Less Painful Divorces

By Stephanie | January 21, 2019

With just less than half of married partners ending in divorce, therapists over time have developed some suggestions for making the process possibly less painful for everyone. You will see from these suggestions why PeaceTalks always makes sure a therapist is available for both parties for every session. You can see a thread with these…

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Divorce Mediation Means Talking

By Stephanie | January 21, 2019

In getting to a mutually agreeable divorce settlement we make progress, literally, by getting couples to communicate with each other. Many couples find it difficult to communicate. Our therapist mediator will provide tools to better communication and can also facilitate a “difficult conversation.”Communication is an interactive process, and text messages can be a great way to stay…

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Christmas Magic Before and After Divorce

By Stephanie | December 20, 2018

There are some great points in this article (link below) that are very relevant to both children of the before group as well as those dealing annually with the “split family” holiday conflicts. I hope some of these insights come in handy no matter which side of the timeline you are on and I’m adding a story…

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Overstaying In A Bad Marriage

By Stephanie | November 26, 2018

I came across this article and recognized some of the dynamics as themes that we see at PeaceTalks on a regular and all too frequent basis. It sometimes helps if an idea about an important decision process comes from a third party so feel free to share this with anyone. Why You Stayed in That…

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Celebrity Divorces and Mediation

By Stephanie | November 20, 2018

I came across an article by Jill Stanley, who covers celebrity legal stories, as to why some celebrities choose mediation for their divorce process. Using some couples from Malibu as a general backdrop she covers a few of these reasons that really can apply to any amicable couple looking to avoid costly litigation. PeaceTalks has handled agreements for celebrities…

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Divorce – Ready or Not?

By Stephanie | October 10, 2018

Recently, I’ve been encountering a lot of feedback related to people “rushing” to a divorce, before being informed, as to what needs to be done ahead of time. Here are some of the recurring themes that many therapists and advisors caution about when facing this decision. At Peace Talks we offer discernment counseling to help you…

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The Small Outdoors

By Stephanie | April 3, 2018

by Stephanie Maloney Here it is again that time to start getting out and planning out some “away from the house” time. It seems to get tougher each year so we have to get more creative. Actual vacations involving travel are kind of a special event category and require detailed coordination never mind extraordinary cooperation.…

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Unplugging To Connect

By Stephanie | March 30, 2018

by Stephanie Maloney Every family that I interact with has difficulty creating and managing their time together. By definition, Divorce creates two entities from one source. With our technology, it sounds crazy to admit that we have trouble connecting with each other but that is the reality for a lot of people. This is all…

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Spring Cleaning

By Stephanie | March 20, 2018

by Stephanie Maloney As we finally are getting some much-needed rain I keep thinking about things, besides the social and political black holes, that are ripe for clean up. With a clearer picture of your finances under the new tax laws it’s probably not a bad idea to get an overview from your advisors about…

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Crypto-Scams, or, Old Wolf New Online Sheepskin

By Stephanie | March 12, 2018

by Stephanie Maloney Every year around “Tax Time” consumers, across the board, get hit with opportunities to “turn that refund into a lot of money” and this year some of it is coming a “Bit Coin” at a time. Scams that have historically targeted retirees, widows and widowers are now bleeding out to include the…

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Divorce Resource

By Stephanie | March 1, 2018

by Stephanie Maloney The more I read about how little time people have for things they’d like to do the question remains about how to make time for things they need to do. That always brings me around to creating opportunities for a friendly exchange of information in a relaxed setting. What we’re talking about…

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Winter Olympics – Teaming Up

By Stephanie | February 19, 2018

by Stephanie Maloney Even if you don’t have “Olympic Fever” there are always some great moments worth watching.  Because I skated competitively growing up in Minnesota I’m reminded how important teamwork is to even the individualevents.  The research and planning that are part of the preparation process involve many people and have a lot to do with the final results.…

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If Wall Street Is Your Street

By Stephanie | February 10, 2018

by Stephanie Maloney If individual stocks or mutual funds are associated with your divorce, whether by mediation or litigation, don’t panic because of the recent market volatility. When people “inherit” equities it can take some time to learn how to properly keep track of them. In my many years in the investment sector I witnessed corrections similar…

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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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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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The Huffington Post Divorce Blog

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

I’mhappy to announce that my Huffington Post blog, Insiders’ Divorce Advice, was published today! I love blogging for the Huffington Post.  You can read my by-line here:  Diana Mercer Huff Po Divorce blog.

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Insider Divorce Advice

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

Divorce Advice I Give My Friends I’ve been a divorce attorney for 23 years (youthful appearance notwithstanding).  As you 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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Court Field Trip: Mediation

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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 26, 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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Divorce and Graphotherapy

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

Divorce and Graphotherapy Guest blog post by Sheila Lowe, MS www.sheilalowe.com Divorce sucks. No point denying it. Whether you’ve grown to hate the person you once loved or the parting is amicable, when it comes to ending it all, you still have to grieve for the hopes and dreams you once shared. It’s stressful, it’s…

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Divorce in California

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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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Shared Custody Schedules

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

Shared Custody Schedules.  When you’ve been married you’ve been parenting together, the idea of seeing your kids on a schedule probably seems pretty foreign. It’s a divorce and separation reality, however. There are a few things to keep in mind to help you be successful at shared, cooperative co-parenting: It will take some time for…

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Low Cost Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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 26, 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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Tips for Co-Parenting After Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

Tips for Co-Parenting after Divorce This is a guest blog by Scott Morgan, a board certified Austin Divorce Lawyer. Co-parenting after divorce can seem daunting, but it is entirely possible to establish a healthy co-parenting relationship with your ex-spouse. The most important thing to remember is to put your children’s well-being ahead of your own…

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Cost of Divorce: Cost of Staying Together

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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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Setting Clear Boundaries in Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

Setting Clear Boundaries Often, your marital or domestic situation does not meet the level of serious violence where you have to flee, but you are subject to consistent intimidation or abuse. These actions are also a form of violence or battering, and also an indication of the deterioration in your relationship. Understand that when you…

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Mediation is the New and Improved Litigation

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

Well, there’s really no improvements on divorce and custody litigation. But mediation is definitely a better way to go.  Less costly, faster, confidential, on your schedule, tailored to your needs….the benefits of mediation are pretty clear. When you mediate your divorce, family law, custody, child support, alimony, spousal support or modification issue you don’t have…

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Creating a Good Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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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Is Divorce Failure?

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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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In Divorce, The Truth Is Not Relevant

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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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Divorce: Kids and Custody

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

Kids and Custody Do you remember being a kid?  At my age it’s a little blurry, but I can tell you that adults often misunderstand how kids behave and think.  Children are often smarter and more creative than we give them credit for.  As a toddler I distinctly remember being able to understand that my…

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Cause of Divorce

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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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Divorce Sanity: The 8 Peace Practices

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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 26, 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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Uncontested Divorce: California Guide

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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 26, 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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Child Custody Mediation and Contested Custody

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

Choosing whether to proceed in court with a custody dispute is serious business.  It affects your spouse, who you may be trying to deny custody altogether, but most especially, it affects your child or children, who may be forced to grow up without their birth father or mother as an active player in their on-going…

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Divorce Strategy and Divorce Mediation

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 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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Co-Parenting Calendars

By peacetalkadmin | July 26, 2013

*FREE* Online Parenting Calendars Review by Janae Monroe Peace Talks Mediation Services peace-talks.com Juggling soccer practice, violin lessons, tutors, and everything else in between can be extremely difficult to manage for any family, but for divorcing parents it’s all the more challenging. Using programs like these will help give your children a sense of predictability. …

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Divorce That Works

By peacetalkadmin | July 25, 2013

  If you’re reading this, you’re probably not in such a good place right now.  However it happens, realizing that your marriage doesn’t make you happy and that something has to change is a tough spot.  You might be early on in the process.  Or maybe you’re not looking forward to doing battle with your…

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8 Keys to Resolving Divorce Conflict

By peacetalkadmin | July 25, 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 25, 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 25, 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 25, 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 25, 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 25, 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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Divorce & Holidays: Stay Focused On What Matters Most Holiday Season

By peacetalkadmin | July 25, 2013

Staying Focused On What Matters This Holiday Season For most children, the holidays are an exciting time that they look forward to all year. However for some, especially those whose parents are separated, they can be dispiriting and difficult. For tips on how to keep your child happy and upbeat during this season, read the…

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Divorce Wisdom: A Thank You Note to my Former Husband

By peacetalkadmin | July 25, 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.…

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Join Us for Divorce Options Every 1st Tuesday!

By peacetalkadmin | July 25, 2013

Peace of Mind Collaborative and the Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association are pleased to present a community-based series of Divorce Options

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Choose How Confrontational Your Divorce Will Be

By peacetalkadmin | July 25, 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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Mediation Training Reviews: Center for Civic Mediation & Peace Talks Mediation

By peacetalkadmin | July 25, 2013

Mediation Training Reviews: Center for Civic Mediation (live) and Peace Talks Mediation Services DVDs

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Personal Property and Divorce: Consignment Offers Solutions

By peacetalkadmin | July 25, 2013

Personal Property and Divorce:  Family Focused Consignment Offers Solutions Guest Blog By Mark A. Roger Proprietor; Backroom @ WestClay Divorce brings with it upheaval and turmoil; navigating the dissolution of a relationship takes an emotional toll of both parties.  The dissolution and assignment of property; and cost of establishing new residences compound the situation.  Once…

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