Mary Ann Hughes

Navigating a Divorce for Special Needs Families

Divorce is never easy, and when there is a child with special needs involved, it can be even more challenging.

Families need support and information to navigate the complexities of special needs divorces to reach the best possible outcome with as little time, money, and stress invested as possible.

Mary Ann Hughes is the proud mother of two sons on the opposite ends of the autism spectrum. After her divorce journey, where she successfully advocated for her children’s needs, Mary Ann started Special Family Transitions to support families with children with disabilities as a valued Special Needs divorce coach and consultant.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Mary Ann joins Katherine to discuss the special considerations for co-parenting, long-term care, and child support arrangements that do not affect the special needs child’s eligibility for public benefits.

Listen in as Mary Ann shares how she supported her children through the social stories she created for them during her divorce and what she thinks is the most critical thing to consider in a special needs divorce. Plus, why focusing on the end goal of the divorce will create the best-case scenario for your special needs child for the long term.

Topics Covered

How to be sure you meet the needs of the special needs child while you are divorcing

Mary Ann’s best piece of advice for special needs parents that are in the process of a divorce

How to plan to keep the child from losing their government services, benefits, and SSI

Why it’s essential to think about a long-term parenting strategy during the divorce

What is a special needs trust and what are the pros and cons

Why having a team of experts is essential in securing the future for your child with special needs

How to focus on the end goal in the divorce to secure the best-case scenario for your special needs child

How Mary Ann helps her client give their special needs child the best life possible post-divorce

Connect with Mary Ann Hughes

Special Family Transitions

Special Family Transitions on Instagram

Special Family Transitions on Facebook

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email  katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

Resources

Special Family Transitions on YouTube

LoneStar LEND SLP: Self Care To Support Neurodiverse Children in Divorce on YouTube

The post Navigating a Divorce for Special Needs Families With Mary Ann Hughes appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Melinda M. Previtera

The Biggest Benefits of Postnuptial Agreements

We’ve all heard of prenuptial agreements, those agreements signed by the marrying parties before the wedding.

But what about postnuptial agreements?

They may be rare, but they can be just as valuable.

Many people don’t understand that marriage is a legally binding contractual obligation. There are built-in legal requirements for support and property division within this contract, based on your state’s law. You are entering into a legal agreement just by getting married why not go further and decide how you want your assets divided, instead of leaving it up to the state.

Melinda M. Previtera is a graduate of Rutgers Law school and was named to the Top 40 Under 40 list by the Institute of Family Lawyers. She holds a certification in mediation and practices in all areas of family law as a Partner at Petrelli Previtera, LLC in Philadelphia.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Melinda joins Katherine to explain what postnuptial agreements are and how couples can use them to help communicate their wants and needs to navigate their expectations around money and property division.

Listen in as Melinda shares why postnuptial agreements are not just for the wealthy. She’ll offer some advice on how to broach the topic with your partner so you can determine the specifics of your financial future as a couple.

The truth is ALL marriages end, either by death or divorce. A postnuptial agreement can be part of a couple’s financial planning, offering each person the safety, security, and knowledge of what will happen so they can stop worrying about the what-ifs.

Topics Covered

How postnuptial agreements work

Who should consider a postnuptial agreement

The most significant benefit of a postnuptial agreement

The essential conversations missing from most marriages

How discussing expectations around money can strengthen your relationship

How a postnuptial agreement can help with estate planning

How a postnuptial agreement can effectively protect the assets of the family and each individual

Connect with Melinda Previtera

Petrelli Previtera, LLC
Melinda Previtera on Twitter

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email  katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

The post The Biggest Benefits of Postnuptial Agreements With Melinda Previtera appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Tatiana Tsoir

Tax Implications in Divorce

“In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.”—Benjamin Franklin

When you are getting divorced your taxes are probably not the first thing on your mind, but as Benjamin Franklin said in his famous quote taxes remain even when a marriage ends. Taxes are never an easy topic to discuss but there are many tax implications divorcing couples should address, especially if children or alimony are involved.

Tatiana Tsoir is an author, speaker, and visionary accountant. For over 15 years she’s worked with business owners to help them manage their money and their bottom line. Tatiana is also an experienced adviser on all the scenarios impacting the tax-related matters of divorce.

On this episode of the podcast, Tatiana joins Katherine to discuss when to bring up the issue of taxes in your divorce. She discusses the common misunderstanding about the child tax credit, the 529 plan, and strategies for both that can save both parties money.

Listen in for Tatiana’s insight into underutilized tax strategies for small business owner parents and the number one thing people who are divorcing should think about when they talk about their taxes.

Topics Covered

When the issue of taxes should be brought up in divorce

How to structure taxes to support both parents when children are involved

How a business-owning spouse can legally deduct alimony payments

How to employ tax strategies that will save both parties money

The key to making the child tax credit work for you and your spouse

How to avoid misunderstandings around the 529 education plan

Tatiana shares one of the most underutilized tax strategies of small business owner parents

Best practices for using a custodial Roth IRA account

When to start thinking about using tax strategies to increase education funding options

The first thing people who are divorcing should think about when discuss their taxes

Connect with Tatiana Tsoir

Linza Advisors

Tatiana Tsoir on Instagram

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

Resources

Dream Bold, Start Smart by Tatiana Tsoir

The post Tax Implications in Divorce With Tatiana Tsoir appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Shara Goldfarb

How to Financially Prepare For Your Divorce

Divorce is a very complicated and emotional process on its own. It becomes even harder when we start separating the money. 

Dividing marital funds during a divorce may seem daunting, but there are plenty of things you can learn to make the process as smooth as possible. 

Shara Goldfarb is a family law attorney with the Miller Law Group and a certified divorce financial analyst.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Shara joins Katherine to discuss financial considerations that are important to make before starting the divorce process. She explains marital property versus separate property and what funds can be subjected to equitable division.

Listen in as Shara advises on how to be reasonable with your financial expectations going into a divorce, how to gather the proper financial information needed for a divorce, and why you should try to conserve your financial resources during divorce proceedings. 

Topics Covered

Why it’s important to gather financial information prior to divorce proceedings and what documentation is the most helpful to have

Why it is easier and cheaper to get all financial information ready for your lawyer before divorce proceedings

How to obtain tax information and bank statements prior to your divorce

The differences between an adversarial process and a collaborative divorce and how it shapes financial discussions with your spouse and lawyers

Shara’s advice on how to be reasonable with your financial expectations if you’re thinking about getting a divorce

Why you should try to conserve your resources with the right professionals involved, rather than spend more money than necessary on a lawyer or other legal fees

Why marital property is subjected to equitable division, but separate property is not

How different kinds of debt, equity, and mortgages are divided during a divorce

Why it is important to work with a lawyer and a certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) when getting a divorce

Connect with Shara Goldfarb

Shara on LinkedIn

Email Shara at shara@miller-law.com

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

Resources

About Shara Goldfarb

The post How to Financially Prepare For Your Divorce With Shara Goldfarb appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Annie J. Allen

Why You Need a Post-Divorce Healing Retreat

Has your divorce left you exhausted and longing to get away from it all? 

When a marriage ends, most people are physically and emotionally drained. After all the chaos, a week zoning out on a beach in the sun somewhere sounds just about perfect. But what if you could combine a relaxing retreat with intentional practices designed to help you process your feelings?

After her divorce, Annie Allen shifted from her former training as a Certified Marriage and Family Counselor to Certified Divorce & Life Transition Coaching®. Now she helps people through private and group coaching, her Starting Over Stronger Divorce Survival & Recovery podcast, and specialized post-divorce healing retreats. 

On this episode of the podcast, Annie joins Katherine to share how post-divorce healing retreats offer structured activities, designed to help participants find closure so healing can begin.

Topics Covered

What is a post-divorce healing retreat

Why do people need to heal post-divorce

The secret insight that leads to therapy success

When marriage therapy offers the best chance to heal a relationship

How a structured post-divorce retreat helps to bring about emotional healing

Why intentional rest helps you hear your innermost self

The key that helps people find peace during a healing retreat

How to gain the strength and clarity to set boundaries and effect change

The most important part of a post-divorce healing retreat

Connect with Annie Allen

Starting Over Stronger

Starting Over Stronger on Facebook

Starting Over Stronger Divorce Survival & Recovery Podcast

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

Resources

SOS Retreat in November 2022

The post Why You Need a Post-Divorce Healing Retreat With Annie J. Allen appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Karen McMahon

The 12 Step Divorce Recovery Program

No matter if the decision to divorce was yours or not, when a marriage ends, everyone involved suffers. With emotions at their peak, it is easy to be hijacked by the conflict trap and lose focus on what is important. But there is another way. 

Karen McMahon is a Certified Relationship and Divorce Coach and Founder of Journey Beyond Divorce . Karen leads a team of divorce coaches in supporting men and women around the world to become calm, clear, and confident as they navigate divorce. Karen is the co-author of Stepping out of Chaos: Turning Pain to Possibility and co-creator of JBD’s exclusive 12 Step Divorce Recovery Program.

On this episode of the podcast, Karen joins Katherine to share the key components of the 12 Step Divorce Recovery Program. She walks us through a few of the steps, describing in detail the emotional healing available to program participants. Listen in for Karen’s insight into how the 12 Step Divorce Recovery Program can help you do the self-work to emerge from your divorce a more refined version of yourself, ready to step into your new story. 

Topics Covered  

What the 12 Step Divorce Recovery Program is based on

The typical challenges we all face in divorce
How step 1 and step 2 of the program help create emotional healing

What it looks like to curb the conflict in divorce so you can make proactive, constructive decisions
Why people resist healing the heart

The key to regaining control in any situation

How looking at your story differently is the catalyst for change

Why each step in the 12 step program plays a part in navigating a calm, clear, confident divorce

Why step 9 (overcome pain) is most important for moving ahead

How tuning into your intuitive knowing can help you make better decisions for the life you want

Connect with Karen McMahon

Journey Beyond Divorce 

Journey Beyond Divorce on Facebook 

Journey Beyond Divorce on Twitter 

Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

Resources

Stepping out of Chaos: Turning Pain to Possibility by Karen McMahon and Lisa Brick

Join the 12 Step Recovery Program

The post The 12 Step Divorce Recovery Program With Karen McMahon appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

 Ann Papayoti

Grief, Gratitude, and Helping Children Navigate Divorce

Divorce is hard. The emotions of the breakup colliding with the legal business is a lot for people to manage mentally. What’s really complicated is when people get too wrapped up in their divorce and fail to see their children’s pain.

But what is the best way to talk to children about divorce? What do they struggle with the most throughout the separation process?

Ann Papayoti is an international life, leadership and relationship coach, as well as a speaker, educator, and co-author of The Gift of Shift, an intimate self-help book about creating a new outlook on life. She is the founder of SkyView Coaching, where she helps people rise above their most challenging moments so they can thrive once again.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Ann joins Katherine to explain the four main things children really want from their parents after a divorce. They discuss the complicated emotions children feel and how parents can make it as easy as possible for their kids to navigate a divorce.

Listen in as Ann shares her experience with divorce that led to becoming a life coach, the relationship between grief and gratitude, and the importance of becoming your own best friend. 

Topics Covered

The difference between a divorce coach and a breakup coach

Keeping the emotion of the breakup out of the business of the divorce

The 4 things children want from their parents after a divorce

How parents often fail to show up for their kids emotionally after a divorce

The importance of communication between the child and the parent during and after the separation between the two parents

How children end up in the middle of the communication between parents getting divorced

The relationship between grief and gratitude

Ann’s book and her personal experiences with divorce, grief, and becoming her own best friend

Dealing with betrayal and the importance of trusting yourself

Connect with Anne Papayoti

SkyView Coaching

SkyView Coaching on Facebook

Ann on Twitter

Ann on Instagram

Ann on LinkedIn

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

Resources

Free Gift from SkyView Coaching

The Gift of Shift: Discover the Key Within to Unlock Your Best Life by Tracey MacDonald and Ann Papayoti

The post Grief, Gratitude, and Helping Children Navigate Divorce With Ann Papayoti appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Terry Gaspard

Maintaining Friendships After a Divorce

Why is it that some friendships don’t survive divorce? 

When a marriage ends, some friends feel like they have to take sides. Others are overwhelmed and simply don’t know what to say. But if you’re willing to move through a little awkwardness, you can keep the friendships that matter to you after a divorce.

Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed therapist with an expertise in supporting children, adults, couples and families through divorce recovery. She is also the founder of Moving Past Divorce and author of The Remarriage Manual: How to Make Everything Work Better the Second Time Around, the 2020 winner of the American Book Fest’s Best Book Award for Self-Help: Relationships. 

On this episode of the podcast, Terry joins Katherine to share the four key reasons why some friendships don’t survive a divorce. She discusses the common misunderstanding that life is ruined by divorce, describing what it looks like to reclaim aspects of yourself that you abandoned in an unhappy marriage. Listen in for Terry’s insight on finding a new partner post-divorce (without repeating the same mistakes) and learn how to maintain the friendships that are important to you after a divorce.

Topics Covered 

How Terry got interested in the work of divorce recovery and remarriage

The common misunderstanding that your life is ruined by divorce

What it looks like to reclaim aspects of yourself that you abandoned in an unhappy marriage

The top 4 reasons why some friendships don’t survive divorce

What it’s like for Terry to compare her personal experience with that of her clients

How to maintain the friendships that are important to you after a divorce

Why people self-isolate to avoid pity or social awkwardness during a divorce

Best practices for finding a new partner after divorce (without repeating the same mistakes)

Why intentional communication is crucial in creating a successful stepfamily 

Terry’s best advice for practicing positive communication

Connect with Terry Gaspard

Moving Past Divorce 

Moving Past Divorce on Facebook 

Moving Past Divorce on Twitter 

Terry on LinkedIn

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

Resources

The Remarriage Manual: How to Make Everything Work Better the Second Time Around by Terry Gaspard, MSW, LICSW

The post Maintaining Friendships After a Divorce With Terry Gaspard appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Carol Davidson

How to Transform Your Self-Esteem After a Divorce

Divorce can be extremely depleting and a time where most people find their self esteem to be at its lowest. Though, it can also be an opportunity to become the best version of ourselves. So, how can we get back to feeling good for ourselves after a divorce?

Carol Davidson is a seasoned and certified image consultant, life coach, speaker, and educator who has helped thousands of people over the last 20 years to transform their appearance, wardrobe and self-esteem. She consults with private and corporate clients worldwide, offering a full suite of image consulting, personal styling, and life coaching services. 

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Carol joins Katherine to share her tips and tools to not only become comfortable and confident in your own skin. She explains what image consulting is and how clothing has the power to impact how you feel about yourself, affecting your moods, confidence and performance. Listen in for Carole’s insight on how to look and feel your best inside and out, even after a divorce. 

Topics Covered 

What an image consultant does and why people seek out for one

How your inside can impact your outside and vise versa 

How Carol got into image consulting

Tools that Carol uses when helping clients transform how they feel inside and out

Why image consulting doesn’t involve a “makeover” 

How to get started in building your confidence following a divorce  

Signs that it’s time to get an image consultant

The differences between an Image Consultant VS a Personal Stylist

Tips for a wardrobe refresh post divorce

Connect with Carol Davidson

Carol Davidson

Carol Davidson on Facebook

Carol Davidson on Twitter

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

The post How to Transform Your Self-Esteem After a Divorce With Carol Davidson appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.

Dr. Joli Hamilton

Creating a Healthy Monogamous or Consensually Non-monogamous Life

You can be in a relationship without settling for a boring life and sacrificing your desire for stability and depth of connection. Instead, there are ways to bring a creative approach to your relationship and life as a whole, resulting in years of love and happiness. 

Dr. Joli Hamilton is a relationship coach, research psychologist, TEDx speaker, and AASECT certified sex educator who coaches people and couples who color outside the lines, helping them create partnerships that are custom-built for their authentic selves. Joli is also the author of the best-selling book Project Relationship: The Entrepreneur’s Action Plan for Passionate, Sustainable Love. 

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Dr. Joli joins Katherine to share how to create a creatively monogamous or consensually non-monogamous life. She explains how to keep a healthy and trustworthy relationship and why a non-monogamous relationship can be a helpful option for people. Listen in for Dr. Joli’s insight on creating an enjoyable and sustainable relationship, whether it be monogamous or non-monogamous, and learn which option is best for you.

Topics Covered 

How Dr. Joli got into this field after going through a divorce herself

What Dr. Joli has learned from her personal experiences

Dr. Joli’s insight on marriage counseling

How flexibility in a relationship can be key for some people

The power in having self-trust in a relationship

How to have conversations that don’t drive you and your partner apart

Where people get stuck in an unconventional relationship

The research behind people with a non-monogamous lifestyle

Dr. Joli’s advice on transitioning to a creative relationship

How Dr. Joli defines success in a relationship

Connect with Dr. Joli Hamilton

Joli Hamilton Website

Joli Hamilton on Facebook

Project Relationship: The Entrepreneur’s Action Plan for Passionate, Sustainable Love

Connect with Katherine Miller 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict 

Miller Law Group 

Katherine on LinkedIn 

The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller 

Email katherine@miller-law.com 

Call (914) 862-7487

The post Creating a Healthy Monogamous or Consensually Non-monogamous Life With Dr. Joli Hamilton appeared first on Divorce Dialogues.