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Jennifer Shannon McDonald

also known as Jennifer S. McDonald, Jennifer McDonald
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Avvo Rating10
  • Centennial, CO
  • Licensed for 9 years
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About Jennifer

Specializing in family law, Child and Family Investigator work, and mediation.

 

Ms. McDonald focuses her practice on family law issues involving divorce, custody, and post-decree issues. She represents clients across the state of Colorado, including but not limited to Denver, Arapahoe County, Adams County, and Douglas County. 

Ms. McDonald handles cases involving high conflict divorce, dissolution of marriage, child custody, allocation of parental responsibilities, child support, maintenance, parental relocation, division of marital assets, grandparent rights, paternity, and civil protection orders, from beginning to end. 

In 2006, Ms. McDonald graduated with two undergraduate degrees in English and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Ms. McDonald went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2011. During her time as a law student, Ms. McDonald served as a guardian ad litem, representing children in court cases involving dependency and neglect. Ms. McDonald is trained in mediation, and uses her skills to settle many of her cases. 

Ms. McDonald is passionate about helping families through the sensitive and difficult divorce process. She understands that every divorce is unique. Ms. McDonald works with her clients to craft arguments and settlements; and, she works hard to help clients find resolution and closure. 

Ms. McDonald is an active member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Arapahoe County Bar Association, and the Colorado Bar Association Family Law section. She is licensed in the State of Colorado and the District Court of Colorado.

Ms. McDonald is a native of Colorado. In her free time Ms. McDonald enjoys spending time enjoying the Colorado mountains with her husband and two children.

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Practice areas

OtherChild supportFamilyChild custodyDivorce and separation
  1. Divorce and separation: 50%

    Divorces, legal separations, relocation, contempt, financial division of assets, Post-Decree, maintenance, jurisdiction, appeals, modifications

    9 years

  2. Child custody: 15%

    Parenting Time, Supervised Parenting Time, Holiday arrangements, Paternity cases, child support, relocation, guardianship, grandparent rights, modifications,

    9 years

  3. Family: 15%

    Relocation, modification, child support, division of assets,

    9 years

  4. Child support: 15%

    Calculation of Child support, modification, sworn financial statements, post-decree. Contempt, collection

    9 years

  1. Marriage and prenuptials: 5%

    Prenuptial agreement drafting and review.

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

3823418 1524669548

3823418 1525362123

Contact

The Law Firm of Jennifer S. McDonald, LLC

6860 S. Yosemite Court
Suite 2000
Centennial, CO, 80112

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
COActive201102/09/2021
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers12
Legal guides1
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Rising StarSuperLawyers2020
Colorado Rising StarsSuper Lawyers2019
Fall 2011 Judicial FellowshipUniversity of Colorado2011
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Attorney/OwnerThe Law Firm of Jennifer S. McDonald, LLC2018 - Present
AssociateJones Law Firm2012 - 2012
AssociateThe Law Firm Of Dennis A. Lacerte2012 - 2018
Colorado Law FellowColorado Legal Services2011 - 2012
Colorado Law Fellow- AttorneyColorado Legal Services, Legal Services Corp.2011 - 2012
Student AttorneyUniversity of Colorado - Juvenile Law Clinic2010 - 2011
Legal Intern1st Judicial District Courts2010 - 2011
Legal InternUniversity of Colorado Office of University Counsel2010 - 2010
Legal InternColorado Legal Services2010 - 2010
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
Colorado Women's Bar AssociationMember2018 - Present
Colorado Women's Bar Association, Programs CommitteeMember2018 - Present
Women Owned Law FirmsMember2018 - Present
Metropolitan Denver Interdisciplinary CommitteeMember2018 - Present
Arapahoe County Bar AssociationMember2016 - Present
Colorado Bar Association, Family Law SectionMember2011 - Present
Colorado Bar AssociationMember2011 - Present
Denver Bar Association, Metro Volunteer LawyersVolunteer Family Court Program2011 - Present
Colorado Women's Bar Association- Team Legally Pink for Race for the CureVolunteer2018 - 2018
Thompson G. Marsh American Inn of CourtMember2011 - 2013
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
The Law Firm of Jennifer S. McDonald, LLC BlogWhat is a Child and Family Investigator2018
The Law Firm of Jennifer S. McDonald, LLC BlogSimple timeline of the divorce process in Colorado2018
The Law Firm of Jennifer S. McDonald, LLC BlogWhat is a prenuptial agreement?2018
AVVO Legal GuidesFactors Courts Consider in Deciding Parenting Time in Colorado2014
Children's Legal Rights JournalSexting and Excessive Text Messaging: Symptoms of Teen Dating Violence?2010
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
Colorado Collaborative Divorce ProfessionalsIntro to Collaborative Practice Training2019
Colorado Judicial Branch Child and Family Investigator TrainingCertificate of Completion2017
Mares-Dixon and Assoc. and University of Colorado Student Mediation Services40-Hour Mediation Training2011
University of Colorado School of LawJuris Doctorate2011
University of Colorado BoulderBS - Bachelor of Science2006
Universtiy of Colorado At BoulderBA - Bachelor of Arts2006
Loveland High SchoolN/AN/A
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
Employee Benefits Parent's GroupEstate Planning: More than Just Wills and Trusts2019
WEPC Monthly MeetingDissolution of Marriage: Division of Marital Property and Maintenance Considerations2019
2011 Area 3 Annual Meeting, Zonta InternationalTeen Relationship Violence Panelist2011
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
Pro Bono CFI Appointment

Reviews

(4)
5 Star
75%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
25%
Review Jennifer McDonald

Professional, kind, and helpful

Posted by

I couldn't have asked for a better experience with this law firm. My husband and I decided it was time to get a will drawn up, mostly for the purposes of establishing guardianship for our children. We weren't sure who to go to for this service, and found Jennifer through a Facebook group. She was very helpful in answering all of our questions and guiding us through the process, always quick to reply to calls and emails. She also helped us to consider things we had not thought of when deciding what the will should contain. Jennifer helped make everything simple and straightforward. I personally really appreciated her kindness and professionalism. We look forward to working with this firm in the future!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Jennifer McDonald's response: Thank you for your comments! I am so appreciative of you taking the time to post your thoughts. It was a pleasure working with you.

Makes things happen

Posted by

After our initial consultation with Jennifer, we decided she was who we needed to help us with our case. We were on somewhat of a tight deadline and she asked questions and made suggestions that helped us get our requests granted by the courts. Not only is Jennifer a true professional, she is also friendly and personable, making it easy to trust her with personal details. It was a pleasure to have Jennifer working on our behalf.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Jennifer McDonald's response: Thank you so much for your comments. It was a pleasure working with you.

Dependable, Compassion and thorough

Posted by

I highly recommend Jennifer as an attorney. My initial consultation with her was wonderful. I felt relief and great right after I consulted with her, most especially; I was out of state at that time. She has helped me in such a way that I don't feel intimidated. She was thorough throughout my experience as well as dependable. I was also very encouraged by her honesty and compassion. Surely I have other choices for an attorney, but I chose Jennifer because my consultation with her gave me a great impression of her qualities as I have also described above.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Jennifer McDonald's response: Thank you so much for your comments. I have enjoyed working with you.

Not Recommended

Posted by

Jennifer made several large careless mistakes on a financial disclosure she wanted me to sign and testify to in court. She didn't catch them bc she didn't read this important material. She charges for every email and often requested material she already had to be resent. Her fees were more than double any other attorney. Careless, disinterested, expensive.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
Jennifer McDonald's response: A lawyer’s duty to keep client confidences has few exceptions and in an abundance of caution I do not feel at liberty to respond in a point by point fashion to your comments in this forum. Suffice it to say that I do not believe that this post presents a fair and accurate picture of the events. Diligence, client confidence, and compassion are things I strive for at all times.

Attorney endorsements

(16)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

Colleen McCoy

Jenifer is a fabulous attorney. You cannot go wrong in working with her. She is intelligent, caring and professional.

Danielle Obiorah

Jennifer is ethical and very knowledgeable in family law matters. I do not hesitate to refer matters to her.

Rachael Ardanuy, Family Attorney on May 16, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Jenny is a great listener, passionate advocate for her clients and an overall ethical and competent attorney - I recommend her.

Graciela Livingston

I endorse this lawyer. She is a respected member of the community and I would happily recommend her to anyone.

Cheryl Fletcher, Child custody Attorney on May 16, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I know Ms. McDonald from a professional group. She will go the extra mile to help others. I endorse her.

Kimberly Utesch, Family Attorney on May 16, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Jennifer is a compassionate and zealous advocate for her clients. I can wholeheartedly recommend her.

Sara Horowitz

I endorse this lawyer.

Gayle Moser, Family Attorney on Mar 19, 2018
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Jennifer is a dedicated advocate for her clients. She is experienced, professional, and truly cares about her clients. I highly endorse this lawyer for any child custody or divorce matters.

Michael Evans, Divorce and separation Attorney on Apr 8, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Megan Bibliowicz, Divorce and separation Attorney on Apr 7, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Kelley Goodwin, Family Attorney on Mar 9, 2015
Relationship: Worked together on matter

I endorse this lawyer as she is always professional and knowledgeable about the law.

Halleh Omidi

Jenny is a very competent and capable attorney. She shows great dedication to her clients and has an immense passion for family law. I would recommend Jenny to anyone in need of a family law attorney.

Hannah Westmont, Family Attorney on May 30, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker

Jenny is a smart, poised, and dedicated attorney. She truly cares about her clients, and she does not get intimidated by difficult or complex challenges in her cases. When I refer a client to Jenny, I always know they will be in excellent hands.

Theresa Dunn, Family Attorney on May 13, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker

Jenny is a terrific attorney - excellent courtroom skills and a talent for collaboration outside the courtroom as well. Clients of hers can rest assured they are in good hands.

J Beckman, Family Attorney on Jan 29, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker

I endorse this lawyer.

Rebekah Pfahler, Family Attorney on Jan 16, 2014
Relationship: Worked together on matter

Jennifer and I worked together as fellowship-attorneys at Colorado Legal Services. Not only is Jennifer smart as a whip, but the dedication she put into each case was truly admirable. Her attention to detail ensures that no small nuance of a case goes unnoticed and she always makes sure her clients know exactly what to expect at each stage of the case.

Cost

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