Money & Co-Parenting: Avoiding the Hidden Traps

Money & Co-Parenting: Avoiding the Hidden Traps

The Secret to Handling Divorce Expenses Without Conflict Are money fights and co-parenting conflict exhausting you? In this episode of The Conscious Divorce by Justin Milrad, we sit down with certified divorce coach Lisa Lisser to break down the "money talk" every divorced parent needs to have. It's not just about dollars and cents, it's about the hidden emotional triggers, control issues, and unresolved baggage that turn small expenses into major legal battles. Whether you’re worried about future college costs, car purchases, or handling unreasonable requests, this guide will help you reframe your co-parenting finances as a business-like investment in your children’s success. In this episode, we cover: * 00:00 🎙️ Intro: The Conscious Divorce Podcast * 00:43 💬 Why money fights escalate (The "Quinceañera" example) * 03:30 💰 Why it's never "just about the money" * 08:42 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How children perceive parental conflict * 11:55 📝 Forecasting future expenses: College, tutoring, and more * 15:22 🚗 The "hidden" costs: Teenager car purchases and caps * 20:25 ⚖️ Reframing finances as a business relationship * 24:07 💡 Strategic curiosity: Finding resources and scholarships * 32:42 💔 Handling new partners and financial boundaries * 36:56 ⚡ Rapid-fire: What to do when your co-parent refuses to talk * 39:08 🔮 Proactive planning to avoid future crisis Guest: Lisa Lisser, CDC, Founder of LZL Coaching and Host of the Divorce Clarity Studio podcast. What is the biggest financial challenge you're currently facing in your co-parenting journey? Let us know in the comments below. we read every one. #divorce #coparenting #divorcefinances #consciousdivorce #divorcesupport #financialplanning #parentingagreement #coparentingtips

Divorce Mediation: Creative Solutions Court Can’t Offer

Learn how divorce mediation creates better settlements, parenting plans, and financial solutions with Justin Milrad and Rebecca Miller. Divorce mediation can give couples something court often cannot: room to build creative, practical, human-centered solutions that actually work in real life. In this episode of The Conscious Divorce Podcast, Justin Milrad sits down with Rebecca Miller, a family law attorney and mediator with Cooper Coons in Las Vegas, Nevada, to talk about what mediation can really make possible during divorce. They discuss how mediation helps couples move beyond rigid positions and focus on the deeper interests underneath the conflict. Instead of fighting over the house, the schedule, the money, or the “principle” of the thing, mediation creates space to ask better questions: What does each person actually need? What will help the children feel stable? What financial arrangement can work long term? What agreement can both people live with after the papers are signed? This conversation covers creative divorce settlement options, parenting plans, holiday schedules, child support, spousal support, retirement accounts, tax considerations, high-conflict divorce, and when mediation may or may not be the right path. Justin and Rebecca also talk about the importance of preparation, emotional regulation, financial clarity, and building the right professional team before walking into mediation. Chapters: * 00:00 — Mediation vs arguing over positions * 01:10 — Human-centered solutions courtrooms can’t provide * 06:00 — Courts give a ruling, mediation gives a design * 14:07 — Position vs interest explained * 53:28 — Know your priorities * 54:36 — The goal is not to win the divorce * 55:62 — Mediation gives flexibility * 56:12 — You have more options than you think If you are thinking about divorce, preparing for mediation, or trying to avoid a costly court battle, this episode will help you understand what is possible when divorce is approached with strategy, clarity, and the right support. Book a free strategy session with Reclaim & Reboot: https://www.reclaimandreboot.me/booking [https://www.reclaimandreboot.me/booking] Learn more about Reclaim & Reboot: https://www.reclaimandreboot.me [https://www.reclaimandreboot.me] Connect with Rebecca Miller at Cooper Coons: https://coopercoons.com [https://coopercoons.com] Email: rebecca@coopercoons.com [rebecca@coopercoons.com]

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.