Tax Filing Status: How will it change with divorce?

By peacetalkadmin | July 1, 2020
Tax Filing Status: How will it change with divorce? - Peace Talks Mediation Services - taxes, tax filing, divorce, collaborative divorce, finances - Photo by Olga DeLawrence on Unsplash

When you and your spouse decide to utilize a collaborative divorce approach, both of you will have access to neutral financial mediators. Financial mediators can help prepare schedules that project cash flows, net worth, and the tax effects of your proposed settlements. They are often asked these 3 tax questions: How should I file my…

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Alimony – How New Tax Rules Can Affect It

By peacetalkadmin | June 6, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, federal tax filings have been extended until July 15, 2020. Often couples are blindsided by the tax impact of getting a divorce, but when you utilize the collaborative divorce process, you have a team of experts on your divorce team that will help you find your way out of the…

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Creating a Financial Plan for Temporary Finances While Going through the Coronavirus

By peacetalkadmin | May 6, 2020

The novel coronavirus has not only sickened many, but it has also cut off our various income streams, and our financial security is at risk. And if you find yourself in the middle of the divorce process, you may feel like you are drowning in this storm and all hope is lost for financial recovery,…

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Can the Coronavirus Affect Child Custody?

By peacetalkadmin | April 15, 2020

While we battle the COVID-19 virus, even though it seems the world has stopped, there are still many other high stressors at play, such as families who are trying to balance out custody concerns. Many states have a stay-at-home order, and because of safety issues of contracting the virus, parental custody arrangements may need to…

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Helping You Divorce During the Coronavirus

By peacetalkadmin | March 18, 2020

Going through a divorce can be difficult enough, but adding the Coronavirus to the mix can make it more challenging. Peace-Talks Mediation Services is here to help you through this difficult time. We are currently open and providing services in our office. While we are aware of the social distancing currently going on today, we…

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How a Co-Parenting Plan Can Help You

By peacetalkadmin | March 11, 2020

Divorce can be extremely emotionally draining on the spouses, but more often than not, the toll it takes on the children in the family is often overlooked. But did you know your children’s emotional well-being is a key factor when you and your spouse seek a divorce thru the collaborative divorce process? During the collaborative…

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Creating a New You After Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | February 19, 2020

“Out with the old, in with the new” is a famous quote that refers to a person making personal changes in their life. After a divorce, many people struggle to find their “new you”. How does someone go about creating a new you? This is where a magic wand would come in handy, right? First…

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Starting a New Year After Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | December 23, 2019

As 2019 wound down, and your divorce was finalized, you may find yourself asking many questions, some of which may be: How can I make the most of 2020 as a new divorcee? How do I grow my relationship with my children? What is the best way to continue growing my communications with my ex?…

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What to Ask the Mediator

By peacetalkadmin | October 16, 2019

Divorce mediators can make or break a divorce agreement. In order work with an effective divorce facilitator, you and your soon-to-be-ex need to vet them by asking a series of questions to determine if they can help meet both of your needs without going to court and draft a settlement that will be agreeable to…

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Why You Should Hire a Divorce Mediator

By peacetalkadmin | September 11, 2019

Life is full of twist and turns! Often, we don’t know what road we should go down. The “divorce” road is filled with enormous potholes that wreak havoc on custody, property, financial and emotional agreements. It’s hard to know how to avoid these potholes. One of the things that can help keep you on the…

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Tips on How to Tell Your Children You Are Getting a Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | June 19, 2019

One of the hardest moments in a divorce is sharing with your children that you and your spouse will be separating. It’s so hard to know how to start and have such an awkward conversation. Here are some tips we like to share with our clients to help them in having this painful dialogue: Make…

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How Does A Divorce Change Your Finances?

By peacetalkadmin | May 22, 2019
How Does A Divorce Change Your Finances? - Peace Talks Mediation Services - Divorce, Divorce Mediation, Finances - Copyright: dolgachov / 123RF Stock Photo

Are you in the very beginning stages of getting a divorce? Concerned at what your financial landscape will look like once your separation has been finalized? One thing is for sure, many things will change after a divorce, and one of the most significant changes will be your finances. Here are a few financial thoughts…

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Getting A Trust For The Sake of the Kids

By peacetalkadmin | April 10, 2019

If You Have Children, You Should Get a Trust! For most of us, our children are our most precious “possessions”. At Peace Talks Mediation, we feel the exact same way and we make their well being the focus of our divorce mediation. However, while we may believe that we place our children’s interests as our…

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Protect Your Children: Get a Will!

By peacetalkadmin | March 20, 2019

While many of us may believe that estate planning is only for the rich or the elderly, you should know that this process is essential if you have children. At Peace Talks Mediation, not only do we help you with divorce mediation, but we also recommend how you can protect your most precious “possessions” your…

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Abu Dhabi Lets Expats Bypass Sharia Law For Mediation

By peacetalkadmin | September 17, 2017

Recently Abu Dhabi broke from centuries of tradition and decided to allow non-Muslim expatriates to pursue a divorce through faith-based mediation. Though not a mirror image to western secular mediation, as we know it, it’s another testimonial to the need for a short, less costly path to a mutually satisfying agreement. The protection of the…

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Mediation in the News: The Williams Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | September 13, 2017

Back in June there was a news story about Richard Williams, the father of Venus & Serena, seeking to evict his estranged wife from their Florida home. A few days ago the lawyer, Sandy Becher, for the wife spoke about the upcoming divorce in terms of new approach. “What’s next is we’ll take depositions of…

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Healing Trauma

By peacetalkadmin | September 6, 2017

by Alison Marcelino and Stephanie Maloney As part of the Conscious Uncoupling training, we attended a lecture given by Judy Waters, MFT, discussing “Healing Breakup Trauma.” In her talk, Ms. Waters explains how a break up can “live” in our body. If we have had childhood abandonment issues, a breakup will stimulate those early wounds.…

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Mediating The Settlement To Qualify For The Loan

By peacetalkadmin | August 28, 2017

As difficult as the divorce process can be there are many subtle financial hurdles that can prove problematic even for an amicable agreement. What happens after the settlement is reached may not lead to the desired end of the agreement if the planning did not include qualifying for a loan. I read a story by Michele Martin,…

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A Paradigm Shift: Conscious Uncoupling

By peacetalkadmin | August 11, 2017

by Ali Marcelino Recently I completed a Conscious Uncoupling training course conducted by Katherine Woodward Thomas.  My intent is to introduce those principles into my practice here at Peace Talks Mediation Services. The foundation for the extensive training and certification is found in Ms. Thomas’ book, Conscious Uncoupling: 5 Steps to Living Happily Even After.…

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Collaborative Divorce Mediation: Is it the Right Choice for You?

By peacetalkadmin | October 27, 2016

Divorce scenarios are typically stereotyped as long, drawn-out court battles over children and property. If you’re entering divorce proceedings for the first time, you should know there are other options to settle your divorce. You can opt for a more peaceful divorce through collaborative divorce mediation. We use a team approach to work together. What…

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Divorce Mediation vs. Traditional Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | October 27, 2016

No divorce process is completely stress free, but if you choose mediation to settle your divorce case, you could save on time, stress, and money. While divorce mediation is not as common as traditional divorce litigation, there are many advantages to choosing divorce mediation that can benefit you, your spouse and your children. What is…

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Collaborative Divorce The Best Way To Divorce In California

By peacetalkadmin | April 10, 2016

You have decided your marriage is not working out. You want to divorce, but your friends have told you horror stories about dragging your divorce through the court system. You remember reading an article about Gwyneth Paltrow’s “conscious uncoupling” and her decision to use mediation instead of litigation. Where do you turn?? To collaborative divorce…

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Divorced or Divorcing – How to have Happy Jolly Holidays!!

By peacetalkadmin | December 2, 2015

At Peace Talks, we know that the divorce process is stressful and creates emotional turmoil. And we also know that experiencing the winter holidays for the first time as divorced or divorcing can spike emotions to a whole other level. Especially if you have children, how can you keep the holiday spirit alive in the…

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Award

By peacetalkadmin | November 28, 2015

Make Mine a $Million Business 2006 Make Mine a $Million Business Award Diana Mercer and Peace Talks are a 2006 recipient of a Make Mine a $Million Business Award Business-Plan Contests Become ‘American Idol Meets Trump’ Entrepreneurs Whose Pitches Are Persuasive Can Receive Loans, Credit Lines, Advice By KELLY K. SPORSDecember 11, 2007; Page B1…

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Writing Effective Emails during Divorce – The BIFF Method

By peacetalkadmin | August 12, 2015

During the period of a peaceful divorce and emotional confusion, we sometimes say and write things to our partners that are offensive and inappropriate. Instead of clearly communicating our thoughts and calming down the situation, we respond with critical, judgmental words that inflame passions and throw fuel on the fire. Mr. Bill Eddy, LCSW and…

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What Makes Divorce Expensive?

By peacetalkadmin | August 12, 2015

Let’s just get this out of the way from the start. There are many ways to get divorced. You can represent yourself – a kind of do it yourself method. You can choose mediation or a collaborative practice process. Or finally, you could select litigation. Obviously (and I hope it’s obvious), litigation is the most…

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What is a Legal Separation?

By peacetalkadmin | August 12, 2015

In California, there are three ways to end a marriage: divorce, legal separation, and annulment. At Peace Talks we want you to know your options and we will focus on legal separation in this article. The process for a legal separation is similar to filing for a divorce, but there are some distinct considerations you…

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Spousal Support- How is it calculated and how will I Receive any?

By peacetalkadmin | August 12, 2015

The issue of spousal support is always a part of any divorce case or mediation. The circumstances for an award of spousal support are evaluated individually and there is no automatic dollar determined for each person. The process of calculating spousal support is a process of weighing specific factors, which are provided in Family Law…

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Child Support- How Is It Calculated and How Will I Get It?

By peacetalkadmin | August 12, 2015

The issue of child support is always a part of any divorce case or mediation. The amount of child support you will pay is explained and determined according to the California Family Law Code. In order to ensure that California law conforms to the federal regulations for guideline child support, a complicated formula has been…

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How does Team Mediation Work & Why is It So Effective?

By peacetalkadmin | August 12, 2015

Congratulations! You are considering mediation as the process for resolving your divorce. In contrast to litigation, mediation is the sane, efficient and cost effective way to work through your potentially difficult issues and preserve your family relationships. At Peace Talks, we use the “Team Mediation” approach and we want to share with you why this…

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California’s Cooling OFF Period

By peacetalkadmin | August 12, 2015

While California may be a “hot” state, we experience “cooling off” periods too. In a family law context, this “cooling off” specifically applies to the amount of time that must pass before a divorce is final. The theory behind this “cooling off” period is to prevent couples from rushing to divorce. In California, the law…

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5 Reasons to Keep Your Divorce Out of Social Media

By peacetalkadmin | August 12, 2015

Today, communication is instantaneous. Like the phrase, “a shot heard around the world”, an online post is sent into the media stratosphere with the potential to surface anywhere, be read by anyone and unfortunately remain forever. You’re getting divorced. You may or may not be happy about this, or perhaps worse case scenario, you had…

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How to File for a Divorce in California

By peacetalkadmin | August 11, 2015

At Peace Talks, an outstanding divorce mediation office, we feel it is very important that you know the California divorce family law process. Before we embark on explaining the California Family Law Court system, we want to make sure you know that going to court is not the only way to solve family law disputes. Divorce mediation at Peace Talks is an excellent alternative.

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Divorce Continuum

By peacetalkadmin | October 8, 2013

Divorce Resolution Continuum By Diana Mercer, Attorney-Mediator, copyright 2003 The decision to divorce is followed by a number of choices for how a case might be filed and later resolved. Some of the steps are a loop, and others may be mixed and matched, but the general continuum, from least confrontational to most confrontational, is:…

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Divorce and the Economy

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

At what price sanity? I’m no stranger to divorce during bad financial times.  I was admitted to the bar in 1988, during a huge financial downturn. Pretty quickly after that, there was a huge mortgage meltdown, sort of like what’s happening now, and everyone’s house was upside down (they owed more than it was worth).…

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Family Mediation and “Failure”

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

A client told me this week, “I think that divorce is one of the great failings of adulthood.”  If it was only that simple. Let’s face it. We fail a lot of the time. And if we never fail, it means we’re not taking enough chances and not trying enough new things.  People who never…

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Divorce in California

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

California has its own personality with divorce.  One of only 9 states that follows Community Property law, California seems intent on doing things its own way. But a divorce in California doesn’t need to be complicated. At least not the legal part. Mediation provides a way for couples to get divorced in a respectful, thoughtful…

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Low Cost Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

In response to the recession, Peace Talks now offers a couple of new services for low cost divorce and uncontested divorce California. I hope you’ll keep us in mind if you come across couples needing either of the following, or if you need these kinds of services yourself: 1) $995 paperwork only service: for couples…

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Causes of Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What Causes Divorce?         You hear a lot about the reasons marriages end. Usually, fingers point to affairs or money. But marriages don’t end because of events. In 23 years of practice, we have found that divorce occurs when a couple has turned from one another and looked for satisfaction outside of the marriage.…

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Mediation vs. Litigation

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

More and more people are choosing mediation rather than litigation.  Why it has taken so long to catch on, when the benefits of mediation are obvious, is beyond me, but better late than never. There are huge advantages when you mediate your divorce, family law, custody, child support, alimony, spousal support or modification issue.  If…

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Divorce Threats: I’ll See You in Court!

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

There’s often a lot of grandstanding in divorce court proceedings. A lot of people say, “I’ll see you in court!” not knowing exactly what that means.  In the moment, they don’t like what they’re hearing, whether it’s in mediation or around the kitchen table, so they say, I’m done with this!” not realizing that saying “no”…

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What Causes Divorce?

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Causes of Divorce  “Seriously?  You want to end this?  You want a divorce?  I mean, I know we’ve had problems.  I’ve tried to change.  I’ll be better.  Is this really what you want to do?”  If you’ve said those words or heard those words, it can be crushing either way you look at it.  Divorce…

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Cost of Divorce: Cost of Staying Together

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Putting a price on sanity? There have been so many articles on people who aren’t getting divorced because they “can’t afford it” that it’s making me a little alarmed. The monetary cost of divorce is one thing. Certainly, divorce mediation is a less costly alternative to fighting it out in court, especially when finances are…

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California Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Divorce in California Divorce law varies state-to-state, and California has the distinction of being one of 9 states that have enacted a Community Property law. As a divorce lawyer in Los Angeles, this actually simplifies things (at least initially) because California follows the 50/50 rule. Partners each get 50% of their collective property from the…

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Creating a Good Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

I know it’s an oxymoron:  nobody wants a divorce, so how could one be good? But when you’re faced with divorce, you have lots of opportunties to make it less bad (if not actually good, at least in the long run, in hindsight). I’ve been a divorce lawyer for 24 years, and expert on what…

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In Divorce, The Truth Is Not Relevant

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

The TRUTH IS IRRELEVANT IN DIVORCE. I know that sounds like crazy talk. But think about it this way: When we think of disputes, most of us think that the truth is the key to the resolution of any disagreement.  Get to the truth, and you have the resolution to the conflict. Yet, despite the…

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Low Cost Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

In response to the recession, Peace Talks now offers a couple of new services. I hope you’ll keep us in mind if you come across couples needing either of the following: 1) $995 paperwork only service: for couples who already have an agreement and who just need the paperwork, we’ll do all of that for…

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Divorce Sanity: The 8 Peace Practices

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

There are eight peace practices which are free and easy to stick to every day. They’ll help you stay sane no matter what, and we all know that sanity is at a premium at the moment of any divorce. An excerpt from the 8 Peace Practices chapter of Making Divorce Work, our comprehensive book on cooperative…

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Insider Divorce Advice

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Divorce Advice I Give My Friends I’ve been a divorce attorney for 24 years (youthful appearance notwithstanding).  As yo might guess, every single one of my friends (including Facebook friends) ask me for my advice when getting divorced. I’ve written a couple of books about divorce, and that’s where the official advice is.  This is…

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Top Tips for Choosing your Divorce Mediation Attorney

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Choosing the right mediator is important. You’re going to be talking with your mediator about everything you care anything about in the entire world:  Your future, your kids, your home, your job…..and so you want to choose someone you feel comfortable with. Mediators are all trained in basically the same way, but each person has a different…

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Uncontested Divorce: California Guide

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

You Want an Uncontested Divorce….but how do you get there? The concept of divorce mediation is relatively new, but recently it has been getting a lot more attention.  Especially in Los Angeles, more and more people are starting to appreciate the benefits of an uncontested divorce.  Collaborative divorce and other divorce alternatives, once considered fringe,…

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Mediate Family Law, Don’t Litigate!

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Here at Peace Talks, we love Mediation.  If you’ve spent any time looking through our site and blog posts, you know that already.  It’s an easy sell, because, to us, it’s a no-brainer.  Just look at a recent example: one couple came into our Los Angeles office looking to get a divorce settlement through mediation. …

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Negotiate Your Divorce Settlement

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

This is an excerpt from Making Divorce Work.  I’m really proud of this chapter….it was difficult to explain in a few pages how to successfully negotiate a divorce settlement.  But I think I did it!  How to Negotiate Your Divorce Settlement is the excerpt published by Mediate.com.   Mediate.com, by the way, is a great place to find…

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Court Field Trip: Mediation

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

We see a lot of grandstanding in mediation. I think a lot of clients think they’re going to get To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch style attention in court. The sad truth is, however, that if you get 10 minutes you’re lucky. I know you don’t believe me. Nobody does until they actually spend the…

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The Tale of 2 Blogs: Mediation

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

For those of you who’ve found this blog, but not the Making Divorce Work blog, I actually maintain 2 blogs. This one, the Peace Talks blog, is pretty straightforward. Mostly mediation and legal information and advice, in a sort of op-ed type format. The 2nd blog is much more personal. I’ve found that as a…

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Causes of Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What Causes Divorce?         You hear a lot about the reasons marriages end. Usually, fingers point to affairs or money. But marriages don’t end because of events. In 23 years of practice, we have found that divorce occurs when a couple has turned from one another and looked for satisfaction outside of the marriage.…

Read More →

What Causes Divorce?

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Causes of Divorce  “Seriously?  You want to end this?  You want a divorce?  I mean, I know we’ve had problems.  I’ve tried to change.  I’ll be better.  Is this really what you want to do?”  If you’ve said those words or heard those words, it can be crushing either way you look at it.  Divorce…

Read More →

Cost of Divorce: Cost of Staying Together

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Putting a price on sanity? There have been so many articles on people who aren’t getting divorced because they “can’t afford it” that it’s making me a little alarmed. The monetary cost of divorce is one thing. Certainly, divorce mediation is a less costly alternative to fighting it out in court, especially when finances are…

Read More →

Creating a Good Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

I know it’s an oxymoron:  nobody wants a divorce, so how could one be good? But when you’re faced with divorce, you have lots of opportunties to make it less bad (if not actually good, at least in the long run, in hindsight). I’ve been a divorce lawyer for 24 years, and expert on what…

Read More →

Is Divorce Failure?

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Family Mediation and Failure Many clients have told me that they viewed getting divorced as a their greatest failure as an adult.  Even their body language told me they weren’t so proud to be in my office speaking with me about it. When you do take that oath and enter into those sacred bonds of…

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Low Cost Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

In response to the recession, Peace Talks now offers a couple of new services. I hope you’ll keep us in mind if you come across couples needing either of the following: 1) $995 paperwork only service: for couples who already have an agreement and who just need the paperwork, we’ll do all of that for…

Read More →

Cause of Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What Causes Divorce? When thinking about how marriages end, people often look towards distinct events like affairs or money-related problems.  What we’ve found in our 20+ years of experience is that typically this is not the case.  Divorces follow a more basic form of separation: when partners turn away from one another to seek gratification…

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Insider Divorce Advice

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Divorce Advice I Give My Friends I’ve been a divorce attorney for 24 years (youthful appearance notwithstanding).  As yo might guess, every single one of my friends (including Facebook friends) ask me for my advice when getting divorced. I’ve written a couple of books about divorce, and that’s where the official advice is.  This is…

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Family Law Mediation Success

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Eleven years ago, I traded in my fancy shmancy car for a used Honda Accord.  It wasn’t just a symbolic act; I knew I was going to need the money I would save on car payments.  You see, I had just made the biggest decision of my professional life.  I had decided to become a…

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Divorce Mediation: Mediator Styles

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

I have a 25 hour beginning family law mediation course on DVD which I sell on my web site and Amazon.com. As a result, I get questions about how to mediate from some of the “students” of this taped course. One in particular, a lawyer up north, is my new pen pal of sorts. I’m…

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Divorce Strategy and Divorce Mediation

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

  “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” That’s a quote attributed to Alexander Graham Bell and couldn’t be more true today.  As a divorce attorney, you’re preparation is a lot different than it is as a Mediator.  I would know, I am currently a Mediator dedicated exclusively to family law, divorce settlements and…

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Negotiate Your Divorce Settlement

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

This is an excerpt from Making Divorce Work.  I’m really proud of this chapter….it was difficult to explain in a few pages how to successfully negotiate a divorce settlement.  But I think I did it!  How to Negotiate Your Divorce Settlement is the excerpt published by Mediate.com.   Mediate.com, by the way, is a great place to find…

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The Very Real Danger of Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

http://huffingtonpost.com/diana-mercer If you’ve watched more than one episode of Dateline, you know that almost all one-on-one, non-gang related shootings are family members shooting other family members. I know what you’re thinking. You think I’m being dramatic. I’m not. We only hurt the ones we love, and sometimes that includes firearms. Particularly during a divorce or…

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Choose How Confrontational Your Divorce Will Be

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Divorce Resolution Continuum By Diana Mercer, Attorney-Mediator, copyright 2013   The decision to divorce is followed by a number of choices for how a case might be filed and later resolved.  Some of the steps are a loop, and others may be mixed and matched, but the general continuum, from least confrontational to most confrontational,…

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8 Keys to Resolving Divorce Conflict

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

You never thought it would happen to you, yet here you are faced with divorce. Maybe you asked for the divorce. Maybe you’re the one who is being left. Even if it is something you and your spouse both want equally, you are facing a crisis. You may be wondering why we’re talking about resolving…

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Resolving Divorce Conflict – Be Hard on the Problem, Not the People

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

A Closer Look at Resolving Divorce Conflict Key 1: Be hard on the problem, not the people. We made this the first conflict resolution skill because it’s likely the first one you’ll put to use.  Right now, it may be hard not to see your spouse as the problem, as the reason for your divorce. …

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Resolving Divorce Conflict – Listening Is Not Obeying

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

A Closer Look at Resolving Divorce Conflict  Key 2: Understand that Acknowledging and Listening are NOT the same as Obeying   You may be tempted to issue decrees as you deal with your spouse over your divorce.  It might seem a whole lot easier to lay down the law and have those around you adhere…

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Resolving Divorce Conflict – Key 3: Use I-Statements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

A Closer Look at Resolving Divorce Conflict Key 3: Use I-Statements When you’ve spent the better part of your working life mediating and finding peaceful resolutions to conflicts, you begin to see patterns of both conflict and resolution.  In our divorce mediation practice, we’re big fans of  “I” statements.  “I” statements are conflict resolution magic.…

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Resolving Divorce Conflict – Giving the Benefit of the Doubt & Having Awkward Conversations

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

A Closer Look at Resolving Divorce Conflict Key 4: Give the Benefit of the Doubt. It’s hard to say which of these keys to resolving conflict we like the most. They have all become repeatedly handy with our clients. Before, during and after your divorce, you’re going to have lots of opportunities to test your…

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The Best Way to Start Your Divorce – A Divorce Mission Statement

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

A Divorce Mission Statement Have you thought about how you want your divorce to go?  What’s your ideal resolution?  Do you see a clear winner or loser?  Divorce is one of those areas where the questions you have now will almost always lead to even more questions.  One thing you can do to exercise control…

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Why This Collaborative Training is Different

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Streamlined Collaborative Practice Protocols Training June 6-8, 2013 Skirball Center Los Angeles, CA The Marina Collaborative Divorce Practice Group along with Co-Sponsor, the Southern California Mediation Association, are excited to announce our upcoming Three-Day Collaborative Practice Training June 6-8, 2013  in Los Angeles, California at the beautiful Skirball Center.     Why this training is different: This…

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8 Peace Practices for Uncontested Divorce California

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

There are 8 peace practices which are free and easy to practice every day. They’ll help you stay sane no matter what, and we all know that sanity is at a premium at the moment. An excerpt from the 8 Peace Practices chapter of Making Divorce Work, our latest book, was published by Mediate.com. Click…

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Divorce Wisdom: A Thank You Note to my Former Husband

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Divorce Wisdom: A Thank You Note to my Former Husband While it’s tempting to just remember the bad parts of your marriage, especially when you’re in the middle of your divorce, it’s also important to remember what you learned from each other, and what you gave to each other when the marriage was good. I’ve…

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Prenuptial Agreement Sample?

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

As a family law mediator who mediates premarital agreements and prenuptial agreements, I’m often asked: What does a prenup look like? Do you have a sample? I’d love to be able to give out a generic sample prenup, but there really is no such thing.  Prenups are as individual as the couples themselves (isn’t this…

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Talking About Prenuptial Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

It doesn’t matter what you call it:  Prenup, premarital agreement, prenuptial agreement……doesn’t make the discussion any easier. Honestly, it’s not as much about the written document as it is about the disucssion. I’m convinced that if you have the discussion, and talk about all the topics, that you may or may not need the written…

Read More →

The 411 on Prenuptial Agreements and Premarital Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What You Need to Know About Prenuptial Agreements Even though prenuptial agreements get a really bad rap, they’re vital documents that protect both people about to enter into marriage. It’s all about your approach. By having a calm and logical conversation before pulling out any documents, you stand a much better chance of keeping things…

Read More →

Talking About Prenups

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

About Prenuptial Agreements When couples start throwing around those dreaded words “prenuptial agreement” (a.k.a. prenup, prenupt, premarital agreement) the inescapable thought is, “Uh-oh, are we planning on getting a divorce?”  Most people get this feeling that bringing up a prenuptial agreement is bad luck or amounts to dooming your marriage.  Nothing could be further from…

Read More →

411 on Prenuptial Agreements and Premarital Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What You Need to Know About Prenuptial Agreements  Even though prenuptial agreements get a really bad rap, they’re vital documents that protect both people about to enter into marriage. It’s all about your approach. By having a calm and logical conversation before pulling out any documents, you stand a much better chance of keeping things…

Read More →

Premarital Agreement Sample

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

You hear a lot of talk about prenups, but what does a premarital agreement look like? Where can one find a premarital agreement sample?  It’s hard to find a premarital agreement sample because there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.  Prenups are drafted based on the individual couples’ needs.  Topics for your prenup might include: 1)  Defining your…

Read More →

Prenup Pros and Cons

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Thinking about a prenup? There are pros and cons. Pros: You sort things out and make your agreement while you’re in love You have important pre-marital discussions about money, children, aging parents, spending vs. saving and all sorts of values. These discussions are critical to a happy marriage If you find out if you have…

Read More →

Talking About Prenuptial Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

It doesn’t matter what you call it:  Prenup, premarital agreement, prenuptial agreement……doesn’t make the discussion any easier. Honestly, it’s not as much about the written document as it is about the disucssion. I’m convinced that if you have the discussion, and talk about all the topics, that you may or may not need the written…

Read More →

The 411 on Prenuptial Agreements and Premarital Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What You Need to Know About Prenuptial Agreements Even though prenuptial agreements get a really bad rap, they’re vital documents that protect both people about to enter into marriage. It’s all about your approach. By having a calm and logical conversation before pulling out any documents, you stand a much better chance of keeping things…

Read More →

Talking About Prenups

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

About Prenuptial Agreements When couples start throwing around those dreaded words “prenuptial agreement” (a.k.a. prenup, prenupt, premarital agreement) the inescapable thought is, “Uh-oh, are we planning on getting a divorce?”  Most people get this feeling that bringing up a prenuptial agreement is bad luck or amounts to dooming your marriage.  Nothing could be further from…

Read More →

411 on Prenuptial Agreements and Premarital Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What You Need to Know About Prenuptial Agreements  Even though prenuptial agreements get a really bad rap, they’re vital documents that protect both people about to enter into marriage. It’s all about your approach. By having a calm and logical conversation before pulling out any documents, you stand a much better chance of keeping things…

Read More →

Premarital Agreement Sample

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

You hear a lot of talk about prenups, but what does a premarital agreement look like? Where can one find a premarital agreement sample?  It’s hard to find a premarital agreement sample because there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.  Prenups are drafted based on the individual couples’ needs.  Topics for your prenup might include: 1)  Defining your…

Read More →

Prenuptial Agreement Sample?

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

As a family law mediator who mediates premarital agreements and prenuptial agreements, I’m often asked: What does a prenup look like? Do you have a sample? I’d love to be able to give out a generic sample prenup, but there really is no such thing.  Prenups are as individual as the couples themselves (isn’t this…

Read More →

Prenup Pros and Cons

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Thinking about a prenup? There are pros and cons. Pros: You sort things out and make your agreement while you’re in love You have important pre-marital discussions about money, children, aging parents, spending vs. saving and all sorts of values. These discussions are critical to a happy marriage If you find out if you have…

Read More →

Talking About Prenuptial Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

It doesn’t matter what you call it:  Prenup, premarital agreement, prenuptial agreement……doesn’t make the discussion any easier. Honestly, it’s not as much about the written document as it is about the disucssion. I’m convinced that if you have the discussion, and talk about all the topics, that you may or may not need the written…

Read More →

The 411 on Prenuptial Agreements and Premarital Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What You Need to Know About Prenuptial Agreements Even though prenuptial agreements get a really bad rap, they’re vital documents that protect both people about to enter into marriage. It’s all about your approach. By having a calm and logical conversation before pulling out any documents, you stand a much better chance of keeping things…

Read More →

Talking About Prenups

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

About Prenuptial Agreements When couples start throwing around those dreaded words “prenuptial agreement” (a.k.a. prenup, prenupt, premarital agreement) the inescapable thought is, “Uh-oh, are we planning on getting a divorce?”  Most people get this feeling that bringing up a prenuptial agreement is bad luck or amounts to dooming your marriage.  Nothing could be further from…

Read More →

411 on Prenuptial Agreements and Premarital Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

What You Need to Know About Prenuptial Agreements  Even though prenuptial agreements get a really bad rap, they’re vital documents that protect both people about to enter into marriage. It’s all about your approach. By having a calm and logical conversation before pulling out any documents, you stand a much better chance of keeping things…

Read More →

Premarital Agreement Sample

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

You hear a lot of talk about prenups, but what does a premarital agreement look like? Where can one find a premarital agreement sample?  It’s hard to find a premarital agreement sample because there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.  Prenups are drafted based on the individual couples’ needs.  Topics for your prenup might include: 1)  Defining your…

Read More →

Prenuptial Agreement Sample?

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

As a family law mediator who mediates premarital agreements and prenuptial agreements, I’m often asked: What does a prenup look like? Do you have a sample? I’d love to be able to give out a generic sample prenup, but there really is no such thing.  Prenups are as individual as the couples themselves (isn’t this…

Read More →

Prenup Pros and Cons

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

Thinking about a prenup? There are pros and cons. Pros: You sort things out and make your agreement while you’re in love You have important pre-marital discussions about money, children, aging parents, spending vs. saving and all sorts of values. These discussions are critical to a happy marriage If you find out if you have…

Read More →

Talking About Prenuptial Agreements

By peacetalkadmin | July 27, 2013

It doesn’t matter what you call it:  Prenup, premarital agreement, prenuptial agreement……doesn’t make the discussion any easier. Honestly, it’s not as much about the written document as it is about the disucssion. I’m convinced that if you have the discussion, and talk about all the topics, that you may or may not need the written…

Read More →

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