In this episode of Conversations About Divorce, we're talking about child custody battles.

We've all read about the ugliness and painful allegations that are made in celebrity divorces and those are mainstays of many custody fights. They're always ugly, always expensive and once started, there's rarely any backtracking. Once the accusations have been made, there's no taking them back. They can't be erased.

The impact these battles have can spread far and wide. The children at the center of the arguments are always exposed and involved, and friends and family members are rarely immune.

There are however, times when parenting absolutely does need to be restricted for the safety of the child. So how do you know when to fight and when to settle? How can you be sure you're making the right decision for your child? Are there alternatives that are less damaging for all?

Joining Mandy for this Conversation is Connecticut-based family law attorney Larry Sarezky. Larry is the author of the book Divorce Simply Stated (available on Amazon) and he also wrote and directed the award-winning film, Talk To Strangers, which is aimed at helping parents avoid putting their children through a court-based custody battle.

You'll find a synopsis of the show over at Mandy's blog, Since My Divorce .