Dos & Don’ts of Child Custody with Susan Duesler

Veteran family law expert and child advocate Susan Duesler brings us insight into how children can be affected and protected in the midst of a divorce in our new podcast. Watch now or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

Melinda Eitzen Podcast with David Conklin of P.I. Endeavors
(david@piendeavors.com)

David Conklin is a private investigator and former law enforcement officer.

Melinda speaks with private investigator David Conklin in a wide-ranging conversation on the intersection of investigative work and family law. Drawing on his extensive first-hand experience as a law-enforcement officer, David sheds some light on the investigator’s process as well as gives some advice on how best to protect yourself from being observed or recorded against your will. Along the way, David and Melinda also discuss cyber-security, the laws concerning digital location-tracking, and when it is and is not appropriate to call 911, as well as some good advice on which home-security devices are most effective. All this and more, on the latest episode of The Melinda Eitzen Show!

Melinda Eitzen Podcast with Suzanne Wooten
(Email: swoolaw@yahoo.com )

About the Guest: Suzanne Wooten is a full-time mediator in McKinney, TX. She works with
seven other qualified mediators and that group is called North Texas Litigation Solutions. Her group is called North Texas Litigation Solutions.

In this episode of the “Melinda Eitzen Show” Suzanne Wooten talks about
what it takes to be a mediator and how Zoom has helped with the mediation process. Suzanne gives great insight into the meaning of mediation and what it takes to go through the process of mediation.

Melinda Eitzen Podcast with Mitch Little

(mitch.little@solidcounsel.com )

Mitch Little is a lawyer who is running for State Representative in House District 65 as a Republican. Mitch Little has won his primary against his Republic incumbent and is now running against the progressive candidate.

In this episode of the “Melinda Eitzen Show” Melinda talks politics with Mitch Little. Melinda asks informed questions on what it takes to run for office in the state of Texas and how Mitch has balanced the political race with family and his law practice. Mitch gives great insight into the problems facing Texas and how he plans on dealing with them.

Melinda Eitzen Podcast with Lindsey Obenhaus
(lobenhaus@gbafamilylaw.com )

About the Guest:
Lindsey Obenhaus is a family law attorney that works at Goranson Bain Ausley. She serves on
the State Bar of Texas Technology Committee, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Technology Committee, and chairs the Goranson Bain Ausley Technology Committee.
Episode Summary:
In this episode of The Melinda Eitzen Show our guest Lindsey helps us understand the new
world of A.I. Lindsey explains how Artificial Intelligence can help with family law practice.
Lindsey also discusses the dangers and necessary precautions when using A.I.

Key Takeaways:
 There have been concerns that A.I. being used in law creates an issue with client-lawyer
confidentiality. This can be eased by excluding the name of the client and getting
approval from the client before using it.
 A.I. can draft documents for lawyers making their life significantly easier.
 A.I. is not perfect and still needs the eyes of the lawyer to fix any issues that may arise.
 One of the issues of A.I. is that it can be used to edit evidence for cases and create photos
that are not real.
 A.I. can generate fake audio that can create the risk of false information in legal cases.

Notable Quotes:
 “A.I. is the ability of a computer to communicate in a way that is human like… and act in
a way that a human would.” -Lindsey Obenhaus
 “It’s important to understand that A.I. is not a replacement for lawyers.” -Lindsey
Obenhaus
 “A.I. can review words and create words.”-Lindsey Obenhaus
 “For now (to avoid trouble) do not use client names anywhere in A.I.” Lindsey Obenhaus
 “A.I. does not listen to you or hear your story…it does not replace the need for
mediation.” -Lindsey Obenhaus

Melinda Eitzen Podcast with Chris Farish.
(chris@quaidfarish.com)

About the Guest:
Chris Farish is a family lawyer that works at Quaid Farish Family Law Firm. He is the past president of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Episode Summary:
In this episode of The Melinda Eitzen Show Chris Farish uses his extensive experience in collaborative law to explain in detail what goes into the collaborative process. Chris also helps distinguish collaborative from mediation. Chris promotes collaborative law and talks about the
benefits of it over that of litigation.

Key Takeaways:
 Collaborative is recognized by the law as a formal way of getting divorce.
 Mediation can be used in collaborative to help get past impasses.
 In collaborative you will often have a financial expert and a neutral mental health professional involved.
 Attorneys can take on collaborative cases without training, but the training makes it easier for everyone involved to go through the process. There is basic training and advanced training classes available on collaborativedivorcetexas.com.
 The collaborative process is very flexible and can improve communication between clients.
Notable Quotes:
 “Who wouldn’t want to take control and make decisions for how you are going to raise your children with the person that you are going to co-parent with rather than leaving it up to the system?” -Chris Farish
 “A lot of people like the process [collaborative] because it is so private.” -Melinda Eitzen
 “I really feel like you get more better information, much easier [in the collaborative process].” -Chris Farish

About the Guest:
Barbara Neal is a licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, and
life coach.

Chad Collom is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a PHD in nursing practice.
Chad also has experience as a RN.

Episode Summary:
In this episode of the Melinda Eitzen show, Melinda and her guests Barbara and Chad explore
the world of mental health. Medication is a major subject in this episode: Barbara and Chad are
mental health professionals and will walk you through the ends and outs of mental health
medications and how it can help those in need. Melinda also ties mental health with the Family
Law practice of divorce giving great insight into a stressful situation.

Melinda Eitzen Podcast with Adam Mundt

(amundt@mcclure-lawgroup.com)

About the Guest:

Adam Mundt is a lawyer (Certified Public Accountant) that works at McClure Law group.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Melinda Eitzen show, host Melinda and guest Adam talk about how to position yourself better financially before and during the divorce process. Melinda and Adam discuss the importance of considering the tax effect on various assets when considering a divorce settlement and highlight some financial issues to be aware of when divorcing.

Key Takeaways:

An exclusion will take money off the top on the sale of a house before taxes; up to $250,000 per person.
A ROTH IRA is post-tax dollars. When paying out it has already been taxed.
An IRA you are not taxed on, but it is taxed on the way out.
If you make too much money you cannot open a ROTH IRA.
Tracing experts track down whether property is shared or separate.
Community property will be split between the two parties and separate property will not.
Always keep your documents before, during, and after marriage because the burden of proof is on you to prove that property is separate.
You should try and keep your assets in the same place so that it is easier to track.
Keep in mind the value of items and whether it is worth paying a lawyer to fight for them.
When dealing with a divorce it is important to contact a professional.

Notable Quotes:

“You, me, and Elon musk get at least $250,000 off the top of the gain (when selling your house) ….” [This is known as an “exclusion” when selling your house]. Adam Mundt
“A dollar in my bank account is not the same as a dollar in my retirement account… unless it’s a ROTH.” Melinda Eitzen
“You never want to be pin pales with the IRS.” Adam Mundt
“We like to find that something (property) is separate, because it goes 100% to the person that proves that it’s theirs.” Melinda Eitzen
“Whenever we have experts that are tracing (money or assets) … the less movements that you have the easier it is to trace… in that case less is more.” Adam Mundt
“Is the juice worth the squeeze? … how much is it going to cost to do the basic work to trace or prove facts at the courthouse?” Adam Mundt
New boost