After scouring the internet for a mediator (by law, your attorney can't recommend one for you so I was on my own), I narrowed down my choices to two mediators with very reputable reviews and scores, and Colleen was one of them. I used each of the two business websites to submit an inquiry and request an initial consultation. Colleen was the very first to reply, and it came just the morning following my inquiry the night before. The things that impressed me about Colleen even before meeting with her was that she is both a certified mediator and a licensed attorney, who has dedicated 20+ years to doing nothing but divorce mediation. She has also posted tons of really informative content and videos on her website that I thought were incredibly thoughtful, thorough, and helpful for people who when faced with the mammoth task of navigating divorce are probably desperately looking for the right answers just like I was. In my search, I didn't come across a mediation website that came even close to offering the richness of content that Colleen makes available for free to the public. However, I have to admit that I engaged with the other mediator first because she offered a fixed price deal that was going to be less expensive than what Collen was offering. As soon as I started engaging with her, I regretted my decision. She couldn't seem to answer basic questions, and would take a long time to respond to us. We went back and forth multiple times on a particular question about how to ensure the division of the equity on our house, only to have her say that it sounded like we needed legal advice and that legal advice would not be part of the fixed price mediation package and that we'd have to litigate instead? I was completely put off by this, especially since she had not explained that even simple process-related questions would be deemed as "legal advice" not covered under her mediation services. In other words, the fixed cost would only cover them filling out paperwork without us being able to ask any questions. By the way, you can hire a paralegal to do that and don't need an attorney. I immediately disengaged with the first mediator and proceeded with Colleen. From our first consultation to the last, Colleen was unbelievably quick in her responses, and even went above and beyond to anticipate our next questions, the next steps, any risks we needed to consider. She was transparent in her process, the court's process, and her cost structure. Throughout the mediation, we had many questions for her as neither of us had ever been through a divorce before, and she had thorough and detailed answers ready for us as soon as we asked the questions. She has her process down to the most minute details from gathering the inputs she needs to actually filling out the paperwork. It is not in exaggeration when I say that not only is the volume of paperwork daunting, but the level of detail required to get it all done correctly the very first time is close to impossible without the help of a hired professional. She not only did it all right the first time, but did it perfectly since the approval from the court came only a couple of weeks after the final signing. As far as cost, she charges a fair price and is worth every penny. The very first meeting you have with her will include a detailed run through of the cost structure and she is very transparent. At no point in the process did I feel like she was trying to sell me more business or to increase consultation times. She proactively identified any areas where we could consolidate efforts to reduce any chargeable time. By the way, I researched two other divorce attorneys of good reputation, one in Orange County and another in LA County. Colleen's rates are competitive and were in fact, less expensive than the two I spoke to. She will tell you that she has chosen not to raise her rates for many years in consideration of her clients. Above all else, mediation is a delicate art of trying to execute on the transaction of divorce with two people that don't get along. In addition to knowing the law and how to navigate the divorce system, it requires very specific soft skills and a balancing between keeping both parties in line while helping both feel like they got what was best for everyone in the end, including what is best for your children. All I can say is, Colleen has it all and she is so good at what she does, sometimes you don't even realize until it's happened already that she literally helped you and your spouse to agree to something within minutes which on your own, may have taken months to agree on, if you could have agreed at all. I couldn't have asked for a better mediation experience, and would highly recommend Colleen to those who want to do it right the first time and get all their questions answered quickly and accurately. She has great empathy for her clients and their families. Divorce is one of the hardest things you will ever do, but with an amazing med read more

Colleen was a patient and very informative partner for us through our divorce process. I appreciated how she dealt with both of our communication styles to ensure we could move forward to a successful conclusion. I highly recommend her services for any couple looking to avoid painful and costly litigation. read more

I believe we made the best choice to work with Colleen. A professional with many years of experience, I recommend her to anyone seeking family law mediation. I found that Colleen's approach truly embodies fairness and impartiality. I am grateful for how quickly Colleen helped us clear hurdles to reach an agreement that works for both sides. That saves our finances, mental health, and relationship as co-parents, which is invaluable. read more

Colleen was incredibly professional, kind, and fair throughout our mediation process. She not only helped us navigate the intricacies of our divorce but also calmly walked us through the inevitable emotional turmoil a divorce brings. Everything was completed in a timely manner and explained thoroughly. Colleen is very knowledgeable in every aspect of getting through the mediation process. She made a very complicated and sad time a little easier to get through. She is amazing. read more

The whole experience with McNamee Mediations was excellent beyond expectations. Whatever the obstacles or clients' words or actions that might be unexpected thrown during the sessions, Colleen was always centered, focused, and professional. There was no moment that I was worried how it was carried out because of her calm and professional attitude. She answered all of my questions without judgement, including the ones I felt too stupid to ask. I imagined a mediator being fair to both sides could be like no facial expressions and cold, but she is emphatheic and compassionate! She understands this is a hard and painful process. I appreciated her as a person and her professionalism. I'm glad I chose her service. She's beyond five stars for sure! read more

Ending a marriage is an enormous, life-changing decision. We explored mediation as an alternative to traditional, adversarial divorce because we could agree that it was OUR MONEY and we wanted to be smart about how we spent it. It didn't make sense to spend twice for the same service. Opting for mediation with Colleen was the best decision we could have made. Colleen is sharp, knows the law, is compassionate, empathetic and creative. We both felt heard, supported and empowered to get through the issues and create a solution that worked for us. We got through the process in a fraction of the time and money compared to a traditional divorce and it was much less stressful than it would have been. If you can sit across the table and work for your mutual benefit, Colleen will guide you through this process so you can both move forward. read more

Colleen is fantastic. I've been facing dead-ends and troubles finding a lead to my case, but i found Colleen who've provided me a lead to get my case resolved, while every other attorney were trying to take the longer, difficult route to make money. Honestly, Colleen is the first attorney to provide different methods and approach to resolve case that's efficient and cost-saving read more

Colleen makes a sad and difficult process easier. She is smart, calming, knowledgeable, and has the ability to make a divorcing couple come together to an agreement, which is a much-better solution than hiring divorce attorneys who have the goal of pinning you against each other so they make more money. She is worth every penny, as she is amazing at what she does. It'll be much cheaper than using attorneys or a mediator who isn't as good and will take longer. We used another mediator at first and it was such a waste of time and money. Choose her, settle, and move on with your life. read more

Very fair to each party and gets everything done in a timely matter. She is super professional but also understands the emotions involved. Highly recommend Colleen! read more

Working with Colleen is like working with a lawyer, therapist, and friend, all in one. Not only does she know the law due to her years of experience, Colleen is able to resolve issues creatively, so that both parties feel like they are getting what is fair. I highly recommend mediation if you don't want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on your divorce. And I highly recommend Colleen specifically if you don't want your divorce to turn ugly and contentious. Colleen was able to come up with solutions I had not known were possible when hammering out the details of my divorce, so that issues I thought would be hard to resolve became more manageable. She also gave sound, caring advice when we had questions regarding our children. I got the sense that Colleen truly cared about us and whether we were happy (as one can be in such a situation) with the terms we came to agree on. Going through a divorce is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. But Colleen made it equitable, less daunting, and as simple as possible. I can't recommend her enough. read more

Working with Colleen during our mediation process was a true blessing. Her calming demeanor and steadfast guidance made the entire process way less daunting and destabilizing than I had anticipated it would be. I could always count on Colleen to be responsive and thorough no matter what my questions pertained to or how many I asked! Colleen genuinely cares about her clients and it shows in the empathy and compassion she brings to every meeting, phone call, or even email. Colleen is incredibly fair and balanced and the time and heartache saved by having a mediator both people can trust over two lawyers at odds cannot be underestimated. I would highly recommend Colleen without hesitation and could not imagine having gone through this process without her wisdom and knowledge to lean on. I'm so grateful for you, Colleen! read more

If you're reading this review you can stop looking for a mediator. Colleen did an amazing job for us. She explained everything very well and sometimes she had to explain it two or three times but she was always very patient with both of us. It's never and easy time and having the right person guide you through the process is so important. We talked to a few mediators at the beginning but then we met Colleen she was the only one we both agreed on. She was fair and impartial through the entire process. I don't ever want to have to do this again but if I ever had to Colleen would be the mediator without hesitation. Best thing about the whole thing is my ex and I are still on good terms. I think that has a lot to do with Colleen. read more

Colleen was extremely professional, respectful, and sensitive during one of the most difficult times of our lives. She was so responsive and answered all of my questions thoroughly. She always told us what to expect next which helped relieve some of the stress of the unknown. We were able to come to an agreement in less than 3 months so we could move on and start to heal. I would absolutely recommend McNamee Mediations. Thank you, Colleen. read more

I called Coleen McNamee because I needed info on mediating my separation/divorce. Sadly during our initial conversation we realized she was unable to help me because of the county my court is in. She doesn't service that area. She was kind, considerate, understanding and an all around good human! I do wish I could have worked w her because of how knowledgeable and pleasant she was. She answered all my questions even after she knew she wouldn't be able to get my business! Even though I couldn't work w her...I wanted to give a great review because I feel she'd be a great asset if you're going through a miserable time & need support! read more

While this situation is never easy, it couldn't have went more smoothly, in terms of the mediation process. The fees were very reasonable. The material was explained clearly, and I felt like she was completely unbiased and fair to both of us. If you're in need of mediation, I would recommend McNamee. read more

I had no idea a mediator could be used for a divorce. It was a lot less intimidating and much more civil. Colleen was very knowledgeable and helpful as well as patient with us. She explained each step and her recommendations were very on point. If you are not sure about mediation I would recommend that you talk to Colleen and she can guide you in the right direction for your situation. Always know your options. Thank you Colleen. read more

Colleen was amazing at helping to navigate a stressful process through her extensive experience and her multifaceted expertise. Mediation is a great option for couples who have a desire to negotiate the terms of their divorce including division of assets, finances and custody arrangements. I would recommend her highly. read more

My spouse and I were trying to figure out what the best way was to move forward with filing for divorce. We found McNamee Mediations on line. After looking at a handful of mediator's websites, we landed on Colleen's website. Her website is so easy to navigate, yet full of extremely useful content, helpful information, and even a number of videos that you can watch! The services that we received from Colleen were equally impressive. She is extremely knowledgeable about the divorce process, the law, and very creative at problem solving when we ran into obstacles. We are so fortunate to have found her. One thing that we wanted to make sure we preserved in all of this was our ability to co-parent since we have small children together. I firmly believe had we litigated, this would not have been possible. Colleen definitely has a tough job, and I can't imagine doing what she does every day all day long, but she is truly gifted. She got my spouse and I to communicate with each other and to problem-solve throughout the process, which then put us in good stead for continuing to effectively communicate post-divorce. In a way it was like having a therapist and a lawyer all in one. We both feel very grateful that we found Colleen and that we used her as our mediator. read more

Colleen is a true professional in every sense. She guided my spouse and I through a long overdue process, and provided options for us that enabled a resolution we both could agree upon. Colleen was on top of the entire process, and easy to reach. I would recommend Colleen's services to a close friend. Beyond thankful for Colleen's services. read more

I was faced with going through a divorce and didn't know where to turn to all of my questions. I knew Colleen and understood the value of utilizing a mediator for divorce versus litigation. That being said, I underestimated working with Colleen and my ex through this process. She handles everything with such care and attention to ensure things run smoothly. That, plus the process took a fraction of the time and expense to file. I can't speak highly enough about McNamee Mediations for this challenging process. Give her a call and you will not regret it. read more

My review for Coleen McNamee Mediations is long overdue. Every step of the process was clear, sequential and concluded at each session. We worked through confusing issues; and were able to fairly negotiate, so that each party was fully respected and heard. it's never easy; however, with Coleen's vast experience, expertise, and amazing demeanor, we were able to work through items smoothly. Coleen is superior at providing the best mediation services, and I would give her a perfect 10! Thank you, Coleen, for all you do to provide a non-confrontational experience. Lindy N. read more

My husband and I just completed our divorce process, and things went so much better than I ever thought they would. Colleen's professionalism, compassion, and calm demeanor helped both of us get through the process as painlessly as possible. I will be forever grateful to her. She is extremely knowledgeable about the law, and also very creative in thinking of outside the box solutions that ended up helping us come to an even better agreement than we ever could have reached had we litigated. We were both referrer to her by independent friends who had used her and highly recommended her services. We are both thankful that we found her and plan to refer her to any family members or friends that find themselves in the difficult position of needing to divorce. Thank you for everything, Colleen! read more

We highly recommend Colleen's mediation services. Prior to our marriage, Colleen sat down with us to write a prenuptial agreement. We had both previously gone through divorces that were costly and unfair in distributing assets. During a time of great happiness it can feel awkward to discuss finances and future distributions should divorce occur. However, Colleen made the experience a positive one as she helped us craft a prenuptial agreement we both felt was fair. This was important for each of us to feel secure coming into this new marriage. Colleen was gracious, kind and explained everything each step of the way. She is a true professional and her experience and character shone through! Dave and Erin read more

I recently worked with Colleen on what is called a "paternity suit". My ex and I were never married but shared the custody of our minor child. It was a complex case as my child's father lived out of state but was considering moving back to California. The relationship was very contentious and I was expecting a long, drawn out, and expensive court battle. However, after suggesting mediation and working with Colleen, the custody agreement was settled within 4 appointments due to Colleen's very efficient, unbiased, and thoughtful approach. Colleen saved us time, energy, and money. More importantly, she helped us create a plan that will keep us both out of court and focused on the most important thing- the health and happiness of our child. read more

I used Colleen to mediate my divorce and was very pleased how comfortable she made us feel throughout the process. We were not sure what the mediator process looked like. Colleen laid everything out in an organized manner, and was upfront about the process and costs. She never overwhelmed us with too much info, worked at our pace and took one thing at a time as we worked through the steps. Choosing mediation and to work with Colleen helped ease the difficulties that come with divorce. read more

From start to finish she was responsive , reliable, and fair. Mediators have to have the ability to communicate well and bring people to mutual agreements. Colleen does an amazing job at this and remains professional, even under difficulties that arise through the divorce process. Do not believe any rating less than 5 stars. Would highly recommend her services. Thank you Colleen ! read more

Divorce is emotionally difficult. With Colleen's help the legal aspect didn't add to the stress or difficulty. Colleen was wonderful to work with, from the time of contacting her to the time all documents were completed and filed was less than 3 month. She was kind, thorough, responsive, understanding and very helpful. If you don't have a complicated divorce, mediation is definitely a good option and I would recommend Colleen for the process. read more

This is one of the most stressful time of one's life. But we are thankful, we found McNamee Mediations. I did speak to few mediators but none of them were able to provide me convincing answers. I had 1 phone call with Colleen and I was convinced she is the right person for the job. She is go to person if you are looking for peaceful,amicable divorce. You don't need to go through litigation and hire a attorney and spend hourly fees on lawyers. Colleen is very responsive, well versed with law and great at suggestion. At the last step my ex and me were having some back & forth in finalizing the terms. She helped us to give some great suggestions which helped us to head in right direction. I will highly recommend Colleen and her services. She is best in business. read more

Colleen really helped us navigate a difficult situation where both parties ended up feeling good about the outcome and the choice to go down a mediation path. Strongly recommend. read more

I was so scared to go through the divorce process because it all seemed so daunting. A friend of mine recommended Colleen because she had used her as a mediator for her divorce. To be honest, I hadn't even considered that mediation would be an option. My ex-husband was open to it and after our first meeting with Colleen, he agreed that she would be a great fit to help us through the process. Colleen thoroughly explained the process and broke it down in easy-to-understand steps for us. She was patient with us and never made me feel like I was a burden, no matter how many questions we asked. Each appointment was clearly planned out so that no time was wasted. I appreciate the fact that she was very conscious of all of our time and didn't try to drag anything out. We never even had to step foot in a courtroom. I would refer Colleen without hesitation to anyone who was considering going through this process. read more

Colleen listened to both parties fairly and she listened to the difficult process of getting a divorce with compassion. Colleen's knowledge of divorce and decisions that had to be negotiated was fair, accommodating and made the experience alot easier. I highly recommend. read more

Colleen was a lifesaver during my recent divorce. She was very kind and really listened so that she understood the whole picture and I really felt that she supported both my ex husband and I in every way and made sure everything was fair for both of us. She also explained everything very clearly and patiently answered every question Colleen had an extensive knowledge of business and finances and was able to navigate us through a very tricky financial situation with her legal and financial expertise. I have friends who started the divorce process long before me but they did not do mediation and they are all shocked how smoothly our divorce went once we started working with Colleen and how fast the process was completed. I highly recommend mediation with Colleen. read more

Colleen put me at ease during this very emotional process with her excellent communication and swift handling of processes. She is incredibly personable, and gave me the peace of mind I needed to move forward. I highly recommend her services to anyone and everyone. read more

I have so appreciated Colleen's guidance throughout such a difficult time in life. She provided an atmosphere of calm cooperation and helped us to achieve an equitable resolution. In particular, she explained and offered numerous settlement options that eased the separation and divorce process for both of us. I am grateful that through mediation we were able to avoid using expensive lawyers and reduce some of the stress of the situation. Finally, Colleen is very responsive and reliable and adapted the process to our pace, yet kept us on track. She answered questions promptly and explained anything that was unclear in a complicated exchange. Thank you, Colleen! read more

There is no doubt as to why Colleen has so many raving reviews - she is simply the BEST!! Colleen is a total professional, and sets herself apart with her kindness, clear guidance, and unbiased approach to her work. She has been a supportive resource for our family as well as all of the couples we have referred to her - which we continue to do without hesitation. Thank you Colleen! read more

I needed advice on an ongoing divorce and requested a consult with Colleen. In a matter of 24 hours she had responded personally via email and telephone. She is very understanding and has a way of calming ruffled feathers. Highly recommend if you find yourself going through a terrible situation. read more

Ms.McNamee helped guide myself and the mother of our child through the intimidating process of a paternity case. We found her to offer level headed and professional guidance to achiever a mutually beneficial outcome for both parties that we can both live with. Additionally we were able to sidestep the potentially highly contentious litigation route where I'm sure there would have been greater damage to our relations. I highly recommend using McNamee mediations to assist with the challenge of finding a fair middle ground. read more

Colleen was absolutely wonderful to work with from start to finish. She was professional, well spoken, quick to respond, fair, knowledgeable and made us both feel at ease. She took the time to explain the process and answered all questions in a calm, soothing demeanor. This was 100% better then using attorney's with a expedient and efficient outcome. Before calling Colleen, we tried to do it on our own. We could not have done it without her! Thank you Colleen for making a difficult situation palatable. read more

There isn't enough I can say about Colleen! We had started our divorce process through litigation and soon realized it was emotionally draining, expensive and time-consuming. It was quickly turning an already bad situation worse. We then agreed to give mediation a chance and that's when we found Colleen. Colleen heard us both out and comforted our frustrations while remaining unbias and equally looking out for both of our interests. I was amazed at how she was able to walk such a fine line and still remain very professional, compassionate and fair. Divorce is a very trying time and having Colleen to help us navigate this process brought so much relief and reassurance. We also spent a fraction of the time and expenses compared to litigation. I would highly recommend Colleen to anyone who is going through the unfortunate process of divorce- you won't regret it!! read more

Colleen helped me navigate a challenging family law and real esate related issue. She navigated it with the right balance of professionalism and empathy and was able to help me bring a very challenging and somewhat convoluted issue to a successful close. She is a master of her craft and I feel confident referring her. read more