Welcome to Splitsville | Navigating Divorce in a Modern World

"Communication is key," says Dr. Tracy Masiello, but for high-conflict divorced parents, even simple messages about a tired child can escalate into legal battles. When that happens, parenting coordinators have the skills and court authority to resolve communication breakdowns.Dr. Masiello, founder of Reaching Resolution, specializes in court-involved therapy, family reunification work, and high-conflict family systems. She and host Sheila Passenant walk through what listeners should know about this unique tool in North Carolina family law.Sitting at the intersection of psychology and the law, a parenting coordinator is a neutral professional, backed by court statute, who guides parents on custody orders or other issues that arise related to children. As she explains, “the courts essentially give the parenting coordinator the authority, very similar authority that the court has, to make these decisions.”She clarifies that while many roles in family law involve neutral professionals – from lawyers to therapists to parenting coordinators – there are key differences. Unlike mediators, for example, parenting coordinators make binding decisions when parents reach an impasse. “The simplest way I could say it is that it's like the judge is giving the parenting coordinator kind of the authority to act very similarly as though they're the judge and make those decisions,” she says.Tune in for this in-depth examination of a parenting coordinator’s role, the appointment process, and real-world examples of the job in practice. Sheila describes a hypothetical scenario where parents argue about a custody exchange: “A parent coordinator may say, ‘Okay, where do you live? How long does it take you? Where do you work? When can you get there? I'm going to pick the exchange place.’” The conversation explores how parenting coordinators address everything from holiday schedule confusion to helping parents implement court orders effectively, with the ultimate goal of teaching parents skills so they no longer need intervention. “I love it when they don’t need me,” Dr. Masiello says. For more information on Dr. Masiello’s practice, visit www.reachingresolution.net or connect with her on LinkedIn.The insights and views presented in “Welcome to Splitsville” are for general information purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Nor does tuning in to this podcast constitute an attorney-client relationship of any kind. If you’re ready for compassionate and reliable legal guidance on your journey through divorce, contact the team at www.TouchstoneFamilyLaw.com

Divorcing parents are rarely “alienated” from their children, but children of divorcing parents do frequently “resist or refuse” a parent. In the latter scenario, “it’s not that the other parent is intentionally and actively trying to undermine the relationship between a parent and child, but, instead, it's that something has happened to that child,” explains Dr. Tracy Masiello, a psychologist, licensed clinical mental health counselor supervisor, parenting coordinator, divorce coach, and divorce mediator. Visiting with host Sheila Passenant, Tracy breaks down the difference between so-called “resist/refuse” dynamics and parental alienation, describing the factors that can lead children to resist spending time with a parent—from developmental stages to unintentional negative cues and past conflict. She details the specialized approach of reunification therapy and why traditional family therapy techniques often backfire in high-conflict situations. For more information on Dr. Tracy Masiello’s practice, visit www.reachingresolution.net. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn and learn more about her training programs at Resolution Academy.The insights and views presented in “Welcome to Splitsville” are for general information purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Nor does tuning in to this podcast constitute an attorney-client relationship of any kind. If you’re ready for compassionate and reliable legal guidance on your journey through divorce, contact the team at www.TouchstoneFamilyLaw.com

Sarah and John are fictional characters going through a divorce. As Lea Finegan explains, they could take two avenues: litigation or collaboration. In the litigation scenario, their case could drag on for years, personal details would become public record, legal fees mount, and a judge who doesn't know them would make a one-size-fits-all decision. But through the collaborative family law approach, Sarah and John would craft personalized solutions that preserve relationships, avoid traditional alimony while protecting Sarah's financial future, and maintain privacy.Lea describes how the collaborative option works. The parties sign a participation agreement that commits them to staying out of court, bring in financial neutrals and divorce coaches to address specific concerns, and focus on interests rather than positions. The result? Creative, outside-the-box solutions that courts would never consider, maintained privacy, lower costs, and a foundation for respectful co-parenting. How would Sarah and John’s story end? Here’s how Lea writes the closing chapter: With both of them attending their daughter's wedding—remarried, happy, and both sitting on the front row.The insights and views presented in “Welcome to Splitsville” are for general information purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Nor does tuning in to this podcast constitute an attorney-client relationship of any kind. If you’re ready for compassionate and reliable legal guidance on your journey through divorce, contact the team at www.TouchstoneFamilyLaw.com

"There's always a lot of fear around a divorce situation. Everyone's always worried that the outcome's going to be something that is going to negatively impact them," says Kristen Shearin, a certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA). In this conversation with host Sheila Passenant, Kristen describes how CDFAs can reduce that very fear throughout the divorce process. They do this by providing a range of financial projections and budgeting assistance. As Kristen explains, divorces are rarely straightforward when it comes to what income actually exists. But a CDFA double-checks the numbers so all parties are comfortable saying at the start: “Okay, this is the income that we have to work with, and this is the actual income that we have to work with.”Kristen outlines the difference between supporting and dependent spouses and how CDFAs can verify income streams, especially when compensation plans are complex or irregular. And she shares her insights about when to engage a CDFA – whether before consulting an attorney or during the process – and how they can work as neutrals or advocates. While CDFAs prefer working outside of court through mediation and collaborative processes, Kristen says that they can testify at temporary hearings and trials when necessary. For people who are facing a new life on a single income, CDFAs are a powerful resource. They can suggest financial options, such as keeping the family home or selling it. They can also guide divorcing spouses who haven't been involved in managing family finances so they understand their marital estate and make informed decisions about their financial future.For more information on Kristen and her CDFA practice, visit Shearin Law or connect with her on LinkedIn.The insights and views presented in “Welcome to Splitsville” are for general information purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Nor does tuning in to this podcast constitute an attorney-client relationship of any kind. If you’re ready for compassionate and reliable legal guidance on your journey through divorce, contact Leigh Sellers and her team at www.TouchstoneFamilyLaw.com

In this episode, Leigh Sellers speaks with Hollie Bennett of Palmetto Guardian and Adoption Services about her work as a guardian ad litem. They examine what the position of a guardian ad litem entails and their various responsibilities related to child custody cases. Guardian ad litem are assigned by the court to advocate for the children, conducting a fair, balanced, and impartial investigation by collecting information through interviews, home visits, and other means.

One of the more prominent narratives surrounding separation and divorce involves ex-spouses being at each other’s throats and constantly arguing with one another. Such a hostile environment not only affects the former couple but negatively impacts their children as well. While separation and divorce are difficult for everyone involved, a happy co-parenting ending with your ex is a very real possibility.

Child custody cases are often the toughest types of cases that go through family court. Far too often, those cases involve parents with alcohol and substance abuse issues. Some states, including North Carolina, allow for alcohol monitoring systems in child custody cases. In this episode, we talk with Chris Beck of Soberlink, a modern tool that helps parents struggling with alcohol abuse stay involved in their children's lives.

On this episode of Welcome to Splitsville, we explore what a divorce coach does and explore how utilizing a coach can help you navigate your divorce. Today's conversation is with Sandra Lee, a divorce coach in Charlotte, NC, with more than 20 years of experience.

Often a breakup is too stressful for a person to handle on their own. Divorce attorneys are often asked for recommendations on finding a good therapist. On this episode of Welcome to Splitsville, we explore how to pick a therapist and the therapist's role in helping you through a divorce.

Child custody cases are tough on everyone. When one parent has a mental health diagnosis things can get very complicated. On this episode of Welcome to Splitsville, we explore how a parent’s mental health diagnosis may affect a child custody case.

Divorce can be an overwhelming process for many especially with all the numbers and forms required. On this episode of Welcome to Splitsville, we explore an area that can be one of the most daunting parts of a divorce for many: how do you fill out a financial declaration in an alimony case?

Divorce and adjusting to the new family dynamic of living in two separate households can be overwhelming for anyone, especially children. On this episode of Welcome to Splitsville, we explore how a child therapist can help families going through a divorce.