About Me

I’m Abbie Godles, and I help Arizona couples navigate divorce, custody, prenups, and family law agreements without the courtroom chaos.

I’m not your typical family law professional: I don’t do stuffy lawyer vibes, I don’t hand-hold, and I don’t pretend this process is anything other than hard. But I do believe you deserve better than handing your family’s future to a judge who doesn’t know you, spending a year (or more) in court, and bankrupting yourself in the process.

Mediation isn’t for everyone. But if you’re ready to take responsibility, be transparent, and treat each other like adults long enough to figure out what’s next, I’m here to help you do it.

Family law attorney and mediator, Abbie Godles

How I Work

Mediation with me isn’t about sitting in awkward silence while I nod sympathetically and ask how that makes you feel. It’s structured, transparent, and designed to actually get you to an agreement that works.

Here’s what I believe:

You’re not a “we” anymore. If you were, you wouldn’t be here. That’s not a judgment—it’s just reality. My job isn’t to fix your relationship or make you like each other. My job is to help you reach fair, legally sound agreements so you can move forward.

Equal participation is non-negotiable. Both of you show up. Both of you do the homework. Both of you participate. I won’t chase you, and I won’t let one person do all the work while the other coasts.

Transparency matters. Full financial disclosure is required. If you’re hiding assets or income, mediation fails. Period.

Mind your manners. You don’t have to like each other, but you do have to treat each other with basic respect during sessions. If you can’t do that, we’ll modify the process (shuttle mediation, separate sessions, etc.)—but hostility for the sake of hostility wastes everyone’s time and money.

I’m impartial, but I’m not passive. I advocate for kids who aren’t in the room and legal protections that matter. I’ll call out bad behavior, unreasonable positions, and scope creep when I see it. Mediation only works when both people engage in good faith.

Why I Do This

I grew up in the ’90s Wild Wild West of Divorces—the Oprah era when there was suddenly no stigma and “You get a divorce!” and “She gets a divorce!” and “They get a divorce!”

My parents weren’t perfect (it’s an inherently shitty experience, after all), but they did leaps and bounds better than the average ’90s divorce. They remembered my sister and I were what mattered, and their bullshit was their bullshit. Divorce was a complete non-event in my childhood.

That was NOT the norm.

I always contrast my experience with the stories my friends would bring to school. I remember one friend in particular—let’s call her Shelby Smith. Or at least, she was Shelby Smith before winter break. When we got back, she was Shelby Jones-Smith.

Now, as elementary schoolers, did we get that her mom wanted to return to her maiden name and still match the kids? Of course not. Did we get that there was “ohhhhh, drama!!”? Yes. Yes, we absolutely did.

If I can offer one kid my experience—a complete non-event—instead of Shelby’s, that’s why I do what I do.

And why mediation specifically? Because my mom’s a hippie who raised us kumbaya in life. She taught me to heal problems instead of just slapping a Band-Aid on the surface—to get to the root and resolve the underlying issue. Just because I can argue and litigate doesn’t mean I should. Professionally, I employ that same curative approach. Emotion can’t be removed from family law, and if the underlying issue keeps growing, the fallout will be worse. I focus on lasting agreements that actually work for your family—not just paperwork that checks a box.

Who I Am (Beyond the Law Stuff)

Abbie Godles, family law mediator working at her desk while her pup and Chief Comfort Officer, Chewie, stands on her lap in front of the computer screen

I’m neurodivergent (bipolar and autistic), which probably explains why I’ve never fit into traditional corporate anything. I’m also navigating some permanent health stuff—long story involving a medical mystery, neurosurgery, and still no clear answers—which means I deeply get it when life throws curveballs you didn’t plan for.

I’m a member of the LGBTQ+ community, so I know firsthand how important it is to work with someone who gets your specific situation and won’t make you explain the basics.

Abbie Godles, family law mediator, working at her desk while her pup and Chief Comfort Officer, Chewie, lies on his dog bed on her desk and stares lovingly at her

I’m a dog mom for life to Chewie, my Chorkie (Chihuahua-Yorkie mix) and Chief Comfort Officer. He’s got a desk bed jungle gym situation and takes his job very seriously.

I’m a book snob—I still prefer physical copies, thank you very much. I’m into murder mysteries, suspense, classics, and contemporary fiction. The Scarlet Letter and Margaret Atwood are consistently my favorites, and yes, I have a top-tier list of books that are too amazing for words (ask me about it if you want recommendations).

I’m a true crime girlie (before it was cool), so if you need someone who gets the appeal of deep-diving into murder podcasts and YouTube rabbit holes, I’m your person.

On weekends, you’ll find me at vintage and craft markets with Chewie—supporting local, soaking up the vibe, and perusing all the creative vendors. I’ve got a very unique style (bold, a bit alt, a bit boho, very “me”), and thrifting helps lock in that uniqueness.

I recharge with streaming binges (’90s nostalgia and whatever’s new), Chewie snuggles, and aggressively ignoring my to-do list.

I also have strong feelings about how everything’s become a corporate mega-monopoly run by AI and subscriptions where you can’t reach a human or actually own anything anymore. (Fellow Millennials with social anxiety, I see you, but also, PLEASE just let me talk to a real person when I need help.)

The Fine Print: Degrees, Bars, & Other Proof I Know What I'm Doing

Here’s the deal: I’m not your typical lawyer, but I am a real one. I’ve got the education, the admissions, the memberships—all the things that prove I can actually help you navigate this stuff legally and competently.

If you’re the type who likes to vet credentials (respect), it’s all here, organized and accordion-ed for your convenience. Feel free to peruse, or just know this: I’ve put in the work, I take this seriously, and I’m here to help you figure out what’s next.

  • Northern Arizona University, Bachelor of Science, Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Public Administration
  • Roger Williams University School of Law, Juris Doctor
  • Walden University, Master of Science, Forensic Psychology with a concentration in Family Violence
  • State Courts of Arizona
  • United States District Court of Arizona
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • “The A-Z’s of Mediating Families with a History of Domestic Violence,” Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators (October 2019)
  • “Domestic Violence in the Midst of COVID-19,” Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators (October 2020)
  • “The A-Z’s of Mediating Families with a History of Domestic Violence,” Maricopa County Superior Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Family Judge Pro Tempore Webinar (November 2020)
  • "Domestic Violence Screening - A General Overview and in the Midst of COVID," Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators (October 2021)
  • "Hot Tips Panel: Mediating High Conflict Parenting Plans Part 2," Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators (April 2023)
  • "When Domestic Violence and Mental Health Collide," Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators (October 2023)
  • "Ethics in the Trenches," Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators (April 2025)
  • “Live Training: Mastering Domestic Violence Screening,” Maricopa County Association of Family Mediators (October 2025)

Ready to Get Started?

If this approach makes sense and you’re ready to take control of your outcome, book your Readiness Consultation and let’s figure out if mediation is right for your situation.

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