The Conscious Divorce

Divorce and Taxes: Costly Mistakes to Avoid

Divorce and taxes can create expensive surprises if you only look at the numbers on the settlement page. In this episode of The Conscious Divorce Podcast (The most trusted Divorce Podcast), Justin Milrad speaks with CPA and tax resolution expert Patrick Wanzer about the tax issues people often miss before, during, and after divorce. They discuss why a 50/50 asset split may not actually be equal after taxes, how filing status can change your outcome, what to know about capital gains on the marital home, how QDROs work, what happens with tax debt, and why IRS issues should be addressed before the divorce agreement is signed. You’ll learn what questions to ask your CPA, attorney, or divorce financial professional so you can make clearer decisions and avoid painful surprises later. Topics covered: * 00:00 Why a 50/50 divorce split may not be fair after taxes * 03:47 Why taxes are often ignored in divorce * 04:32 Why you need 3–5 years of tax returns * 08:36 Current-year tax projections before mediation * 11:48 Filing status during divorce * 14:57 Head of household filing while still married * 15:58 Child tax credits and parenting schedules * 19:17 Alimony and child support tax rules * 22:43 Why not all divorce assets are equal * 25:37 Thinking in after-tax dollars * 26:04 QDROs and retirement account transfers * 28:15 Pensions and divorce * 29:30 Trusts, estate planning, and divorce * 31:24 Updating beneficiaries after divorce * 32:53 529 plans and college savings * 35:25 Back taxes, unfiled returns, and IRS notices * 39:17 Why the IRS ignores your divorce agreement * 39:30 Innocent spouse relief and hidden tax bombs * 41:23 Divorce tax checklist * 43:11 IRS identity protection PIN * 43:41 How to contact Patrick Wanzer * 44:29 Final lessons on divorce tax strategy Book a free consultation with Justin: www.reclaimandreboot.me/booking [http://www.reclaimandreboot.me/booking] Learn more about Patrick Wanzer: www.breakthroughtaxresolution.com [http://www.breakthroughtaxresolution.com]

Top Divorce Tips for Life After Divorce with Ron Platt

Protect your assets, peace of mind and children: Get a divorce coach! Free consultation at www.reclaimandreboot.me/booking [http://www.reclaimandreboot.me/booking] Life after divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when you are managing parenting, finances, housing, and a new daily routine all at once. Let's talk about Top Divorce Tips for Life After Divorce, financially preparing for divorce, and rebuilding stability after divorce with Ron Platt co-founder and CEO of NASDF [https://www.nasdf.org/] If you are looking for life after divorce guidance, single-parent support, or ways to rebuild stability after divorce, this conversation is a helpful place to start.

How to Divorce an Unstable Spouse Safely

Divorce is already one of the hardest transitions a person can face. But when your spouse is struggling with unmanaged mental health symptoms, addiction, suicidal statements, rage, coercive control, or emotional instability, the process can become even more chaotic, unpredictable, and painful, especially for the children. In this episode of The Conscious Divorce Podcast, Justin Milrad, certified divorce coach, mental health advocate, divorced dad, and founder of Reclaim and Reboot Transformational Divorce Coaching, shares a compassionate but practical framework for navigating divorce when the other person cannot show up as a stable partner in the process. This episode is not about diagnosing, labeling, or weaponizing mental health. It is about recognizing patterns, protecting your children, documenting behavior, setting boundaries, and building the right professional team around you. You’ll learn: How to balance compassion with firm boundaries Why “document, don’t diagnose” is so important What to do when a spouse shuts down, escalates, threatens, or refuses treatment How addiction, rage, suicidal statements, and coercive control can change your divorce strategy How to protect children from adult conflict, loyalty battles, and emotional caretaking When to involve attorneys, therapists, crisis professionals, child therapists, or domestic violence advocates How to build a crisis plan before things escalate Why parallel parenting may be healthier than traditional co-parenting in high-conflict situations You can care about someone’s pain without allowing their instability to control your life, your decisions, or your children’s safety. Important disclaimer: This episode is for educational and coaching purposes only. It is not legal, medical, mental health, financial, or crisis advice. If you are dealing with danger, suicidal statements, threats, abuse, child safety concerns, substance abuse, or legal risk, contact qualified professionals immediately. Crisis Resources: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 988 Lifeline Chat: 988Lifeline.org [http://988Lifeline.org] Emergency Services: Call 911 for imminent danger National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 Text START to 88788 SAMHSA Treatment Locator: FindTreatment.gov [http://FindTreatment.gov] NAMI Family Support: NAMI.org [http://NAMI.org] If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need support right now. Learn more about Reclaim and Reboot Transformational Divorce Coaching or book a free 30-minute consultation at: www.reclaimandreboot.me [http://www.reclaimandreboot.me] You do not have to navigate this alone. Support exists. Treatment works. And asking for help is one of the strongest things you can do.

You Need A Co-Parenting Playbook, Here's Why

Divorce ends the marriage, not the parenting partnership. Learn how to reduce conflict, protect your kids, and co-parent with more clarity. Buy the book: The Co-Parenting Playbook: Proven Strategies for Navigating Divorce, Conflict, and Raising Thriving Kids https://a.co/d/0bdX5smJ [https://a.co/d/0bdX5smJ] Co-parenting after divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions are raw and communication is difficult. In this episode, Justin Milrad and Jill Kaufman share practical, research-informed strategies from their new book to help parents lower conflict, protect their children’s emotional well-being, and create more stability across two homes. They discuss how to communicate without escalating, when parallel parenting may be necessary, how to keep kids out of the middle, and why small changes in your approach can make a lasting difference for your family. 01:03 The Reality of Co-Parenting 05:04 Co-Parenting as a Business Partnership 08:20 Impact of Parental Conflict on Children 12:07 Research on Divorce and Family Conflict 15:25 Benefits of Cooperative Co-Parenting 18:33 Risks of High Conflict Co-Parenting 21:15 Personal Health and Conflict 26:03 Communication Tools: BIFF Method 31:56 Consistency in Co-Parenting 36:21 Handling Difficult Co-Parenting Situations 39:50 Parallel Parenting Explained 47:27 The Legal Resolution Ladder

Parent Coordination Through Mediation

Explore expert insights on divorce support and mediation. Our guest, Joy Hernandez [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-hernandez-mediator/], with over 15 years of experience, guides families through the complexities of divorce. Learn the role of mediators as neutral facilitators and discover the differences between mediation and legal proceedings. Gain valuable advice on parenting plans and decision-making processes to ensure a smoother transition during challenging times. * 03:23 - Role of a Mediator * 03:50 - Parenting Coordinator vs. Decision Maker * 05:23 - Court-Ordered Coordination * 08:42 - Mediation vs. Legal Solutions * 10:35 - Drafting Effective Parenting Plans * 16:20 - Developmental Stages in Parenting Plans * 20:24 - Flexibility in Parenting Plans * 26:51 - Importance of Co-Parenting Communication * 33:54 - Focus on Children's Needs Ready for additional support? Book a free consultation [www.reclaimandreboot.me/booking] or check out our books on amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Justin-Milrad/author/B0FB9FC6QC]