Our team reviews and recommits to this pledge every year in January.

DIVORCE PEACEMAKER PLEDGE

• I will think about peace, why peace is important and how it works.
• I will help use my peacemaker efforts to help resolve and prevent conflict:
• In my own family,
• In my office,
• In my work with clients, their families, friends, and other professional colleagues,
• In the mediation profession, and
• In my local community, my country, and throughout the world.

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Join us in the prevention of conflict through peacemaking efforts. We encourage all divorce and family law professionals to sign this pledge and to exhibit peacemaking efforts in all family law negotiations. We can help restore peace within the family unit and our communities if we all exhibit and practice peacemaking efforts. 

Learn more about Client Wellness and Legal Wellness to further restore peace and positive outcomes for yourself and your family. 

The Peacemaker Pledge was first published by Forrest S. Mosten in June 1996 during a Keynote Address at Manhattan College for undergraduate students in the Peace Studies Major.

Download our free Peacemaker Declarations to help you refocus and recommit to peacemaking each day.

Peacemaking and Divorce Resolution in Illinois

FAQ: Peacemaking and Divorce in Illinois

What does it mean to approach divorce as a peacemaker?
Approaching divorce as a peacemaker means focusing on reducing conflict, improving communication, and making thoughtful decisions that support long-term family stability. In Illinois divorce mediation and restorative divorce processes, the goal is not to “win,” but to create workable solutions that allow parents and families to move forward with clarity and respect.

Can divorce really be handled in a peaceful way?
Yes. Many families in Illinois resolve divorce through structured negotiation and mediation rather than courtroom litigation. A peaceful divorce focuses on problem-solving, respectful communication, and thoughtful agreements that protect children and family relationships.

What is the difference between mediation and traditional divorce litigation in Illinois?
Traditional divorce litigation in Illinois often involves court hearings, formal discovery, and adversarial positions between attorneys. A peacemaking approach prioritizes resolution outside of court through mediation, negotiation, and guided decision-making. This approach can reduce stress, cost, and long-term conflict for families.

How can parents reduce conflict during a divorce in DuPage County or Kane County?
Parents can reduce conflict by focusing on their children's needs, avoiding reactive communication, and using structured negotiation processes such as divorce mediation. Many families in DuPage County and Kane County choose mediation because it allows them to work through parenting and financial decisions in a calmer and more private environment.

Is mediation a good option for parents who want a peaceful divorce in Illinois?
Mediation is often a good option for parents who want to reduce conflict and maintain control over decisions about parenting time, finances, and their family's future. Many Illinois families prefer mediation because it allows them to create agreements together rather than leaving decisions to a judge.

Where can I learn more about peaceful divorce options in DuPage County or Kane County?
If you are exploring ways to resolve divorce with less conflict, mediation and restorative divorce services may help families create clear agreements and move forward with stability. Many parents in DuPage County, Kane County, and throughout the western suburbs of Chicago choose resolution-focused processes to avoid unnecessary litigation.

At Birt Family Law, we believe families in DuPage County, Kane County, and throughout Illinois benefit from conflict-reducing approaches such as mediation and restorative divorce.

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