In this episode of The Good Divorce Show™, Karen McNenny speaks with tax expert Hubert Johnson about the often-overlooked topic of taxes in the context of divorce. They discuss personal experiences with divorce, the importance of understanding tax implications, and the various filing options available. Hubert shares insights on innocent spouse protection, child tax credits, business ownership, and the complexities of bankruptcy during divorce. The conversation emphasizes the need for informed decision-making and the value of consulting with tax professionals to navigate these challenges effectively.

Hubert Johnson, J.D.

• guardiantaxlaw.com
• www.facebook.com/guardiantaxlaw
• instagram.com/guardiantaxlaw
• youtube.com/@guardiantaxlaw

In this episode of Tea Time with Coach Karen, the focus is on the critical aspect of timing when discussing divorce with children. Karen McNenny emphasizes the importance of being prepared and thoughtful about when to have these conversations, considering various factors such as the child's age, significant events, and emotional readiness. She provides practical advice on how to approach these discussions to minimize emotional distress and foster understanding within the family.

"There's never going to be a good time to tell your children you're getting a divorce."

In this conversation, Karen McNenny interviews Merriam Saunders, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Child Custody Recommending Counselor. They discuss the importance of maintaining a positive co-parenting relationship after divorce, especially when there are neurodivergent children involved. They emphasize the need for parents to continue making joint decisions and supporting their children's relationships with both parents. They also touch on the role of attachment theory in divorce and the challenges of gatekeeping parents.

They highlight the challenges faced by neurodivergent children in two-home arrangements and provide strategies for supporting them.

Merriam shares her experience as a child of divorce and how it influenced her career in helping families navigate divorce. She also shares her books and resources for raising neurodivergent children in divorced families.

More About Merriam: merriamsaunders.com

Merriam's Books Available Here: Amazon Storefront

• FB: fb.com/HowToParentADHD
• IG: @HowToParentADHD
• LI: www.linkedin.com/in/merriam-saunders-lmft-8aaab811/

In this episode, Karen McNenny discusses the challenges and dynamics of having college-age kids in the context of divorce and separation. She reflects on her own experience as a parent of divorce sending her child off to college and the grief of saying goodbye. Karen emphasizes the importance of maintaining a sense of home base for children, even as they become more independent. She advises parents to have conversations and create a plan for how to navigate the summer breaks and holidays when children come back home. Karen also highlights the long-term impact of decisions made during the college years and encourages parents to think ahead and have open communication.

Takeaways

• It is important for children to have a sense of home base and know where they can land, even as they become more independent;
• Parents should have conversations and create a plan for how to navigate the summer breaks and holidays when children come back home;
• Decisions made during the college years can have a long-term impact, so it is important for parents to think ahead and have open communication.

In this conversation, Karen McNenny interviews Jen Schimbeno, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), about the importance of financial planning in divorce. They discuss the collaborative divorce process and the role of a CDFA® in helping families navigate the financial aspects of divorce. They also highlight the need for logical decision-making and the potential pitfalls of getting caught up in emotional conflicts.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of finding a third way and working towards a settlement that meets the interests and goals of both parties. Karen and Jen discuss the differences between being a neutral CDFA® in the collaborative process and providing financial advising services to families. They also talk about the importance of preserving family resources during divorce and the need for affordable divorce options. Jen shares her passion for helping families navigate divorce with dignity and the impact it has on co-parenting relationships. They emphasize the importance of a supportive framework and proactive approach in divorce.

Season 1 Episode with Brandyn Roark Caires (Co-Founder of Parent Team; discussed in this episode): How to Have a Kid-Centered Divorce

Jen Schimbeno, CDFA®

• ParentTeam.com
• IG: @parentteam
• FB: @parentteam

Jen has over a decade of experience in financial planning with a focus on supporting individuals, businesses, and families. Jen's focus is on helping clients modify behaviors to help them course-correct their financial paths. Additionally, Jen has found a passion for supporting families going through divorce and restructuring. Jen is a trained mediator and an accredited Financial Neutral for the Collaborative Divorce Process. To help further her knowledge and ability to support other professionals and clients, she obtained her CDFA ®

Jen is also the co-founder of Parent Team, an online resource and course for co-parents that helps them keep their kids out of the middle. Jen and her business partner, Brandyn, consult with parents all over the world, guiding them through co-parenting skills and financial decisions to best support children both during and after the divorce is finalized.

Through her work and co-creation of Parent Team, Jen has been awarded opportunities to train and educate other professionals on how to best support families who are navigating divorce. She is passionate about their work within Parent Team and believes when parents and their support systems are given the skills and tools to handle difficult changes in life, both they and their children are better equipped to navigate the challenges.

Additionally, Jen is on the Board of Directors for the Montana Collaborative Professionals Association and is passionate about working closely with mediators, mental health clinicians and attorneys.

In this episode, Karen McNenny discusses the importance of language when talking about divorce and separation. She emphasizes the need to shift our thinking and use more positive and empowering language to describe these situations.

Karen suggests using terms like 'family that lives across two homes' instead of 'broken family' and 'renovating' instead of 'broken'. She also encourages referring to former spouses as 'first husband' or 'former partner' instead of 'ex'. Additionally, Karen recommends using the names of the houses or streets to identify the different homes instead of 'mom's house' and 'dad's house'.

Takeaways

• Language matters when talking about divorce and separation.
• Using positive and empowering language can change the perception of these situations.
• Referring to former spouses as 'first husband' or 'former partner' instead of 'ex' can be more respectful.
• Using the names of the houses or streets to identify the different homes can create a sense of belonging for children.

In this conversation, Karen McNenny interviews Beatty Cohan, a nationally recognized Psychotherapist, Sex Therapist, and Author, about her personal experience with divorce and her expertise in relationships. Beatty shares her own journey of divorce in the 80s and how she and her ex-husband were able to co-parent their daughter successfully. She emphasizes the importance of emotional and psychological well-being before entering into a new relationship and the need for effective communication and problem-solving skills. Beatty also discusses the impact of family of origin on relationships and the importance of acknowledging, addressing, and resolving issues in order to create healthy and fulfilling relationships.

Beatty Cohan, MSW, LCSW, AASECT

• BeattyCohan.com
• Book: For Better for Worse Forever: Discover the Path to Lasting Love
• Advice Columnist (ASK BEATTY) for Dan's Papers in the Hamptons and Palm Beach
• National Speaker & Radio and Television Expert
• Guest and Host of the weekly ASK BEATTY SHOW
• Private Practice in New York City and East Hampton

Keila Gilbert, Esq., founder of Alpha Center for Divorce Mediation, shares her personal journey through divorce and how it led her to create a mediation service. She emphasizes the importance of minimizing harm to children during divorce and discusses the issue of parental alienation. Keila highlights the holistic approach of her mediation program, which includes legal, financial, and therapeutic support. She also explains the benefits of mediation over litigation and offers advice for navigating the divorce process.

Alpha Center for Divorce Mediation:

• Facebook: facebook.com/AlphaCenterMediation
• Instagram: instagram.com/alphacentermediation/
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/alpha-resource-center/⁠
• X: twitter.com/AlphaDivorce
• YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC5lnsdjVTh_FVTYsw8WL-OA