Tag Archives: Divorce

Navigating Divorce with Confidence: Expert Tips from Family Law Attorney Sandra Brooks (Ep. 12)



Divorce can be a challenging and emotional time, as it often involves significant changes to your family dynamic, financial situation, and overall lifestyle. If you are a financially dependent spouse, it is important to be informed about your rights and options during the divorce process.

In this episode, Family Law Attorney Sandra Brooks offers insight and advice based on her extensive experience handling divorce cases. She discusses common fears surrounding divorce and offers guidance on topics such as alimony, adultery, financial planning, and adjusting to life as a single individual. Whether you are just starting the divorce process or are seeking support and guidance during this difficult time, this episode is a valuable resource for anyone navigating the complexities of divorce.

Sandra covers the following topics:

  • How to gather important information and documents before retaining a lawyer
  • Understand your rights and options as a financially dependent spouse
  • Explore different approaches to addressing adultery in the divorce process
  • Consider factors that may impact alimony negotiations
  • Additional tips and guidance on navigating divorce proceedings

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About Sandra:

Sandra (Sandy) Brooks’ practice focuses on all aspects of family law. She dedicates her time to assisting clients in domestic law matters including divorce, child custody/visitation, family mediation, spousal/child support, property division, and division of retirement benefits. Ms. Brooks’ other areas of deep knowledge and experience include tax consequences of divorce, mediation, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, negotiating and drafting of separation agreements, domestic litigation, and post-judgment proceedings. Ms. Brooks is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers which places her in the top 5% of family law attorneys in the United States.


Life After Divorce for the Financially Dependent Spouse with Kelley Edelblut (Ep. 11)



Success after a divorce can seem unachievable for a dependent spouse. It can be challenging to figure out what to do next when most of your life has been spent prioritizing everything else.

In this episode, Kelley Edelblut, Career and Leadership Coach, joins us to discuss how her divorce led her to build a career helping financially dependent women hone in on their natural abilities and core values to live a more balanced, fulfilled life. 

Kelley shares how her life changed after a divorce and what she’s learned to help others get through it.

Leah and Kelley discuss:

  • The Highlands Ability Battery (HAB) assessment and how it helps with career changes
  • What to do when your career does not align with your values
  • Overcoming feeling “stuck” and not knowing what to do next
  • How to feel fulfilled in a career
  • And more

Resources: 

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leah.jones@hightoweradvisors.com
https://bethesda.hightoweradvisors.com/index.html
LinkedIn: Leah Jones
301-202-3590

Schedule a Call with Leah:
https://go.oncehub.com/LeahJones

About Our Guest:

Kelley Edelbult is an experienced Career & Leadership Coach working with individuals, organizations, and executives within large organizations. Her focus with each one of her clients is to allow them to discover who they really are and facilitate a process for developing a motivational plan of action toward implementing their purpose. This process is designed to allow each client to “walk away” excited with their life ahead, and the positive change that has occurred while working to deepen their learning and achieve their goals. Kelley is able to execute this process with each client by building trust and offering them my accessible presence to help them explore new ways of thinking.


How To Best Support Your Kids During The Divorce Process With Jill Kaufman (Ep. 9)



Figuring out the right things to say to your kids when you are going through a divorce can be extremely challenging. What they are ultimately looking for is some reassurance that everything is going to be okay. 

In this episode, Leah Jones is joined by Jill Kaufman, a licensed therapist, divorce coach, author and co-parenting expert. Oftentimes with divorce there are blurred lines as to what details to share with your children and how to approach the tough conversations that need to be had in order to move forward. Thankfully, Jill Kaufman has all the answers, saving you from repeating common mistakes that can lead to a child feeling isolated and unheard.

Jill discusses:

  • What details to uncover in the first divorce conversation with your children
  • When is a good time to check-in on your kids post-divorce 
  • What details you should avoid discussing to save your children from picking sides
  • And more

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About Our Guest:

Jill Kaufman: In addition to being a Divorce Coach, Licensed Therapist, and Parent Educator, Jill is also a trained Divorce Mediator, was on the Speaker’s Bureau of Parents Anonymous and founded Female, a support and advocacy group for mothers. She has worked with many people who are going through a divorce. Jill has taught the Redirecting Children’s Behavior parenting class for over 20 years.  She is an experienced and sought after speaker. ​

JIll Kaufman is warm, supportive, non-judgmental and motivating. With compassion and understanding gained from experience, she helps clients get through difficult and overwhelming situations and discover new ways to resolve a variety of challenges created through divorce and bring more happiness and peace into their lives.




Dating After Divorce with Michelle Jacoby (Ep. 8)



Just because you got divorced doesn’t mean you’ll never find love again.

Michelle Jacoby, a dating-after-divorce specialist, believes you can have another amazing love, and even marriage.

In this episode, Leah Jones is joined by Michelle, a dating coach and professional matchmaker, to discuss her advice and tips for women dating post-divorce as outlined in her book Never Waste Time On The Wrong Man Again!

Michelle and Leah discuss:

  • How Michelle’s own divorce kick-started her career as a professional matchmaker 
  • Common mistakes women make when dating after divorce (and how to avoid them)
  • Setting boundaries and following them when you start dating 
  • Dating as a single parent, and the importance of choosing a partner who ‘blends into your family’
  • What it means to put yourself out there and doing the work to get what you want
  • And more

Resources: 

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https://go.oncehub.com/LeahJones

About Our Guest:

Michelle Jacoby is a certified matchmaker, dating and relationship coach, and the owner of DC Matchmaking: a boutique matchmaking and coaching company for commitment-minded singles in the Washington, DC Area that was founded in 2009. Michelle has successfully coached and matched hundreds of happily married couples!

Michelle is a leader in the matchmaking industry. She was voted Best Matchmaker in the U.S. at the 2017 iDate Awards and awarded finalist for Best Matchmaker and/or Best Dating Coach in the industry in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Michelle has been featured in The Washington Post, Bethesda Magazine, WUSA Channel 9, News Channel 8 – Let’s Talk Live, WJLA Good Morning Washington, NBC Washington, Huffington Post, ABC, FOX, Newsy, NPR, and more. Her articles have appeared in Self, Washington Life Magazine, YourTango.com, ThoughtCatalog.com, The Mind’s Journal, Yahoo, EHarmony Advice, and many more.




Empowering Your Divorce By Building a Community (Ep. 7)



Divorcing as a parent can be very difficult.

Dealing with the legal requirements, plus all of the transitions of going from a co-parent to a single-parent can feel overwhelming and emotionally draining.

But having a community of like-minded people that you can trust and rely on can help you through those tough situations.

In this episode, Leah Jones speaks to Michelle Dempsey-Multack, author, divorce coach and certified divorce specialist who works with women at all stages of their divorce and helps them join a community to connect with other women in similar situations.

Michelle and Leah discuss:

  • Michelle’s ‘why’ and the reason she is passionate about helping women through their divorce
  • The most important resources to help you through your divorce
  • The Mom’s Moving On community and how women support each other through the virtual community
  • What a divorce coach is and how they can help you through difficult situations
  • And more

Resources: 

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Collaborative Divorce 101 (Ep. 6)



Divorce is by definition, not done alone. 

However, the question may be, how do you collaborate on a split?

It’s all about your mindset as you enter divorce proceedings. If there’s a willingness to work with your spouse in a way that will allow for constructive resolutions, you will be able to separate in a more peaceful way. 

In this episode, Leah Jones speaks to divorce attorney Melissa Goodstein, who focuses on alternative dispute resolutions, namely mediation and collaborative divorce. Leah and Melissa discuss the ins and outs of collaborative divorce, the benefits and when it may not be an option, and the difference between mediation and collaboration. 

Leah and Melissa discuss:

  • How collaborative divorce is possible 
  • The three reasons why collaborative process may not be an option
  • The difference between mediation and collaboration in divorce
  • The financial implications of divorce
  • And more

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About Our Guest:

Melissa Goodstein graduated from Brandeis University with a B.A. and high honors in both American Studies and European Cultural Studies in 1987. She received her J.D. degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1990 where she served as an editor of the Journal of International Law.

In 1992, she completed mediation training and in 1993 started a private practice specializing in divorce mediation with offices in Westchester and New York City. In 2003 Melissa received training in collaborative law and in 2005 was trained in the interdisciplinary collaborative team model.

Melissa practices exclusively within the mediation and collaborative divorce models.  Her practice is located in Katonah, New York serving clients throughout Westchester County and Putnam County and the surrounding New York metropolitan area.

Melissa is a member of the New York State Council of Divorce Mediation, the Greater New York Council of Family and Divorce, the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and the International Association of Collaborative Professionals. She is also a member in good standing of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and has completed advanced training in both mediation and collaborative practice.

In accordance with a 2019 initiative, ADR (alternative dispute resolution) is now mandated for most court actions in the New York State judicial system. In alignment with her dedication to ADR, Melissa serves on the mediation panel and Roster of Mediators for the 9th Judicial District in the following courts: Westchester County Supreme Court Matrimonial Part, Putnam County Supreme Court Matrimonial Part, Putnam Surrogate’s Court and Bronx Surrogate’s Court.

Melissa is passionate about providing the best possible support for all her clients and is an advocate of alternative healing techniques such as chiropractic, yoga and meditation to help support her clients during the divorce process. She believes that healing from the inside out is instrumental in achieving a good divorce and a transition to a new life.

 


Planning for the Three Phases of Divorce with Stacy Francis (Ep. 5)



There are three stages you should be planning for when you decide that divorce is the right option.

It’s critical that you do your research, plan, and manage your finances during these three stages to avoid potential issues.

In this informative episode, Leah Jones speaks to Stacy Francis, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and the founder of Savvy Ladies. Leah and Stacy discuss how women should prepare pre, during and post divorce to ensure a smooth transition into their new lifestyle.

Leah and Stacy discuss:

  • Pre-divorce planning tips, including steps to take towards taking full control of your own finances, and talking to a matrimonial attorney prior to divorce
  • Add-on expenses, and what you should focus on when divorcing to assure the wellbeing of your children
  • Your investment portfolio and tailoring it to suit you and meet your needs
  • And more

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About Our Guest:

Stacy Francis is the President and CEO of Francis Financial, a fee-only boutique wealth management, financial planning and divorce financial planning firm dedicated to providing ongoing comprehensive advice for successful individuals, couples, and women in transition such as divorce or widowhood.

She is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® and Certified Estate and Trust Specialist (CES™) with over 20 years of experience in the financial industry. Stacy is also the founder of the non-profit, Savvy Ladies™, host of the Financially Ever After podcast, and the author of Financial Help for Widows: A Complete Resource Guide as well as Unveiling the Unspoken Truth: The Financial Challenges Women Face During and After Divorce. 


Misconceptions of Taking Ownership of the Primary Home During a Divorce With Jeff Landers (Ep. 4)



During the divorce process, it is very common for the divorcing woman to want to stay in the primary home. This is a highly nuanced situation, so it’s important to consider bringing in a professional during negotiations.

In this episode, Leah Jones speaks with Jeff Landers, chief executive officer at Next Act Properties. Jeff discusses some of the creative solutions for divorcing women to consider so that they have the ability to stay in their home throughout the divorce and into the next stage of life.

Jeff discusses:

  • Why the refinancing qualification of the divorcing woman is critical
  • The option of continuation to co-own the primary home
  • The focus of his companies––and how he helps divorcing couples
  • And more

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About Our Guest: Jeff Landers, is a seasoned Real Estate expert with over 30 years of experience working with prestigious companies such as Metropolitan Life, Merrill Lynch, Coldwell Banker and others.

In 2010, Jeff founded Bedrock Divorce Advisors, LLC, working exclusively with women going through a financially complicated divorce. Dealing with the marital home is almost always a major issue in any divorce. Jeff’s strong background and know-how has guided many hundreds of women all over the U.S. through the complex process of selling their marital home or buying out their spouse and refinancing the mortgage, so they can keep and remain in their homes.

Jeff has written 6 published books with 15,000+ copies sold nationwide focusing on the financial aspects of divorce for women, as well as contributing articles regularly to Forbes.com, The Huffington Post, DailyWorth, More.com, Lawyers.com, and many other online publications.


Three Emotional Money Mistakes Made By Women During a Divorce With Christine Luken (Ep. 3)



The emotional stress of going through a divorce can cause some to act irrationally with their money. It’s important to seek guidance during those trying times to avoid making costly, emotional mistakes.

In this episode, Leah Jones and Christine Luken, founder of Financial Dignity Movement, discuss three emotional money mistakes women make during a divorce. Christine explains what financial dignity means, and highlights the importance of not feeling ashamed to ask questions of people advising you, whether that’s your attorney or financial planner.

Christine discusses:

  • Three emotional money mistakes women make while going through divorce
  • What financial dignity means
  • Why you should have a counselor or therapist you can speak with while going through divorce
  • Why you shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask questions of your attorney or financial planner
  • And more

Resources: 

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About Our Guest:

Ready to master your money and become a financial success? Then you need Christine Luken, the Financial Lifeguard in your corner!

As the Founder of the Financial Dignity® Movement & a Certified Financial Counselor, Christine has coached hundreds of high earning professionals to pay off staggering amounts of debt and massively increase their net worth over the past twelve years.

Christine’s books, Money is Emotional: Prevent Your Heart from Hijacking Your Wallet & Manage Money Like a Boss: A Financial Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs, have landed her almost 100 podcast and TV interviews, establishing her as the authority on money and emotions.

When she’s not coaching clients from her office in Cincinnati, you can find this Certified Divorce Specialist & member of the Financial Therapy Association curled up with a good book, a fluffy cat, and a strong cup of coffee.


Divorcing A Narcissist With Allison Dagney (Ep. 2)



Divorce is never easy, but divorcing a narcissist poses additional challenges and things you need to be aware of as you make your way through the process.

In this episode, Leah Jones is joined by Allison Dagney, an alias used to protect both her and her children, is the author of When Tears Leave Scars. Allison joins the podcast to share about her experience dealing with emotional abuse and how she managed to escape a traumatic marriage.

Allison discusses:

  • The concept of love bombing
  • Signs that you are in a relationship with a narcissist 
  • Why planning was key to getting out of her traumatic marriage
  • Why reaching out to a financial professional can help women with divorce where their partner controls the money
  • How Allison handled the divorce while managing her kids wellbeing
  • And more

Resources: 

When Tears Leave Scars – By Allison Dagney

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About Our Guest:

Allison Dagney lives in the midwest of the United States with her three children and their beloved  rescue dog. Allison never aspired to be an author, but her love of writing paired with an inspirational story, was the perfect recipe to expose hidden emotional abuse. In this gripping true life story, Allison aims to shed light into the darkest areas of abusive relationships while giving victims of abuse a beacon of hope and a roadmap for healing.