Modern Arizona

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When Gilbert, Arizona resident Rick Keuhner was forced to send his teenage son out of the country to live with his mom, it was the last straw. His son had been beaten three times by local thugs, dubbed the Gilbert Goons, who continuously threatened the boy via social media and in school. A video of the latest beating and texts identifying the perpetrators were handed to police and the school, yet nothing was done to keep the teen from being terrorized.

Still worse, when local boy Preston Lord was murdered by a similar beating at a Halloween party in 2023, with videos showing the event, no arrests were made, in part because police had not thought to link any of the local beatings by many of the same kids.

Modern Divorce host and attorney Billie Tarascio talks with Rick about what happened, when, and why Gilbert police Chief said there was "no probably cause" to arrest the one responsible, much less his cohorts. This episode looks at the legal issues at hand, and what to do when your child is bullied. When adults don't help, what happens when a child is pushed beyond their limits?

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How do you get back into dating after a divorce while avoiding poseurs, thieves and players? Can an intelligent professional woman find someone decent online?

Modern Law Attorney and 2016 Marathon Olympian Lanni Marchant joins Modern Divorce host Billie Tarascio to talk about online support groups for women: specifically the "Are We Dating The Same Guy" group. 

As an attorney, Lanni has a special interest in watching the areas that overlap into family law, and her involvement in the group brings some interesting insights for newly divorce women looking to jump back into the dating game after being dissatisfied with dating apps filled with questionable hookups and men pretending to be something they're not.

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Gilbert Arizona is a highly sought-after suburb of Phoenix where parents can find nice homes in safe surroundings. But that visage of safety was shattered when a teenager, Preston Lord, at a 2023 Halloween party was murdered by a mob of Gilbert and neighboring Queen Creek teens who call themselves the Gilbert Goons. As social media pages started lighting up with videos of the event, along with other disturbing pictures of random Fight Club-style beatings, drugs and weapons appeared. Parents began demanding police take action.

One of many issues in the community is the time that has passed since many of the crimes by the Goons have taken place. Has law enforcement and schools done enough to weed out the criminals?

In today's episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, host Billie Tarascio steps into the world of a criminal defense attorney, Ryan McPhie of the Grand Canyon Law Group, who shares a deep dive into what teens and parents who are protecting them could be facing when it comes to the charges that are still to come. Will they be facing jail time, fines or more?

As of this recording, the first assault charges were announced as of January 10, 2024 against a few of the Goons, but the community is still clamoring for more,  and still asking when will someone be arrested for the murder of Preston Lord?

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Is your Soon To Be Ex hiding money or keeping you from having access to it?

Look, we know domestic violence is abuse. But what about when one spouse keeps the other from having access to money, including some or all accounts, along with hiding statements, credit cards and bills.

It's called financial abuse, and it plays a part in many a divorce. In today's episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, Arizona family law attorney and host Billie Tarascio, and New York attorney Lisa Zeiderman, talk about how to spot financial abuse, and what can be done about it.

Pro tip: for those who have not yet filed their divorce, the differences between how New York and Arizona (and many other states) treat financial calculations for child support and alimony, aka spousal support, is very different, and it can make a difference in the outcome of one spouse's financial status over the other at the end of a divorce. If you have your foot in two states, and not sure where to file for divorce, listen in to find out more.

To connect with Lisa, whose lawfirm specializes in the equitable distribution of marital assets, drop by her website at LisaZeiderman.com

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So what happens when one parent doesn't return your child home? Or your kiddo shows off scratches or bruises they picked up at your ex's house? Or worse, talks about drug paraphernalia or weapons at their 'other' house.

Is it time to call police? Maybe. In this episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, family law attorney and host Billie Tarascio talks with longtime friend, police lieutenant Doug Mozan to discuss these scenarios and more. You'll find out when to call police, and when they will pass on something you think is important. 

This episode is packed with definitive information that all single parents
 should hear. When dealing with an ex who doesn't follow the rules of a parenting agreement to driving under the influence, it's important to know when to pick up the phone and ask for help from law enforcement or your family law attorney.

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Something very weird is going on in our host's backyard, the town of Gilbert, Arizona. Billed as one of the safest cities of its size in the country, the facade has been pierced by the October murder of a teenage boy in a nearby town with ties to a 'fight club' group based in Gilbert calling itself the Gilbert Goons. 

Parents have been alarmed at uncovering a collection of ill-conceived social media posts among high schoolers in the area showing drugs, weapons and "thrill beatings" that have been taking place with some regularity  over the past year - all without any apparent action by law enforcement.

In this special episode, Billie Tarascio, as a concerned mother of teenagers, talks with criminal defense attorney Lance Standage, based in Kansas, who pulls back the curtain on what happens when gang-like activity occurs and how police and the FBI put together a case.

As an ardent social media poster herself, Billie has been getting private messages from many local parents who have asked her to explain the legal aspects of the case, and shed some light on why no arrests have been made so far.

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Discover the startling truth about the long-lasting psychological effects of divorce conflicts on children in this eye-opening episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast. Did you know that as many as 1 in 4 children of divorce endure these profound consequences? This is a staggering statistic, especially when compared to just 1 in 10 children from non-divorce families facing similar challenges.

Join our host, Billie Tarascio, as she dives into this crucial topic with special guest, Dr. Karey O'Hara, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University. Dr. O'Hara shares her groundbreaking research findings on the mental health of children following parental separation and divorce. The insights she provides are not only enlightening but have far-reaching implications for divorced parents everywhere.

In this fascinating conversation, you'll discover:

• Practical steps and strategies parents can take to support their children through these challenges.
• How divorce can influence parents' life choices and relationships.
• Why Dr. O'Hara believes this issue has become a national health concern.

If you're a divorced parent or know someone who is, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Karey O'Hara's ongoing research project, Project Brain Team is still open to participants ages 9-12. You can connect with her on LinkedIn if you'd like to have your child take part. 

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Step into the world of high-conflict divorce on the Modern Divorce Podcast, where we tackle a pressing issue head-on: Parental Alienation. Today's important espisode features Reunification Family Therapist, Cathy Himlin, of Himlin Consulting, teaming up with family law attorney and host, Billie Tarascio, to unpack the elements of this complex phenomenon and equip you with the essential parenting skills you needto rebuild a connection with your child.

In this important episode, Cathy shares some amazing insights driving Parental Alienation, including:

• The surprising truth behind why even 'nice guy' parents can find themselves on the outside looking in
• The contentious issues surrounding reunification camps
• The hidden layers of grief that silently shape family dynamics.
• How children absorb their parents' emotions like sponges
• The detrimental effects of permissive parenting
• The stages of child developmental that can potentially influence on parental rejection

Even if you're the parent who is spending the majority of time with your child, this episode unveils a host of issues that every single parent should be aware of. To find Cathy, you can connect with her on Facebook and Linkedin.

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How can a well-known personality test help make your life smoother, influence and negotiate your divorce, and give you turbo power with dealing with kiddos, family and worklife? Meet Tracy O'Malley, who shares the nine powerful personality types of the Enneagram system with Modern Divorce Podcast Host Billie Tarascio in today's episode.

Tracy taught all the attorneys at Modern Law how to use these tools, and the reports back were that the Enneagram - done right - was "life changing."  Billie brings Tracy to the mic so you can learn how to hack your interactions with people to find new success in your life.

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As many as 75% of divorces are filed by women: are they getting what they need and want? In this episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, Host Billie Tarascio joins Erin Levine, founder of Hello Divorce, to talk about the latest trends in divorce including elements that can turn a bad divorce agreement into something that works for both sides now and in the future.   

For instance, this episode covers new methods to get highly functional parenting plans, including pets in the agreement, avoiding traditional divorce destruction, and creative ways to deal with the family home in today's high interest, high-cost real estate market.

Erin and Billie have similar goals in working to make divorce easier, cheaper, and more effective. In Erin's case, as a family law attorney with Levine Family Law in San Francisco, her Hello Divorce platform includes automating legal and financial logistics, offering on-demand access to experts, and providing support in resolving conflicts and reaching agreements. Billie, meanwhile, offers low cost services through Modern Law and IDoOver.life with affordable help from a legal paraprofessional, in addition to do-it-yourself attorney guidance on WinWithoutLawSchool.com

Erin and Billie also discussed how their platforms are different from traditional legal services, with Hello Divorce offering a collaborative approach that opts out of the adversarial system. Erin mentioned that over 125,000 people actively use the platform each month, with many using it to prepare for or navigate the divorce process. They also discussed data they've collected showing that 70-75% of divorces are filed by women and that people are spending more time thinking creatively about their agreements.