Lawyers

Family Law Mediation, Los Angeles


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. Peter Hermes is celebrating 50 years of practicing Family Law.

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.

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Mission Statement

Family Law 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.

How Does Mediation Help Lawyers?


Mediation is a superior alternative to court proceedings for resolving disputes, offering numerous benefits to both lawyers and their clients. Firstly, mediation is significantly more cost-effective and time-efficient than traditional litigation, reducing the financial and emotional burden on clients. This streamlined process allows lawyers to manage their caseloads more effectively, resulting in increased client satisfaction and retention. Mediation also provides a confidential and less adversarial environment, promoting open communication and fostering amicable resolutions. For lawyers, this means preserving professional relationships and enhancing their reputation as problem-solvers. Moreover, mediation offers greater flexibility, allowing parties to craft tailored solutions that better meet their unique needs and interests, often leading to more sustainable and satisfactory outcomes. By advocating for mediation, lawyers can demonstrate their commitment to efficient, client-centered legal practices, ultimately benefiting both their clients and their own practice.

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Experience Matters


Mr. Hermes has handled thousands of divorce cases and related family law matters and can step in to provide a seamless mediation experience and support, as a NEUTRAL, to all involved in the mediation process.

Mr. Hermes is known for his fair, fearless, creative, skilled and grounded common sense approach. He brings a practical, real-world view to solving and expediting sensitive and fair solutions, and helping clients see the positive and realistic big picture and move ahead with their lives.

Mr. Hermes shares a vast knowledge of all areas of Family Law and the judicial system and is well-known to Los Angeles Courts and has an impeccable litigation reputation with judges, clients and his colleagues in the Family Law arena.

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.

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.

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GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

For California Family Law

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:

  1. You or your spouse must have been a resident of California for at least six (6) months before filing for divorce.
  2. 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.

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