Lawyers map
Bonnie Sue Shields
Data reflects the status as of the most recent database update. We generally conduct data reviews and updates on a
monthly schedule.
4.4
Avvo rating
15 Reviews
Top review highlights
AI generated excerpts from the customers reviews
Pros
1
Highly knowledgeable and experienced in family law, providing excellent legal advice and representation
“Bonnie is amazing in the court room and her plethora of family law knowledge is impressive at her least!”
2
Responsive, attentive, and dedicated to her clients' needs
“She was prompt with her questions, very thorough, and professional.”
3
Able to achieve successful outcomes for clients, including in complex and challenging cases
“Bonnie was able to save my family in this case and everything I was asking for.”
4
Maintains professionalism while also being personable and understanding
“She was professional when need be but was also able to be human and personable when needed.”
5
Effective at avoiding confrontations with opposing counsel, leading to lower fees and quicker resolutions
“Bonnie avoided confrontations with opposing counsel which ultimately led to lower fees and a quicker resolution.”
Cons
1
Biased and unfair in her role as a court-appointed child and family investigator (CFI)
“She is biased, unfair, and did not have an awareness of correct legal standard, which is concerning, as she is an attorney.”
2
Exceeded the scope of her CFI appointment and made inappropriate recommendations
“The CFI exceeded the scope of the order appointing her by opining about decision-making and recommending a change in the majority parent when the only motion pending was the relocation motion and a request to change Mother's dinner visit.”
All reviews
04 Apr, 2023 by Anonymous
She was a horrible CFI. Yes, technically the review was in my favor (only because she knew she had no way of saying otherwise. I’m a good, stable mother), nonetheless she favored my ex husband, who abused me in every way. She gave him many opportunities such as outside opinions and text, email, and personal calls. I did not receive that same chance to talk and go over anything. She had to come to my house (3 hours away) and over charged me Meanwhile, my ex husband (her favorite) has been charged with felony crimes and DV (still pending). She should be forced to leave her CFI practice. She may be a good lawyer ( though I highly doubt it). If she had her way he would have custody of my kids. She doesn’t care about the facts and she doesn’t care about the kids or their wants and needs. She wants money. Nothing else.
09 Mar, 2023 by Angie
I cannot speak to Ms. Shields as an attorney, but as a CFI I would never recommend her.
After 8 years of constant litigation initiated by his ex, and 17 months of litigation that included Ms. Shields CFI investigation, my husband retained full custody and decision making authority for his children AND was awarded relocation by the court in December 2022.
She is biased, unfair, and did not have an awareness of correct legal standard, which is concerning, as she is an attorney. She made a threat of filing a motion to try and force her uninformed opinion on my husband based solely on her communication with his ex; worked far outside the scope of her appointment and with no regard for the boundaries of her appointment; advised the opposing party on how to try and “win” her case; made false, erroneous, damaging and disparaging statements about me and my husband; and, baited my husband into saying negative things about his ex that she then used against him.
My husband (and by extension I) have been involved in constant litigation with his ex for 8 years through the entirety of which he has retained primary custody and sole decision making for their children. Ms. Shields did not even consider that very basic fact during the investigation.
But don’t take my word for it.
Here are a few statements about Ms. Shields from the public court order (names of minor children, professionals and/or witnesses have been removed for privacy):
• The CFI took issue with Father’s home even though no caseworker or other professional has found that his home is unsafe.
• The CFI gave Mother 30 days’ notice for a home visit and Father 13 hours.
• [Psychologist] felt compelled to clarify the CFI’s false reference to their conversation about stepmother’s appropriate communication that the CFI indicated was excessive.
• In hindsight, the change of therapists was not only not endangering as alleged by the CFI but was clearly in the best interests of [the minor child].
• [Work Product Review Professional] noted that the CFI disregarded Father’s primary role for the last 6 years.
• The CFI exceeded the scope of the order appointing her by opining about decision-making and recommending a change in the majority parent when the only motion pending was the relocation motion and a request to change Mother’s dinner visit.
• The CFI did not notify Father that she intended to investigate a change in majority parent or decision-making.
• The CFI also failed to maintain objectivity.
• She inappropriately read the previous CFI report before completing her investigation.
• A CFI report is supposed to be a “brief assessment that is nonintrusive, efficient and cost effective” (CJD 04-08) (the CFI report here fails to meet any of those criteria).
• Neither the CFI nor the PRE considered the significance of Father’s primary role.
• She did an interactional with Mother and the children but not with Father.
• She demonstrated no awareness of the correct legal standard according to [the Work Product Review Professional].
• She gave advice to Mother on how to achieve primary parenting.
• She did not make good faith efforts to reach [the Psychologist] or [the Family Therapist], one of Father’s collaterals.
• She testified that Father said he hated Mother’s guts when it was she who suggested that both parties hate each other.
• She spent more time reviewing Mother’s materials and with Mother than with Father.
03 Mar, 2022 by Jennifer
Bonnie was so helpful with an attorney opinion letter for our common law marriage. She was able to complete a quick interview and develop the letter quickly, so we were able to close on our new home ahead of schedule. I highly recommend her!
16 May, 2021 by Barbara
Bonnie is simply amazing! She is easy to talk to, very responsive via phone and email, and, most importantly, understands family law and how to apply it to various situations. She helped me with my divorce and then again a few years later to address a custody issue. I would highly recommend her to anyone needing family law help.
27 May, 2020 by Dale
Bonnie is great at what she does! We used her for our attorney for over 10 years total. She is amazing in the court room and her plethora of family law knowledge is impressive at her least! If you need someone to help you through a tough time please reach out to her!
See more
Best lawyers in Centennial, CO
04 May, 2024 by Guillermo garcia
Denver Personal Injury Lawyers definetely have the connnections. They knew exactly what to do after the car accident.
Read more
04 May, 2024 by Robert o'dell
This firm is the best i cannot recommend them enough.
Read more
28 Apr, 2024 by Alajandro davis
I was hit by a landscaping truck. The driver ran off and they never found him. Luckily, the company had insurance and Sean McQuaid was able to handle my case. I had to get some injections, but I am on the road to recovery.
Read more
28 Aug, 2019 by Princess of quite a-lot
Ms. Virginia Robbins is a ture advocate!! An awesome ally, protecting me and my children. Thanks is not enough.
Read more
07 Nov, 2018 by Laura
Bill is an excellent attorney who helped me through a high-conflict divorce with his strategic and calm approach. He is very patient and thinks before he reacts. He never leaves you guessing and openly shares information he receives from the other attorney's involved. One thing that I really liked about Bill is that throughout my entire case I always understood what the worst case scenario could be. He never once mislead me to believe we would win the case or any given dispute would be in my favor. I valued his transparency. He knows what he is doing when it comes to family law. I would certainly recommend him to any of my friends or family that are going through a difficult divorce.
Read more
31 Oct, 2018 by Greg schmier
Bill was a great help and resource after my divorce as my ex-wife wanted to fight me on everything for our son. He takes his time to make sure he has every resource available for him to review and makes sure he helps make the right choice in your case.
This case was a long one and Bill kept me update on any communications that came from the other attorney. We always worked through what I was requesting and making sure every detail was covered before it was filed with the court. My ex-wife used two attorney's to help fight against what I was wanting for our son. Bill is very reasonable when he has open communication with other attorneys.
In the end... Bill being very calm and patient helped grant what I was trying to get for my son
I would recommend Bill any time and would use him again in the future if I ever need it. At least sit down with him so he understands what your direction is.
Read more
28 Aug, 2019 by Princess of quite a-lot
Ms. Virginia Robbins is a ture advocate!! An awesome ally, protecting me and my children. Thanks is not enough.
Read more
07 Nov, 2018 by Laura
Bill is an excellent attorney who helped me through a high-conflict divorce with his strategic and calm approach. He is very patient and thinks before he reacts. He never leaves you guessing and openly shares information he receives from the other attorney's involved. One thing that I really liked about Bill is that throughout my entire case I always understood what the worst case scenario could be. He never once mislead me to believe we would win the case or any given dispute would be in my favor. I valued his transparency. He knows what he is doing when it comes to family law. I would certainly recommend him to any of my friends or family that are going through a difficult divorce.
Read more
31 Oct, 2018 by Greg schmier
Bill was a great help and resource after my divorce as my ex-wife wanted to fight me on everything for our son. He takes his time to make sure he has every resource available for him to review and makes sure he helps make the right choice in your case.
This case was a long one and Bill kept me update on any communications that came from the other attorney. We always worked through what I was requesting and making sure every detail was covered before it was filed with the court. My ex-wife used two attorney's to help fight against what I was wanting for our son. Bill is very reasonable when he has open communication with other attorneys.
In the end... Bill being very calm and patient helped grant what I was trying to get for my son
I would recommend Bill any time and would use him again in the future if I ever need it. At least sit down with him so he understands what your direction is.
Read more
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer?
Hiring the right lawyer is crucial for the success of your case. Here are some important questions to ask during your initial consultation:
-
What experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in the specific area of law pertaining to your case. -
How do you charge for your services, and what are the estimated costs?
Understand the fee structure, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer fees, and any additional expenses. -
Who will be handling my case?
Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals. -
What is your approach to resolving cases like mine?
Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation. -
What potential outcomes can I expect?
While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience. -
How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times. -
What is the expected timeline for my case?
Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish. -
Do you have references from past clients?
Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness. -
What challenges do you foresee in my case?
Understanding potential obstacles helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations. -
Are there alternative ways to resolve my legal issue?
Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.
Can a Lawyer Represent Me in Courts Outside of Centennial, Colorado?
Whether a lawyer can represent you in courts outside of your city or state depends on their licensure and the jurisdiction of the court:
-
Within the Same State:
Lawyers licensed in a particular state can typically practice anywhere within that state, including all cities and counties. They can represent you in both state and federal courts located in that state. -
Outside of Their Licensed State:
If your case is in a different state, the lawyer must be licensed in that state to represent you. However, there are exceptions:- Pro Hac Vice Admission: An out-of-state lawyer can request special permission to represent a client in a specific case in another state. This requires filing a motion with the court and often working in conjunction with a local attorney.
- Federal Courts: If your case is in federal court, a lawyer licensed in any state may be able to represent you, provided they are admitted to practice in that particular federal court.
-
International Representation:
For cases outside the United States, different rules apply, and the lawyer may need to comply with the foreign country's legal requirements or collaborate with local counsel.
It's important to discuss your specific situation with the lawyer to determine if they can represent you in the desired jurisdiction and what steps may be necessary to do so.
How to Check the Credibility of a Lawyer
Before hiring a lawyer, it's crucial to verify their credibility and ensure they're qualified to handle your case:
-
Verify Their License:
Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. Most state bar websites have an online directory for this purpose. -
Experience and Specialization:
Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. Review their website, professional profiles, and case history. -
Disciplinary Record:
Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association's records. -
Client Reviews and Testimonials:
Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Google, or Yelp to gauge client satisfaction and experiences. -
Professional Memberships:
Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field and adherence to high ethical standards. -
Awards and Recognitions:
Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation in the legal community. -
Consultation Assessment:
Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns. -
Ask for References:
A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients who can speak to their abilities and professionalism.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:
-
Relevant Documents:
Bring all documents related to your case, such as:- Contracts or agreements
- Correspondence (emails, letters, texts)
- Legal notices or court papers
- Financial records (if applicable)
- Evidence (photos, videos, receipts)
-
Written Summary:
Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and parties involved. This helps the lawyer quickly understand the context. -
List of Questions:
Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, fees, or the lawyer's experience. -
Financial Information:
If your case involves financial matters, bring relevant documents like pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, or invoices. -
Contact Information:
Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case, including their names and contact information. -
Personal Identification:
Bring a valid photo ID for verification purposes. -
Pen and Notebook:
Take notes during the consultation to remember important points discussed. -
Budget Constraints:
Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations so the lawyer can provide appropriate guidance on fees and payment options. -
Openness and Honesty:
Be prepared to discuss your case candidly. Full disclosure allows the lawyer to give accurate advice and anticipate potential challenges.
