Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Donison Law Firm Helping Lawyers Help Others ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.donisonlaw.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Create a new tradition!](https://www.donisonlaw.com/create-a-new-tradition/) - Create a New Tradition for Your New Family Dynamic This may be your first holiday season wearing your New Family suit, and it might not feel as comfortable as you would like, so here are some ideas to help you find the joy in the season: New Family. You, your children, your coparent, and extended - [Welcome!](https://www.donisonlaw.com/hello-world-2/) - As part of my mission to change the world one divorce at a time, I've enthusiastically embraced the concept of blogging in particular and social media in general. As I begin this journey, I am holding the concept in my mind as an opportunity to share knowledge, enlighten non-lawyers, and inspire other family law professionals to jump on - [Financial Bedlam](https://www.donisonlaw.com/financial-bedlam/) - Financial Bedlam. That's how one client described his divorce. Like many people seeking a divorce, "Tim" just wanted a short and simple divorce without a lot of fighting over "things." (No, it's not really Tim. See Disclaimer.) Tim, a small business owner, has the "entrepreneurial temperament," which means that he is used to getting what he - [Free Consults! (Not really.)](https://www.donisonlaw.com/free-consults-not-really/) - With everyone seemingly in a panic over the state of their finances, it's not a surprise that we've received a few calls asking for a "free consult." I find it particularly amusing when a person calls and insists that they should receive an hour of my time "for free" because "other lawyers do it." I - [Summer's End](https://www.donisonlaw.com/summers-end/) - Even though the temperatures are still blazing in the desert, days are long and the nights are sultry, for most Arizona kids, summer (meaning the summer break from school) is almost at an end. As we approach the 2010 - 2011 school year, you should be asking yourself a few key questions: Are the kids doing well - [What I learned on Summer Vacation](https://www.donisonlaw.com/what-i-learned-on-summer-vacation/) - Summer is almost over, at least on the calendar. Here in Arizona, we have several weeks of hot weather ahead, and I hope you have a chance to escape the heat for a little vacation. Some people went on vacation under less-than-optimal conditions, and the lesson – both from Judge Ryan and from my own - [What is Collaborative Mediation?](https://www.donisonlaw.com/what-is-collaborative-mediation/) - Trends come and go, what was hot a week ago is now passé, and things evolve. More and more, I’m seeing a trend towards Collaborative Mediation and it’s client-driven. In this post I will define Collaborative Mediation and provide some examples so you can determine if it’s right for you. The only constant is change, - [Avoiding Financial Bedlam](https://www.donisonlaw.com/avoiding-financial-bedlam/) - In my last blog, I asked you to think about a question: Am I willing to turn over a significant percentage of my net worth in order to be divorced? Since you're back to read more, I'm guessing you answered NO to that question and you're ready to Avoid Financial Bedlam. Here are a few ways - [How Does Brainstorming Work to Resolve Issues?](https://www.donisonlaw.com/how-does-brainstorming-work-to-resolve-issues/) - The brainstorming aspect is an important element of Collaborative Practice and mediation, where all ideas (even the wacky ones!) are carefully documented. The brainstorming process is intentionally conducted (and conducted with intention) to create real buy-in from both spouses. To illustrate, here is an example of what a “who gets the house” brainstorm might look - [Are You Average?](https://www.donisonlaw.com/are-you-average/) - How much is your case expected to contribute to a firm's cash flow? In a previous blog, Financial Bedlam, I introduced you to Tim and Kathy, an average couple with ordinary problems, who got an ordinary divorce. It was just "average." It wasn't the best divorce or the worst, not the cheapest nor most expensive, not the longest or - [Are You Above Average?](https://www.donisonlaw.com/are-you-above-average/) - Are you Above Average? You might think so, but you're probably not when it comes to divorce. Becoming Above Average is not nearly as hard as it sounds. When it comes to family law matters, you don't have to have a low percent of body fat, high IQ, big bank account or a lot of letters - [Are You Insane?](https://www.donisonlaw.com/are-you-insane/) - Albert Einstein (a fairly smart fellow) said that the definition of insanity was "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." In that respect, it's fairly simple to self-diagnose! If you've been doing the same things over and over and still expect to see different results, you might be insane ... or, - [5 Scenarios For A Parenting Plan Tune-up](https://www.donisonlaw.com/5-scenarios-for-a-parenting-plan-tune-up/) - Here are a few common scenarios that we see and I have outlined them for you so you can think about whether or not your parenting plan may need a tune-up. - [Flat Fees Are Finally Here!](https://www.donisonlaw.com/flat-fees-are-finally-here/) - Billable Hours Lawyers are taught at the outset of our careers that the Billable Hour rules the world. Coming from the business community, I always found the billing practices of law firms to be rather odd. In most other service industries, the customer obtains a quote or bid or scope of work that outlines what you will - [Sell, Hold, Short Sell, Foreclose?](https://www.donisonlaw.com/sell-hold-short-sell-foreclose/) - Oh my, we are in a pickle here in Arizona. Our real estate bubble burst with a bang and left many homeowners under water and holding real estate -- and debt -- without equity. We're not alone in that dilemma, but we are one of the hardest hit areas of the country and are regularly featured in - [Summer Vacation](https://www.donisonlaw.com/summer-vacation/) - Summer Vacation is just around the corner -- only a few weeks away! I know, it’s hard to believe, and that means trips, child care, and camp. To make sure that you and your co-parent are on the same page, make sure to review your parenting orders and start planning now. Here are some things to consider: - [Miss Picky Stickler](https://www.donisonlaw.com/miss-picky-stickler/) - Okay, I admit it. I'm a stickler for details and am very picky about how legal documents are prepared. So go ahead, call me Miss Picky Stickler if you must. In my previous career, I was a journalist and acquisitions editor for a major publishing house. I actually liked grammar classes in school (yes, Virginia, - [What's Your Everest?](https://www.donisonlaw.com/whats-your-everest/) - I was inspired to blog about this topic from -- of all things -- a Champion sportswear ad that posed the question and went on to say, "The summit awaits each of us -- and the symbolism of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, can help us achieve our own goals and dreams." I - [Divorce Recovery = Prevention](https://www.donisonlaw.com/divorce-recovery-prevention/) - We are all familiar with the horror stories about nasty divorces, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, taking years to complete, and leaving the family in ruins. Unfortunately, that scenario (or one similar) is pretty much the norm in our society. The emotion-fueled "intimate war" is promoted and glamorized by Hollywood divorces, daytime television, greedy lawyers, - [How to Choose A Divorce Attorney](https://www.donisonlaw.com/how-to-choose-a-divorce-attorney/) - My cousin (who is also an attorney, but not in Arizona and not in family law) sent me a message a few days ago, on behalf of her friend who is getting divorced. Jana's question was, "how does Amy choose a divorce attorney and what questions should she be asking?" By the time I was finished with the - [Mediation: Two Views](https://www.donisonlaw.com/mediation-two-views/) - This month I worked with two very different couples in two very different mediations, and it occurred to me that if you are in the divorce process, you know nothing of other clients' experiences, which might be helpful in making a decision about mediation. Here's the back story: Couple A (let's call them Anne and Arturo) and Couple - [The High Conflict Person and Their Crazy-Making Ways](https://www.donisonlaw.com/the-high-conflict-person-and-their-crazy-making-ways/) - Pamela Donison explains how to deal with high conflict people. ## Pages - [Home](https://www.donisonlaw.com/) - Attorney Pamela Donison is licensed in Arizona, providing legal research and writing services to Arizona attorneys for civil litigation and family law issues. - [About](https://www.donisonlaw.com/about-us/) - About Pamela Donison and Donison Law Firm PLLC. Southern Arizona premiere full service family law firm - [Contact](https://www.donisonlaw.com/contact/) - Contact Pamela Donison to discuss your family law needs. - [Services](https://www.donisonlaw.com/services/) - Donison Law Firm services, no conflict divorce, mediation, document preparation, wills, estates, trusts. ## Categories - [Collaborative](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/collaborative/) - [Divorce with Children](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/divorce-with-children/) - [Double Divorce](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/double-divorce/) - [Financial Management](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/financial/) - [General Discussion](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/general-interest/) - [Holistic Health](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/holistic-health/) - [Legal Information](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/legal-information/) - [Mediation](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/mediation/) - [Parenting Time](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/parenting-time/) - [Rants and Raves](https://www.donisonlaw.com/category/rants-and-raves/) ## Tags - [5 Day Divorce](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/5-day-divorce/) - [accuracy](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/accuracy/) - [arbitration](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/arbitration/) - [behavior](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/behavior/) - [business](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/business/) - [child specialist](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/child-specialist/) - [children](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/children/) - [co-parent](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/co-parent/) - [co-parenting](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/co-parenting/) - [Collaborative Divorce](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/collaborative-divorce/) - [communication](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/communication/) - [conflict](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/conflict/) - [conflict resolution](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/conflict-resolution/) - [consulting](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/consulting/) - [consults](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/consults/) - [consumer](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/consumer/) - [cost](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/cost/) - [court](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/court/) - [custody](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/custody/) - [divorce](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/divorce/) - [education savings](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/education-savings/) - [families](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/families/) - [family law](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/family-law/) - [fees](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/fees/) - [fighting](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/fighting/) - [finances](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/finances/) - [financial planner](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/financial-planner/) - [flat fee](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/flat-fee/) - [foreclosure](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/foreclosure/) - [high conflict](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/high-conflict/) - [holiday](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/holiday/) - [legal advice](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/legal-advice/) - [legal service](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/legal-service/) - [legal writing](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/legal-writing/) - [litigation](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/litigation/) - [marital community](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/marital-community/) - [mediation](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/mediation/) - [mortgage](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/mortgage/) - [negotiation](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/negotiation/) - [Parenting Plan](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/parenting-plan/) - [Parenting Time](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/parenting-time/) - [quality](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/quality/) - [real estate](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/real-estate/) - [refinance](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/refinance/) - [retreat](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/retreat/) - [school choice](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/school-choice/) - [school year](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/school-year/) - [settlement](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/settlement/) - [short sale](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/short-sale/) - [stress](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/stress/) - [therapy](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/therapy/) - [unbundled](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/unbundled/) - [vacation](https://www.donisonlaw.com/tag/vacation/)