Stephen F. McDonough’s Reviews

A divorce is never pretty or fun but the good folks at the Divorce Collaborative helped make the process less confusing and as painless as possible. I worked with Steve as my attorney while involved in divorce mediation in Worcester County. Steve was extremely helpful by answering all of my questions and coaching me between the mediation sessions. His knowledge of the financial issues and ideas on bargaining helped me negotiate a fair settlement - for me and my children. Since Steve is also an experienced mediator, he did not try and upset the mediation process, but was supportive and understanding. Steve, along with others at the firm, were always quick to respond to my emails or telephone calls and were very accommodating around my busy schedule. I highly recommend him and The Divorce Collaborative LLC.

I had a very good experience with Stephen McDonough. He was personable and put me at ease right away. He seemed very experienced and knowledgable and was able to answer most, if not all of my questions. He was very patient with my husband and me, as we hit quite a few bumps along the way. Cost wise, the mediation process was much less expensive than a contested divorce. I think my husband and I were both satisfied with the process and the final agreement. I would highly recommend Stephen and his staff and the mediation process as well.

Having to go through family court for custodial issues is hard enough on it's own; having Stephen McDonough by my side has made navigation through this process less stressful. Stephen is incredibly knowledgeable in the system and the procedures, and represents his client well both in the court room and outside of the court room. Throughout my interactions with him he's been very professional, personal and attentively listened to communication. He and his firm have represented me in several court proceedings over the past two years and I would have no reservations about continuing with his services for family court.

I would recommend his services to anyone who is looking for top quality representation.

My exhusband and I worked with Steve for months trying to mediate our divorce. Although we had agreed to a flat fee, ultimately we paid much, much more and ended up unsatisfied (on both sides.) After months of getting no where in our negotiations, we both hired different attorneys to represent us and were able to come to a timely agreement without going to court. Both my ex and I were disappointed with the mediation experience with Steve.

Retained this attorney for divorce and paid a flat rate fee which may not be legal in the state of Massachusetts. After repeated requests to file a motion for sole occupancy of the marital home, I had an emergency situation which required the filing of a restraining order. I replaced him with a different attorney and ended up with a $7,000 bill despite never going to court on my behalf. His lack of experience resulted in a personally difficult situation for both me and my children. I would recommend shopping around for an attorney as I should have before retaining anyone.

I went into our first meeting not knowing what to expect and right away Steve made me feel at ease and comfortable. He did an excellent job of explaining the entire process and brought up many things that I had not yet thought about. I left our first meeting feeling that we (my ex-wife and I) made the correct choice in hiring Steve.

Steve was very professional and thorough and was able to help us reach a mutual agreement, he was a very good fit for my ex husband and for me too and I would highly recommend him.

Steve did a great job guiding us through the mediation process and keeping both parties focused on the important issues.

Going through a divorce isn't easy but Stephen helped ease the stress through mediating the process. He explained the process, advised on what to expect, and helped make it less stressful. Stephen is very knowledgeable and knows what to anticipate in divorce court. This helped us to reach a fair and reasonable agreement with the least amount of pain. No grief and aggravation of lawyers battling and the fees going up and up. If you are reasonable adults and appreciate a true professional, working with Stephen is the way to go.

Steve was the third attorney/mediator we met with when searching for assistance with our uncontested divorce. He was very professional, fair, and thorough. His sense of humor and levity helped put us at ease. When we went to court, the judge commented that our divorce agreement was a very well-drafted document.

The obvious emotional stress of going through a divorce is certainly enough for anyone to cope with. Working with Stephen made this difficult time a little easier with his knowledge and communication during our mediation process. He was able to help us reach a mutually beneficial agreement, and I would recommend Stephen to anyone and welcome any inquiries regarding the process from my own experience.

I've been divorced for about 10 years and in my past court dealings I have not been represented by an attorney. While I've "survived" in the past, I've always left feeling that maybe I'd been taken advantage of or not had my daughter's best interests represented. When my ex-husband filed for a reduction in child support (again) I felt that I needed to have someone in my corner. Contacting Steve McDonough at Divorce Collaborative was the best decision I could have made. From the moment I spoke to Steve I felt confident that I was getting the best representation I could. He immediately made me understand what was going on and what he was going to do on my behalf. He understood that we were dealing with not only a financial issue but an emotional one as well because we were talking about matters concerning support of my daughter. Steve was not only professional but reassuring as well. From the very beginning he was confident about my case and was able to instill some of that confidence in me as well. We went into court because my ex-husband was looking for a reduction in child support. After our court date, not only was there no reduction but he was ordered to pay more per week due to Steve's arguments on my behalf. Not only will I never go back to court without him on my side, I would recommend his services to anyone needing legal assistance regarding divorce, separation or child support issues.

Divorce is an unfortunate and difficult process. I have heard horror stories of huge expense and bitter conflicts. Steve was immensely helpful on the process, on what to expect and how to manage productively through the process. His guidance helped us build a very good agreement, even applauded by the court judge. He is an intelligent and understanding person, aware of the emotional toll and conscious of the typical challenges that face a couple throughout. Steve has an exceptional knowledge of the law and particularly of the collaborative process. I would highly recommend Steve for any of his services, especially for collaborative divorce.

I found Steve by just looking online for alternatives to divorce litigation. I loved the website for the The Divorce Collaborative. My initial meeting with Steve was very informative and put me at ease. My ex is a tough person to please-hence the divorce, but Steve was able to make him feel comfortable, which is a tall task. We both enjoyed the process with Steve. I believe his previous career enables him to react to people under stress in a very calming, appropriate manner. He has a fantastic sense of humor, but I suppose that's subjective. When we went to court, the judge was quite impressed with our agreement - saying nothing was left uncovered/unaddressed.
Steve was a perfect fit for my ex and I and our divorce.

Steve made a difficult, emotional process easier to get through. Steve or someone from his staff would respond to my requests in a timely manner. Although he had warned me that this process can take a long time, he was able to work quickly to settle my case with my best interests in mind. He has a great ability to recognize and diffuse conflicts before they escalate, a valuable skill in divorce proceedings.

Steve gets right to the point. He kept me focused on what was important in my case.My ex was very volitale and uncooperative. Steve handled every situation that came up in a profesional manner.

Entering into a divorce can be overwhelming but I was fortunate enough to find Stephen McDonough through the internet. He was easy to work with and has a great sense of humor which helped during this period of my life. He was very knowledgeable about the collaborative process and both myself and my ex-spouse would recommend him.

I worked with Stephen McDonough for my divorce mediation and was completely satisfied. He clearly explained the process from start to finish, but kept it from feeling overwhelming by focusing on one step at a time. He was always professional, but at the same time his sense of humor and easy manner kept the atmosphere as light and comfortable as possible considering the circumstances. Phone calls and emails were always returned promptly, and questions and concerns addressed clearly and patiently. I would not hesitate to return to this office for any future legal needs.