Celia J. Harned

Celia “handled our case” in the early 2000’s. She was in the same building as my ex husband in my case, and adored him. Sat with him in Court, as I navigated my way through my custody case, on my own. She was dumbstruck when my ex admitted to being an addict on the stand because “she never saw what... I was telling her”, in the times that my abusive ex had visit with her. With her outstanding Pink Panther skills intact, she also failed to show that a woman who drove the kids (on his time, because love, ya know) used a breathalyzer to drive at all. Oh well, “the kid’s best interest” and all. The horror of admission swayed her none, to continue her journey to ask that custody be given to my Mr Jekyll, who was “suffering from terminal cancer”. Hence, “children need their father”. I paid him child support, to the tune of $85000 dollars over the years, as a single abused gaslight controlled mother. He threatened the authorities for non payment, but never gave our children any. He has still never spoken to me about them. Harned said that she would not write the corrections, nor consider the new evidence, and harassed me for years for payment. Enter bankruptcy era. It is 2023, and my boys are 22, and 24. A movie just came out called “The Son”. I dedicate this movie to all of the quiet humans who have “lived through” Celia Harned. Celia, YOU have had power for far too long. Your reviews and testimonials stay in the skeletons closet, but our children detest your very existence. There are so many reviews you have not seen, do research, and stop this child predator.

Celia Harned was assigned on my family court case. If I can provide any advice, please attempt to work things out with an ex without the court's intervention. Whenever the legal system has to step in to decide what's best for your child, it is an unfit circumstance. It is essentially impossible. W...ith that said, if you do have to involve the courts, then you and your ex definitely need to agree on a Child Family Investigator (CFI) from a list you can request from the court or do an online search. DO NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT be defaulted or let the Courts assign you this person, Celia Harned! I have worked with many attorneys on various issues and have never met one as incompetent as this "attorney". There was no thorough investigation but rather a very lazy attempt done with haste. Even when details were provided in writing from other entities to Celia Harned, she could not articulate or summarize them in the report for the court?!? Her final report was as if a grade school child had written it. I will also add the courts was not unfavorable in its decision based on the facts toward me, however, it did require going beyond Celia Harned's brief. Celia Harned's reporting was subjective on my behalf and being the honest person I am, I even spoke up in Court on my ex's behalf as her reports made him out to be the "bad" parent. This is an integrity issue and I could never again work with such a dishonest and unscrupulous and "attorney". She is the dregs of legal representation! I did some research on Celia Harned as an attorney. Celia Harned is a Court appointed attorney who receives all her clients from the Court. This means she gets ALL of her assignments from the Family Courts and do not have any private practice clients. She regularly works with lower income or uneducated clients and hence she biases reporting against who she subjectively chooses. There is no legal recourse because either party aren't financially able to do so. Lastly, the maximum a CFI, by recent law, can make for family investigations is $2000 ($1000 from each party). At the time Celia Harned was assigned to my family court case, she was demanding additional monies from me until I found this fees cap online. Again, this "attorney" practices are unscrupulous and legally liable with anyone who is willing to pursue. I took the time to write this because I want to help those who are in a family struggle so that both parties can hopefully work things out. If you leave your children in the hands of the Courts or much, much worse in the hands of Celia Harned, you will possibly regret it.

Previously I was assigned Ms. Harned to my case and I had many of the issues and/or complaints that others have cited. She did not seem to care about me as a father figure, that meaning, and I quote, "I will never approve you to see your child unsupervised," This came after a ten month stent of sup...ervised visitations that were nothing but positive. Here is my concern, my case has now been delayed over two years and the court has once again remanded me back to Ms. Harned AGAIN!!! Of course I protested, but was denied. I even stated to the court all the terrible reviews that were posted, and I had these complaints before I read the reviews. I may not be the smartest person in the world, but when I see first hand the incompetence and the "continuing" pattern posted online, I ask, how is this person slipping through the cracks with our legal system and being allowed to continue to practice within our judicial system. Unfortunately I have to deal with her yet again and pay her. This time I am going in with back up with all these posts in hope to get her removed from my case. I agree with everyone else that has said to get a different attorney!

Mrs. Harned was appointed to my case by the Denver courts. I had read the reviews and considered the negative ones as anyone would; but everyone should be given a fair chance and a person should never be condemned based on what others say. Unfortunately, in this line of work, one person is going to b...e the "winner" and the other the "loser". I was the " loser". So, as others on here, I could have an axe to grind...or I could be fair and appreciate what she did do. My ex LEGALLY kidnapped my children and the laws prevented me from getting them back. Basically, my children were smuggled out of state without my knowledge or consent, AFTER I had filed for divorce AND she refused service of divorce documents.(all documented and filed with court). My wife and I had zero contact and I spent 2.5 months without any contact with my kids. But Mrs. Harned was a shining star in a dark world. She was the only one who listened to me, and didn't judge me because I'm a black male accused of horrible stuff. Over a 6 month period fighting for my children and 100% of my motions were denied, but my wife was granted almost anything she asked for. I felt helpless because I'm poor. And my demographic makes some folks uncomfortable and subconscious biases dictate decision making. Mrs. Harned got us to finally communicate and I was rightfully put back into my children's lives. She recommended in her plan that I get to talk to them a few times a week, I'm to get weekly updates, and be involved in ALL decision making for them. Plus, very liberal visitation. It couldn't have been a better plan given the situation. Mrs. Harned realized I'd been railroaded and that fathers matter too. Her plan was fair and honest, because it was inclusive. I was/am not a monster and the plan reflected that. All one had to do was follow the evidence and the truth was obvious. My ex is terribly dishonest, conniving, controlling, and very mean. I believe Mrs. Harned saw some of that throughout this process and she helped me when nobody else would. To this day, my ex has faced 0 consequences for her actions and was considered a good person and credible from the judge. Talk about not paying attention and bias. He saw me, but didn't see me. Declaring me indigent on one hand, but takes 82% of my income in final orders is hardly fair thus destroying the helpful plan Mrs. Harned put forth to involve me in my children's lives, but its just another example of a long list of unbelievable rulings. I also have to give her some money for the time she disappeared with my kids and refused to let me see or talk to them for 2.5 months. Can anyone else live on $300 a month in Colorado?? Didn't think so. But that's for a different forum on another day. I'm proud to have had Mrs. Harned on my case! Too often folks will complain about bad service or voice displeasure but we rarely give thanks. Thank you Mrs. Harned for everything you did for me and my children. Thank you for realizing children need dads too, even the really poor ones. And to those who bashed this woman and wrote mean things- shame on you. Maybe things didn't go your way because of the judge, or you weren't entirely truthful or the laws just suck. I was the "loser" too, but i tell it like it is, and she is deserving of 5 stars. She represented what our legal system is supposed to uphold!

Celia Harned was assigned by the Denver District Court as a CFI for my case which, iniitially, was a minor dispute between co-parents. The court ignored their own order for mediation and proceeded to assign Celia Harned as CFI. The reports are true, the only thing Celia Harned is concerned about is... the money. She refused to talk with me until she had received and cashed my retainer fee. When she finally granted me an initial interview, she shuffled me out of her office after 45 minutes, yet her final bill shows that she met with me for 2.4 hours. In her home visit with me, she arrived 1 hour late, only stayed for 50 minutes, yet she billed me another 2.4 hours. During her home visit, she watched my children eat dinner, then played "hide and seek" with them for 10 minutes while I was required to leave the house. The only billing she was correct on, was the final conference with me, by phone only. Yes, I was only allowed 3 conferences, and this took 6 months. At no time did Celia Harned inform me about issues that were brought up from my ex, nor did she investigate issues that I had brought to her attention regarding the children. The issues brought up by my ex were never brought up in the original motion that brought Celia Harned into the case, so I had no idea about them. The most important thing is, Celia Harned did NOT even interview the children regarding any issues, nor did she spend the time necessary to find out what the children's wishes were, or what problems they were having. This "IS" what it's all about, right? Celia Harned's report to the court and recommendations were completely biased and based soley on issues that were never discussed with me. On top of furnishing an incompetant report, she overstepped her own orders by issuing recommendations regarding issues not requested in the original motion. Overall, if you end up using Celia Harned, you will find that she is unable to remain neutral and is easily swayed. She will not discuss, equally with both sides or share problems brought up. She is not concerned about what is in the best interests of the children, nor will she consider their wishes. Celia Harned has no business acting as an attorney let alone a CFI, and if she finds it necessary to continue in this line of work, she should at least attend some form of formal training. She needs it. Celia Harned has done more harm and created more conflict in my children's life then they had before her arrival. This will take years and thousands of dollars to resolve.