Podcasts about attorney mediator

In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of spirituality and yoga in navigating life's hardships with Melissa Farag, Attorney-Mediator and host of "High Vibe Divorce" podcast. Melissa shares her inspiring journey through grief, loss, and personal challenges, and how embracing spiritual practices, particularly yoga, has been instrumental in her healing and growth.We explore:Melissa's path from divorce attorney to spiritual seeker and mediatorThe impact of grief and personal loss on her spiritual journeyHow yoga and breathwork became crucial tools for managing stress and anxietyThe importance of facing and processing difficult emotionsThe connection between spirituality and holistic well-beingPractical tips for starting a spiritual practice and incorporating yoga into daily lifeThe power of intentional response versus reactive behavior in challenging situationsConnect with Melissa:Instagram: @highvibedivorcePodcast: High Vibe DivorceWebsite HighVibeMediation.comMy Interview on Melissa's Podcast: Empower Your Divorce with Human Design_If you don't know your Human Design, pull your free chart here.Want to dig deeper into your Human Design? Book a reading here.Want 20% off any single session reading?? Leave us a 5 star rating and review to receive a special thank you 20% off! Just send a screenshot of your rating and review to nicole@nicoleguenaconsulting.com and I'll respond back with your discount code.Let's stay in touch!Instagram: @Nicole.GuenaWebsite: NicoleGuena.com

Want to unlock the secret to a less taxing and more peaceful divorce process? Join us as we chat with the accomplished mediator and attorney, Lisa Taylor, who brings a fresh perspective to divorce by advocating for pre-filing mediation. Lisa passionately shares how this method encourages couples to reach a harmonious settlement agreement before any court documentation is filed, saving them from the emotional turmoil and financial burden that traditional litigation can bring. Learn the significant differences between pre-filing mediation and end-stage mediation from Lisa and explore how she facilitates calm and productive exchanges between couples as a neutral party.RESOURCESTo connect with Lisa and learn more about her mediation process CLICK HERE To learn more about divorce mediation or to find a mediator in your area, CLICK HERETo read about how Pearl Planning and Jacki Roessler, CDFA can help you though your divorce or schedule an initial complimentary consult,  CLICK HEREIf you're considering divorce and want to prepare yourself financially, CLICK HERELinks are being provided for information purposes only. We do not suggest that listening to this podcast will make you wealthy. Pearl Planning is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Brian Cohen or his affiliates. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to change, which can materially impact investment results. Pearl Planning cannot guarantee that the information herein is accurate, complete, or timely. Pearl Planning makes no warranties with regard to such information or results obtained by its use and disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or any tax or legal position taken in reliance on, such information. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. Please note, changes in tax laws or regulations may occur at any time and could substantially impact your situation. Pearl Planning financial advisors do not render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

It's Divorce with Respect Week! Attorney Deb Noonan and Therapist, Jennifer Luise Champagne of CCND join Susan Guthrie, Esq. to share insights into why divorcing with respect is essential to your BEYOND!  As families move through the divorcing process, parents are often focused on their emotions over their soon-to-be ex. Respect and kindness are the furthest things from their minds. Yet, the reality of divorce is that it's not just about what is happening today. It's also about looking toward the future. How you divorce today will have so much to do with how you live your life beyond divorce.  Leading divorce professionals from The Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce join Susan for this impactful conversation about respect, integrity, and divorce.  Deborah Noonan, JD, is an experienced family law attorney who for the past 20 years has limited her practice to divorce mediation and Collaborative Divorce.  Jennifer Luise Champagne, MA, is a licensed professional counselor whose career has been devoted to the emotional and parenting issues of divorce.  Respectful insights from this episode include: Deb and Jennifer share their thoughts about what a respectful divorce looks like The challenges of maintaining respect during divorce  Re-establishing integrity with your ex-partner and co-parent after separation Some helpful interventions or tools for when parties are having a hard time remaining respectful What you can expect from Divorce with Respect week from CCND, including online events and workshops Respect can be in short supply throughout the divorce process. But, it is possible to obtain. Listen to this episode to hear how to divorce in a respectful and dignified way!    Access Episode Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/003WnBcyxZ0   About this week's special guests: Deborah Noonan, JD, and Jennifer Luise Champagne, MA Deborah Noonan, JD is an experienced family law attorney who for the past 20 years has limited her practice to divorce mediation and Collaborative Divorce.  After spending a number of years litigating divorces, and witnessing firsthand the harm contentious divorces cause families, especially children, Deborah decided to focus her family law practice on alternative methods of dispute resolution. As a mediator and collaborative attorney, Deborah works with clients to assist them in working out a settlement agreement in a cooperative and mindful problem-solving process that places great emphasis on reducing conflict, keeping children the focus, and empowering the parties to control the outcome of their divorce.  Deborah helps clients create quality solutions to meet their and their family's individualized needs, bringing outside professionals, such as therapists and divorce financial specialists, into the process to promote a more holistic result. Deborah has had extensive mediation and Collaborative Divorce training and has presented on both topics at seminars and conferences. Website: http://divorcemediatect.com The Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce: https://gooddivorcect.com CCND's Divorce with Respect Week: https://gooddivorcect.com/divorce-with-respect-week/ Jennifer Luise Champagne, MA is a licensed professional counselor whose career has been devoted to the emotional and parenting issues of divorce. Over the past 35 years, she has focused her work with parents as they address the changing needs of their family; coaching parents as they share the decision to divorce with their children, creating parenting plans for the time of separation, and addressing communication challenges that impact parents and their children. Jennifer has received extensive training in mediation and collaborative divorce, as well as in co-parenting and parenting coordination. She is in private practice with offices in Shelton and on the shoreline in Madison and is an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law.   Jennifer is the current president of the Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce and belongs to several collaborative practice groups within the state. Website:  http://www.jenniferluisechampagne.com The Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce: https://gooddivorcect.com CCND's Divorce with Respect Week: https://gooddivorcect.com/divorce-with-respect-week/   Also mentioned in this episode: Rainbows For All Children GAL – AMC – OMG!  Demystifying the Role of a Guardian ad Litem or Attorney for the Minor Child Part One with Leading Attorney, Beth McCormack, Part 1 GAL – AMC – OMG!  Demystifying the Role of a Guardian ad Litem or Attorney for the Minor Child Part Two with Leading Attorney, Beth McCormack, Part 2 Parent Coordination Primer Part One of a Two-Part Episode with Attorney/Mediator, Carolyn Kalos Parent Coordination Primer Part Two: Navigating the Process with Carolyn Kalos on Divorce & Beyond #241 If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode! THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: Divide & Thrive Divorce Planner Divorce is hard. Divide & Thrive makes planning for one EASY. The #1 regret I hear from people who've gone through a divorce is that they didn't PREPARE in advance. There is no do-over in divorce, so planning early in the process is a GAME CHANGER. Divide & Thrive's divorce planner takes the guesswork out of what to do. Their planner has helped THOUSANDS of people throughout the U.S. AND Canada save TIME and MONEY during divorce, and have PEACE OF MIND. Their PROGRAM guides you through HOW to set divorce goals, tackle your BUDGET with easy-to-use financial planning tools, STREAMLINES your essential document collection, and SIMPLIFIES asset cataloging.  Recommended by divorce attorneys, mediators, AND financial advisors, the easy-to-use planner helps you address the emotional AND business sides of divorce, and create your best next chapter. Check out www.divideandthrive.net for reviews and a peek inside the planner. Use the code SUSAN22 for 20% off! ******************************************************************* MEET OUR CREATOR AND HOST: SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is a member of the Executive Council of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way® which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Internationally renowned as one of the leading experts in online mediation, Susan created her Learn to Mediate Online® program and has trained more than 18,000 professionals in how to transition their practice online.  Susan recently partnered with legal and mediation legend, Forrest "Woody" Mosten to create the Mosten Guthrie Academy which provides gold standard, fully online training for mediation and collaborative professionals at all stages of their career.   Follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan Guthrie on Facebook @susanguthrieesq Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq Susan on Twitter @guthrielaw ********************************************************************* SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE! If you would like to sponsor the show please reach out to us at  divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com for pricing and details!!! ********************************************************************* We'd really appreciate it if you would give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ********************************************************************* DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM

This week and next, Susan speaks with Attorney/Mediator, Carolyn Kalos in a special two-part episode sharing everying you need to know about Parent Coordination:  What it is and How it Can Help Your High Conflict Co-Parenting! Carolyn Kalos has been practicing in New York City, some of the busiest courts in the country for over 25 years and spend many of those years in the courtroom with some of the most difficult cases involving children.  She knows the ins and outs of the system AND it's limitations.  One thing that Carolyn knows for sure is that the court is very often not the best place to resolve issues between co-parents when it comes to disagreements about their kids.   With her special expertise and many years of experience in the family courts as an advocate, Carolyn is passionate about helping families stay out of the system as much as possible, even high conflict cases.  She is a sought-after Parent Coordinator (PC) in New York and is seeing a large uptick in the number of judges appointing PCs and in attorneys suggesting them to clients.  But what exactly is Parent Coordination?  How does it work, how do you find a good one and how does it keep you and your family out of court? This is a big topic, and is such an important one, that we had to make it a two-parter so listen to Part One now and tune in next Monday for the conclusion in Part Two! About this week's special guest: Carolyn Kalos has been a family lawyer in New York City for over 25 years allowing her to see the toll that divorce, custody disputes, and overall conflict can take on families, especially on children. She is the founding partner at FamilyFriendlyMediation, where she is an attorney, a mediator and a parenting coordinator, with a practice focused entirely on helping families in a less conflict-driven and more amicable way.  Carolyn also serves on the NextGen Board at FamilyKind, where she is a consulting Mediator & Parenting Coordinator.  She is also the Associate Director at the Center for Mediation & Training, a volunteer mediator at NYLAG (New York Legal Assistance Group), and a consultant at Apiary Life.  Carolyn has been a litigator, trial skills instructor, and adjunct professor, all in the area of family law.  Carolyn went to the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and Emory Law School. Find out more about Carolyn and her services: www.familyfriendlymediation.com Follow Carolyn on Instagram at @familyfriendlymediation   To meet with Carolyn at the special reduced fee rate for Divorce & Beyond Listeners visit: Home | Carolyn Kalos  https://www.carolynkalos.com   ****************************************************************************************************** THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR: Thriving in divorce and beyond means not having to worry about the safety of your children when it comes to co-parenting. With alcohol abuse on the rise, many co-parents are turning to the system committed to providing proof, protection, and peace of mind. Soberlink's alcohol monitoring system is the most convenient, reliable, and reasonable way for a parent to provide evidence that they are not drinking during parenting time. Soberlink's real-time alerts, facial recognition, and tamper detection ensure the integrity of each test, so you can be confident your kids are with a sober parent. With Soberlink, judges rest assured that your child is safe, attorneys get court-admissible evidence of sobriety, and both parents have empowerment and peace of mind. Pull back the curtain on the mysteries of parenting time and trust The Experts in Remote Alcohol Monitoring Technology™ to keep you informed and your kids safe and secure. To download the addiction and children resource page that I developed with Soberlink, visit www.Soberlink.com/Susan   ******************************************************************* MEET OUR CREATOR AND HOST: SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond® Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is a member of the Executive Council of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way® which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Internationally renowned as one of the leading experts in online mediation, Susan created her Learn to Mediate Online® program and has trained more than 18,000 professionals in how to transition their practice online.  Susan recently partnered with legal and mediation legend, Forrest "Woody" Mosten to create the Mosten Guthrie Academy which provides gold standard, fully online training for mediation and collaborative professionals at all stages of their career.   ***************************************************************************** SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE! If you would like to sponsor the show please reach out to us at  divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com for pricing and details!!! ********************************************************************* Remember to follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan Guthrie on Facebook @susanguthrieesq Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq Susan on Twitter @guthrielaw If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode! Finally, we'd really appreciate it if you would  give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ***************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM

If there is one word to describe Anna-Maria Pittella, it is courageous. Despite being young and at an early stage of her career, she decided to open her law firm at a time when there were more prominent barriers for women lawyers. Initially dedicated to litigation, Anna-Maria transformed her practice and was one of the pioneers of the family collaborative law movement since it began in New Jersey, breaking with the paradigms of the traditional divorce process. She is an accredited mediator and divorce attorney with years of experience, who has gone through a divorce herself and is committed to helping families by offering them ways to avoid litigation-the most traumatizing option for everyone involved. Anna-Maria, who feels fulfilled with the work she does, dives into the early days of her career and shares the most interesting anecdotes that would convince anyone of the vast benefits of collaborative family law, and that transitioning her practice from litigation to mediation was the best choice. This interview will remind you not to be afraid of change and to keep speaking up for what you believe in. Included in this conversation: Growing up with two doctors as parents Her strongest female role model Her educational background Overcoming the barriers for women in law How she got into family law Taking part in a revolutionary moment for women lawyers Why you should not be afraid of change Speaking up for the right causes Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy Her career development Her vast amount of experience in family law Stories that reflect the benefits of mediation The importance of marital planning Starting her own law firm Why she stopped doing litigation The special case that motivated her to mediate Why you should avoid a “pit bull lawyer” Transitioning her practice from litigation to mediation Read more about Anna-Maria and her practice here: https://www.pittellalaw.com/ Find her on Facebook: @Anna.Maria.Pittella.Esquire https://www.facebook.com/Anna.Maria.Pittella.Esquire/ Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-maria-pittella-bb9a326/ Follow me on social media here: Instagram @theprev www.instagram.com/theprev/ Facebook @wakeupcallthepodcast www.facebook.com/wakeupcallthepodcast Twitter @ThePrevite twitter.com/theprevite You can also watch episodes of Wake Up Call on YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCjlkBJChmRfcu4l-kLs2Rwg If you think you would be an awesome guest on Wake Up Call, DM me on Instagram!

This week on The Divorce & Beyond® Podcast, Leading Family Law Attorney, Lauren Hunt visits to discuss with Host, Susan Guthrie® everything you need to know to pick the right attorney for your divorce case! There are few decisions in divorce as important as choosing your attorney who will be your guide, advisor and advocate through the process.  The common knee jerk reaction is to search far and wide for the "shark, bulldog or barracuda" attorney.  We think we need the biggest, baddest lawyer out there to protect us, but is this true?  Is a down and dirty fighter what we truly want and need?  Attorney Lauren Hunt joins Susan to talk about what you should be looking for in choosing your attorney.  Lauren covers topics such as: What questions to ask a prospective attorney; Where to find the best attorney prospects; How to read those Google and Yelp reviews; What the MOST important quality in a divorce attorney is that you should be searching for; What to do if you hired the wrong attorney; AND MUCH MORE! Before you run out and hire that shark be sure to listen to this episode - it will save you a lot of time, money and heartache! Get Lauren's FREE DIVORCE GUIDE for Listeners of Divorce & Beyond®  https://mailchi.mp/laurenhuntesq/divorce-guide More information About This Week's Special Guest:  Lauren Hunt Lauren is an Attorney / Mediator in New York State and has practiced exclusively in the field of Family / Matrimonial Law for over a decade. As a child of divorce, she intimately understands how divorce impacts a family and works hard to mitigate those impacts. She has been named to the Super Lawyers list from 2014-2021 and has received several other awards in recognition of her professionalism and advocacy in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law. She is very involved in her local community where you can find her sitting on a variety of committees or volunteering her time for a local dog rescue.  Her greatest treasure in life, though, is her family. In her downtime, she can be found exploring a new hiking trail with her husband and son, cooking up big Sunday breakfasts, and dancing to “Baby Shark” for the millionth time with her son – Jack.  Contact Lauren Hunt:   W:  www.laurenhuntesq.com E:  lauren@laurenhuntesq.com Instagram: @laurenhuntesq ********************** MEET THE CREATOR AND HOST OF DIVORCE & BEYOND® SUSAN GUTHRIE®, ESQ. is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  Susan is a member of the Executive Council of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way® which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Internationally renownded as one of the leading experts in online mediation, Susan created her Learn to Mediate Online® program and has trained more than 18,000 professionals in how to transition their practice online.  Susan recently partnered with legal and mediation legend, Forrest "Woody" Mosten to create the Mosten Guthrie Academy which provides gold standard, fully online training for mediation and collaborative professionals at all stages of their career.   ***************************************************************************** THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR! DTOUR.LIFE  dtour.life is an easy to navigate system that finally brings much needed technology to an inefficient system. Spouses and family law professionals can now collect the endless data, manage the piles of documents, explore various settlements, detail budgets and most importantly, collaborate with the entire team with a single click. And we built this from the ground up with industry best practices and the most advanced security and encryption technology available.  Be sure to check it out today! SPECIAL OFFER:  Sign up for the FREE TRIAL here:  https://www.dtour.life/sign-up and then use special code "SUSAN20" to receive 20% off the cost of a subscription!   *********************************************  THE DIVORCE & BEYOND MEMBERS ONLY COMMUNITY IS LIVE!! Subscribe now for only $10 per month and take your Divorce & Beyond experience BEYOND!! D & B Members Only will receive a number of benefits including: Ad and Interruption Free Podcast Archive BONUS Members Only Podcast Episodes monthly Downloadable Worksheets, Spreadsheets and Other Forms  Access to the "Ask Susan Anything" Forum where you can ask your questions and learn from the answers to others. SUBSCRIBE HERE! ***************************************************************************** CHECK OUT THE NEW RESOURCE PAGE ON THE WEBSITE WITH DIVORCE & BEYOND RECOMMENDED READING!   Remember, knowledge is power and we have the books that will help educate you and support you in all areas of divorce including finance, parenting, healing, conflict resolution and MORE!  Check it out now on the website:  www.divorceandbeyondpod.com/beyond-reading SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE! If you would like to sponsor the show please reach out to us at  divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com for pricing and details!!! ********************************************************************* Remember to follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan Guthrie on Facebook @susanguthrieesq Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq Susan on Twitter @guthrielaw Divorce & Beyond Podcast on Instagram @divorceandbeyond Divorce & Beyond Podcast on Twitter @DivorceBeyond If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode! Finally, we'd really appreciate it if you would  give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ***************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM  

In this episode Susan Guthrie sits down for Part Two of a special two-part episode with friend and fellow divorce attorney/mediator, Kimberly Cook, one of the top divorce professionals in Chicago, who shares what you need to know in order to have a successful divorce mediation process! Divorce mediation truly is a better way to move through the divorce process for many couples but that doesn't mean that it is easy or that you don't have to do any work.  In fact, there are several ways that you can maximize the potential of a postive divorce mediation experience and leading mediator and attorney, Kimberly Cook breaks it down into her Top Do's and Don'ts based on what she knows will help you to get through the process and reach an agreement that will last.  In fact, she had so many incredible tips that we had to make it a special two-part episode to fit them all in!  Part One debuted on Monday so if you haven't listened yet, be sure to do so.  We don't want you to miss a thing! More information about This week's Special Guest, Kimberly Cook Kimberly A. Cook is the founder and principal mediator of Dovetail Conflict Resolution. For almost two decades, Kimberly maintained a distinguished legal career as an esteemed litigator at one of the country’s premier divorce and family law firms representing high profile clients. She is known for guiding her clients through complex family law matters including prenuptial agreements, divorce, parenting matters, property allocation, child and spousal support.    As a mediator, Kimberly approaches every case with consideration of the unique circumstances which give rise to disputes and provides guidance to help individuals navigate through an issue while giving them the resolution tools to move forward.  Kimberly earned her B.A. from Spelman College and her law degree from The Catholic University of America. In addition to her work as a mediator, she shares her legal experience with the community as a speaker, mentor, and as the host of her podcast, GrownGirl Divorce.  Her website is www.dovetailcr.com Follow Kim on Instagram for great tips: https://www.instagram.com/dovetailresolution https://www.instagram.com/growngirldivorce/ Contact Kim at: KCook@dovetailcr.com ********************** SUSAN GUTHRIE, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  She is one of the Co-Chair's of the American Bar Association's DR Section Mediation Committee and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Susan has created a website of curated resources for those facing divorce.  Find out more at www.divorceinabetterway.com. *****************************************************************************    THE DIVORCE & BEYOND MEMBERS ONLY COMMUNITY IS LIVE!! Subscribe now for only $10 per month and take your Divorce & Beyond experience BEYOND!! D & B Members Only will receive a number of benefits including: Ad and Interruption Free Podcast Archive BONUS Members Only Podcast Episodes monthly Downloadable Worksheets, Spreadsheets and Other Forms  Access to the "Ask Susan Anything" Forum where you can ask your questions and learn from the answers to others. SUBSCRIBE HERE! ***************************************************************************** SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE! If you would like to sponsor the show please reach out to us at  divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com for pricing and details!!! ********************************************************************* Remember to follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan Guthrie on Facebook @susanguthrieesq Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq Susan on Twitter @guthrielaw Divorce & Beyond Podcast on Instagram @divorceandbeyond Divorce & Beyond Podcast on Twitter @DivorceBeyond If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode! Finally, we'd really appreciate it if you would  give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ***************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM

In this episode Susan Guthrie sits down for a special two-part episode with friend and fellow divorce attorney/mediator, Kimberly Cook, one of the top divorce professionals in Chicago, who shares what you need to know in order to have a successful divorce mediation process! Divorce mediation truly is a better way to move through the divorce process for many couples but that doesn't mean that it is easy or that you don't have to do any work.  In fact, there are several ways that you can maximize the potential of a postive divorce mediation experience and leading mediator and attorney, Kimberly Cook breaks it down into her Top Do's and Don'ts based on what she knows will help you to get through the process and reach an agreement that will last.  In fact, she had so many incredible tips that we had to make it a special two-part episode to fit them all in!  Part Two will air on Thursday morning so you don't have to wait a week to get all of your Do's and Don'ts for a Successful Mediation. More information about This week's Special Guest, Kimberly Cook Kimberly A. Cook is the founder and principal mediator of Dovetail Conflict Resolution. For almost two decades, Kimberly maintained a distinguished legal career as an esteemed litigator at one of the country’s premier divorce and family law firms representing high profile clients. She is known for guiding her clients through complex family law matters including prenuptial agreements, divorce, parenting matters, property allocation, child and spousal support.    As a mediator, Kimberly approaches every case with consideration of the unique circumstances which give rise to disputes and provides guidance to help individuals navigate through an issue while giving them the resolution tools to move forward.  Kimberly earned her B.A. from Spelman College and her law degree from The Catholic University of America. In addition to her work as a mediator, she shares her legal experience with the community as a speaker, mentor, and as the host of her podcast, GrownGirl Divorce.  Her website is www.dovetailcr.com Follow Kim on Instagram for great tips: https://www.instagram.com/dovetailresolution https://www.instagram.com/growngirldivorce/ Contact Kim at: KCook@dovetailcr.com ********************** SUSAN GUTHRIE, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  She is one of the Co-Chair's of the American Bar Association's DR Section Mediation Committee and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Susan has created a website of curated resources for those facing divorce.  Find out more at www.divorceinabetterway.com. *****************************************************************************    THE DIVORCE & BEYOND MEMBERS ONLY COMMUNITY IS LIVE!! Subscribe now for only $10 per month and take your Divorce & Beyond experience BEYOND!! D & B Members Only will receive a number of benefits including: Ad and Interruption Free Podcast Archive BONUS Members Only Podcast Episodes monthly Downloadable Worksheets, Spreadsheets and Other Forms  Access to the "Ask Susan Anything" Forum where you can ask your questions and learn from the answers to others. SUBSCRIBE HERE! ***************************************************************************** SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE! If you would like to sponsor the show please reach out to us at  divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com for pricing and details!!! ********************************************************************* Remember to follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan Guthrie on Facebook @susanguthrieesq Susan on Instagram @susanguthrieesq Susan on Twitter @guthrielaw Divorce & Beyond Podcast on Instagram @divorceandbeyond Divorce & Beyond Podcast on Twitter @DivorceBeyond If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode! Finally, we'd really appreciate it if you would  give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ***************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM

I am so excited about this episode! Get out a pen and paper (or your iPad!) you’re going to want to take notes on this conversation, trust me! Do you think PRENUPS are only for the rich and famous? Does the phrase, “Honey, I need you to sign a Prenup,” leave a horrid taste in your mouth and instantly make you angry? Well…then this is such an important conversation! We are going to SQUASH the negativity associated with prenuptial agreements with my guest, Lauren Hunt. Lauren is an Attorney / Mediator in New York. She believes that divorce is an opportunity to create the life you and your kids were meant to live. She works with her clients to ensure that their voices are heard, their values understood, and their goals are achieved. As a child of divorce herself, Lauren understands the short and long-term impacts that family changes have on the parents and the children. In her downtime, she can be found exploring a new hiking trail with her husband and son, cooking up big Sunday breakfasts, and dancing to “Baby Shark” for the millionth time with her son – Jack. Lauren feels that prenups are POSITIVE and that they get a really bad rap for being “divorce planning” in the making…but in reality, they are helping to plan for your marriage. Listen to Doing Relationships Right and hear why every new, married couple should have a prenup! Highlights: Why are prenups usually used?  Lauren "debunks" some of the myths 3 main reasons why Prenups are POSITIVE  What is a "Sunset Clause"    Where to find Lauren: Website: https://laurenhuntesq.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurenhuntesq/   Join the Facebook Group and leave a question for a future episode: https://www.facebook.com/groups/doingdivorcerightpodcast   Where to find me: Website: https://jenniferhurvitz.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferhurvitzbiz/ You can connect with my editor, Next Level Podcast Solutions at https://nextleveluniverse.com/   Get a copy of Jen’s book, “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: A Divorce Coach’s Guide to Staying Married” here.    Show notes: [1:55] All about Lauren Hunt and how she became a divorce attorney [3:31] Lauren and going to law school [6:20] 3 important things that Lauren wants to point out when it comes to prenups [9:09] Plan and negotiate a prenup when you’re happy [13:00] The benefits of a prenup [15:13] Check out this great parenting tool: Soberlink (https://www.soberlink.com/) [17:57] Sunset clause [19:13] On trust funds [22:51] Draft and sign your prenup DAYS before your actual marriage [23:37] Not being able to get divorced because of a prenup? [27:31] Things that you can include in a prenup [28:41] What to check before getting a prenup attorney  

The divorce process can be a lengthy one, so what does that mean for the children in the meantime. Who will they be with? When? WHERE?! This is where temporary parenting plans become a game changer. A temporary parenting plan or custody agreement contains information about where your child will live and how you and the other parent will care for your child during the divorce proceedings. A temporary plan lasts until the divorce is finalized and the permanent parenting plan is in place. But wait, there's more, and this is why I invited family law attorney Lauren Hunt on the podcast to share her knowledge on the benefits of a temporary parenting plan. Lauren is an Attorney / Mediator in New York State and has practiced exclusively in the field of Family / Matrimonial Law for over a decade. She understands that family problems must be resolved quickly, cost-effectively, and in a way that addresses the client’s short- and long-term needs. Lauren works to craft individualized solutions that are practical, realistic, and account for each client’s unique facts. Her practice includes direct representation in a wide variety of family law matters and she also maintains a state-wide mediation practice. Whether the matter is resolved in court or at the mediation table, Lauren works with her clients to ensure that their voices are heard and values understood. She truly enjoys the work she does and the clients that she has had the privilege to represent. Lauren was named to the Super Lawyers list in the area of Family Law from 2014-2020 and has received several other awards in recognition of her professionalism and advocacy in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law. Lauren's other involvements in the legal and non-legal community include: serving on several committees for the New York State Bar Association, sitting on the Board of the Shaker Heritage Society, and volunteering her time as both a foster parent and pro bono legal counsel for a local dog rescue. Her greatest treasure in life, though, is her family. In her downtime, she can be found exploring a new hiking trail with her husband and son, cooking up big Sunday breakfasts, and dancing to “Baby Shark” for the millionth time with her son – Jack. Learn more about working with Lauren, here. Follow her on the 'gram, here.

Claire is a versatile attorney who provides her clients a wide range of options for resolving their disputes. She is an experienced litigator who can be fierce in the courtroom, but she is also a trained collaborative lawyer and family law mediator who can devise creative solutions and amicably settle even the toughest of cases. No two divorces are the same, and Claire possesses the skills necessary to provide the right solution for each unique situation. Not only does Claire assist her clients in dissolving their marriages, but she also encourages them to be future focused. She believes divorce offers clients a unique opportunity to build a positive future for themselves, complete with financial and emotional security. To this end, she provides her clients with the tools necessary to help them construct a solid foundation on which to navigate their new lives. For Claire’s clients, divorce can be a spring board to reinventing themselves. Claire’s passion for helping others extends beyond her legal practice. She is a dedicated philanthropist and is actively involved in several non-profit organizations throughout the Charlotte community.   Today we’re chatting about:  How Claire got into her specific path for divorces. What a Becoming Divorce is. How complicated it is to have a divorce, and move forward.   Connect with Claire:  Website: https://clairesamuelslaw.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairejsamuels/ https://www.facebook.com/clairesamuelslaw/ Get a copy of Jen’s book, “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: A Divorce Coach’s Guide to Staying Married” here.  Join the Facebook Group and leave a question for a future episode: https://www.facebook.com/groups/doingdivorcerightpodcast This season of Doing Divorce Right is sponsored by FAYR  (https://www.fayr.com/) and Soberlink (https://www.soberlink.com/)! Check out these great parenting tools!

Rosemarie Ferrante is an attorney licensed in NY and CT who focuses her practice on non-adversarial divorce through mediation and the collaborative divorce processes. Rosemarie’s goal is to make a positive impact on the divorce process by giving couples the resources and tools they need to help their family transition smoothly through the restructuring of their family. Rosemarie founded Divorce Resource CT to provide public education and awareness and support to those contemplating divorce. In partnership with Hollis Hardiman, CDFA, she offers education, support and wellness workshops for individuals contemplating divorce. The workshops are presented by herself and Hollis and various esteemed mental health professionals and are offered throughout Fairfield County, CT and online. Rosemarie is a member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators (APFM) and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). She is a board member for the Connecticut Council of NonAdversarial Divorce (CCND), the statewide non-profit professional organization of Connecticut mediators and collaborative divorce practitioners. She is a founding chapter leader of the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP), the first national organization that unites professionals who serve clients going through all stages of the divorce process. Her bar association memberships include the American bar Association (Family Law section), the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA), including the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Family Law sections, the Danbury Bar Association and the Fairfield County Bar Association.   Today we’re chatting about:    How to have a happy, healthy divorce. Knowing what support you need in a divorce. The importance of having the right tools for divorce. Why you should have meditation during a divorce.   Connect with Rosemary:    Website: com https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemarieferrantedivorceprofessional/ https://twitter.com/ctfamilylawyer?lang=el   Join the Facebook Group and leave a question for a future episode: https://www.facebook.com/groups/doingdivorcerightpodcast This season of Doing Divorce Right is sponsored by FAYR  (https://www.fayr.com/) and Soberlink (https://www.soberlink.com/)! Check out these great parenting tools! Get a copy of Jen’s book, “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda: A Divorce Coach’s Guide to Staying Married” here. 

In this episode, Susan Guthrie speaks with experienced online mediator and attorney, Jean Lawler, about the importance of awareness and taking precautions in light of the significant threats to cybersecurity and privacy online. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and as many professionals, including attorneys and dispute resolution practitioners have moved online, the risk of a security and/or privacy break has increased exponentially. The key to protecting both our personal and professional private materials and information is awareness of the challenges and taking steps to insure protection. Jean Lawler, herself a long-time (40+ year) attorney and mediator with expertise in the insurance industry, recently was certified as a Certified Information Privacy Professional, a designation held by only a handful of mediators nationwide. She shares the top challenges we face as well as her tips for making your practices and protocols more secure in this episode. The cost of a breach can be catastrophic so take a moment to listen today! Disclaimer:  Any information regarding travel to Russia and/or China included in some versions of the episode are merely anecdotal in nature and not intended to be legal advice More Information About This Week's Special Guest: Jean Lawler of www.lawleradr.com  I know civil + commercial litigation, insurance policies, the insurance industry and how to get cases settled. My 40+ years as a lawyer, 37+ of those having been in private practice, allow me as a mediator to quickly understand and simplify the challenges of complex litigation, to facilitate resolutions that make sense to the parties. My mediation approach is personalized to adapt to the needs of each matter. I am a fan of pre-mediation conference calls, factual clarity, practicality and openness to creative solutions. I have extensive experience in conducting online, virtual mediations using Zoom, but also able to use other platforms as needed. CIPP/US certified and ready to help resolve your data breach, insurance, CCPA, cyber and privacy lawsuits. **************************************************************************** About Our Host: Susan Guthrie, nationally recognized as one of the Top Family Law and Mediation Attorneys in the country, has been helping individuals and families navigate separation and divorce for 30 years. Susan provides online divorce mediation and legal coaching services to select clients around the world. As a leading dispute resolution professional, Susan is honored to serve on the Executive Council of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Dispute Resolution Section as the Membership Officer and to be a Co-Chair of the Mediation Committee. Susan also is one of the leading experts in online mediation in the country and trains other professionals in the practical and ethical considerations of conducting their mediations online through her business Learn to Mediate Online (www.learntomediateonline.com.) The Learn to Mediate Online Training Program is NOW ON-DEMAND!  To date, more than 15,000 dispute resolution professionals have benefited from her online mediation training program which is available as an ON DEMAND COURSE!  The program will help you to transition your in-person mediation process to an online virtual proceeding via Zoom video-conferencing and more.  Go here to find out more: https://learntomediateonline.teachable.com/   Susan also offers additional training and webinars in (available on www.learntomediateonline.com): ***To receive 10% off the cost of the downloadable programs use code "PODCAST." **** Social Media Marketing for Professionals DOWNLOADABLE PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE! DIY Website Basics DOWNLOADABLE PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE! Susan also offers 1:1 private coaching and more.  Go to www.learntomediateonline.com ******************************************************************************************************** To find out more about Susan's new venture with mediation legend, Forrest "Woody" Mosten, please visit www.mostenguthrie.com. ************************************************************************************************ Susan has been featured in and on media outlets such as CNBC, Market Watch, Forbes, Eye on Chicago, WGN, the ABA's Just Resolutions Magazine, Thrive Global, The Nook Online among others. She is licensed to practice law in the States of California and Connecticut as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States. Susan's other Podcasts: After a year and half of co-creating and co-hosting the award winning podcast, Breaking Free: A Modern Divorce Podcast which reached over 3 million listeners, Susan recently launched her fresh and inspiring new podcast, The Divorce and Beyond Podcast with Susan Guthrie, Esq. which debuted on iTunes “Top Podcasts” List for self-help podcasts. Divorce & Beyond is focused on pulling back the curtain on the mysteries of the divorce process and bringing tips and resources to help people to thrive and shine in their new future beyond divorce.   Follow us on Instagram:  Susan Guthrie, The Divorce & Beyond Podcast and Learn to Mediate Online! Want a Learn to Mediate Online coffee mug?  Your can order yours here: https://teespring.com/learn-to-mediate-online-mug?pid=658&cid=102908&sid=front     EACH MONTH THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS OF AN LTMO MUG OR OTHER SWAG!  To enter, just leave a 5-Star Rating and Review on iTunes or Podbean!We want to be sure to help as many online professionals as we can and your ratings and review really help to spread the word!   Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so that you don't miss an episode and if you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five star review and leave a comment telling us what you liked!  You can link to the most popular podcast platforms here:  https://learntomediateonline.com/ltmo-podcast You can reach Susan at susan@learntomediateonline.com

The scariest part of divorce is that fight to the finish - the one where you're hoping to get everything you want, but the thought of having to negotiate and argue your way through it sounds as daunting as can be. Enter Susan Guthrie, Esq, top family law attorney and mediator with over 30 years experience. It's her experience, coupled with her commitment to helping uncoupling couples work through "divorce in a better way," that makes her a stand-out in the divorce community. And lucky for us, she's sharing her tips on making it to the divorce finish line - negotiations an all - as smoothly as possible. You're going to love these tips, especially Susan's outlook on divorce being an opportunity - a good one! Susan Guthrie, nationally recognized as one of the Top Family Law and Mediation Attorneys in the country, has been helping individuals and families navigate separation and divorce for 30 years. Susan provides online divorce mediation and legal coaching services to select clients around the world. As a leading dispute resolution professional, Susan is honored to serve on the Executive Council of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Section of Dispute Resolution as the Membership Officer and to be a Co-Chair of the Mediation Committee. Susan recently launched her fresh and inspiring new podcast, The Divorce and Beyond Podcast with Susan Guthrie, Esq. (www.divorceandbeyondpod.com) which debuted on iTunes' “Top Podcasts” List for self-help podcasts! Divorce & Beyond is focused on pulling back the curtain on the mysteries of the divorce process and bringing tips and resources to help people to thrive and shine in their new future beyond divorce.

In this Interview:Tom Seeley helps people navigate difficult times in their lives and teaches individuals how to be the best versions of themselves. As an attorney, mediator and divorce coach, he helps married clients unwind their marriages in a respectful, dignified manner as the founder of Finger Lakes Holistic Divorce Mediation and Westchester Holistic Divorce Mediation. As a certified life coach, Tom teaches individuals and couples how to be the best versions of themselves so that they can have more loving, supportive, and fulfilling relationships with themselves and each other. Tom is also passionate about making healthy, plant-based foods and loves to share what he has learned through his work as an Independent Consultant with Arbonne International. Tom is the father of two sons, one dog, and two cats. Outside of work-life, Tom is a personal development junkie and John Gottman groupie who practices mindfulness daily has completed 200-hour yoga teacher training and four firewalks.Highlights from our conversation include: "solving the solvable problem... The State of The Union Address for your relationship... identifying patterns that tear marriages down."Web sites: www.tws-law.com; www.flholisticdivorce.com; www.tomseeley.arbonne.com LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-seeley-7204899/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fingerlakesholisticdivorce/

"Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict. It's always more rewarding to restore a relationship than to run from it." Dorothy Thompson, American Journalist Life can be a messy proposition. When relationships start unraveling and kids are involved, people need experts with the skills and knowledge to navigate through difficult life transitions. Join me, the MINDSET Doc, with Terri Breer, Attorney Mediator. 1. How is our culture contributing to the failure of the institution of marriage and bad divorce outcomes? 2. In what ways do family law attorneys, and their litigation training contribute to the failure and promote our adversarial culture? 3. What are some of the most destructive impacts on families that you see due to the adversarial culture? 4. Do you have any advice on how attorneys and mediators can work effectively and collaboratively with the mental health experts to remedy these outcomes? Ms. Breer has authored several legal articles including: • “Treating the Divorce Client – a Dual Approach to Marital Dissolutions” Orange County Lawyer, June 1995 • “Has the Family Law System Reached a Tipping Point?” Orange County Lawyer, March 2009 • “Family Law Mediation – Expanding the Frontiers of Alternative Dispute Resolution” Special Feature, Orange County Lawyer, January 2010 Learn more about Terri at Breer Law Offices: https://www.breerlaw.com/about-us

In this bonus episode, Susan Guthrie, is joined by her friend and colleague, leading divorce attorney/mediator, Gabrielle Hartley, and they discuss online dispute resolution options for families and individuals that find themselves without in-person options due to the challenges that the current COVID-19 Pandemic raises with court closures, social distancing and more!  You have options online! There are many instances where people feel that they have few to no options when it comes to trying to resolve disputes with their co-parent or ex.  This is made even more difficult when, as we face court closures and other difficulties in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, where families are struggling to find order and resolution while under the stress of the situation.  Parenting plans are disrupted, jobs and lost and support payments are being missed and much more but the courts are closed for many.  Host Susan Guthrie, one of the top family law attorneys and mediators in the country and an online mediation expert, sits with friend and colleague, leading attorney, Gabrielle Hartley, to discuss their online mediation, coaching, arbitration and parent coordination services and the online options that are available to those who are looking for a way to move forward.  This episode has the information you need to hear to cope with some of the stresses of the day! Some Highlights from this Special BONUS EPISODE: What is mediation and how can it help you today? How do you mediate online? What if mediation doesn't work but you need a decision? How can a parent coordinator help? What is co-parent counseling and why might it be a good idea? All of these services are available ONLINE and IMMEDIATELY so take a listen to this episode today! More about Gabrielle Hartley, Esq., is leading divorce attorney, wellness and strategy coach, author and speaker and online mediator. For the last 25 years, she has served couples in reaching reasonable resolutions for her cases both in person and online. She is well-known for keeping 99% of her cases at the negotiation table and out of the courtroom. With extensive experience in and out of the courtroom, her agreements are arrived at swiftly and are both clear and comprehensive. She founded The Better Apart Method, authored Better Apart; The Radically Positively Way to Separate (HarperCollins 2019).  She committed to keeping the toxicity and damage in her cases to a minimum.    Her work has been endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow and featured across media channels such as People Magazine, The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Vice, The New York Post, Yoga Journal,Vice  Mind Body Green, Thrive Global, The Hampshire Gazette, and The Brian Lehrer Show.  She is a regular expert guest and blogger featured NBC television (Mass Appeal) and radio as well as dozens of podcasts and blogs around the world.  Gabrielle trains divorce professionals in The Better Apart Method Online Certification and mediates with divorcing clients online around the country and world.  You can find more information about Gabrielle and her services on her website at www.gabriellehartley.com. Get the BETTER APART FREE Ultimate Divorce Survive & Thrive Kit mentioned by Gabrielle by clicking here! SUSAN GUTHRIE, ESQ., the creator and host of The Divorce and Beyond Podcast, is nationally recognized as one of the top family law and divorce mediation attorneys in the country.  She is one of the Co-Chair's of the American Bar Association's DR Section Mediation Committee and is the Founder of Divorce in a Better Way which provides a curated selection of resources and information for those facing divorce and other life changes.  Susan also provides legal coaching and divorce mediation services to select clients around the world through an online platform.  Find out more at www.divorceinabetterway.com. ***************************************************************************** Susan's Online Mediation Training Program for Professionals: LEARN TO MEDIATE ONLINE:  As one of the leading online mediation experts in the country, Susan Guthrie has created a simple and efficient online training program that allows mediation professionals to quickly and easily add an online platform to their practice!  The two hour online program covers the basics of conducting mediations through an online platform like Zoom, and reviews the ethical and practical considerations that arise in this format.  You even receive a copy of, and the right to use, Susan's Online Mediation Guidelines and Ground Rules to make your online mediations even easier for mediator and clients alike!  Learn more at www.learntomediateonline.com or reach out to Susan directly at susan@learntomediateonline.com.  Listeners of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast receive $50 off the cost of the one-on-one training so be sure to mention that you heard about it here!    FAYR, the BEST Co-Parenting App on the Market!   What makes FAYR different?  At FAYR it's not just about efficiency and ease (though they love those).  They also help you create a better co-parenting experience by providing tools for: constructive communication, argument diffusion, and emotional support.  For information on our FAYR, the ONLY co-parenting app recommended by Susan Guthrie and The Divorce and Beyond Podcast,  visit their website at www.fayr.com.  Don't forget to use the code "SUSANG18" for 20% off!! ***************************************************************************** SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE! If you would like to sponsor the show please reach out to us at  divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com for pricing and details!!! ********************************************************************* Remember to follow Susan Guthrie and THE DIVORCE AND BEYOND PODCAST on social media for updates and inside tips and information: Susan Guthrie on Facebook Susan on Instagram Susan on Twitter Divorce & Beyond Podcast on Instagram Divorce & Beyond Podcast on Twitter If you want to see the video version of the podcast episodes they are available on The Divorce & Beyond YouTube Channel!  Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a single episode! Finally, we'd really appreciate it if you would  give us a 5 Star Rating and tell us what you like about the show in a review - your feedback really matters to us!  You can also get in touch with Susan at divorceandbeyondpod@gmail.com.  Don't forget to visit the webpage www.divorceandbeyondpod.com and sign up for the free NEWSLETTER to receive a special welcome video from Susan and more!! ***************************************************************************** DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

  In this episode, we have an interview with Susan Guthrie - Family Law Attorney, Mediator, and Host of Divorce & Beyond Podcast. Learn more about Susan here: https://divorceinabetterway.com/. Visit us at divorceandyourmoney.com for the #1 divorce resources in the USA and get personalized help. Shawn: In the beginning of the process, as you're doing your research, one of the most important things you can do is figure out what are your options and what are the best ways to proceed during the divorce process. And know that the traditional method of divorce litigation is not the only method that exists when it comes to the divorce process, and you may have options. There's mediation, there's collaborative divorce. But in this particular episode, I want to discuss mediation, and to do that, I'm bringing in a great guest. Shawn: Her name is Susan Guthrie. She is a family law attorney with over 30 years of experience. And she's going to give us an overview of some of the key things about mediation to think about. She'll describe the process really well in this episode. And the other thing that's interesting about mediation is that there's the possibility for online mediation. And so, there may be some advantages to that as well. So, I hope you enjoy the interview with Susan Guthrie and also be sure to check out her podcast. She has a really good podcast that's called Divorce and Beyond. So, without further ado, here's my interview with Susan. Shawn: Today on the show I have with me Susan Guthrie. Susan is a family law attorney, mediator, and a podcast host of her own. Susan, welcome to the show. Susan: Thank you, Shawn. I'm so pleased to be here. Thank you for having me. Shawn: Susan, let's start with ... actually, I just want to start with the podcast so other people can listen to it. It's great. I recently did an interview on it. Why don't you tell us about your podcast? Susan: Thank you. Yes, and by the way, your episode is doing very, very well. People are always interested in Divorce and Their Money, it's called, my podcast is, Divorce and Beyond. It's really focused on, I've been a divorce attorney and a mediator for 30 years, so I bring that insider knowledge to the divorce process, and bring experts on to help with that, such as yourself. But I also am very much focused on the beyond, because divorce is really a finite time in your life or I certainly hope that it is, and you have a future ahead. So, many of our episodes are focused on preparing for the beyond, preparing for your future. Shawn: Great, and I encourage everyone to listen to it. There's lots of great episodes on there and you bring a great collection of interview guests on there as well. That's really interesting. Susan: Oh, thank you. Shawn: So, why don't you tell us a little bit about your background. I know you said you practiced for 30 years, but why don't you give us your credentials so to speak? So, we all understand who we're listening to. Susan: I have practiced as a family law attorney and still do to some degree for 30 years. My original State of practice was Connecticut, and I was located there in Fairfield County for 25 years or so, with a pretty traditional law practice. Then, branched out on my own and started moving around the country. I moved to California first, so I'm also licensed to practice law there. But I also segued my practice over to mediation, and in fact, that's all from a divorce perspective that I do in the process of helping couples negotiate and settle their divorce issues. I now live in Chicago. Susan: My practice is now entirely online, and I help people both through online divorce mediation services as well as legal coaching services around the world because I can do it online. I feel very lucky that I have been a divorce attorney and operating at a fairly high level. I dealt with a lot of high conflict and high net worth cases during my litigation practice. So, as you mentioned, I have access to a large number of really excellent experts because I've worked with them over the years in my practice, and I love bringing that wealth of knowledge and really that insider side of things to my listeners. Shawn: Yeah, I think that's great. You worked with a lot of high conflict people and now you do a lot of mediation work. Why did you make that shift? Susan: Yeah. So, it was sort of two fold. But really what it boiled down to, and for anyone who's seen the movie that's out right now, Marriage Story, you will understand I think what I'm talking about. But I got involved in divorce litigation when I first got out of law school, because frankly 30 years ago, that's really all that was out there. The litigation process is very adversarial. It is set up on a party A versus party B platform like any other lawsuit. Unfortunately, when you're talking about restructuring families, that is not a very good model for success. Susan: Unfortunately, that process actually drives people further apart, and then, when they find themselves post-divorce needing to co-parent or communicate, the animosity and the adversity that was brought up during the divorce and exacerbated during the litigation process really only makes it worse. It sets up an ongoing conflict cycle. So, mediation is an opportunity for parties to sit down, couples to sit down, and work together in a more cooperative fashion to communicate and restructure their family in a way that works best for all of them. Susan: It's not based on that win lose model, and so now having worked in both formats, the reason I only do mediation at this point is because the results for clients are so much better. Shawn: Let's start by defining what is mediation versus litigation. Can you just give us an overview of what that means, what that process looks like, how it differs? Susan: Sure, and actually that's a great place to start because there is a great deal of misunderstanding at times for people when it comes to mediation. I always hear it called the kinder, gentler way to divorce, or the kumbaya method of divorce. I will tell you, divorce mediation, like any process that you would go through to negotiate or resolve the issues of a divorce, it takes effort. It has its moments where it's not an easy process, but divorce mediation is based upon a principle of the two parties sitting down with a neutral professional, that could be an attorney like myself. It could be a financial professional. Susan: I know a lot of professionals who are financial advisors, who also are mediators, or therapists, or other professionals, but they sit down with a trained professional who's there to help them identify the issues that they need to resolve in the divorce, to give them an understanding of the law, and context, and nuance around those issues. Then, really importantly, to support both of them in having the difficult conversations that need to be had on how those issues are going to be resolved, with an eye to identifying what works best for all of them. Again, we're always in mediation looking for the third solution. Susan: We're not looking for the win for one side and a loss for the other. We're looking for that third solution that allows everyone to get as much of what they want on a needs base or interest based perspective, so that everyone walks away with a decision and with agreements that incorporate as much as possible what they've chosen that they can and cannot live with. Shawn: Let's give a concrete example of that, and I'm just thinking of, I want to just use a very simple case. Let's just say we have a house, a couple of retirement accounts, a couple of cars. How would I know when to use mediation and what would that look like for me versus going the traditional route and what would that mediation process look like start to finish? Susan: The two processes, they look similar because any method that you're going to use to resolve your divorce is going to sort of go through the same stages. You're going to have the quantifying or the pulling together of information stage. In litigation, we call that discovery. In mediation, we call it information gathering phase, but then you're going to discuss the issues. Then, you're going to come to agreement on the issues in 95% of the cases. So, the difference with mediation is, in litigation everything is done on a compulsory manner and fashion. Motions are filed, requests for orders are made, requests for production are made. Susan: Everything has time limits, and rules, and things are done because you are under court orders to do them. The difference is, in mediation, everything is done by agreement, including the fact that the parties are in mediation at all. Mediation is 100% voluntary as opposed to litigation, which people can be dragged kicking and screaming into, or if they ignore it, it's going to happen without them. So, the mediation process itself, just as a litigation case would start, does start with the information gathering. But it's not done in that fashion where you exchange compulsory requests for information. Susan: We sit down with your mediator, with the two clients, and compile all of the necessary information by agreement that we're going to do that as a part of the transparency of the process. That has a lot of different effects. The biggest one being it takes much less time to pull together all the information because we are talking about what everyone needs to see, wants to see, and agreeing to pull it together. It's also much less expensive because the parties are not utilizing legal counsel, filing of motions, all of which that they pay their attorneys for. Susan: It's usually much more successful, because nobody will drag their feet usually in the same fashion because, again, they've agreed that they're coming to the table to work through the process. So, in many ways, I've seen litigation cases where we have literally spent years, you mentioned a simple case where there's a house and some accounts, et cetera, that could take a relatively short period of time with that type of state to value things, because you have either written statements or you can get an appraisal. But when you get into some more complicated cases, or where there's a family owned business, or a cash business, or something of that nature, I've had cases drag out forever in the discovery process because it's so hard to get the information exchange, and that really just doesn't happen in the mediation setting. Shawn: You covered a lot of things that I have some kind of followup questions on. One of them that comes up, I hear every week or so is, oftentimes one party may not be as forthcoming as they should be during mediation. How does one handle that? Susan: So, that happens. Definitely it happens in litigation as well. So, the first thing to remember is, because mediation is by agreement, both of the parties have a reason or reasons why they have agreed to come to the negotiation table in mediation. Mediation tends to move much more quickly than litigation, so maybe time is an issue for them. It's usually infinitely less expensive. Maybe money is an issue for them. Maybe they feel it's a better forum for working through the issues. Whatever their motivations are, that brought them to the table, are the motivations that will also compel people to be forthcoming with the information that is required. Susan: Because what happens is if people do not come forth with requested information, the mediation process comes to a halt. Because if you are sitting at a table and one party does not feel they have the information that they need in order to make the decisions or the agreements that need to be made, the process can't move forward. You are putting people in the position, by making that choice not to be forthcoming, you're putting the other side in the position of having to take you into litigation. Susan: Having to compel your discovery as we were talking about earlier with the motions, and the depositions, and all of that. So, usually, it takes the mediator reminding the parties why they're there, that this is a voluntary process. They agreed to be involved in it, and failure to comply with reasonable requests for information are just by necessity going to bring the process to a conclusion. Shawn: I think that makes sense. I want to ask some technical questions about mediation, or just some basic questions is, you're a mediator and you're also an attorney, do the parties also have their own attorneys? How does that work? Who's actually in these mediation sessions? Susan: The majority of my mediation sessions are just the two people who are going through the process. That is not to say that they don't have outside consulting professionals, and I am very much a believer in the team approach to divorce. I think that everyone usually will need some sort of support as they go through the mediation or divorce process, whatever they're going through. That can include a consulting attorney, because as you point out, I am an attorney, but when I am operating as a mediator, I am not representing either of the parties. Susan: That would be an ethical breach. You can't, as an attorney, represent both sides of an equation. There's a conflict of interest there. So, your mediator, even if they're an attorney, is there as a neutral professional to support both parties. But often, people will need some outside legal advice, and it can be very, very helpful to the mediation process for them to have a good professional that they can go to. Other professionals are people like you CDFAs. I highly recommend using a certified divorce financial analyst, or a financial support team, especially in those cases. Susan: You mentioned that there are often one side of an equation in a divorce where they're not forthcoming with information. There's another paradigm that comes up all the time where we have one party who's pretty financially savvy and the other one who is not, and so, they feel very disempowered in making decisions. So, getting them some support by getting them a financial advisor or getting them a financial planner analyst, can be very helpful to the mediation process because it helps to support them and educate them as they go through. Another person that's often brought in is a therapist. Susan: If we have parenting issues, and maybe we have an issue with special needs for a child or developmental issues around the child's upbringing. So, I very much believe in the team approach to divorce, the divorce process as a whole, and certainly in mediation. Shawn: If I'm thinking about the mediation process, sometimes people think, is it just one meeting in an afternoon, is it multiple meetings? How does that work? Susan: Generally, it's a series of meetings. My mediations tend to be scheduled for two hours at a time, and that is because in two hours we usually can make some headway, start talking about real issues, and making proposals, and making agreements. But beyond two hours, it's an emotional context, right? You're talking about your kids, you're talking about your money, you're talking about separating all those things. So, the emotional content is very fatiguing. You are either in the same room, or if you are with me mediating, you're in the same Zoom meeting, and two hours tends to be where people sort of burn out. Susan: And what I don't want is my clients making decisions out of fatigue, or just saying because they're just so tired and they want to move on saying, "Fine, I'll do that." Because what ends up happening is they then leave the mediation, that session, come back to the next one having thought about it and they will backtrack. And that's harmful to the process only because now we have trust issues, "Well, you said you would do it. I relied upon that and now you're backtracking." So, it's better to do it in bite sized chunks that you can process, take your time, and move through it. Susan: Usually, it depends on the couple. It's usually a few three, two-hour sessions. It can be certainly more than that. I've had cases move faster. There are other types of mediations, so another type of mediation for family cases that people will be acquainted with is a case that's been in the litigation process all along. They're usually close to the courtroom door for trial, and they will, as what I call last ditch effort, resort, to sitting with a mediator for sometimes a full day session to try and resolve those last outstanding issues. Susan: In those cases, usually the attorneys who have been representing the clients all along are involved, and those usually tend to be one marathon type, long day type session. But for people who start in mediation, their divorce process from the start is in mediation, usually two, maybe three-hour sessions and a few of those, but infinitely faster. I will tell you, most of my divorce mediations are completed before the sixth month. California has a six-month waiting period. Connecticut has a 90-day waiting period. Susan: Those are my States of licensure, and we're definitely usually done by the sixth month mark in California, three months ... It just depends on the complications of the issues. Shawn: That's good to know, and if I'm sitting at home listening to this or wherever I may be listening to this, how do I know whether I can go down the mediation route? What kind of things should I be thinking about to say and maybe even conversations I might need to have with my spouse in terms of, "This is an approach that may work for us." Susan: That's another great question, because that's one of my key things I want people to know, that your best approach to divorce is to try mediation in most cases from the beginning. Because if it doesn't work, you always have litigation to fall back on. That will always be there for you. But knowing that it's a possibility at the beginning and giving it a try for all of the reasons of all of the benefits that it has, is something that I love for people to know from the very beginning. So, some of the things to be thinking about are, do you have the ability to self advocate? Susan: And if you don't feel that you do, can you find support to help you with that? There are a lot of amazing divorce coaches, legal coaches like myself. I work with a number of people going through mediation, helping them to strategize what they're looking for. I was just listening to one of your podcast episodes and you mentioned the question, what do you want? That's a huge question when you go into a mediation. You don't go into any process of divorce without knowing where you want to go, or the process is going to happen to you rather than you being an active participant in it. Susan: But that's really the question, is do you have the wherewithal to sit down and do the work that needs to be done with the help of your mediator? And to bring your spouse to the table, people ask me all the time, "Well, I'd love to do mediation. It's less expensive, it's less stressful, it's less time consuming, it's less adversarial. All of those things, it's better. It helps us create communication pathways for our kids so that we can co-parent in the future." All of those are benefits and those are actually the things that help you to talk to your spouse about trying mediation. Susan: Because the thing I always tell people is, the one thing that we do know after having been married to someone is usually what their interests are. And usually, there's one or more benefit of mediation that will appeal to them. Often, it's the cost savings. You and I both know the average divorce in the United States is in the 20s of thousands of dollars per person these days to litigate. Many people, even if they have that kind of money laying around, don't want to spend that kind of money on getting divorce. By the way, it can go much, much higher than that. Mediation is much less expensive. Susan: It tends to be much less time consuming, less stressful. You have much more control over the process. So, knowing whatever you know about your spouse and what would appeal to them, that is usually the best way to approach them and ask them to consider the process. Shawn: That make sense, and can someone come to you for select issues in a divorce? So, let's just say there's 10 things to figure out and they agree upon seven of them, but there's three issues that they still haven't quite resolved yet. Would mediation work for that? Susan: Oh, absolutely. In fact, I often work with couples who maybe have worked out the financial side, but they need help with the parenting plan or vice versa. They know what they want to do parenting wise, but there are certain issues on the side of the finances that they just can't quite resolve. So, you can bring limited issues to mediation. Any sort of any issue can be mediated. Many people who have gone through divorce but then after the divorce there's been a change of circumstances. Someone loses their job, someone gets a big raise, something with the kids comes up and you need to change your parenting plan because children aren't static. Susan: I often mediate that post-dissolution type matter as well. The only thing I would caution, and I just don't want people, because attorneys and mediators are accused often of ramping up, making problems in a divorce that didn't need to be there. What happens sometimes, when a couple comes to a mediator or an attorney to work out issues and they think they've resolved a bunch of them, but they have a couple that still need to be resolved. The thing with a divorce settlement is it's a puzzle. It's not separate blocks of issues. Susan: Everything works together, right? It's a family. So, the money, and the kids, and the house, and all of those things work together. So, sometimes the outstanding issues will have an impact on those issues that they feel they have resolved. So, some of those issues may need to be reworked or looked at again if they don't fit into the overall puzzle context. But, again, that's where mediation is great because you can sit down and talk about, in the broad picture, why maybe perhaps something that they thought they wanted to do isn't going to work in light of another aspect of their settlement that they also would like to accomplish. Shawn: Yeah, that's a good point, is that sometimes it's very hard to isolate particular issues in a divorce, because if you pull on one thing or adjust one thing, it can affect every other item. Susan: Exactly. Shawn: It may work in certain cases, but you have to be open to shifting or changing other parts of the big picture when you do that. Susan: Absolutely. I always tell my clients in mediation, I work off a written agenda. I find people like the visual of an agenda that outlines all of their issues, and then I take notes on it for them as we're going along. I always tell them, although an agenda is a linear thing and item one, item two, item three, and even if we're going to move through it in that order, it doesn't mean that we have to resolve issue one in order to move on to issue two. Often, it's, let's discuss issue one, come up with some possibilities, and then table issue one and work on the next issues because in the end, all of them need to work together. Susan: As an example, someone often wants to keep the marital residence, and both sides may be open to that and may have reasons why they want that to happen. But until you get into the financial side, with support and asset distribution and debt distribution, you may not know if that person can actually afford to maintain the property. So, that's a very common question that will come up, where we have to sort of resolve the support issues and the financial issues in order to know if what they want to do with the house is actually going to work. Shawn: That's great. One last question, which is, at least as it pertains to the mediation, is you do online mediation work. I know you've done in person, of course, work as well. How do you find the difference between just the setting, be it a video call versus everyone's huddled in a conference room kind of atmosphere? Can you just kind of give us your pros, cons, thoughts about that? Susan: Yeah. It's interesting because I do now have an entirely online practice, and I have to say, especially for divorce mediation, I've actually found that the parties having the ability to have a little bit of space, because they do not need to be in the same physical location in order to mediate online, that's actually been a benefit for most of my clients. That they feel more able to emotionally deal with the conversations that need to be had as opposed to sitting just a few feet away from each other in the same room. Susan: I've had many people, when I had a brick and mortar practice, who would come and I would meet with a couple for a consult to just decide if they wanted to mediate. And in the end, it would come down to one of them saying, "I loved all the benefits, but I just emotionally don't feel like I can sit in the same room with my spouse and do this at this moment in time." Because as we know, divorce, yes it is a financial transaction, we're talking about money, et cetera. But in reality, it is an emotional transaction as well. Susan: And so, the video context gives people a little more space, but still you have the ability to see the other person because 85% of our communication is visual, and most of that is our facial expressions and voice. What we say and how we say it, our voice inflections. So, much of that is still readily available in the online context. So, for me, in my experiences, it's actually been a benefit to the mediation process, and most clients are thrilled to be online. They don't have to sit in traffic. They don't have to get a babysitter. They don't have to leave work early. Susan: I know you work online quite a bit and so you know some of those benefits. It has translated very well to the mediation practice. In fact, I train other mediators in how to conduct their mediations online, because this is such a quickly growing aspect of the mediation practice. My colleagues are fascinated by it. Shawn: Yeah, and I think that's one of the hardest things is when you are getting divorced, having to be three feet away from the person you're getting divorced from, staring right at them the whole time. It can make the emotional side of things amplify them quite a bit, just being in the same room. They're funny in retrospect even from the client's perspective, but a lot of times where someone yells, stomps out, runs out of the room, just can't stand being in person with that person they're getting divorced from. Shawn: It's divorce and it's not a pleasant process to begin with. This isn't a civil suit business dispute. So, I think there are a lot of advantages to the online perspective for people who might not have considered it as well, just from that. Susan: Yeah, the ability to, in any way that we can, keep the emotional content a little at a lower level is beneficial to the process. Because the minute people start making decisions from that emotional place, from anger, from fear, from hurt, whatever, divorce unfortunately doesn't embody usually a lot of positive emotions. It's usually a lot of negative emotional content, and the higher that level, the harder it is for people to make rational reason decisions. As you know, these are decisions that are going to live with you, and your family, and your children for years to come. Susan: So, you want to make them from the best emotional place possible, and I'm not saying that it's always easy. But another thing that I do is I incorporate mindfulness techniques into my mediation practice and encourage my clients to have a mindfulness practice if they're open to that, only because it does help. When the emotions start to rise up, to be able to take that step back and find some space. It's really important to be able to think clearly, and that's another reason, going back to where I said the sessions are usually only about two hours long. Susan: I want people making decisions in a space where they feel that those decisions were good ones, or at least made from a reasonable place and that they can live with them. Shawn: That's excellent and thank you for coming on and explaining the basics and the essential parts of mediation. It's not a subject that I talk about too often on my podcast. Why don't you give us the best way to contact you and to learn more? Hopefully, have people potentially work with you in the future if mediation or other services are right for them. Susan: Absolutely. Pretty much everything about me can be found on my website, which is divorceinabetterway.com. My email is susan@divorceinabetterway.com. I encourage anyone who's going through divorce to take a look at the website. I have a lot of curated resources, most of them free, or special discounts that guests on my podcast have offered. I have your book going up on my website shortly, so that people can find it who have listened to the podcast, or go there. But I like to bring as much information to people because that is so empowering in the divorce process. Susan: Get your education, get your information. So, divorceinabetterway.com, and then also the podcast has its own website which can be found through Divorce in a Better Way, or at divorceandbeyondpod.com. Shawn: And outside of mediation you were telling me you do a few other services. Just so people can know, can you describe those? Susan: Yeah, so one of my biggest areas of practice at the moment is legal coaching, which is a little bit different than divorce coaching, because what I'm doing is getting involved in cases. Usually, they're either high conflict cases, where someone is dealing with a high conflict ex that can be a narcissist, a borderline personality disordered person, or just someone who is very difficult to deal with, or high net worth cases. I'm helping the client to learn to manage those relationships, manage the communication so that they can have as much control over their lives as possible. Susan: I help with strategizing, with negotiation strategies. I've been a divorce attorney for 30 years. I negotiate every day of my life. I have to stop myself from doing it in the grocery line because it's so second nature for me. But your average person, unless they have negotiation in their business life, that's not a normal, that's not something that many people are comfortable with. So, I work with just a lot of clients on how to identify what they want and then how to strategize and negotiate to get that in the divorce process. I work with people all around the world in that context. I have clients across this country, Australia, Europe, Canada, all over. Shawn: Well, Susan, thank you very much for coming on the show. I really enjoyed the conversation and I hope the listeners will, too. Susan: Well, and thank you so much for having me, and thank you for coming on my show. Again, I loved that episode and so do my listeners. So, thank you. Shawn: Now, before you go, I want to make sure you get some really important information. I'm going to tell you about a few things that maybe of interest to you. First as a favor, is if you could leave a review, if you're on the iTunes store, leave a review on iTunes, or if you search Divorce and Your Money on a website called Trustpilot or on Google, you can leave a review there. It's quick, it's anonymous. It only takes a few seconds and I really, really appreciate your feedback. I have lots of reviews on iTunes and on Trustpilot, and I appreciate hearing your stories. Shawn: Also, on divorceandyourmoney.com, you can get lots of great information. Of course, you can book a 30-minute strategy session directly with me. There's two types of strategy calls you can book, just a normal strategy session, where we discuss the questions that are most pressing to you regardless of where you are in the divorce process, be at the beginning, towards the end, or in the middle. It doesn't really matter. There's lots of great information we can cover during that strategy call. Also, we have a document review call. Shawn: It's been one of the biggest things that we've done over the past year, which is you can send me your documents, be it your financial affidavit, a settlement agreement, or other documents that you would like for me to review. Then, I review those in advance of the call and then we get to discuss them in-depth as part of a strategy session and get specific answers to some of the specific documents and things that you are considering. Also, for those who need ongoing support, we do have a few options for ongoing support, but regardless, it all starts with a coaching call that you can book at divorceandyourmoney.com. Shawn: Don't forget to also get a copy of my new book. It's called Divorce and Your Money: How to Avoid Costly Divorce Mistakes. It's available on my website, or also on Amazon. You just look me up and make sure you get the new edition. It is filled with excellent information regarding the divorce process, and I know that you will find it helpful. Once you've read the book, be sure to leave a review. That really helps me. I appreciate your feedback and it also helps other people as they try and find this information. And finally, last but not least by any means is on the store at divorceandyourmoney.com, if you click on the store button, you can get access to the full archive of podcast episodes. Shawn: There's over 200 episodes, and what's great about the store link is that the episodes are organized in neat buckets, and they're organized by topic. So, it's very easy to follow along with the information, and it is easy to pick out the key topics that matter most to you. You can get all of those podcast episodes in the store. Thank you so much for listening. I'm your host, Shawn Leamon, MBA and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. Take care.    

Sponsored by Main Line Family Law Center For more information, please visit: Main Line Family Law Center at https://myhealthydivorce.com Episode Host, Adina Laver, Founder, Courage to Be Curious, (formerly Divorce Essentials) Find Adina Laver at: https://couragetobecurious.com Guests: Cris Pastore, Co-Founder, Attorney-Mediator, Main Line Family Law Center About Cris: Cris Pastore is an expert attorney-mediator and has been a practicing attorney for over 20 years. He became a private divorce mediator in 2007, when he grew increasingly frustrated by destructive nature of the traditional court-contested divorce process. After having mediated hundreds of divorce cases, Cris co-founded Main Line Family Law Center, just outside of Philadelphia, with the help of his wife and business partner, Sharon.Through working with clients and community education, Cris has made it his personal mission to revolutionize this area of practice so that families can emerge healthy and whole once again. Follow Cris at @healthy_divorce

Preparing for a Healthy Divorce Listen here and learn why you might not have to hire a lawyer for your divorce after all. This episode will discuss how you can have the healthiest divorce possible, some pitfalls to avoid as you prepare, how divorce mediation works and who it benefits, and six questions to ask in order to know if divorce mediation is right for you.  Key Points:  - See that by using a more holistic approach, you can save tens of thousands in legal fees, maintain control over decision-making, and keep children out of the process. - Haven't told your spouse yet? Know the five things you should and should not do as you prepare. - Myths around mediation revealed! Learn how mediation offers the same legal protection as hiring lawyers and why fairness isn't always 50/50 when it comes to custody or property division. - No matter how complicated your situation is, people are working it out without going to court and hiring lawyers. Sponsored by Main Line Family Law Center For more information, visit: Main Line Family Law Center at https://myhealthydivorce.com Episode Host, Adina Laver, Founder, Courage to Be Curious, (formerly Divorce Essentials) Find Adina Laver at: https://couragetobecurious.com Guests: Cris Pastore, Co-Founder, Attorney-Mediator, Main Line Family Law Center, Lenore Myers About Cris: Cris Pastore is an expert attorney-mediator and has been a practicing attorney for over 20 years. He became a private divorce mediator in 2007, when he grew increasingly frustrated by destructive nature of the traditional court-contested divorce process. After having mediated hundreds of divorce cases, Cris co-founded Main Line Family Law Center, just outside of Philadelphia, with the help of his wife and business partner, Sharon.Through working with clients and community education, Cris has made it his personal mission to revolutionize this area of practice so that families can emerge healthy and whole once again. Follow Cris at @healthy_divorce About Lenore: Lenore M. J. Myers has been practicing law with a concentration in Family Law in southeastern Pennsylvania for the past 28 years. Lenore is passionate about working with families and individuals transitioning through life-changing events whether it be new marriages, separations, divorce, birth or custody issues. Her goal is to to help them obtain resolutions that will benefit the whole family and minimize conflict.

Want to end up with a fair divorce settlement? This podcast will teach you about the many aspects of a fair divorce settlement including who and what determines "fair" in a divorce settlement, what the biggest obstacles to getting a fair settlement are, what "fair" looks like in mediation, attorney-led negotiations, and the courtroom. This podcast will ultimately help you to get informed and focused on the future and explain how to put the right advocates in your corner. Key Points:  - Why fair doesn't always mean 50/50 - and other key rights and entitlements in the eyes of the law. - Understand how anger and resentment get in the way, and why what's best for your kids may not seem fair to you. - Hear examples of how fairness was achieved using 3 different processes to reach the same goal. - steps to take now, so you end up satisfied. Sponsored by Main Line Family Law Center For more info: visit: Main Line Family Law Center at https://myhealthydivorce.com Episode Host, Adina Laver, Founder, Courage to Be Curious, (formerly Divorce Essentials) Find Adina Laver at: https://couragetobecurious.com Guests: Cris Pastore, Co-Founder, Attorney-Mediator, Main Line Family Law Center, Diana Schimmel, Esq, Petrelli, Previtera, Schimmel. About Cris: Cris Pastore is an expert attorney-mediator and has been a praCris_Pastore_2014-1cticing attorney for over 20 years. He became a private divorce mediator in 2007, when he grew increasingly frustrated by destructive nature of the traditional court-contested divorce process. After having mediated hundreds of divorce cases, Cris co-founded Main Line Family Law Center, just outside of Philadelphia, with the help of his wife and business partner, Sharon.Through working with clients and community education, Cris has made it his personal mission to revolutionize this area of practice so that families can emerge healthy and whole once again. Follow Cris at @healthy_divorce About Diana Schimmel Diana C. Schimmel, Esq. is the owner and founder of Petrelli, Previtera and Schimmel; a law firm dedicated exclusively to all areas of family law serving Philadelphia, surrounding counties and southern New Jersey. Before founding her firm, Diana was a Child Advocate Attorney with the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Rising as a Super Lawyer for 2 years in a row, she is active with the Women's Resource Center of Wayne, The Field Center for Children's Policy Practice and Research and the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Contact her at 267-207-3573.

Peace at the Holiday Table—and Cookies, Too!Kristen is an unconventional attorney in that she mediates amicable resolutions. That's right. The goal is to walk away not only with a decision, but also with a sense of peace about the outcome. For Kristen and her clients, it's not about winning.Because of Kristen's unique expertise in achieving harmony, I thought it would be interesting to hear from her about how to stay feeling good while together at the table.Kristen shares a wonderful holiday story of her own, plus a cookie recipe well worth the listen. Peace and cookies? Nirvana. So take a breath, find your calm center, and receive the gift of Kristen's insights during this short episode of The Delicious Story. Happy New Year, and may there be wonderous (and delicious) stories in your 2018!Butter Cookies ala Kristen:Mix thoroughly 1 cup of soft butter, ½ cup sugar, 1 egg, and 2 tsp vanilla. Sift together 3 cups of flour, ½ tsp baking powder. Mix with butter mixture and chill dough for 2 hours. Roll dough thing and cut into desired shapes. Bake in 400 oven until delicately brown, around 5-7 minutes.Decorative Icing:1 cup of confectioner's sugar, ¼ tsp salt, ½ tsp vanilla, and slowly add cream until desired consistency. Add food coloring if desired.Hall Mediation & Lawhttp://www.hallmediationandlaw.com/ 

California Divorce Attorney Your Mediator Or Your Spouses Attorney?

Attorney Alex S. Glassmann was recently interviewed on the Impact Makers Radio Show, “Let's Talk Divorce!” series surrounding the topic of, "Why you should consider mediation."In this interview Glassmann, of the Erickson Mediation Institut, in Minneapolis, Minnesota shared what people considering divorce need to know when looking for a professional to represent their case.Glassmann also spoke about why being a Family and Divorce Mediator ignites his passion for helping people who are considering divorce to understand the common myths and misconceptions that prevent them from achieving their desired outcomes. To learn more about Attorney-Mediator, Alex S. Glassmann visit: http://EricksonMediation.comTo listen to the full discussion on Impact Makers Radio, visit http://ImpactMakersRadio.com/Attorney-Alex-S-Glassmann

Attorney Alex S. Glassmann was recently interviewed on the Impact Makers Radio Show, “Let's Talk Divorce!” series surrounding the topic of, "Why you should consider mediation."In this interview Glassmann, of the Erickson Mediation Institut, in Minneapolis, Minnesota shared what people considering divorce need to know when looking for a professional to represent their case.Glassmann also spoke about why being a Family and Divorce Mediator ignites his passion for helping people who are considering divorce to understand the common myths and misconceptions that prevent them from achieving their desired outcomes. To learn more about Attorney-Mediator, Alex S. Glassmann visit: http://EricksonMediation.comTo listen to the full discussion on Impact Makers Radio, visit http://ImpactMakersRadio.com/Attorney-Alex-S-Glassmann

(audio issues in the first 4 minutes, but very good information)Frederick Hertz is an attorney and mediator with offices in Oakland and San Francisco. He previously handled litigation involving the dissolution of real property co-tenancies, including tenants-in-common, family co-ownerships, and domestic partnership dissolutions, and the related aspects of property and financial disputes between unmarried couples, both same-sex and opposite-sex, as well as purchase & sale and ownership of real property matters. Mr. Hertz’ legal practice is now limited to drafting real property co-ownership agreements, cohabitation agreements, and premarital agreements for couples, both gay and straight.Mr. Hertz also works as a mediator and arbitrator, with a special emphasis on the mediation of co-ownership and other disputes between married and unmarried couples, business partners, tenants-in-common, co-owners, family members, and domestic partners. He also mediates all varieties of real estate disputes.A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Frederick Hertz graduated from Boalt Hall (University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 1981), clerked with the Minnesota Supreme Court (1981-1982), and subsequently received a Master's Degree in Urban Geography from the University of California, Berkeley (1991). He has previously taught Real Property Law in the Paralegal/Legal Studies Program of St. Mary's University, and Small Firm and Solo Practice Management at Golden Gate Law School in San Francisco.Mr. Hertz writes and speaks nationally on property issues facing unmarried partners. He is the author of Legal Affairs: Essential Advice for Same- Sex Couples (Henry Holt & Co./Owl Books, 1998) and co-author of two Nolo Press books, Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples and Living Together : A Guide for Unmarried Couples. He has been quoted in The New York Times, the Advocate, American Demographics, Hero Magazine, Kiplingers Magazine, and the New York Observer, and has appeared on NPR's All Things Considered, Sound Money, and on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Today Show.http://frederickhertz.com

Using mediation and collaborative practice we enable our clients to be part of the solution process, not powerless bystanders. The advantage of using Mediation and Collaborative practice over litigation is the processes ability to respect the emotions of the people in conflict over an animal and recognized that emotions power over the parties. Listen in as Debra explains how using Alternative Dispute Resolution, in the emotionally charged venue of conflicts between people about animals, will enable party driven resolutions in less time, for less money, while retaining relationships between the parties currently at odds. Attorney Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton is an experienced litigator, turned mediator/collaborative professional with years of animal conflict experience. She brings vast and varied experience in the animal world to the table, as a neutral in mediation or as a representative of a party in a collaborative process. She is an Attorney Mediator focusing on helping people in conflict over an animal. She helps resolve their conflict without litigation. Debra works with divorcing couples, neighbors, vets, dog owners, breeders and handlers to name a few of her clients. She is admitted to practice law in all New York State Courts. Debra is certified as a mediator and collaborative professional, and has worked with various court based mediation programs in NYC (Queens-Community Mediation Service) Westchester and Rockland (Cluster of Westchester & Rockland). For More Information: Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq    

Attorney-Mediator and Lecturer of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution for Baylor's MBA Program Rachel Woods is also founder of Leadership Trek' Corporation. She discusses delegation. How do you know if you're doing it right? (Part 2)

Attorney-Mediator and Lecturer of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution for Baylor's MBA Program Rachel Woods is also founder of Leadership Trek' Corporation. She discusses delegation. Why do some find it so difficult? Why is it important?

Attorney-Mediator and Lecturer of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution for Baylor's MBA Program Rachel Woods is also founder of Leadership Trek' Corporation. She discusses the link between effective leadership and trust.