can't say thank you enough for making a difficult situation as smooth as it could be. Not to mention, saved money!!!!!!! She is upfront about pricing and sticks to her word. Great experience read more

Colleen did an incredible and flawless job of making me feel comfortable. I was scared of something being missed, a lot of uncertainty in divorce with small children to consider, but she took us through making sure all bases were covered, explaining everything with patience, and making sure that both parties got the most fair settlement imaginable through creativity and thoroughness. I would recommend her to anyone, when you consider the cost of someone like her, it is FAR less than ending up in court one day. I'm certain there is nobody out there better than her at what she does, both from a legal and customer service standpoint. read more

Colleen is extremely professional, knowledgeable, matter of fact, resourceful, creative, compassionate and kind. She makes what could be a contentious situation smooth and amicable. She's quick to respond and will mediate your settlement at your pace. The mediation process is completely private, so you never have to step foot into a courtroom if you and your partner are willing to work together to come to an agreement--Colleen can help you get there! read more

After months of failed therapy, my wife and I decided to do a legal separation and were referred to Colleen. From the moment we met her, it was a very pleasant experience, in fact she helped get me and my wife back together at that time. If you have any doubts in your mind if the marriage can be salvaged, she has a good eye for that! After 2 years we decided that we were better off apart and went back to Colleen to start the divorce process. If both you and your spouse can agree to a civil divorce, mediation is the way to go and a lot less expensive. Now that my divorce is just about finalized, I can honestly say that as emotional and depressing a divorce can be, the only positive that came out of this was the interaction we had with Colleen. She made everything easy, communicated step by step the process and helped with decision making. Another plus is she responds to calls very quickly and or emails! I highly recommend McNamee Mediations!!!! read more

The process of a divorce is hard no matter what! But Colleen makes this process so much easier. She is fair thorough and very professional along with being sympathetic with a very sensitive situation. I would recommend her to anyone thinking of divorce. Mediation is always better than litigation and Colleen is the best there is! read more

Colleen is seriously a miracle worker! Our divorce had been dragging on for nearly four years, and we had made very little headway using other mediation and divorce professionals without success. I had all but lost hope and did not think we would be able to reach a settlement without a judge intervening. Colleen's no-nonsense yet compassionate approach was just what we needed to push things through. She is a truly gifted professional and addressed all our concerns and showed an ENORMOUS LEVEL OF PATIENCE and thorough knowledge of the law. I simply can't say enough about how thankful I am to her. read more

I could not recommend Colleen enough!! She was a wealth of knowledge and information and I felt supported throughout the entire divorce process. She answered both our questions as quickly as possible and was always super thorough in her explanation of things. Divorce is a scary and emotional event but I felt good knowing that Colleen was there with her expertise to help us both during the process. Thanks so much Colleen!! read more

Colleen helped us through what must always be a difficult time for any couple. She invested time with us both, but also both of us individually to make sure we kept things in mediation, rather than litigation. Poise & professionalism are key in trying times like this process, and acted both as a counselor & therapist to get things through. Thanks Colleen! read more

I had a number of bad experiences with attorneys regarding other areas of law in the past, so I was very leery about having to hire one to facilitate my divorce process. Colleen came very highly recommended to my wife and I though, and I can honestly say that she far exceeded my expectations! Colleen is wonderful. She is an honest, caring and trustworthy mediator/attorney who knows her profession inside and out. Her fees are extremely fair and will save you thousands of dollars you would otherwise spend in litigation. She is also extremely sensitive to how difficult going through a divorce can be. I was very worried about my wife and her psychological state as we began the process and I expressed this to Colleen. My wife and I were in very different states of mind throughout the process, and Colleen was attune and sensitive to both of us and how we were each feeling without our even saying anything to her. I had no idea how much mediation would really end up being a balance between law and psychology, and Colleen excels at striking that balance! I would highly recommend Colleen's services for anyone in need. Thanks Colleen! Dr. Mike read more

I truly could not recommend working with Colleen any higher. This whole process has been very tough emotionally, as I'm sure everyone reading this who is going through a custody battle knows all too well. But working with Colleen was immensely helpful. I was skeptical at first since I wasn't the one who found her but as we got into the process of exploring what was needed and what was best for my daughter she helped pull together all of the threads that really mattered to help get us all get through this and to come to an agreement that we never could have on our own. She also was essential in helping us stay out of the financial black hole and blood bath that could have ensued if we had hired attorneys and gone to court. More than a Yelp review, feel free to use me as a reference!! Colleen did a great job of working with all parties to make sure that we were able to stay on track, move things forward and make any modification that were needed in a timely manner. Many thanks to you, Colleen. :) I appreciate it. read more

My husband and I were struggling (for 1.5 years) to move forward with our divorce and reach mutually acceptable terms. I had an attorney; he did not. A friend recommended mediation and Colleen, and I am so grateful she did! Colleen was very professional BUT still very approachable, and made it possible for my husband and I to talk and reach agreeable terms. Colleen was able to understand both my husband's and my viewpoints, remain diplomatic, and help talk us through our differences. She knows what she is doing and what needs to be done. Thank you, Colleen! read more

This is a review I've been meaning to write for ages. I can't say enough wonderful things about Colleen. She came highly recommended to us through close friends and we so appreciated her professional, kind, nurturing expertise. We have been divorced for 1.5 years now and I have been recommending Colleen to many people, who have been just as happy with their smooth divorce proceedings, through her. Such an awful time in our lives, but Colleen was defiantly a silver lining for both of us. Mediation is financially very reasonable compared to long, messy, expensive divorces with courts and lawyers. I wasn't convinced that I would be happy with mediation but I can honestly say Colleen was very impartial and I couldn't believe she managed to help us find middle ground. Thank you Colleen. read more

Colleen was fantastic throughout the process! I would highly recommend her to any couple that is going through the turmoil of divorce, she made the process comfortable, even when times were difficult for me as the man going through an extraneous process with my wife, she was patient, understanding, and effective. She is fair to both parties, is a great listener, and works with the parties to try and arrive at a result that is not only legally fair but reasonable to both sides. I recommend mediation instead of fighting through a divorce in the courts, the environment it's less stressful, and Colleen minimizes the touch points and gets to a result quickly. I highly recommend her. read more

"I wish I had visited Colleen first." Do yourself a favor and don't be like me... GO SEE HER FIRST! Don't spend thousands on lawyers when you can handle this process with much less animosity while saving thousands of dollars. I tell EVERYONE to try the mediation route first. I then tell them to use Colleen because divorce or seperartion are complicated and emotional issues. The only way a resolution can be agreed upon is if both parties trust and respect the mediator. Colleen has the empathy and emotional depth to navigate potentially dicey discussions. She also has a in-depth understanding of the legal process; you know that what she is telling you is accurate, current and true... ... The same cannot be said for my dealings with lawyers. Friends had warned me to try alternatives due to cost, but I thought I "needed" a lawyer. Well, after thousands of dollars were spent and nothing accomplished, it appeared my lawyer was more interested in dragging out my case then finding a solution. Do yourself a favor and call Colleen. She's very easy to work with and will get you (and your spouse) back to a working partnership. read more

After MANY years of marriage, my parents decided to get a divorce. Of course the first place we looked to find somebody that would suit both my parents and their VERY different personalities was Yelp! After reading the reviews of some other the mediators in the area, Colleen was the clear choice for our family. They are elderly and couldn't go at it alone. So, the whole family was involved. My brother and I brought and attended each meeting for both my mom, dad, and when they were also meeting together. Sadly, there are few things (and people) my parents agree on, and Colleen has made that very short list. She was somehow able to keep my mom on track regarding finances and particular specific details regarding the dividing of their assets, yet also able to get into the nooks and crannies with my more savvy father. He may not be as savvy as he thinks he is ;) There are few people as genuine, knowledgeable, kind, patient and still fun and down to earth as Co. A true class act in everyway. Do yourself a favor and let Colleen help you through your difficult time! read more

After searching through countless yelp reviews, I found Colleen. The five star ratings down the page gave me enough confidence to give her a call. I'm always a little leery about hiring anyone I don't know and usually work by referral alone. After meeting with Colleen, I realized I was in the hands of someone who knew what they were doing and that I could trust. She is friendly, thorough, efficient and compassionate and has been helping me with my case for a few months now. She is willing to go the extra mile for her clients and I am very happy with the work she has done so far me thus far. I would recommended her to anyone that lands up in the same situation I was in, she is the best!!!!!! Melody read more

I'm so glad that we found Colleen to help with our divorce process. She really knows the ins and outs and explains everything so clearly and simply that it takes a lot of the stress out of the whole experience. Her thorough work and positive energy really helped as she guided us expertly to find solutions that were best for us through the legal process. Thank you Colleen! Can't recommend her enough! read more

Can't say enough good about Colleen- everyone around us was truly shocked when we tell our mediation story. Colleen had everything done within a month! She knows what she's doing and knows how to approach touchy subjects. Highly recommend her! read more

If you want an experienced mediator who knows the law...If you want a tough but fair, and impartial, person to be there when you need help making tough decisions.....If you want someone who treats both sides fairly regardless of any issues you may have had as a couple....and if you want a mediator that is a great lawyer too....then Colleen is someone you can trust. Bluntly- she doesn't favor any one side and focuses you on coming to an agreement....she was someone that we chose after interviewing other mediators and was clearly the best in her class. read more

I want to take this opportunity to express how professional and awesome Colleen is a mediator. I solely based my decision on selecting her services from all the positive Yelp reviews. She did not disappoint! She is extremely fair to both parties, is enjoyable to work with and doesn't hesitate to call out either party if required. Her no nonsense approach is quite refreshing. You deal directly with her, every step of the way. One thing to note is that Colleen is very quick to respond to any of your questions, even during off hours and weekends (if she is available.) As another Yelper wrote: "She is also very well connected with specialists in other fields." I found this to be quite true as my divorce required an opinion from a bankruptcy specialist. Colleen even offered a lead to a potential job my Ex contacted. Overall, I can't stress how easy, comfortable and enjoyable my experience with Colleen has been. This is especially true since this is my second divorce. I promise you, she will definitely save you thousands if you go with a mediator! Based on my past experience, she is extremely affordable, especially if split with the Ex! Thanks again Colleen! read more

Colleen is fantastic! I would have never been able to get through this process without her. She saved me from our situation lasting for years in the court system and was amazing at the way she kept things on track, while being respectful to both parties. She is genuinely a really good person and great at her job. Extremely professional and a pleasure to work with. Financially it was a great choice and for my sanity it was even better. She was a blessing at a very difficult time in my life. read more

Divorce is not simple, it's not easy; it's messy, and painful, and oh so heartbreaking. Even if you plan on it being an amicable experience, it will not turn out to be. Know all of this going in and you'll make it through. My ex-husband and I decided that we were going to try mediation before going the drastic route of getting lawyers. I am so happy that we did! From the first moment I met Colleen, I knew we were in the right place and had made the right choice! Colleen is beautiful and elegant, smart and compassionate, kind and gentle. She understands the difficulties of divorce and gently probes for each side's story to better understand how to proceed. As a good mediator should, she doesn't take sides with either party, but remains the voice of reason and sanity to guide you through the inevitable ups and downs. During the incredibly difficult and/or heated moments, she artfully and gently was able to return us to a place of compassion so that we would communicate more effectively with one another in order to move forward. I cannot say enough about Colleen and how she handled our divorce. Everything was transparent and done as a team. I never felt that she favored one of us over the other; Colleen was always neutral and knew exactly how to maneuver us through the ebb and flow. With lawyers, you're not privy to the conversations taking place because you are not a part of them! You are left to your lawyer handling everything for you and hearing secondhand how things are progressing. You had better pray you have a good lawyer! But with mediation, you are a part of the entire process. As long as you have a good mediator who communicates well and offers sage advice, provides a compassionate environment, and can easily maneuver you through the messiest moments with ease and grace, your divorce will be a more positive experience than you had thought it could be. I know my ex and I would have ended up getting lawyers without Colleen. I know that we wouldn't have been able to make it through as amicably as we did without her; and I will be forever grateful that we found her. Colleen, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Not only do I view you as an excellent mediator who helped guide me through one of the most difficult and dark parts of my life with grace and compassion, I also view you as a friend. I know anyone who is blessed to find you, will also see the kindness, intelligence, and gentleness that you radiate so brightly, and will feel as positively afterwards as they did upon your first meeting. You are truly a blessing and will forever be held in the highest regard! Thank you, thank you, thank you. read more

I was very happy to discover Colleen based on her reviews here. She was very professional, making each appointment relaxed and fun. Our meetings were productive and I felt we were able to skip a meeting due to how efficient Colleen is. She was very fair to both of us and helped each of us end up with an agreement that allowed us to both win. Her experience was obvious from the start all the way to the clauses she made sure to include in our agreement. Colleen had a great depth of knowledge so wherever a question came up she had the answer often with options and recommendations. I do recommend making sure you clarify the answers she gives you as you may only hear the answer where you think you are getting the better deal. The actual answer often fairer to both of you. Thank you again Colleen for helping us, it was so much easier and quicker with your assistance. read more

My ex found McNamee Mediation's through Yelp and all these positive reviews. Now I'm adding my review to the mix. What everyone else says is correct. I'm very glad we used Colleen. She is incredibly organized and professional. She covers all the details and explains everything very well. I know many people who have gone through the complete misery of divorce court. My experience going through mediation was cake compared to court. I don't recommend divorce, but if it is unavoidable, I recommend McNamee Mediations. read more

Colleen has been superb & instrumental in settling our divorce in record time (3 months). Our divorce could have easily dragged on for years. Instead of fighting each other badly, with her help, we were able to agree on several issues. She took her time to patiently listen to her clients. Her diligence & dedication have helped us through the difficult time to reach an amicable settlement in such a short time. She was always on top of things & very thorough. She is not only very kind, sympathetic, extremely patient, but also very reasonable, and understanding. I highly recommend her service to anyone who would want to get a speedy & satisfying settlement. Colleen saved us headaches, time, & money! My deep gratitude to Ms. Colleen for having done such a wonderful & excellent job, beyond all my expectations! I'm very impressed, truly & deeply thankful for her service!!! Jenny S. read more

In researching an alternative to an expensive and potentially prolonged divorce proceeding I came across Colleen McNamee. So many others had spoken highly of her and I fully understand why. Colleen is the consummate professional, efficient, friendly and equitable to both parties in what is generally a difficult and emotional situation for the parties involved. She helped both of us navigate the situation and come to an equitable resolution under very difficult circumstances. Aside from just mediating the divorce she is genuinely a kind and empathic person that made the process much easier than expected. I would highly recommend Colleen for anyone that feels that mediation is the best way to move forward, I just can't really describe the difference she made for me during what could have been a very trying ordeal. She is just amazing. read more

Not only is Colleen McNamee an expert mediator, she is someone who genuinely cares about the well-being of everyone who walks through her doors. She doesn't take the divorce process lightly. If Colleen doesn't think you are quite ready for divorce, she will first send you to someone who will help you gain the clarity you need to make the best choice possible, which may result in reconciliation. If divorce is your chosen path, Colleen helps to make it as painless as possible. She makes sure everyone involved is thoroughly informed each step along the way. And, she is specially skilled in handling complex situations. I feel 100% confident sending couples to Colleen knowing that they will be taken care of with the utmost professionalism and care. She is an A++. read more

Despite going through a very difficult time in my life, Colleen was there to make this as easy and smooth as possible. She truly was an unbiased third party and was fair in every aspect of my mediation. She is also very well connected with specialists in other field that made the process significantly easier (insurance, finance, and others). For both parties, male and female, searching for a mediator in the Orange County area that will truly listen to both sides and give a fair ruling, give Colleen a call. You'll be happy you did. Thank you Colleen! read more

Colleen's thorough and detailed walk-through of every step of the process helped to guide my husband and I through what could have been a painful and combative process with ease. What sets her apart from others in her field, however, is her willingness to look for hope and possibility and potential solution through settlement, which enabled my husband and I to reach a settlement agreement that would leave the door open to a potential reconciliation. I'm proud of the work we did with Colleen, which is never something I expected to say at this stage of the game, and I know that this is largely due in part to her individual expertise. read more