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PDF![It took attorney Michelle MacDonald 25 years to recognize that the way attorneys and courts break up families is beyond-a-reasonable-doubt objectionable. Alongside her clients, other attorneys, mediators and professionals, Michelle founded FAMILY INNOCENCE, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping families out of the adversarial court process. Within a year of her calling to eliminate court for families, the Family Innocence Process was created, a unique model where separating or separated family members choose to participate at […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/courtroom.jpg "What is the Family Innocence Process ?")
![The Family Innocence Presents: Resolving Conflicts Takes Practice! Family & Restorative Circle Practices/Orientations are held every other Wednesday . Call to register and verify location. Share a conflict with trained Circle facilitators, or come to observe and learn a way to resolve conflicts on your own: Every other Wednesday at 5:45 PM . Family Innocence Headquarters: 1069 S Robert Street, Suite B W. St. Paul, MN 55118 So we know your coming and to verify […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/conflict.jpg "Resolve a Conflict by having it! Bring your conflict to Family Circle Orientation")
What Do You Stand For?
Hello. It’s attorney Michelle Lowney MacDonald. This year marks the 25th anniversary of my family law practice, my 50 years of being alive, and the 15th anniversary of the movie, Jerry Maguire. Oh, and I became a grandmother. In January, inspired by my clients, my grandson, Jerry Maguire and Pope John Paul II, I wrote a Miracle Mission Statement: Abolish Family Court (as we know it) and Keep Broken Families Out of the Adversary Process.
I invite you to come on this miracle mission with me.
FAMILY INNOCENCE ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY JANUARY 1, 2017
This remarkable baby can talk non-stop about eliminating court for families. Come to the next meeting and see!Date: Sunday, January 1, 2017. Family Innocence New Years Resolution Party Time: TBA Location : To Be Announced
Questions: Call Family Innocence at 651-783-5878 (Be sure to leave your call back number)
* Food & Beverages Provided. Cash Bar also available
![Sheraton Hotel, Downtown Denver, Colorado June 14-16, 2019 June 13 Pre-Conference Workshops Family Innocence founder, Michelle MacDonald, an attorney, mediator and restorative circle facilitator, has agreed to coordinate the “Restorative Room” throughout the Elevating Justice: Widening the Circle event. Michelle is a member of NACRJ, and on the national planning team. The “Restorative Circle Mat & Guide/Talking Peace” (copyright – familycourt.com), a peacemaking tool for facilitators and participants alike, should be available before and during […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NACRJdominicbarter-640x250.jpg "Elevating Justice: Widening the Circle")
Elevating Justice: Widening the Circle
Sheraton Hotel, Downtown Denver, Colorado June 14-16, 2019 June 13 Pre-Conference Workshops Family Innocence founder, Michelle MacDonald, an attorney, mediator and restorative circle facilitator, has agreed to coordinate the “Restorative Room” throughout the Elevating Justice: Widening the Circle event. Michelle is a member of NACRJ, and on the national planning team. The “Restorative Circle Mat & Guide/Talking Peace” (copyright – familycourt.com), a peacemaking tool for facilitators and participants alike, should be available before and during […]
What's New
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![Unique Opportunity to Learn Circles! August 9-11, 2018 International Conference on Restorative Practices coming to St. Paul. Hello. It’s Michelle MacDonald! Our family culture seems to go from conflict to attorneys and court. Either that, or they dwell in conflict. But there is a better way used around the country and the world. I call it an authentic, holistic and organic justice —–that can happen before lawyers and courts are ever involved. There is […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/945684_593131154044975_287080695_n-115x115.jpg "Unique Opportunity to Learn Circles! August 9-11")
Unique Opportunity to Learn Circles! August 9-11
Posted on July 25, 2018 | No CommentsUnique Opportunity to Learn Circles! August 9-11, 2018 International Conference on Restorative Practices coming to St. Paul. Hello. It’s Michelle MacDonald! Our family culture seems to go from conflict to attorneys and court. Either that, or they dwell in conflict. But there is a better way used around the country and the world. I call it an authentic, holistic and organic justice —–that can happen before lawyers and courts are ever involved. There is […] -
![Attorney Michelle MacDonald, Barb Zorn and David Bradshaw are the group of lawyers, judges, mediators, mental-health professionals, former Minnesota legislators, and lay-people that have been meeting twice a month for over two years conceptualizing and fine-tuning the Cooperative Private Divorce process, now in it’s final stage. The Family Innocence Process (“FIP”) cooperates perfectly with the Cooperative Private Divorce process, as we educate family members to avoid court, participate in Family Circles, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution , and go to court only […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/microphone-115x115.jpg "At Last, Family Innocence Friendly Legislation – Divorce Without Courts coming soon")
At Last, Family Innocence Friendly Legislation – Divorce Without Courts coming soon
Posted on August 31, 2017 | No CommentsAttorney Michelle MacDonald, Barb Zorn and David Bradshaw are the group of lawyers, judges, mediators, mental-health professionals, former Minnesota legislators, and lay-people that have been meeting twice a month for over two years conceptualizing and fine-tuning the Cooperative Private Divorce process, now in it’s final stage. The Family Innocence Process (“FIP”) cooperates perfectly with the Cooperative Private Divorce process, as we educate family members to avoid court, participate in Family Circles, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution , and go to court only […] -
![At last – Family Innocence Friendly Legislation. The current system assumes an adversarial posture. It needn’t be that way. Check out this editorial by (Judge) Bruce Peterson, and William Doherty (Couples on the Brink Project) http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/296649391.html State Rep. John Lesch and state Sen. Sandy Pappas recently introduced a “cooperative private divorce” bill that creates an administrative pathway to divorce that skips the court system. If most divorces settle out of court and people […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Family-1961.jpg "Divorce without court: A helpful reform")
Divorce without court: A helpful reform
Posted on March 27, 2015 | 1 CommentAt last – Family Innocence Friendly Legislation. The current system assumes an adversarial posture. It needn’t be that way. Check out this editorial by (Judge) Bruce Peterson, and William Doherty (Couples on the Brink Project) http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/296649391.html State Rep. John Lesch and state Sen. Sandy Pappas recently introduced a “cooperative private divorce” bill that creates an administrative pathway to divorce that skips the court system. If most divorces settle out of court and people […] -
![Joshua Hare was homeless, and in legal trouble, when Michelle Lowney MacDonald’s daughter brought him home one Sunday telling him, “My mom can help”. Michelle recognized Joshua from Choir, and asked what happened to his song bird voice. By the time they finished discussing his case, Joshua was singing harmony in the kitchen for Michelle’s husband, Thomas, and offered to put music to words for Family Innocence. Joshua borrowed a pink guitar, from when […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/joshhare-115x115.jpg "Family Innocence Helps Kids Find Their Voice")
Family Innocence Helps Kids Find Their Voice
Posted on November 1, 2014 | 1 CommentJoshua Hare was homeless, and in legal trouble, when Michelle Lowney MacDonald’s daughter brought him home one Sunday telling him, “My mom can help”. Michelle recognized Joshua from Choir, and asked what happened to his song bird voice. By the time they finished discussing his case, Joshua was singing harmony in the kitchen for Michelle’s husband, Thomas, and offered to put music to words for Family Innocence. Joshua borrowed a pink guitar, from when […] -
![Article by: BRUCE PETERSON (Pictured at left: Judge Bruce Peterson…a heart as big as the world) Gov. Mark Dayton has "pocket-vetoed" the watered-down version of the joint child custody legislation promoted for the last decade and has urged the adversaries to collaborate on a bill for next year. The opposing statements that followed on this page ("Kids in the balance," June 1, and "Child-custody bill was problematic," June 13) didn’t sound especially collaborative. We may […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Judge_Peterson-sm-115x90.jpg "Time, perhaps, to get courts out of divorce")
Time, perhaps, to get courts out of divorce
Posted on November 20, 2013 | 1 CommentArticle by: BRUCE PETERSON (Pictured at left: Judge Bruce Peterson…a heart as big as the world) Gov. Mark Dayton has "pocket-vetoed" the watered-down version of the joint child custody legislation promoted for the last decade and has urged the adversaries to collaborate on a bill for next year. The opposing statements that followed on this page ("Kids in the balance," June 1, and "Child-custody bill was problematic," June 13) didn’t sound especially collaborative. We may […] -
![If Restorative Justice Circles can resolve conflicts in communities where people kill, beat, steal, rape, fight, argue, lie, and totally ignore authority — it can undoubtedly transform conflict in our homes. Of course who do you forgive more in a given day than the people you live with? That’s why Family Innocence has implemented Restorative Justice Family Innocence Circles, to facilitate “Soup to Nuts” conflicts in families, separated or together. The process starts by sending […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/restorative.jpg "Gone Fishing – Family Innocence Reels in Champion Peacemaker, Dominic Barter")
Gone Fishing – Family Innocence Reels in Champion Peacemaker, Dominic Barter
Posted on November 20, 2013 | 1 CommentIf Restorative Justice Circles can resolve conflicts in communities where people kill, beat, steal, rape, fight, argue, lie, and totally ignore authority — it can undoubtedly transform conflict in our homes. Of course who do you forgive more in a given day than the people you live with? That’s why Family Innocence has implemented Restorative Justice Family Innocence Circles, to facilitate “Soup to Nuts” conflicts in families, separated or together. The process starts by sending […] -
![Air date: January 19, 2013 Family Innocence Defined. Join host Michelle MacDonald on Relevant Radio as she discussed what defines Family Innocence. Listen to Family Innocence Defined: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Print PDF](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/FIP-radio.jpg "Family Innocence Radio: Family Innocence Defined")
Family Innocence Radio: Family Innocence Defined
Posted on January 19, 2013 | No CommentsAir date: January 19, 2013 Family Innocence Defined. Join host Michelle MacDonald on Relevant Radio as she discussed what defines Family Innocence. Listen to Family Innocence Defined: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Print PDF -
Family Innocence is a “Friend of the Court” -Amicus Hearing
Posted on December 28, 2012 | No CommentsMinnesota Supreme Court Video Oral Argument State of Minnesota in Supreme Court in the matter of Rew Vs Bergstrom. Brief and appendix of AMICI CURIAE THE FAMILY INNOCENCE CENTER FOR PAR Visit Minnesota Supreme Court Oral Arguments for a video of the Minnesota Supreme Court hearing of “Family Innocence amicus hearing of a 50 year old order for protection for Rew V. Bergstrom” Print PDF -
Science Meets Spirituality — The Case Against Divorce Courts
Posted on November 6, 2012 | No CommentsFrom the Tikkun Daily Blog by: Bruce Peterson on August 27th, 2012 My judicial career has been focused in family law, which is hopelessly behind in coping with 50% divorce rates and 40% unmarried parent rates. Family fragmentation on this scale, the worst in the world, is going to have devastating social consequences unless we soon develop more child-friendly legal and social structures. Possibilities for hope and healing are glimmering amid the dark violence and […] -
![After The Family Innocence learned that Restorative Justice Circles were successfully used in the most contentious family court cases by expert John Myser, Family Innocence advocates, including Barb Zorn joined peacemakers from around the world, at The Gandhi Institute in New York, to learn to facilitate circles from the master, Dominic Barter. A Miracle in Minnesota on All Saints Day. Last year, family law attorney Michelle MacDonald prayed to Pope John Paul II for a miracle to […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/sky.jpg "Circle My Family – All Saints Day Miracle Announced at Family Innocence Event.")
Circle My Family – All Saints Day Miracle Announced at Family Innocence Event.
Posted on November 6, 2012 | No CommentsAfter The Family Innocence learned that Restorative Justice Circles were successfully used in the most contentious family court cases by expert John Myser, Family Innocence advocates, including Barb Zorn joined peacemakers from around the world, at The Gandhi Institute in New York, to learn to facilitate circles from the master, Dominic Barter. A Miracle in Minnesota on All Saints Day. Last year, family law attorney Michelle MacDonald prayed to Pope John Paul II for a miracle to […]
Events
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![It took attorney Michelle MacDonald 25 years to recognize that the way attorneys and courts break up families is beyond-a-reasonable-doubt objectionable. Alongside her clients, other attorneys, mediators and professionals, Michelle founded FAMILY INNOCENCE, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping families out of the adversarial court process. Within a year of her calling to eliminate court for families, the Family Innocence Process was created, a unique model where separating or separated family members choose to participate at […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/courtroom-115x115.jpg "What is the Family Innocence Process ?")
What is the Family Innocence Process ?
Posted on August 31, 2017 | No CommentsIt took attorney Michelle MacDonald 25 years to recognize that the way attorneys and courts break up families is beyond-a-reasonable-doubt objectionable. Alongside her clients, other attorneys, mediators and professionals, Michelle founded FAMILY INNOCENCE, a nonprofit dedicated to keeping families out of the adversarial court process. Within a year of her calling to eliminate court for families, the Family Innocence Process was created, a unique model where separating or separated family members choose to participate at […] -
Family Innocence Process (“FIP”) is a new Model
Posted on March 28, 2015 | No CommentsPrint PDF -
![FAMILY INNOCENCE FRIENDLY LEGISLATION – Cooperative Private Divorce Watch the press conference for the Minnesota Cooperative Private Divorce Project, held for 0945-1030 on Wednesday 4 March at the State Office Building: Here Tim Kinley, host of Speechless MN, covered the press conference held at the capital with John Lesch and Susan Pappas, Members of the Cooperative Private Divorce team, on bills related to the concept of “cooperative divorce”. Where couples seeking divorce can work out […]](http://www.familyinnocence.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/today1-115x115.jpg "Minnesota Private Cooperative Divorce Is Coming")
Minnesota Private Cooperative Divorce Is Coming
Posted on February 27, 2015 | No CommentsFAMILY INNOCENCE FRIENDLY LEGISLATION – Cooperative Private Divorce Watch the press conference for the Minnesota Cooperative Private Divorce Project, held for 0945-1030 on Wednesday 4 March at the State Office Building: Here Tim Kinley, host of Speechless MN, covered the press conference held at the capital with John Lesch and Susan Pappas, Members of the Cooperative Private Divorce team, on bills related to the concept of “cooperative divorce”. Where couples seeking divorce can work out […]