About
About Peter Hermes
Peter Hermes, Esq., is pleased to announce the expansion of his legal practice and the introduction of his independent mediation practice.
Mr. Hermes is a Los Angeles native who grew up in a busy, hard-working, close Italian family. He brings with him the compassion and down-to-earth practical approach grounded in the desire for successful settlement outcomes that serve and advance family narratives.
Mr. Hermes started his career in Family Law with Stephen A. Kolodny, Esq., then created and managed the Family Law Department at Stockwell Harris Widom and Woolverton. As partner and senior litigator at Kolodny and Anteau in Beverly Hills, he handled high-profile, complex, family law matters dealing with prominent entertainment, business and sports personalities, among other clientele. In 2000, he formed Hermes & Glavin, LLP and then pursued a private Family Law practice, Hermes Law Group.
Mr. Hermes is well-respected by colleagues and judges as well as court personnel in a career spanning over 48 years. It is with great joy that he expands his legal practice and inaugurates his new role as a Mediator in service to attorneys and their clients and the Southern California legal community to provide easier, more affordable and effective dispute resolution outcomes, among other jurisdictions.
Mission Statement
Family Law Mediation Los Angeles continues to evolve into a highly complex legal field that should be handled by experienced family law lawyers who stay informed of the latest changes to case and statutory law and the new and innovative processes impacting family law.
In my role as Mediator, my mission, focus and fundamental philosophy as a NEUTRAL, is to encourage and empower represented clients with the assistance of their lawyers, to make a good-faith attempt to settle difficult and complex marital issues, to allow clients to have a voice in the mediation process, to provide the clients with the tools, information and options available to them in reaching an informed and reasonable decision in the mediation process that will be life-changing without regret or second thoughts (side-stepping the pain, anguish, uncertainty and cost of full-blown litigation) and to help navigate and orchestrate settlement of complex, emotional, financial and familial issues and disputes which will allow clients to take control of their lives and achieve real-world results and goals.
Having witnessed the emotional and financial toll exerted on families from protracted litigations, I am motivated to help serve attorneys and their clients to avoid the damaging and costly litigation process.
Why Mediate With Peter Hermes Esq.
Mr. Hermes is well-known to Los Angeles Courts and he has an impeccable reputation with judges, colleagues and clients.
- His mediation fees are affordable and fair compared to other third-party mediation out-source services and agencies.
- 48+ years of litigation experience and legal expertise covering all areas of matrimonial practice in California.
- Adept at navigating different legal matters with high profile individuals and families dealing with complex issues and emotionally-charged situations. Skilled and patient — educating clients regarding the family court system, the law, the value of mediation and settlement and managing litigants’ emotions and case outcome expectations.
Expert at empowering and instilling confidence for mediation participants to engage in the necessary communication process throughout mediation, understand the issues and settlement options, weight the risks vs. benefits vs. costs of settlement vs. litigation.
In addition to his substantive expertise and keen analytic skills, Mr. Hermes establishes the genuine rapport AND effective discourse and communication that helps parties move forward to satisfying, successful settlement outcomes — even in contentious situations.
Education and Licensing
- B.S. Economics, Loyola University Los Angeles, CA (1970)
- J.D. Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, CA (1973) with Moot Court Honors
- Licensed with the Supreme Court of the United States
- Licensed with the State Bar of California
- Member of the California State Bar Association
- Member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association
Recent Blog Posts
GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Affordable Divorce Mediation in Los Angeles
The legal term for divorce in California is “dissolution of marriage.”
California is a “no-fault” divorce state, meaning that you do not need to prove fault or wrongdoing to obtain a divorce. The most common ground for dissolution is “irreconcilable differences.”
Yes, there is a residency requirement to file for dissolution of marriage (divorce) in California. Either you or your spouse must meet the following residency criteria:
- You or your spouse must have been a resident of California for at least six (6) months before filing for divorce.
- You or your spouse must have been a resident of the county where you plan to file the divorce petition for at least three (3) months before filing.
It’s important to note that meeting the residency requirement is necessary to establish the jurisdiction of the California courts over the parties and the divorce case. If you or your spouse do not meet the residency requirement, you need to wait until the requirement is satisfied before filing for divorce.
No, to file for divorce in California, either spouse must meet the residency requirements, which include living in the state for at least six (6) months and in the county where the divorce petition is filed for at least three (3) months.
Yes, it is possible to obtain a divorce without going to court in California if both parties reach an agreement on all issues, such as property division, child custody, and support. The terms of the agreement must then be included in a Judgment of Dissolution, and signed by both parties (and counsel) and filed and entered by the Court (along with other supporting Court forms). Be advised that the Court will not enter the Judgment until both parties exchange their Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (“PDD”) and file the Declaration Regarding Service of Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure and submit their Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure, if agreed. Always consult your lawyer regarding the Judgment process or the Court facilitator if you are in pro per.