Family Innocence Videos
Attorney Michelle Lowney MacDonald founding Member of Family Innocence , answers questions at a Minnesota Senate Judiciary Hearing about the fundamental, God-given rights parents have before any court action relating to their family.
Benedictus Ombuna and Attorney Michelle Lowney MacDonald testify before a Minnesota Senate Judiciary Hearing.
For more video testimonies from members of Family Innocence at legislative hearings, go to the Family Innocence YouTube page.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.
Restorative Circle Mediator Graduation , JANUARY 1, 2020
This remarkable baby can talk non-stop about eliminating court for families. Come to the next meeting and see!Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Congratulations Family Innocence Restorative Circle Mediators Time: Private Location : Private
Questions: Call Family Innocence at 651-783-5878 (Be sure to leave your call back number)
* Food & Beverages Provided. Cash Bar also available
Innocent Family Talk
By the time this baby can talk, with your help, Family Innocence intends to eliminate the family court adversarial process in every case, in every state - one case at a time.
5.7 million domestic relations cases are decided each year in state courts*, dominated by divorce. Multiply that by dollars spent in attorney fees, multiple hearings, and number of family members effected in each case, and the numbers are astronomical. Add cases reopened to modify support, custody and visitation, and we have an epidemic on our hands. *www.courtstatistics.org
Support Family Innocence a Non – Profit
Family Innocence is a 501c(3) Non-Profit Organization. Your donations are tax deductible.The Family Law Machine
A look at the big business and money motives behind the family law machine. This film urges state legislators and others to fix California's courts and proposes a solution that would protect children. This is a call to action if you care about this grave injustice that must be seen to be believed.
Past Articles
- February 2020 (1)
- December 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (1)
- January 2019 (1)
- November 2018 (2)
- July 2018 (1)
- August 2017 (2)
- March 2015 (4)
- February 2015 (1)
- November 2014 (1)
- February 2014 (1)
- November 2013 (3)
- January 2013 (1)
- December 2012 (2)
- November 2012 (4)
- June 2012 (1)
- May 2012 (1)
- December 2011 (2)
- November 2011 (1)
- May 2011 (1)
“Enjoy the Ride”
"Enjoy the Ride" - One- Hit-Wonder-Boy, Joshua Hare and Family Innocence. Audio and video produced and recorded by Zac Wein (DJ WildFlower) all proceeds to Family Innocence. Donation of your choice.
Recommended Reading
< From the court experiences of attorney Michelle Lowney MacDonald, The Family Innocence Book, tells the stories of how the family court system takes stressful situations and creates an adversarial environment for families. An eye-opening read for every family facing exposure to the courts.
What's New
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Restorative Circle Mediators- just in time for 2020
Posted on December 23, 2019 | No CommentsChristmas Blessings to you, and congratulations to the 24 participants in Family Innocence ‘s 6 day, 40 hour Restorative Circle Mediation Training for Family, developed by its founder, Michelle MacDonald, who aspires to eliminate court for families altogether. This epic faith- based course , which implements a peace- making dialogue, Restorative Justice Circles and a talking piece, isn’t just for divorcing couples: the course is designed to restore relationships through ” be still” moments, listening exercises, […] -
National Association of Community and Restorative Justice conference
Posted on June 18, 2019 | No CommentsMichelle MacDonald, Tom Shimota, Louisa Hext, Janice Grenadier, Dawn and Brian Nelson and are at the national association of community and restorative justice conference in Denver, Colorado, educating and learning with 1600 others about restorative services in our communities, including family, churches, schools, prisons. Check out : Www.NACRJ.org Call Michelle at 612-554-0932 for more information See photos from the event: -
Happy 2019!
Posted on January 3, 2019 | No CommentsMay 2019 come with an era full of new ideas, a time that is full of Hopes and Blessings that will make our lives better. For those who have had it bad may this new year take them to good place or event better, for those who were blessed and had it good, continue to bless them even better. May 2019 give strength to those who may face any special challenges life brings and the […] -
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 […] -
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 […] -
Divorce without court: A helpful reform
Posted on March 27, 2015 | No CommentsAt 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 […] -
Family Innocence Helps Kids Find Their Voice
Posted on November 1, 2014 | No CommentsJoshua 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 […] -
Time, perhaps, to get courts out of divorce
Posted on November 20, 2013 | No CommentsArticle 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 […]
Events
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Restorative Circle Mediators- just in time for 2020
Posted on December 23, 2019 | No CommentsChristmas Blessings to you, and congratulations to the 24 participants in Family Innocence ‘s 6 day, 40 hour Restorative Circle Mediation Training for Family, developed by its founder, Michelle MacDonald, who aspires to eliminate court for families altogether. This epic faith- based course , which implements a peace- making dialogue, Restorative Justice Circles and a talking piece, isn’t just for divorcing couples: the course is designed to restore relationships through ” be still” moments, listening exercises, […] -
National Association of Community and Restorative Justice conference
Posted on June 18, 2019 | No CommentsMichelle MacDonald, Tom Shimota, Louisa Hext, Janice Grenadier, Dawn and Brian Nelson and are at the national association of community and restorative justice conference in Denver, Colorado, educating and learning with 1600 others about restorative services in our communities, including family, churches, schools, prisons. Check out : Www.NACRJ.org Call Michelle at 612-554-0932 for more information See photos from the event: