When you’re looking for a divorce mediator, credentials matter (but so does the person behind those credentials!)
Divorce is rarely just a legal process. It involves finances, children, emotions, communication, and some very difficult decisions about what life will look like moving forward. Having someone who understands both the legal side and the human side of conflict can make a BIG difference.
That is exactly why Amanda D. Singer, Esq., MDR, CDFA®, founder of West Coast Family Mediation, has dedicated her career to family mediation.
In August 2026, Amanda was named the 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law Mediation in San Diego by Best Lawyers®. She was also recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for both Family Law and Family Law Mediation. The Lawyer of the Year recognition is awarded to one lawyer in each practice area and region based on peer feedback from other attorneys.
But Amanda’s story goes far beyond awards…
Who Is Amanda Singer?
Amanda is a California-licensed attorney, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), Certified Advanced Practitioner with the Academy of Professional Family Mediators, and Senior Certified Online Family Mediator through Mediate.com.
She also holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law and a Master’s in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution.
And mediation isn’t something she simply added to her legal career later on. It has been part of her professional path from the beginning.
Amanda first started mediating in 2011 and began focusing on family law mediation in 2012. She became a co-owner of the San Diego Family Mediation Center in 2015, which was later rebranded as West Coast Family Mediation Center in 2021. In 2024, Amanda became the sole owner of West Coast Family Mediation.
Today, she works with families throughout California on divorce, premarital, and marital mediation.
Why Did Amanda Choose Mediation?
Interestingly, Amanda’s interest in mediation started before law school.
During her senior year at Brandeis University, she took a class focused on mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution. That experience showed her that she could combine two things she genuinely cared about: problem-solving and helping people navigate conflict.
While attending Chapman University, Amanda completed basic (and advanced) mediation training and began mediating civil cases in Riverside Superior Court. She also assisted with a juvenile mediation program at Riverside Juvenile Hall.
Those early experiences helped shape the way she approaches conflict today.
Amanda realized that people going through difficult situations don’t always need someone to “win” for them. Sometimes, they need someone who can help them slow things down, communicate more effectively, understand the issues, and find a path forward.
… and that philosophy became the foundation of her career!
A Mediator Who Understands More Than the Law
Divorce involves much more than legal documents.
There may be a home to divide, retirement accounts to understand, debts to address, taxes to consider, and decisions to make about children and parenting. That is one reason Amanda pursued her Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation after earning her JD and Master’s in Dispute Resolution.
Her financial training gives her additional knowledge of the financial issues couples may face during divorce, while her legal and dispute-resolution education helps her understand the broader picture.
West Coast Family Mediation describes its mediators as professionals with extensive mediation training and divorce financial knowledge. Amanda’s combination of a law degree, Master’s in Dispute Resolution, and CDFA® certification is a particularly important part of her professional background.
You can learn more about the firm’s approach to divorce financial mediation and analysis.
What Makes Amanda’s Approach Different?
Amanda believes conflict is normal but doesn’t have to be the defining factor.
That might sound simple, but it’s an important perspective when you’re going through divorce.
Conflict doesn’t automatically mean that two people are incapable of communicating (or that they need to spend years fighting in court). What matters is how that conflict is handled.
At West Coast Family Mediation, the goal is to help couples communicate, identify the issues creating conflict, and work toward agreements that allow them to move forward. Mediation focuses on guiding the conversation rather than making decisions for either person.
This can be especially valuable for parents.
Even after a divorce is finalized, parents still have to communicate about school, schedules, activities, holidays, expenses, and countless everyday decisions. Creating a workable relationship during the divorce process can help make that future communication easier.
Amanda’s approach is NOT about pretending conflict doesn’t exist… it’s about learning how to handle it differently.
More Than a Mediator: An Active Member of the Mediation Community
Amanda has also spent years contributing to the broader family mediation profession.
First off as the founder of West Coast Family Mediation she has built a practice that focuses solely on family law mediation and has other mediators in the office who also work with clients. Amanda oversees the entire team and all of the cases.
She previously served as the Vice President of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators and was in charge of the annual conference for several years, including serving as conference co-chair and presenting on family mediation topics.
She has also been on the board of Lawyers Club of San Diego and remains connected with organizations including the San Diego County Bar Association, San Diego Family Law Bar Association, Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts, and ProVisors.
Her work has also extended beyond her own practice. Amanda has contributed to publications focused on divorce, family conflict, and blended families, sharing her knowledge with professionals and families navigating these challenges.
A Real Person Behind the Credentials
Of course, Amanda is more than her resume.
Outside of work, she spends time with her husband, Mike and their daughter, Madison as well as family and friends.Her family enjoys hiking, exploring San Diego, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
She has also completed six marathons and three triathlons.
And honestly… that says something about her approach to difficult things!
Divorce can feel overwhelming. It can feel like there are too many decisions, too many “unknowns”, and NO clear finish line. Amanda understands what it means to take on something difficult, one step at a time, and keep moving forward.
What Amanda Wants Clients to Know
Amanda’s message to clients is simple: conflict is normal, but it does not have to define your future.
There are ways to address difficult issues without automatically turning to litigation. Mediation gives couples an opportunity to have meaningful conversations, work through disagreements, and create solutions that fit their family.
And if children are involved, that ability to work together can become even more important.
You can learn more about how divorce mediation works and what to expect from the process before deciding whether mediation is right for you.
Looking for a San Diego Divorce Mediator?
Amanda Singer’s 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” recognition is an exciting milestone, but it is also a reflection of something she has been doing for MORE than a decade: helping families navigate conflict with knowledge, compassion, and a focus on moving forward.
Whether you are considering divorce, working through financial decisions, creating a parenting plan, or simply trying to understand your options… having the right professional beside you can make the process feel much more manageable!
At West Coast Family Mediation, Amanda and the team she runs help families throughout California find solutions (without making conflict the center of the process).
Schedule a FREE consultation today here to discuss your situation, learn more about mediation, and determine the best path forward for your family.