The Ugly Truth of Divorce

45: The Communication Deadline Clause Nobody Puts in Their Parenting Plan

The hardest part of co-parenting isn't always what your ex says. Sometimes it's that they say nothing at all. They read it. They sit on it. They answer a completely diffe

44: Can Your Ex Take Your Child Out of State Without Permission?

Early in a separation, almost every parent has the same reaction: I don't want my ex taking my kids out of state. That fear is normal. It's also the fear that gets parent

43: What Happens to Your Parenting Plan When Your Ex Moves Out of State

Your parenting plan was written assuming you'd both stay put. Life doesn't care what you assumed. A dating app match, a cheaper cost of living, a job offer three states a

42: Vacation Clauses That Prevent Summer Custody Fights

Summer's coming, and if your parenting plan has a vague vacation clause, the same fights you had last year are already loading. Who asks first. How long you can be gone.

41: Why the Priority List in Your Parenting Plan Matters More Than You Think

Larry handed you a parenting plan with a list of holidays, a list of breaks, and a line about vacations, and called it finished. He never told you which one wins when two

40: The Things No One Warns You About After the Divorce Is Final

Your attorney lied to your damn face. The divorce didn't fix anything. It just restructured the conflict and handed it back to you with new packaging. Larry told me once

39: The 5 Boundaries That Changed Everything For Me

You've been telling your ex to stop for years. They never have. They never will. Because boundaries aren't what you say. They're what you damn do. That's the truth I had

38: The Top 7 Challenges of 50/50 Custody (Especially with a High-Conflict Co-Parent)

Your ex didn't fight for 50/50 because they wanted more time with the damn kids. They fought for it because it was the cheapest divorce strategy on the table. Sit with t

37: On the Stand: How to Handle Court When You're Dealing with a High-Conflict Ex

Hundreds of hearings later, I can spot the parent who's about to lose custody the second they walk into the courtroom. It's not the one with the worst story. It's not th

36: Stop Calling Them High Conflict, Start Proving It

You stood up. You said "my ex is a narcissist." And every person in that courtroom over the age of 40 silently rolled their damn eyes at you. Welcome to the dumbest move

35: What to Do When Your Ex Refuses to Respond (And You’re Stuck Waiting)

Your ex read it. Four days ago. They're not answering. And you're still waiting. That's the part that should piss you off. Not their silence. Yours. You're the one rewri

34: “Keep It Loosey Goosey”? Why That Advice Will Ruin Your Parenting Plan

Your lawyer isn't protecting your ass. They're protecting their next damn retainer. A client just emailed me telling me her attorney said to keep her parenting plan "loo

33: Why You Should NOT Do Joint Birthday Parties in Your Parenting Plan

The joint birthday party isn't for your kid. It's for the photo. Sit with that. Because that's the brutal truth nobody is willing to say out loud. You're not throwing it

32: Why You Should NEVER Ask Your Kids to Choose in a Parenting Plan

Stop fucking asking your kids what they want in the parenting plan. There. I said it. We're talking about why this "loving" little question is actually one of the most da

31: Why You Should Never Use a Court’s Parenting Plan Template (Do This Instead)

Court parenting plan templates are a f*cking scam. These things get handed out like candy by overworked judges and lazy attorneys, and you're expected to live by them fo

30: 10 Signs You Hired the Wrong Divorce Attorney for Your Custody Case

Let me cut the shit. If you're reading this with a knot in your stomach because you already know your attorney is dogshit, congratulations, your gut is smarter than your

29: The Financial Scars of High-Conflict Divorce

Okay, let's just rip the bandaid off. I spent an absolute ass load of money on my divorce, and at 47 years old, I'm still working through the damage from financial decisi

28: 5 Things I Realized After 18 Years of Co-Parenting

Listen. If you're in custody hell right now, this episode is either gonna piss you off or save your life. Probably both. I spent 18 years in high-conflict co-parenting.

27: Are You “Controlling” for Bringing Your Own Parenting Plan?

Your attorney just told you that bringing a prepared parenting plan to mediation makes you "controlling." And you believed them. That's the problem right there. I'm a fo

26: 4th of July Custody Schedule Mistakes in Parenting Plans

4th of July sounds fun until you're divorced. Then it's a shit show. I've read your parenting plans. I've seen what Larry the Lawyer put in there. One sentence. Sometime