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Peter Michael Walzer Esq.
Walzer & Melcher LLP
21700 Oxnard St. #2080
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
818-591-3700 (firm)
818-591-3774 (firm fax)
www.walzermelcher.com
PROFILE
Peter M. Walzer is the founding partner of the Southern California law firm Walzer & Melcher LLP focused exclusively on family law. He is a past president of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a former chair of the executive committee of the State Bar Family Law Section. Peter has been a Certified Family Law Specialist for 23 years and is a former president of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists. He on the Legal Education Committee of the American Bar Association Family Law Section and he is member of the Council. He is on the executive committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section. Peter is a vice-president of the US Chapter of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Peter is on the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a member of the Elkins Family Law Task Force, a statewide panel whose charge is to propose measures to improve efficiency and fairness in family law proceedings and ensure access to justice for family law litigants. Peter was named Family Law Person of the Year in 2009 by the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He was named by Super Lawyers as one of the top 100 lawyers in Southern California for 2010. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubble. His articles have been published in Los Angeles Lawyer, ABA Family Advocate, California Lawyer, LACBA News and Review, and State Bar Family Law Section Family Law News among others. He has written chapters in two different books for Cal. Continuing Education of the Bar. He lectures regularly for the State Bar, UCLA, CEB, ACFLS, AAML, and various other organizations.
DEGREES AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Certified Family Law Specialist, California Board of Legal Specialization, 1988.
- American Bar Association Trial Advocacy Institute, Denver 1987.
- Southwestern University School of Law, J.D. 1980.
- University of California at Los Angeles, B.A. 1975.
- AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Member of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar Association, 2007-2008
- Member, American Bar Association Family Law Section, Publications Board
- Chair of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California, Family Law Section, 2005-2006.
- Board of Managers, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2007-2010.
- Co-Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California, Family Law Section, 2004-2005.
- Executive Editor, Family Law News, State Bar of California., 2004-2005.
- Member of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2002-2004.
- President, Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2006-2007.
- Vice-President Programs, Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2002-2005.
- Chair, Law Office Management Section of the Century City Bar Association, 1995-1997.
- Chair, State Bar Family Law Section Property Committee (South), 1996 -1997.
- Member, State Bar Family Law Section Custody Committee, 1994.
- President and Member of the Board of Directors, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists (ACFLS), 1993.
- Treasurer and Member of the Board of Directors, ACFLS, 1989-1991.
- Co-Chair and Chair of the Family Law Section of the Century City Bar Association, 1988-1990.
- Member Executive Committee, Child Custody Section, American Bar Association, 1988-1990.
- Chair and Founder of the Solo and Small Partnership Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Barristers, 1983-85. Member of the Board of Directors for two years.
- Instructor, University of California at Los Angeles, Attorney Assistant Training Program, 1986-1988.
- Adjunct Professor of Business Law, California State University at Los Angeles, 1986.
- In May 2008, Peter M. Walzer was appointed to serve on the Elkins Family Law Task Force, a new statewide panel whose charge is to propose measures to improve efficiency and fairness in family law proceedings and ensure access to justice for family law litigants. This task force was recommended by the California Supreme Court in Elkins v. Super. Ct. (Elkins) (2007) 41 Cal.4th 1337, 63 Cal.Rptr.3d 483, 163 P.3d 160. The court reviewed local rules that limited a litigants right to oral testimony in a family law trial. The court stated [F]amily law litigants should not be subjected to second-class status or deprived of access to justice . . . The same judicial resources and safeguards should be committed to a family law trial as are committed to other civil proceedings.
- Peter M. Walzer has been selected as a Best Lawyer in America® for 2008 through rigorous peer review surveys of the top attorneys throughout the United States.
- Peter M. Walzer was also selected as a The Best Lawyers in America® 2007.
- Peter M. Walzer is quoted in the new book The Smart Divorce: Proven Strategies and Valuable Advice from 100 Top Divorce Lawyers, Financial Advisers, Counselors, and Other Experts (Paperback) by Deborah Moskovitch (Author)
- Continuing Education of the Bar received the 2006 Award for Professional Excellence from The Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA) for their publication California Domestic Partnerships. Peter M. Walzer was the author of the chapter in this book called Agreements Between Domestic Partners.
- In the February 2006's issue of Los Angeles Magazine, Peter M. Walzer is listed in 100 Top Super Lawyers in Los Angeles County - for the 2nd year in a row. He is one of ten family lawyers listed. He is also listed in the top 5% of all family lawyers in Southern California.
- Family Law Person of the Year Award by The Southern California Chapter of the Academy of Matrimonial Laywers, 2009
- Appointed to serve on the Elkins Family Law Task Force, 2008.
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2008.
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2007.
- Listed as one of the top 100 Los Angeles County Super Lawyers, 2005 -- Top Family Lawyers 2006
- National Center for Missing and Abused Children, 1997, Volunteer Attorney, (Successfully handled International Child
- Kidnapping Case under the Hague Convention for the Abduction of Children).
- California Lawyers for the Arts, Panel Attorney, 1995 and 1996.
- Los Angeles Superior Court Family Law Department Mediation Hearing Officer 1988-1991, 1995-2001.
- Pro Bono Mentor for the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law, 1994-1995.
- Volunteer Attorney for Alliance for Children's Rights, 1995-1997. (Successfully Handled Guardianship Matter).
- Delegate representing the Century City Bar Association at the 1996 State Bar Conference.
by Peter Walzer
LIBRARY
LECTURER
- Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section, "2nd Annual Family Law Trial Advocacy Program: The Support Trial," November 15, 2008
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Family Law Section, "Electronic Evidence: How to Get it and How to Use It," October 27, 2008
- CPA Education Foundation, "Moore Marsden -- Solutions to Conflicts," October 23, 2008
- International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2008 Annual Meeting, "International Premarital Agreements," September 4, 2008
- The State Bar of California 2008 Annual Meeting, "Protecting Privacy Interests in Family Law Proceedings: Post-Burklet," September 25, 2008
- Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section, "Evidentiary Issues in Divorce -- To Admit or Not Admit, Is that the Question?," May 31, 2008
- UCLA Extension, "Drafting Premarital and Postmarital Agreements," May 14, 2008
- AFCC Conference, "Effective Legal and Psychological Approaches to Parental Alignment, Estrangement, and Alienation," February 8-10, 2008
- Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, "Ethical and Malpractice Minefields in Preparation of and During the Family Law Trial," January 20, 2008
- Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), 2007 Family Law Conference, November 30, 2007
- New Mexico State Bar, "Caring for the Child: What's Best for Children in a Family Law Case," October 19, 2007
- The State Bar of California's Annual Meeting, "Law for Lovers: Drafting Enforceable Premarital and Postmarital Agreements," September 28, 2007
- CPA Business Valuations Section, "Effective Valuations for Divorce," July 19, 2007
- Southwestern Law School, "Ethics at the Edges," May 19, 2007
- UCLA Extension, "Drafting Premarital, Postmarital and Cohabitation Agreements," May 16, 2007.
- Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, "Legal Issues Involved in Business Valuation," March 18, 2007.
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Southern California Chapter, 2007 Trial Advocacy Institute- "Family Law Tax
Mysteries Solved," January 12, 13, and 14 2007.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Family Law Symposium," December 8, 2006.
- National Business Institute, "California Family Law Practice," July 24, 2006.
- State Bar of California, "Crossborder Estate, Financial & Asset Planning Conference," International Premarital
Agreements, June 15, 2006, Marina del Rey, California.
- Glendale Bar Association, "Prudent Practice of Premarital Agreements," May 24, 2006.
- UCLA Extension, "Drafting Premarital, Postmarital and Cohabitation Agreements," May 17, 2006.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Fundamentals of Family Law," April 28, 2006.
- "Your Legal Rights" radio program KLAW 91.7, "Spousal and Partner Support: How Much and How Long?", April 26, 2006.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, Family Law Symposium, "Premarital and Postmarital Agreements, Drafting and
Enforcement," December 10, 2005, Los Angeles California.
- National Business Institute, "Obtaining the Best Result for Your Client in a Marital Dissolution: Procedures and
Strategies for Effective Settlement and Litigation in California," September 16, 2005, Pasadena, California.
- State Bar of California, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Attorney's Fees, Sanctions and Collections," September 9,
2005, San Diego, California.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Crossover Issues in Estate Planning and Dissolution: When Death and Divorce Collide,"
July, 2005, Garden Grove, San Diego and Los Angeles.
- "Your Legal Rights" radio program KLAW 91.7, "Family Law and Various Methods of Dispute Resolution," July 6, 2005.
- "Your Legal Rights" radio program KLAW 91.7, "Domestic Partnerships," January 26, 2005.
- Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Custody Panel, 12th Annual Advocacy
Institute, January 15, 2005.
- National Business Institute, Fundamentals of Family Law, October 29, 2004, Pasadena, California.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Workshop on Drafting Pre-Domestic Partnership Agreements," October 23 and November 17,
2004, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
- State Bar of California, Annual Meeting, "Hidden Secrets of Retirement Plans," October 9, 2004, Monterey, California.
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Section, "Winning the Custody Dispute: Effective Legal and Psychological
Strategies," September 18, 2004, Los Angeles, California.
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Family Law Section, "Law Office Management Re: Family Law Practice," March 27,
2004, Encino, California.
- National Business Institute, "Complex Issues in Dissolution of Marriage For The California Practitioner," January, 2004,
Los Angeles, California.
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, "Hell Hath No Fury Like A Duty Scorned: Fiduciary Duty, Disclosure, and Undue
Influence," November, 2003, Los Angeles, California.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Drafting Enforceable Premarital Agreements," August, 2003, San Francisco, California.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Cross-Over Issues in Estate Planning and Dissolution: When Death and Divorce Collide,"
August, 2003, Los Angeles, California.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Drafting Enforceable Premarital Agreements - Family Law and Estate Planning
Perspectives," July 2003.
- UCLA, "Drafting Premarital and Postmarital Agreements, May 21, 2003.
- CPA Education Foundation, "Navigating the Hidden Dangers: New Issues in Disclosure and Fiduciary Duties," November 14,
2002.
- State Bar of California, "Premarital Agreements for Attorneys and Lovers: Drafting Premarital Agreements After SB 78,"
October 12, 2002.
- National Business Institute, "Tax Aspects of Divorce in California," October 2, 2002.
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association, "Domestic Violence - Family Law and Criminal Law Considerations," September 23,
2002.
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association, "Crossover Issues in Estate Planning and Dissolution," June 24, 2002, Encino,
California.
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, "Tax Deductibility of Attorney's Fees," - "Hot Tips," March, 2002, Sanibel
Harbor, Ft. Meyers, Florida.
- California Society of CPA's, Business Valuation Section, "What Family Lawyers Want From A Forensic Accountant in a
Business Valuation Case," January 18, 2002, Los Angeles, California.
- California Society of CPA's, Family Law Section, "The Accountant's Role in Premarital Agreements and Premarital Planning
Under SB 78," January 17, 2002, Los Angeles, California.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Crossover Issues in Estate Planning and Dissolution: What Estate Planners and Family
Law Practitioners Need to Know," December 8, 2001, Los Angeles, California.
- State Bar of California, Family Law Section, Speaker, "Business Valuation for Family Lawyers: How to be a Quick Study,"
September 8, 2001, Anaheim, California.
- UCLA Extension, "Drafting Premarital, Postmarital and Cohabitation Agreements in the New Millenium," May 19, 2001, Los
Angeles, California.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, "Innovative Premarital Agreements: Family Law & Estate Planning Perspectives," May 4,
5, 11, 12 and 18, 2001, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Anaheim, California.
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Panelist, "Everything You Wanted to Know About Family Law, But Were Afraid to Ask,"
March 27, 2001, Los Angeles, California.
- State Bar Section Institute, Panelist, "Drafting Premarital Agreements That Work," January 21, 2001, Berkeley,
California.
- Continuing Education of the Bar and the State Bar Family Law Section, Moderator, "Fundamentals of Marital Dissolution,"
April 14 and 15, 2000, Los Angeles, California.
- NBI, Moderator, "Child Custody and Visitation in California," September 15, 1999.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, Panelist, "Estate Planning in the Context of Divorce," September 1998, San Jose,
Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Los Angeles.
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Moderator/Panelist, "Domestic Torts," July 1998.
- Continuing Education of the Bar/State Bar Family Law Section, Moderator/Panelist, "The Fundamentals of Handling a
Marital Dissolution" April 1998, Beverly Hills, California.
- State Bar Institute, Panelist, "Family Law and Bankruptcy: Will Debtor's Discharge Dump Divorce Debt?" November, 1997,
Coronado, California.
- National Business Institute, Inc., Panelist, "Tax Aspects of Marital Dissolution," November, 1997, Los Angeles,
California.
- State Bar of Nevada, "Psyching Out the Psychologist", "Hot Tips," March 1997, Tonapah, Nevada.
- National Business Institute, Inc., Panelist, "The Impact of Bankruptcy on Dissolution of Marriage," March 1997, Los
Angeles.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, Panelist, "Innovative Prenuptial Agreements: Family Law and Estate Planning
Perspectives," MarchMay 1996, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento.
- Continuing Professional Education, "Estate Planning for Second Marriages," January 8, 1996, Los Angeles.
- California Department of Social Services, "Solid Foundations: Men in Their Families and Communities," June 28-30, 1995,
Anaheim.
- National Business Institute, Inc., "Child Custody Litigation and Mediation in California," June 22, 1995, Los Angeles.
- Beverly Hills Bar Association, Presenter, "Hot Tips IV," April 26, 1995.
- Long Beach Estate Planning Council, "Transmutation, A Death Trap for Estate Planners," March 17, 1994, Long Beach.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, Panelist, "Selected Issues in California Community Property Law," MCLE Fair, January 15
and 22, 1994, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
- Legal Education Systems, Inc., "In Which State Do You File for Divorce - The Ins and Outs of Interstate Jurisdiction and
Conflicts of Law," January 13, 1994, Vail, Colorado.
- Continuing Education of the Bar, Panelist, "Selected Issues in California Community Property Law," Fall 1993,
Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.
American Legal Research Institute, Panelist, "Basic Family Law Seminar," July 8, 1993, Los Angeles.
- Santa Monica Bar Association, Family Law Section Meeting, "The New Disclosure Laws," May 26, 1993.
- Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, Panelist, "Fee Agreements and Strategies for Collecting Fees Before
Trial," May 16, 1993.
- Best Seminars, "Money, Marriage and the Law," Panelist, Beverly Hills, July 21, 1992.
- UCLA Extension, Panelist, "Protecting Financial & Business Interests During Cohabitation, Marriage & Remarriage". Fall
1991 and Summer 1992.
- Santa Monica Bar Association, Family Law Section, "The New Child and Spousal Support Laws," 1992.
- ACFLS and Attorney's Briefcase, Inc., Panelist and Moderator, "How to Protect Your Client's Assets Before and During
Marriage," October 1991 San Francisco and March 1992 in Orange County.
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Panelist, "Trial Tactics and Professionalism," Vail, Colorado, Fall 1991.
- Century City Bar Association, Family Law Section, "The Secret of Effective Negotiation," 1989.
- Century City Bar Association, Family Law Section, Panelist, "Tax Nightmares in Marital Dissolutions," 1988.
- California Society of Certified Public Accountants, "Prenuptial Agreements," February 8, 1988.
- American Bar Association, Family Law Section, San Francisco, Panelist, "Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements," 1987.
- California Society of Certified Public Accountants, "Divorce: Tax Planning After the Domestic Relations Tax Relief Act,"
July 27, 1987.
- California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists, "What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Divorce and Custody,"
August 3, 1985.
- California Society of Certified Public Accountants, "Creative Accounting in Business Valuation," August 23, 1983, in the
San Fernando Valley, February 22, 1985, in Beverly Hills and March 25, 1985, in Pasadena.
- UCLA Extension, Panelist, "Money and Marriage," Summer 1984.
- "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now
Sign Here" Wall Street Journal November 2010
- "New Weapon for Divorce
Lawyers?" ABA Journal November 2010
- "Divorce Insurance" Time Magazine November 2010
- "Divorce Ceremonies Give Japanese Couples a New Way to Untie the Knot"
CNN November 2010
- "6-Month Suspension Urged
for Lawyer Who Claimed to Channel Client's Dead Wife" ABA Journal November 2010
- "Plaintiff Must Provide
Access to 'Private' Facebook & MySpace Pages, Judge Rules" ABA Journal November 2010
- "Lawyers to the Stars" Series [CNN]: Lindsey Lohan, Mel Gibson, Robyn Gibson,
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Angelina Jolie, Robert Blake, Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise CNN November 2010
- Los Angeles Daily Journal, When Child Abduction Crosses International Borders June 2010
- Los Angeles Lawyer, Foreign Affairs 2008
- Los Angeles Daily Journal, Even Santa Needs a Lawyer- Gift Giving Raises Knotty Issues December 2006.
- Family Law News, Prudent Practitioners Must Place a Premium on Careful Premarital Practices Summer 2005.
- ACFLS Newsletter, Advice to a Client Before Signing a Premarital Agreement, Spring 2004
- San Fernando Valley Business Journal, "Borrowing Money Can Complicate Divorce," September 27, 2004.
- San Fernando Valley Business Journal, "Divorce Can Get Complicated When There's a Business," August 2004.
- Family Law News, "What Words Don't You Understand - Fiduciary or Duty? In Amending Family Code Section 721 the
Legislature Gives Couples Something to Fight About," Winter 2003.
- Family Law News, "The Tax
Deductibility of Attorneys' Fees in a Marital Dissolution," September, 2002.
- Citations, Ventura County Bar Association Newsletter, "Dangerous Liaisons, Spousal Support Waivers After
Pendleton and Fireman," March 2001.
- Los Angeles Lawyer, "Goodwill
Hunting" (Law Firm Valuation) co-authored, September 2000.
- International Family Law, September 2001, and FairShare, The Matrimonial Law Monthly, "Making Foreign Divorce
Judgments Enforceable in the United States" co-authored with Laurel Brauer, March 2000.
- Los Angeles Lawyer, The Long Arm of Family Law co-authored with Laurel Brauer, September 1998.
- Book Chapter, CEB, "Marital Settlement & Other Family Law Agreements," Second Edition, co-authored with Linda
Gross, 1997.
- Program Handbook, National Business Institute, Inc., "The Impact of Bankruptcy on Dissolution of Marriage,"
co-authored with David Tillem and David Bloom, March 1997.
- Program Handbook, CEB, "Innovative Prenuptial Agreements, Family Law and Estate Planning Perspectives,"
co-authored with Marc Stern, March 1996.
- Los Angeles Daily Journal, French Knots: Contrat de Marriage in California," Co-Author, Catherine Parker, March
1996.
- Beverly Hills Bar Hot Tips IV program book article, "Applying the Periera/Van Camp Line of Cases," April 1995.
- Program Handbook, Legal Education Systems, Inc., "The Ins and Outs of Interstate Jurisdiction and Conflicts of
Law," January 1994.
- CEB Program Handbook, Selected Issues in Community Property, October 1993, articles: "Pensions Simplified and Not
So Simplified," "Obtaining More Than Half of the Community Property for Your Client" and "The Ins and Outs of Interstate
Jurisdiction and Conflicts of Law."
- Family Law Symposium, May 8, 1993, 25th Anniversary Issue, Practice Pointer, "How to Recover a Stolen Child."
- ACFLS Newsletter: One year of President's Columns, two articles entitled "Spotlight on ACFLS Members."
- California Lawyer, December, 1991, "To Catch a Child Thief."
- Daily Journal, 1991, Book Review, Divorce Reform at the Crossroads.
- Family Advocate, Winter 1990, "Jurisdiction - Maneuvering Through Complex Rules."
- California Lawyer, September 1990, "To Have and To Hold - Most Premarital Agreements are Binding and
Enforceable."
- Family Advocate, Fall 1987, "When Fault Affects Fitness - How to Fight the Custody Battle."
- Evidence Program Handbook, CEB, 1984.
- Eighth Annual Family Law Symposium, Contributor, October 1982.
- California Lawyer, February 1981, co-authored "Using Receiverships in California Marital Dissolutions."
- September 25, 2008
10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Protecting Privacy Interests in Family Law Proceedings: Post-Burkle The State Bar of California 2008 Annual Meeting Peter M. Walzer, Ronald S. Granberg, Hon. Marjorie A. Slabach, Staci Simonton Monterey, California
- October 23, 2008
Moore Marsden -- Possible Solutions to Conflicts
CPA Education Foundation
Donald A. Glenn, CPA and Peter M. Walzer Los Angeles and San Francisco (Oct. 24, 2008)
Peter M. Walzer speaks on Good Morning America on Parental Alienation
RADIO PROGRAMS
Archived programs can be heard here:
- "Gender Issues in Divorce and Custody Cases" - aired on June 27, 2007
- "Protecting Your Marriage: How to Develop Skills to Maintain a Happy Marriage" - aired on Mar. 21, 2007
- "Family Law - Community Property v. Separate Property?" - aired on Sep. 20, 2006
- "Spousal and Partner Support: How Much and How Long?" - aired on April 26, 2006
- "Family Law and Various Methods of Dispute Resolution" - aired on July 6, 2005
- "New Domestic Partnership Laws" - aired on January 26, 2005
- Peter M. Walzer, On Premarital Agreements with Maria Sanchez
Q&A
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