It is difficult to put into words how grateful I am to Peter and his paralegal Amanda.
Custody/divorce cases are a very sensitive area of law and need to be handled with a level of fragility being that there are children involved. I was going up against an abusive ex and an equally nasty opposing counsel which caused a tremendous amount of anxiety for me. Throughout the entirety of my case, Peter remained professional, calm and always looked out for the best interest of my daughter.
Because of the uncooperative nature of my ex, we were not able to come to a settlement agreement and ended up going to trial...this is where I really got to see Peter shine. After months and months of aggressive emails from opposing counsel with the intention to not only hurt me, but also completely ignore the best interest of my daughter, I was terrified to go to trial. I had been emotionally abused by my ex for years which had lowered my self confidence to a level that I just wanted to give up, but I am SO glad I trusted Peter to fight fearlessly, which is exactly what he did.
I'll never forget this pivotal moment.....while I was being questioned on cross exam, I got frustrated that Peter wasn't objecting when I felt he could have stopped the unnecessary and tedious details opposing counsel was seeking. I sent Peter a text asking him to object as I felt my blood pressure rising. Peter's response was "be patient, he's losing the court. It's almost over. Be Mr. Rogers". That last part, "be Mr. Rogers" was one of the most profound pieces of advice I could have gotten in that moment or really any moment in life to be totally honest. It calmed my nerves immediately and I was able to keep my cool while opposing counsel continued to make himself look bad.
Because of Peter's skills and impressive knowledge in Family Law, I prevailed in every area of my case and the judge awarded me exactly what I asked for. The judge also invited Peter to apply for my attorney's fees at the end which was not only a relief for my finances, it was also incredibly validating. Everything I had gone through with my ex was traumatic and I think the judge really got a sense of how awful my ex was due to how Peter presented the facts. Peter's #1 goal was to protect my daughter and make sure her best interest was always at the forefront of everything he did.
I cant thank Peter and Amanda enough for everything they did for me and my daughter. If you're looking for a good family law attorney, look no further, Peter is your guy. I promise, you will not be disappointed.
Peter Bunch has represented me since Feb, 2020. Despite numerous hurdles and detours presented by my wife’s lawyer, which he successfully defended, Peter has maintained principled, yet vigorous representation in keeping with my wishes. We’re finally reaching judgment, despite a global pandemic, which presented its own novel issues.
During the trial the judge acknowledged that Peter’s command of legal authority ("encyclopedic") to support my position was greater than the judge’s, despite over 25 years on the bench. While he has maintained a steady yet calculating demeanor, he regularly schooled the opposition on the law, who literally acknowledged his superior command of the law. Peter has provided clear advice os to how best to present my case, carefully preparing me at every turn. He works solo, so, while he juggles clients’ needs, the work product is his responsibility alone, which he takes very seriously. I would recommend Peter without hesitation.
I must add that Amanda Monaghan, Peter's assistant, provides superior support.
Divorce and legal separation are two procedures that impact the status of the marital relationship. A divorce or legal separation generally involves these issues: (1) child custody and parenting time (visitation); (2) child support and related issues; (3) spousal support (alimony); and (4) property division. Having good representation is important to protect your interests in dealing with all of these important issues.
Spousal support (alimony) is a common issue that arises in divorces and legal separations. In Oregon, there are three kinds of spousal support: (1) transitional, which is to help a spouse get additional training or education; (2) maintenance, which is to help the "out" spouse maintain a reasonable standard of living; and (3) compensatory support. Special rules apply to that kind of support; and award of compensatory support is very fact specific.
In Oregon, there are two kinds of custody: legal custody (decision making) and physical custody (how the child spends time with each parent). Custody issues can become very contentious if they are not handled properly. It is important for both parents to understand that, in any custody dispute, their conduct, and the conduct of their respective lawyers, may have a long lasting impact on their children. Therefore, choosing the right lawyer to represent you is imperative.
My appellate practice began when I worked at the Oregon Court of Appeals. An appeal occurs when one party to a lawsuit is not satisfied with the result. Usually, to prevail on an appeal, the trial court must have made a significant error. My appellate practice is limited to appeals from civil litigation and family law.
IF YOU HAVE A PRESSING FAMILY LAW ISSUE, PETER IS HERE TO HELP WITH AN EFFICIENT AND FAIR RESOLUTIONALIMONY (SUPPORT) CAN INVOLVE A RANGE OF RESULTS. EXPERIENCE MATTERS IN GETTING GOOD RESULTSKNOWING WHEN TO APPEAL, AND WHEN NOT TO PURSUE AN APPEAL, ARE QUESTIONS THAT REQUIRE EXPERIENCE.CHILD CUSTODY CAN BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF A DIVORCE. EXPERIENCE AND COMPASSION MATTER.DIVORCE CAN BE DIFFICULT ON MANY LEVELS. EXPERIENCE MATTERS IN RESOLVING YOUR CASE. PETER CAN HELP
Peter is dedicated to bringing outstanding legal services to his clients in dealing with their family law issues. Peter brings intelligence and understanding to all matters involving family law, including divorce, custody, high asset cases, legal separation, parenting time, support, and a wide range of other family law disputes. In addition, Peter has an active appellate practice defending and prosecuting appeals ranging from complex civil litigation to family law disputes.
Peter is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and has been selected as an Oregon Super Lawyer. Peter is a frequent speaker on a wide variety of topics for continuing legal education seminars.
In addition to his work as a lawyer, Peter’s interests include composing and recording music, running, and reading. Peter is a published songwriter. He has been a voting member of The Recording Academy (Grammy Awards) since 1982. Peter remains active in the music industry, and has recorded and produced several local artists.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
A hero in Family Law
It is difficult to put into words how grateful I am to Peter and his paralegal Amanda.
Custody/divorce cases are a very sensitive area of law and need to be handled with a level of fragility being that there are children involved. I was going up against an abusive ex and an equally nasty opposing counsel which caused a tremendous amount of anxiety for me. Throughout the entirety of my case, Peter remained professional, calm and always looked out for the best interest of my daughter.
Because of the uncooperative nature of my ex, we were not able to come to a settlement agreement and ended up going to trial...this is where I really got to see Peter shine. After months and months of aggressive emails from opposing counsel with the intention to not only hurt me, but also completely ignore the best interest of my daughter, I was terrified to go to trial. I had been emotionally abused by my ex for years which had lowered my self confidence to a level that I just wanted to give up, but I am SO glad I trusted Peter to fight fearlessly, which is exactly what he did.
I'll never forget this pivotal moment.....while I was being questioned on cross exam, I got frustrated that Peter wasn't objecting when I felt he could have stopped the unnecessary and tedious details opposing counsel was seeking. I sent Peter a text asking him to object as I felt my blood pressure rising. Peter's response was "be patient, he's losing the court. It's almost over. Be Mr. Rogers". That last part, "be Mr. Rogers" was one of the most profound pieces of advice I could have gotten in that moment or really any moment in life to be totally honest. It calmed my nerves immediately and I was able to keep my cool while opposing counsel continued to make himself look bad.
Because of Peter's skills and impressive knowledge in Family Law, I prevailed in every area of my case and the judge awarded me exactly what I asked for. The judge also invited Peter to apply for my attorney's fees at the end which was not only a relief for my finances, it was also incredibly validating. Everything I had gone through with my ex was traumatic and I think the judge really got a sense of how awful my ex was due to how Peter presented the facts. Peter's #1 goal was to protect my daughter and make sure her best interest was always at the forefront of everything he did.
I cant thank Peter and Amanda enough for everything they did for me and my daughter. If you're looking for a good family law attorney, look no further, Peter is your guy. I promise, you will not be disappointed.
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Posted by Mark | August 9, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
A lawyer you'd want during a pandemic
Peter Bunch has represented me since Feb, 2020. Despite numerous hurdles and detours presented by my wife’s lawyer, which he successfully defended, Peter has maintained principled, yet vigorous representation in keeping with my wishes. We’re finally reaching judgment, despite a global pandemic, which presented its own novel issues.
During the trial the judge acknowledged that Peter’s command of legal authority ("encyclopedic") to support my position was greater than the judge’s, despite over 25 years on the bench. While he has maintained a steady yet calculating demeanor, he regularly schooled the opposition on the law, who literally acknowledged his superior command of the law. Peter has provided clear advice os to how best to present my case, carefully preparing me at every turn. He works solo, so, while he juggles clients’ needs, the work product is his responsibility alone, which he takes very seriously. I would recommend Peter without hesitation.
I must add that Amanda Monaghan, Peter's assistant, provides superior support.
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Posted by anonymous | February 19, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best attorney ever!
Peter and Amanda went above and beyond representing me in my divorce custody case. This last year has been the most painful experience I have ever encountered. Dealing with my ex was far from easy but they were there to support me along the way. I was recommended to Peters firm from a friend who also divorced a narcissistic ex. Normal divorces are hard enough but when dealing with this kind of personality disorder along with horrible abuse and trauma it is a whole new ballgame. Peter and Amanda were very supportive and gentle with me. After a year my divorce was finally over. Peter fought till the end and I will be forever grateful. I have full custody of my daugter and the amount of alimony and child support we needed. Thank you so much! I wouldn’t go with anyone else when it comes to divorce/custody cases.
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Posted by Charles | February 17, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
An AMAZING Attorney
Peter took a very difficult case for me very late in the process. He literally turned my case around, getting my daughter into a better/healthier situation.
- He cares about you and your family
- Knows the law, your rights
- Is very respectful to all parties involved but has his clients interests always in mind.
- Is absolutely amazing!
- Is worth every penny.
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Posted by anonymous | January 20, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Outstanding lawyer for all issues related to divorce and custody
Peter Bunch and his team have served me extremely well through the course of an extensive divorce and subsequent custody issues. He helped to defend me and my children in the face of an aggressive and angry ex-spouse, who had equally aggressive representation. He provided wise counsel which ultimately served me and my children, even in the face of restraining orders against my ex-spouse. I would recommend Peter, Amanda and his team to anyone in search of a thoughtful, caring legal crew. They spent time getting to know my case very well so they could advocate for the best ultimate outcome. I feel lucky to have chosen this group to represent me. I have friends who have subsequently worked with them, and who feel the same way.
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Posted by Cami | January 17, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
An Outstanding Advocate
Peter Bunch is a truly outstanding attorney, as well as an incredibly compassionate human being. After enduring 9 months of very little progress, poor representation and outrageous bills from my previous attorney, I could see no end in sight to a contentious and very difficult divorce with an unstable spouse. With only 3 weeks until the scheduled trial date, Peter expertly and firmly took control of the situation, laid out a solid plan of action, and quickly moved forward toward a settlement. He was a calm, strong advocate, and I truly felt that he had my best interests and my children’s well-being at heart. Peter was very accessible to discuss my case and answer any questions I had, including during weekends, evenings and vacation. He helped me set fair and realistic expectations, and I appreciated his honesty and integrity. He also alerted me to tax law changes which would have affected our case should it have been further delayed; neither my former attorney nor the opposing counsel seemed aware of the impending legislation which could have negatively affected both me and my soon-to-be ex-spouse. In a nutshell, Peter and his excellent staff were able to take a complete mess of files from my former attorney, put a plan into action, work quickly and efficiently, and have a signed settlement agreement in front of me in 7 weeks, for a fraction of the billings from my previous “reputable” attorney. I was so fortunate to have been recommended to and represented by Peter Bunch. My only regret is that I make the switch months earlier. I highly recommend him.
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Posted by Dan | October 31, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Exceptional Attorney. Respected by his peers.
Peter is a fantastic attorney. His calm demeanor lends itself well to a courtroom setting. He was very thorough in my case and was realistic related to the projected outcome. During my case, I was entering the courtroom for a session when an attorney for the previously presented case passed by me. As he did, he stopped me and said "You've got the best attorney around." This spoke volumes to me in that Peter's peers think very highly of him. If I am ever faced with the need for an attorney in the future, I definitely know who to call.
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Posted by anonymous | September 25, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
outstanding advocate
When you hire Peter Bunch to represent you, you are hiring an exceptional advocate. My case was a very difficult and contentious one, with lots of distractions and drama, but Peter was able to untangle the mess and focus clearly and persistently on getting me a very favorable result. Not only is Peter immediately responsive, he does his homework and thoughtfully answered the questions I asked. He was both courteous and prompt with requests from opposing counsel, but not afraid to call them out when they were less than forthcoming with what was requested of them. Peter also makes his clients feel protected and fairly represented. Finally, his support staff is also excellent, though Peter does give each client his direct and personal attention for the duration of the case. He surpassed my expectations for advocacy and representation and I am happy to give him my highest recommendation.
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Posted by Mark | September 11, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent lawyer and person!
Peter is a great lawyer and runs what I call a very professional business. I hired Peter for a Divorce and was please at his professionalism, his ability to keep the process amicable as possible while still representing & standing up for my interests. I recommended Peter to two close friends and they have both been very happy with his services.
For those with past poor experiences with lawyers a couple of things I want to highlight
- No frivolous billing practices!
- He does not over promise, he is clear what to expect and what he can deliver and what is less likely to be achieved
- He listens and speak non-lawyer language
- You never feel rushed
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Posted by Mark | April 4, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best Advice Possible
Peter handled my very contentious divorce - contentious because opposing counsel was dead-set on creating as much havoc as possible. Peter gave me great advice that was beyond just legal advice, it was life advice. He lifted me out of the alligator swamp and got me through it quickly. Afterward, everything that he said would happen regarding my ex- was spot on and I ended up spending less and getting a better settlement over time, including full custody of my kids - I and I'm the FATHER, who typically gets the bad end of the custody deal!
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Posted by Ken | March 31, 2015
Effectively Navigated a Protracted Divorce Settlement
I engaged Mr. Bunch after a protracted and failed attempt by my former spouse and I to complete a divorce as co-petitioners without involving attorneys. The opposition continued to become increasingly confrontational and difficult, at which time, I engaged Peter to represent and assist me in navigating through the process. He was extremely mindful of the cost benefit trade-offs of various settlement scenarios and the associated risk and probability of achieving a particular outcome, whether that be through arbitration, mediation or before the judge. He focused on arriving at a fair and equitable settlement without contributing to further escalation, time and costs. I found him to be very open, communicative and responsive. The time and expense billed was very conservative and rational. I found his knowledge of recent case law very helpful, and his familiarity with many of the judges, mediators and arbitrators was valuable in the selection process and when working with them in mediation to arrive at a settlement. I highly recommend Peter Bunch and will certainly engage him again in the future.
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Posted by anonymous | August 5, 2014
Outstanding, trustworthy attorney who fights hard for his clients and cares about them too.
Peter Bunch is an outstanding attorney and a decent man. I had a difficult divorce. I had no idea what to expect or what can go wrong in a legal system that seems to operate on law and procedure more than common sense. My divorce was a train wreck and there didn't seem to be any end or solution in sight. I had worked with and interviewed several attorneys, and had lost faith in the system, before I met Peter. The best day of my divorce was the day I walked into Peter's office, then bewildered and in a divorce that was a legal mess. Peter was a quick study. He was able to assess my situation and find a fair solution. He was there as a supportive and guiding presence step-by-step to the end. Peter is very smart. He thoroughly knows the law, how to apply the law, and he knows the judges and court system. He listens attentively, and actually hears and understands what his clients are saying. He takes the time to answer your questions, and at the same time addresses your underlying fears and concerns, while helping you to navigate an unfamiliar and often adversarial process. I have not seen another attorney who works as hard for his clients, treats them with such compassion, or pays such attention to their well-being as Peter. He is a strong advocate. He doesn't inflame difficult situations, but keeps his cool. He is firm, resolute, and fights hard for his clients, making sure they receive a fair treatment and outcome. In my work with Peter, he consistently showed the highest personal and professional integrity. He's a rare attorney and as his client you'd be fortunate to have Peter on your side as your legal counsel. He helped me end a terrible divorce and move on with my life. I highly recommend Peter, his paralegal Amanda, and his great team.
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Posted by anonymous | March 11, 2013
Outstanding Attorney
Peter Bunch is an outstanding attorney and I highly recommend him if you are in need of a divorce attorney. Peter took on my case when it was a train wreck with seemingly no end in sight and my costs and fees rising. He quickly go up to speed, zeroed in on the key issues and finalized my divorce in short order. Always conscious of fees, when appropriate, Peter delegated work to his very skilled and experienced paralegal Amanda. I will always be thankful for the day I walked into Peter’s office.
Peter’s legal knowledge is extraordinary. He is experienced, bright, articulate, aggressive, and a very practical problem solver. In short, he has all the necessary tools to get the job done quickly and efficiently. At each stage of the proceeding Peter explained the issues, kept me fully informed and discussed the choices I confrontied. I never had any doubts that Peter had my best interests at heart and always had my back. Peter Bunch is an exceptionally good lawyer. Equally important, he is a good person. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend Peter to anyone in need of his skills.
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Posted by anonymous | January 29, 2013
Smart. Ethical. Personable.
Mr. Peter Bunch provided advice on entering into a pre-nuptial agreement and then drafted an agreement suitable to our needs. My now-husband and I were in a uniquely challenging situation and Mr. Bunch assisted us in deciding how to move forward. As a fellow attorney I appreciate how valuable and rare Mr. Bunch’s knowledge and skills are in this complicated area of law.
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Posted by Tom | January 11, 2013
High Integrity, Exceptional Lawyer
I was referred to Peter by a good legal friend after leaving my initial divorce attorney. To say that things were complicated at that point would be an understatement. And I was not being represented well at all.
Nevertheless, he took on my case and worked diligently on behalf. He was extremely fair, gave me the good and bad scenarios and represented me against a less-than-honest ex-spouse and less-than-responsive opposing attorney.
Peter is exceptionally intelligent and well-versed on all aspects of divorce. He knows case law inside-out.
In the end he got me an incredibly fair outcome from one of the most conservative county courts in the State of Oregon (Clackamas) at least when it comes to men.
I have already given his name to two close friends who are enduring less than acceptable legal counsel from their current representation. I would not hesitate for a moment to refer Peter to my young adult sons if they needed outstanding legal counsel for domestic relations.
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Divorce and separation Attorney | Aug 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Peter is an excellent trial lawyer and appeals advocate. He has a terrific mind for legal strategy and understands both the intellectual and human elements of family law."
Family Attorney | May 09
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have know Peter Bunch for a number of years. Peter and I have had many cases together. I find him very professional to deal with and very knowledgeable about Family Law Issues. I have referred clients to Peter Bunch in the past and have referred appellate work as I found him to be excellent appellate lawyer. Peter and presented a seminar on ORCP Rules for the Family Law Section. I consider him an excellent resource and have discussed Family Law issues in general with him over the years. I would rate him a "10" for his legal knowledge and for his work in Family Law both Trial and Appellate Practice"