When you are scared, uncertain, or just desperate to protect your kids, the internet can feel like the only avenue to help. But family law is not crowd-sourced – and for parents navigating child custody disputes, bad advice online can cause more harm than help. It can be downright dangerous. In this episode, Theresa sits down with Modern Legal Attorney and Social Worker Tiffany Byrd to unpack the emotional and legal complexity behind custody myths, relocation battles, and what courts actually consider when a child’s well-being is on the line. Together, Theresa and Tiffany respond to real social media posts and questions rooted in fear, love, and survival. Their responses expressed with honesty, clarity, and grounded legal perspective. If you have ever wondered whether the law can really protect your child the way you hope it can, this conversation is a place to start.

Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur. 

Resources mentioned:

• Mecklenburg County Courthouse Self-Serve Center

• North Carolina Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Courts will not make child custody decisions based on vague fears or unsubstantiated allegations. To protect your children from emotional or mental abuse, you need specific, observable evidence – like documented  behavioral changes or concerns from professionals.

• Relocating with your children after separation or divorce involves more than just you. Even without a formal custody order, moving out of state with the children can backfire legally. Courts prioritize stability for children, not parental preference, and rarely approve major relocations without agreement from both parents.

• Legal help does not have to be all or nothing. If full representation is not affordable, you can still make progress by using consultations with an attorney wisely, tapping into local court resources, and strategically investing in support for the most critical parts of your case.

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.

Separation and divorce bring more than just legal changes, they upend emotional, relational, and parenting dynamics in ways that most families are not prepared for. In this episode, Theresa sits down with licensed clinical mental health clinician and parent coordinator Dr. Tara Egan to explore the therapeutic services that can support parents and children through high-conflict custody and separation. From co-parenting therapy to reunification work, this conversation shines a light on the resources most families don’t know exist, and why getting help early can prevent years of emotional and legal turmoil.

Dr. Tara Egan is a licensed therapist, parent coordinator, and founder of Egan Counseling & Consulting in Charlotte, NC. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in supporting families navigating divorce through services like co-parenting counseling, reunification therapy, and parent coordination.

Connect with Dr. Tara Egan:

• Website

• TikTok

From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. With new offices now open in Waxhaw, Gastonia, and Statesville, you can schedule a consultation with our team today at the location most convenient for you.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Parent coordination, co-parenting therapy, and reunification therapy are distinct services that play different roles in supporting families through conflict.

• When families only address legal custody without tending to emotional wounds or parent-child dynamics, unresolved issues often resurface in future legal battles.

• Early support from mental health professionals with specialized divorce training can prevent crises, lower long-term legal costs, and improve outcomes for kids and parents alike.

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.

When emotions run high and family disputes feel overwhelming, mediation offers a path forward that many overlook. In this episode, Deb Dilman and Theresa E. Viera, attorneys and certified mediators with Modern Legal, sit down to demystify mediation in family law. They discuss how mediation empowers parties to stay in control of decisions that impact their children, finances, and futures -- all while avoiding the emotional and financial toll of a courtroom battle.

Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur. 

Resources mentioned:

• North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission

• NC State Bar Attorney Lookup

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Mediation gives you the power to decide what happens in your life, instead of having a judge decide. From parenting schedules to financial decisions, mediation keeps control in your hands and can help avoid outcomes that feel invasive or unfair.

• Certified mediators are trained to break through communication barriers, even when emotions run high. Many family conflicts stem from miscommunication, and a skilled mediator can help uncover shared goals and move both sides toward resolution.

• Preparation is everything. The more emotionally and practically prepared you are -- with clear goals, key documents, and realistic expectations -- the more likely mediation is to succeed without dragging into costly litigation.

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.

This episode contains descriptions of stalking, kidnapping, and sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788. For stalking‑specific resources and support, visit the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center at stalkingawareness.org. 

What does survival look like when the system says you are overreacting -- until it’s too late? In this episode of Legal Lounge, host Theresa Viera speaks with Samantha Stites, whose story of being stalked, abducted, and ultimately surviving a violent ordeal was featured in Hulu’s Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror. Samantha shares what the cameras didn’t capture: the slow escalation, the legal roadblocks, and how she reclaimed her voice. This episode is a powerful conversation about boundaries, consent, and the gaps in our legal system.

Samantha Stites is a clinical licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)and co-founder of Beekeepers Advocacy, an organization dedicated to supporting stalking survivors and educating the public about violence prevention. After surviving a years-long stalking campaign and a violent abduction, Samantha has become a powerful advocate for legal reform and survivor support.

Connect with Samantha:

• Beekeepers Advocacy

From domestic violence to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. If you would like to learn more or need assistance with a legal issue, you can schedule a consultation with our team today.

Resources mentioned:

• Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• In many states, including North Carolina, filing a protective order against someone who is not a current or former romantic partner can be significantly more complicated and may limit available legal protections.

• When stalking behaviors escalate, victims often face disbelief, delayed police response, or court dismissals -- even after showing repeated boundary violations.

• Being stalked or threatened can change how you move through the world, from locking doors to avoiding routine, and those adaptations are valid and necessary for safety.

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.

This episode contains graphic depictions of domestic violence and child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788.

_______________________________________________________________

In part two of this series with Theresa’s mother, Eileen Gonzalez, Theresa shares her own experience of domestic violence at the hands of her biological father after her family moved to Cary, North Carolina. Theresa and Eileen explain the events that led to them finally getting help and getting out, and the events that followed when their abuser still fought to maintain power and control over them.

Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.

Resources mentioned:

• Interact of Wake County

• Safe Alliance of Charlotte

• National Domestic Violence Hotline

• The Power and Control Wheel

• Modern Legal’s Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Resources

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• After Eileen’s husband left a threatening note on their front door, one of the police officers that helped Theresa and Eileen told them not to return to their home. Sure enough, he returned that night and the police were ready to respond with critical protective measures.

• Basic information about students attending public colleges and universities is easily accessible, but you can request for your information to be private to the point where the school cannot disclose if you are - or ever were - a student there.

• The abuser will never accept that you have taken control of your own life and left the situation. It does not mean your future is hopeless or that getting out is not possible, but survivors of domestic violence know there can be a constant, low hum of anxiety and fear about your abuser coming back.

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.

This episode contains graphic depictions of domestic violence and child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788.

_______________________________________________________________

In this very special series on the Legal Lounge podcast, Theresa invites her mother, Eileen Gonzalez, to share a difficult story that changed her life and the lives of her two children. For nearly two decades, Eileen endured physical abuse, isolation, and harassment from her husband. In this episode, she details the early warning signs, the people who helped her (and those who could have and didn’t), and what she’s come to understand about people who want power and control in a relationship.

Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.

Resources mentioned:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline

• The Power and Control Wheel

• Modern Legal’s Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Resources

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Traditional expectations of women to keep their families together, especially among religious families, can make it difficult for women to seek support from their communities in a domestic violence situation. 

• Children of all ages - especially younger kids - observe and remember domestic violence incidents more clearly than people might realize. Theresa remembers one particular incident down to the specific towel that was used to clean up the aftermath.

• In one particular incident, the perpetrator’s immediate family members witnessed a domestic violence act turned child abuse act and did not intervene at all. It is critical not to be a silent bystander when you see something like that. Apathy causes harm. 

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.

What do soda shops, Netflix documentaries, and YouTube divorces have in common? Family law lessons.

In this special Q&A episode, producer Kristen Stegall puts Legal Lounge host and family law attorney Theresa Viera in the hot seat. Using examples ripped from reality TV, influencer drama, and real-life hypotheticals, they unpack what courts actually consider in complex custody cases - especially when new partners, cross-state moves, and step-parents are involved.

Kristen Stegall is the founder and lead producer at Novice Studios, a full-service podcast production and marketing agency that helps business owners align their podcasting efforts with broader content and sales strategies. She’s known for helping clients feel confident behind the mic and for transforming podcasting from an overwhelming task into a growth-driven asset.

Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Courts adjust custody arrangements based on co-parenting relationships, sibling relationships, safety, and household stability. 

• Step-parents do not have legal rights to children from a prior relationship unless they go through the formal adoption process–even if they have played a major parental role.

• Moving across state lines can raise complex jurisdiction issues under the UCCJEA, which can affect which state has authority over your custody matters.

• A parenting coordinator in high-conflict custody cases can help reduce court involvement while focusing on the child's best interest.

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.

Teens today are navigating more pressures than ever - from school and social anxiety to growing up in a pandemic. What happens when you give them space to lead, create, and belong? In this episode, Theresa sits down with Eden, a recent graduate of the Charlotte-based nonprofit Playing for Others (PFO). Eden shares how this teen leadership program changed her life through community service, the arts, and inclusion. She opens up about finding friendship, identity, and purpose - even during the isolation of COVID - and how she plans to carry the “PFO magic” into college and beyond.

Connect with Playing for Others:

• Website

• Instagram

Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How PFO helps teens answer “Who am I?”  and “What can I give of that?” through leadership, creativity, and connection

• Why programs like the Buddy Program build empathy and create friendships that last beyond high school

• How strong community and clear adult support systems help teens feel emotionally safe, seen, and valued

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes. 

Separation is never easy—especially when children are involved. The emotional toll of child custody decisions can feel overwhelming, but there are steps you can take early to reduce stress, avoid going to court, and create a more stable future for your family. In this episode, Theresa is joined by attorney Tiffany Byrd of Modern Legal to break down what parents need to know about navigating custody in North Carolina and South Carolina. Tiffany shares practical advice for how to prepare emotionally, what custody mediation actually looks like, and why a detailed parenting plan makes all the difference.

Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Preparing emotionally before separation helps parents support their children with calm confidence. If you are constantly frustrated and stressed, your kids will pick up on it and it can add more fear to an already stressful situation.

• Joint legal custody does not mean much without clarity. Between you and your ex, define who makes which decisions and when those decisions should be made so you can avoid future conflict.

• Going to court is a last resort. Mediation, attorney guidance, and proactive parenting plans can help keep you out of the courtroom and in control of your family’s future.

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes. 

Deciding whether or not you want the marital home in your divorce can be a deeply personal and emotional decision, but it can also come down to numbers. In this episode, Theresa is joined by Nicole McAlister, the Owner of Premier Property Solutions, a real estate agency serving the greater Charlotte area. Nicole has seen it all when it comes to home ownership and where it can intersect with separation and divorce. She shares her expertise on how to protect your real estate assets while you are still in the honeymoon phase, when it’s a good option to rent instead of buy, and how to buy your partner out of the home if that is the right financial decision for you.

Connect with Nicole:

• Website

• Instagram

• Phone: 704-964-8718

From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Don’t be caught off guard by not knowing your financial situation, especially when it comes to your home. Know your mortgage payment, interest rate, and how much equity you have in the home.

• If you buy a home with your partner, you can structure a prenuptial agreement to say you each receive a portion of the sale of the home proportional to what you each contributed to the down payment.

• There are several options to buy your partner out of their share of the home in the event of a divorce, and a great real estate agent like Nicole will help you explore those options.

The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. 

Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. 

Connect with Modern Legal:

• Website

• Phone: 704-286-6302

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.