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In this Modern Divorce podcast, Arizona family law attorney  Billie Tarascio and Virginia family law attorney Devon Slovensky break down the elements that you need to take into account when deciding whether to sell the family house and start new elsewhere - or if you can keep the house during and after the divorce process.

Each state has its different rules, but the same emotional elements will be at play in any state you divorce in. Some people trade a stake in the house for part of a 401(k) when splitting assets, but there will be differences in the way each asset grows over the years, and the tax implications.

This episode is specifically for anyone contemplating divorce and whether to stay or go: it's the all-important question and one that can have years of after effects on your life and finances.

Connect with Devon at [email protected] and Billie at [email protected]

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Pop artist Britney Spears, at 39,  is still not in charge of her own life. The #FreeBritney movement, spurred further by a New York Times documentary airing on Hulu, looks at why she is still enduring a court-sanctioned conservatorship managed by her father, and whether her adult rights are being unfairly or criminally curtailed.

In this fascinating episode of the Modern Divorce podcast, family law attorneys Billie Tarascio and Darin Colburn of Modern Law break down the areas that make them suspicious of - even angry at - these arrangements, and how they'd approach the situation as attorneys. In fact, the conservatorship, and her father's behavior, has been used against her, to limit her time with her own children.

For anyone who is following the #FreeBritney movement, or is interested in the effects of conservatorships in family law, this is a must-listen.

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In this fascinating episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, host Billie Tarascio talks with Dana Lam, founder of the Surprise Date Challenge on how to save a marriage from divorce with some simple steps that anyone can do. The conversation also covers when you'll know if it's "over," and Dana's own rocky path to understanding these steps after suffering a divorce to her children's father.

Keeping a marriage and a relationship together is said to take "work," but in this episode, Dana explains how her Surprise Date Challenge came to be. She's also written a book on the subject by the same name.

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When a professional person who runs a business, like a dentist, doctor, lawyer, or accountant, is in a divorce, the "goodwill" value of that business and professional value can be a key sticking point.

Professional business valuations can be thousands of dollars different depending on how, and who, does the valuations.

In this episode, Modern Law Attorney Billie Tarascio talks with Chris David, of Health Value Group (healthvaluegroup.com) about the process for setting a valuation and what factors are taken into account.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone divorcing who operates a business based on their professional training and education. It's a technical area of law that affects average people divorcing in community property states where assets are customarily split in half. How do you place a value on an accountant's book of business? What happens when one spouse has student loan debt accumulated during the marriage? 

You may have to listen to this one twice, and take notes.

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Spousal maintenance - what used to be called alimony - can be a key negotiating point in a divorce. In this episode of the Modern Divorce Podcast, Family Law Attorney Billie Tarascio talks with Ryan Claridge, a Modern Law attorney, who talks about the strategies involved when it comes time to asking for spousal maintenance. 

It's not a divorce penalty, Ryan says, but it is a bridge for one spouse who makes less money than the other, to receive income from the other spouse for a period of time. Sometimes courts look at spousal maintenance as "compensatory," such as when one spouse supports another while getting a college degree, for instance. 

For anyone who is in the midst of splitting up and potentially receiving - or paying - spousal maintenance, this discussion is all about your money and how you can make the most of it.

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In this Modern Divorce Podcast, we do a deep dive into the common issues that come up for divorced parents who are jointly raising children. And there are problems aplenty - which can sometimes be solved beforehand in a well drafted parenting plan.

What if mom doesn't want the kiddos to have cell phones because they aren't doing their school work? But dad disagrees because he pays the cell phone bills. That could be part of a parenting plan. But how should issues like children's doctors and discipline be addressed?  How should a parent react when the other uses corporeal punishment like spanking when the other is strictly against it?

Colombian-born family attorney Henry Alzate talks with Modern Law's Billie Tarascio about how to navigate these very difficult waters, and how to handle communication issues that surround disagreements. Building a parenting plan may need to include details for dealing with a teenager when that child is currently five.

Henry Alzate has a private practice in the Phoenix area, and can be reached at 602-290-5487. You can also reach Billie Tarascio at [email protected] or at MyModernLaw.com

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When it comes to splitting up property and money with your ex, are you leaving too much money on the table? Can you get a better deal with your spouse if you negotiate harder, or in a better way?

In this Modern Divorce podcast episode, your host, Billie Tarascio talks with her Modern Law colleague Darin Colburn about the asset and money split between Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, one of the richest men in the world, and his ex wife MacKenzie Scott. The discussion has some critical negotiating points for anyone splitting up assets in a divorce, including things you are absolutely entitled to, and assessing your real value and contributions during a marriage.

Some people may be interested in striking a quick deal and getting OUT of the marriage, but in other cases, people may be more interested in doing a deep dive into hidden assets or mis-valued assets. This is a fascinating breakdown of things you need to know during a divorce.

For more information, contact the Modern Law team at [email protected], or stop by our website at MyModernLaw.com

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After representing children in court, family law attorney Tami Haley, found out that the children in your life are listening to everything you say. Let's just say it's like having a camera recording everything you are doing.

"You have to see the custody issues from the eyes of the child," Tami says. "They know everything." In this episode, Tami talks about how to step mom the right way and how to insulate children from all the drama of divorce and post-divorce.

One of the only ways to lose custody is by failing to recognize your children's needs. Tami talks with host Billie Tarascio about step parenting and how to manage the dicey issues surrounding children who have to live through the dramas and stress of a divorce.

To find Tami, check her out at HaleyLawAZ.com. And find more about Billie Tarascio and Modern Law at [email protected] 

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Family law attorney Kylie Bigelow is known for her ability to pull out amazing outcomes from high drama, difficult and messy child custody divorces where a parent's ability to spend time with their child - and their longterm relationship - is on the line. In this episode, our host Billie Tarascio talks with Kylie about dealing with angry children, implanted memories, parental alienation and whether and when a therapist should be called into the mix.

If you're dealing with child custody issues, and possibly fighting with a child about maintaining your parenting (read: relationship) time with that child, then this is the must-listen podcast for developing a strategy to deal with your difficult situation.

To find out more about Kylie Bigelow, check her out at MyModernLaw.com.