A Year and a Day: Divorce Without Destruction: Recent Episodes
Jaime Davis
The purpose of “A Year and a Day” is to provide information and tips for getting through a separation and divorce without destroying family relationships or the family finances. In the first episode, host Jaime Davis discusses issues related to co-parenting with Dr. Lori Thomas, a licensed psychologist with Wynns Family Psychology. Future episodes will include conversations with marriage therapists, financial planners, and private investigators, as well as discussions of topics such as mediation, parenting coordinators, alienation of affection and other hot topics in family law.
In this episode, Jaime's joined by Rick Salmeron, a Certified Financial Planner and Founder of Salmeron Financial. Rick specializes in guiding individuals through the often-overlooked financial advantages of divorce, and he's seen the hidden silver lining within this life event and the powerful opportunities it can bring. From taking control of your financial ship to exploring investment strategies and unexpected retirement benefits, Rick sheds light on how divorce can serve as a catalyst for building wealth and securing a brighter financial future.
Need help from Rick? Contact him by visiting www.salmeronfinancial.com.
If you are in need of legal assistance in North Carolina, contact us at Gailor Hunt by visiting www.divorceistough.com.
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In this episode, Jaime sits down with board-certified family law specialist Lynn McNally, a partner at the Smith Debnam Law Firm in Raleigh to discuss practical ways to support your loved ones navigating divorce. Lynn and Jaime discuss the vital role that support persons can play during the process of divorce, including considerations for legal consultations, attorney-client privilege, and the delicate balance of emotional assistance. For friends and family, find out how to offer meaningful help, encourage mental health resources, and provide the right kind of support without overstepping boundaries. Jaime and Lynn also call out what not to do as a support person and caution against social media blunders.
Need help from Lynn? Contact her by visiting www.smithdebnamlaw.com.
If you are in need of legal assistance in North Carolina, contact us at Gailor Hunt by visiting www.divorceistough.com.
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Join us as we tackle the intriguing and often taboo topic of open marriages and their potential effects on divorce cases. In this episode, Jaime is joined by fellow Gailor Hunt attorneys Melissa Essick and Grace Massarelli to discuss the legal implications that arise when couples have consensual non-monogamous relationships. Interestingly, they have recently seen an increase in divorce cases involving open marriages.
Discover what defines an open marriage, why couples consider an open marriage, the importance of communication and boundaries, and how it can influence custody, alimony, and equitable distribution claims. Jaime and her colleagues discuss the importance of a written contract, which can show intent, although it’s not legally binding in North Carolina. The legal implications on divorce are still a very much gray area in the state, but this episode will help to unravel this complex situation from a divorce standpoint.
If you are in need of legal assistance in North Carolina, contact us at Gailor Hunt by visiting www.divorceistough.com.
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In this episode, Jaime delves into the topic of infidelity and its implications in divorce cases with Michelle Chiaramonte, a clinical social worker and therapist specializing in marriage and couples counseling. They explore why people cheat, the changing dynamics of infidelity across genders, and how individuals can navigate the aftermath of an affair. Discover valuable insights into the emotional complexities of infidelity and how to move forward, whether together or apart. Michelle also shares thoughts on how to help prevent infidelity in your relationship. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of infidelity and its impact on divorce.
Need help from Michelle? Contact her by visiting www.luminacounseling.com.
If you are in need of legal assistance in North Carolina, contact us at Gailor Hunt by visiting www.divorceistough.com.
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In this episode, Jaime's talking with Bill Eddy, therapist, lawyer, mediator, and co-founder of the High Conflict Institute. Discover the key differences between high-conflict divorces and typical divorces, common behaviors exhibited by high-conflict individuals, and effective strategies to protect yourself and your children during the divorce process. Gain valuable insights from Bill Eddy's expertise in dealing with high-conflict personalities and learn how to navigate divorce without destruction. Tune in now and take the first step toward a peaceful resolution.
Need help from Bill? Contact him by visiting www.highconflictinstitute.com.
If you are in need of legal assistance in North Carolina, contact us at Gailor Hunt by visiting www.divorceistough.com.
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In this episode, Jaime's joined by Jonathan Melton, Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, certified mediator for family financial cases and fellow attorney at Gailor Hunt, to discuss same-sex marriage and the challenges LGBTQIA+ couples may encounter during separation and divorce. Discover the legal implications that same-sex couples faced prior to marriage equality, including the absence of property rights, tax benefits, and legal remedies, and learn about the complexities of custody issues for same-sex couples and how marriage equality has helped mitigate some of these challenges. Jonathan provides valuable insights into the importance of premarital agreements, highlighting their role in simplifying asset division, spousal support, and alleviating future legal battles. Tune in as we explore the legal landscape surrounding same-sex relationships and empower individuals to navigate their journey with clarity and confidence.
If you are in need of legal assistance in North Carolina, contact us at Gailor Hunt by visiting www.divorceistough.com.
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In this episode, Jaime talks with Steve Schleupner, Certified Divorce Coach and Financial Planner, about his personal experience with divorce and how it inspired him to become a divorce coach. Steve shares his journey of navigating divorce as a single father and the challenges he faced in balancing his career and responsibilities. He introduces Stoic philosophy and its application in coaching men through divorce, emphasizing the importance of perception, actions, and focusing on what is within their control. Tune in to this enlightening conversation to gain valuable tools and strategies for men to achieve a positive outcome in divorce and rebuild their life.
Need help from Steve? Contact him by visiting www.youtreecoaching.com.
If you are in need of legal assistance in North Carolina, contact us at Gailor Hunt by visiting www.divorceistough.com.
Like this show? Rate it here!
Determining how much the family business is worth during a divorce is a fairly common issue. If separating spouses cannot agree on the value of their business, an expert is normally brought in to perform a formal business valuation. In this episode, CPA and Certified Valuation Analyst David Amiss shares his expertise about valuing a family business for divorce in an uncertain economy.
Separation and divorce can be difficult enough, but when a couple has a child with special needs, separating can be even more complicated. In this episode, attorney Linda Malone shares some of the things a couple should consider if they are planing to separate and they have a child with special needs. Topics include, establishment of special needs trusts, government benefits, guardianship, and supplemental insurance among other things.
An inflated sense of self-importance, a need for attention from others, and a lack of empathy are some of the hallmark behaviors of narcissism and sound like what not to look for in a spouse or dating partner. In this episode, Michelle Chiaramonte, LCSW and owner of Lumina Counseling Associates shares her expertise about navigating the divorce process when a narcissist is involved.
In this epsiode, host Jaime Davis interviews author Kimberly Ewertz about her first book Family Redefined: Childhood Reflections on the Impact of Divorce which is a collection of testimonies by adult children of divorce. In 1990, after twelve years of marriage, Kimberly filed for divorce propelling her and her then ten year old son into a journey of irrevocable change. That journey was the impetus for Family Redefined.
Thriving during separation can be difficult when you have a child who refuses to spend time with either you or your co-parent. In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses the process of reunification therapy with Dr. Tina Lepage, a forensic and clinical pyschologist and founder of Lepage Associates Psychological and Psychiatric Services. https://lepageassociates.com/.
During separation and divorce, you can become your own worst enemy if you allow the stress of the situation to change who you are and how you present. It can be difficult to make important legal decisions that may impact the rest of your life if you are not managing your stress. In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses the benefits of seeking individual therapy while going through the divorce process with Michelle Chiaramonte, LCSW and owner of Lumina Counseling Associates. https://www.luminacounseling.com/
In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses how to help your children thrive during separation with child psychologist Dr. Lori Thomas. Dr. Thomas provides guidance and insight into issues such as how and when to tell the children about the separation, what not to tell the children, and what to expect once the children know about the separation. http://wynnsfamilypsychology.com/OurDoctors/tabid/366/Default.aspx.
Most people think it’s conflict and argument that lead to divorce. In fact, it’s the decreasing affection and the lack of emotional responsiveness that lead to separation and divorce. In this episode host Jaime Davis discusses the impact of COVID on marriages with licensed marriage and family therapist Caroline Landen. https://awakeningscenter.org/therapists/caroline-byrd-landen/.
This season the podcast will highlight themes with the purpose of not only helping you survive your divorce but to also thrive while you are making your way through the process. Most of the episodes this season will concentrate on self-care and therapy related subjects. In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses when family therapy might be a good idea for a family experiencing divorce with licensed marriage and family therapist Erin Ballard. https://raleighfamilysolutions.com/erin-ballard/.
Buying and selling a home during separation can present a unique set of challenges. In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses the process with listing agent Julie Bell, buyer's agent Christina Cataldo and mortgage loan officer Deon Bradford- the team at Julie Bell Real Estate Divorce Specialists. For more information, you can visit their website at https://redivorcespecialists.com/.
People often have questions about how to best protect their children and their assets during a divorce, but one area that they often overlook is protecting their data and making sure that their spouse can’t access their devices accidentally or otherwise. In this episode host Jaime Davis explores this topic with Rusty Gilmore, a Security Consultant and Computer Forensic Expert with Protus3.
When you are involved in a child custody case, there are several types of evaluations you may encounter including custody evaluations, psychological evaluations, and substance abuse assessments. In this episode host Jaime Davis and fellow family law attorney Melissa Essick discuss what these evaluations entail and offer practical tips for parents who may be facing an evaluation in connection with their child custody case.
For many people, divorce may be the first and sometimes only time they will work with a lawyer during their lifetime. Not knowing how to work effectively with your lawyer can lead to unnecessary frustration and dissatisfaction. In this episode, host Jaime Davis and her law partner Carrie Tortora discuss tips related to five different areas of working with a divorce attorney: the initial consultation, including how to prepare and what to expect; communicating with your lawyer; what to do when you are asked to collect documents and information for your attorney; managing your legal bill; and most importantly, maintaining your sanity during the process.
If you are contemplating separation or divorce, you may be worried about how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect your ability to physically separate from your spouse, as well as your ability to negotiate and finalize agreements about child custody, child support, the division of your assets and alimony and what will happen if you find yourself needing the court's assistance. In this episode, host Jaime Davis and fellow family law attorney Lynn McNally discuss how COVID might impact your divorce and whether now is a good time to separate or not.
Being separated or divorced and dealing with child custody is hard enough on a good day. Divorced parents often wish to avoid interacting with one another if possible, but the coronavirus pandemic is presenting new challenges and is requiring more communication. In this episode, host Jaime Davis and her law partner Carrie Tortora discuss tips for navigating child custody and child support during the COVID-19 outbreak.
In this episode, host Jaime Davis and colleague Lynn McNally discuss Jaime's newly released book entitled A Year and a Day which is based largely on this podcast. In 2017, Jaime decided to create the podcast to provide tips and information for getting through a separation and divorce without destroying family relationships or the family finances. The book is geared toward divorce related professionals and individuals who are contemplating separation, have been told by their spouse that they want to separate, or who may be dealing with child custody issues.
People going through a separation often want to know whether they can represent themselves in connection with their divorce case. While the short answer to this question is yes, in this episode host Jaime Davis and fellow family law attorney Lynn McNally delve deeper into the issue and discuss times when it may be ok for you to represent yourself and other times when you should consider hiring a lawyer to help you.
Various claims arise from the dissolution of a marriage. One of those claims is equitable distribution. Postseparation support and alimony are two additional claims that arise. Child custody and child support may also be at issue. In Episode 6, host Jaime Davis and her law partner Meredith Cross discuss two ways to resolve these claims and what to do if you have just been served with a lawsuit.
Alimony and cohabitation can be some of the more frustrating issues for family law clients. There are many misconceptions about who is entitled to alimony, how it is calculated, and what constitutes cohabitation. In this episode, host Jaime Davis and her colleague Melissa Essick discuss when a spouse might be entitled to receive alimony, whether there is a formula for calculating the amount and duration, and how cohabitation might impact a person's right to continue receiving spousal support.
In most cases, when we talk about the issues arising from a couple’s separation, we discuss civil claims such as child custody, child support, alimony and property distribution. But there are some actions a spouse might take following a separation that can lead to criminal liability. In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses two of those issues- domestic criminal trespass and revenge porn- with attorney Maria Hawkins of the Miller Law Group.
If a person is married, can he completely disinherit the other spouse in his will? If spouses separate, is there anything they should consider changing about their estate plans? In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses inheritance rights and how your marital status might affect those rights with attorney Brooke Dalrymple. In her estate planning work, Brooke counsels clients and prepares the documents necessary to ensure their wishes are honored with regard to their assets, their health care, and the handling of their financial affairs.
There seems to be a misconception that all couples going through a divorce are involved in high conflict cases. In reality, however, the majority of separating couples are able to resolve their issues with little or no court intervention. With that said, there are some cases that despite the lawyers using their best efforts will not settle. The parties are unable to agree upon even the smallest of issues and court battles ensue. These cases are often referred to as high conflict cases. In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses the topic of high conflict cases with Donna Moore, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Healthy Divorce Recovery Specialist.
Who gets the family business in a divorce? Will I continue to co-own it with my spouse? Will I have to buy out his or her interest? How will my business be valued? Will I need to hire an expert? In this episode, host Jaime Davis and her law partner Nicole Taylor discuss the answers to these questions and more concerning what happens to the family business in a divorce.
Domestic violence is a problem that does not discriminate. Anyone can be a victim or a perpetrator of domestic violence. Domestic violence transcends all socioeconomic boundaries and education levels and can affect people of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. In this episode, host Jaime Davis discusses the issue of domestic violence and how to obtain a domestic violence protective order in NC with her colleague Jonathan Melton.
The first holiday season after a separation can evoke a variety of emotions for both you and your children. Steeped as they are in memories and traditions, the holidays are likely to stir up feelings of fear, stress, and potentially even sadness. In episode 15, host Jaime Davis and fellow family law attorney Melissa Essick discuss tips for preparing and coping with the first holiday season as a separated/divorced family.
Custody cases in and of themselves are hard enough, but one issue that can further complicate an already highly emotional situation is substance abuse. In this episode, host Jaime Davis and her law partner Carrie Tortora offer tips and discuss actions you can take if you find yourself involved in a custody case where substance abuse is an issue.
In Episode 13, host Jaime Davis discusses the importance of self-care during the divorce process with fellow family law attorney Lynn McNally. This episode addresses such issues as: What is self-care? Why is self-care important during a divorce? What can you do to ensure you are taking care of yourself during a divorce?
Can your cell phone be imaged? Can your spouse obtain a copy of your Facebook archive? What about text messages and emails? These questions and more are answered in Episode 12 when the tables are turned and host Jaime Davis is interviewed by her interns Grace Massarelli and Olivia Daniels about evidence in child custody cases.
Learning how to navigate the do's and don'ts of being involved in a child custody dispute can be unnerving. In Episode 11, host Jaime Davis discusses helpful tips for surviving child custody litigation with her colleague and fellow family law attorney Melissa J. Essick. Jaime and Melissa address issues such as how to appropriately communicate with the other parent, what not to post on social media, and how to avoid alienating your child.
Thanks to a very important project of Legal Aid of North Carolina, in some custody cases, an attorney can be appointed to represent the child to advocate for what the child wants to have happen. In Episode 10, host Jaime Davis discusses The Child's Advocate with its program director attorney Suzanne Chester.
When the trial is over and the Judge has entered the Order, your case is finished, right? The answer is not necessarily. In some cases if you disagree with the Judge's ruling, you may have another avenue available to you. In Episode 9, host Jaime Davis discusses the appellate process in family law cases with her colleague and fellow family law attorney Jonathan Melton.
When parents separate, we often hear about a custody schedule being put in place that addresses when the children will spend time with each of their parents, but in some cases, grandparents may have rights too. In Episode 8, host Jaime Davis discusses the topic of grandparent visitation with her law partner Stephanie Gibbs, who often represents grandparents involved in custody disputes.
Episode 7 features special guest Caroline Landen, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in Couples and Sex therapy with the Awakenings Center for Intimacy and Sexuality. In Episode 7, Caroline and host Jaime Davis discuss the benefits of marriage counseling both before and after a decision to end the marriage has been made.
Cheating, or adultery as it is referred to in the legal context, is one of the more challenging problems that can arise in a marriage, and often it is one of the factors associated with the decision to separate or divorce. In Episode 6, host Jaime Davis discusses the potential impact adultery can have on a family law case, as well as potential claims a spouse may have against the third party for alienation of affection and criminal conversation.
In Episode 5, host and Certified Parenting Coordinator Jaime Davis discusses the topic of Parenting Coordinators in child custody cases with fellow family law attorney and Parenting Coordinator Katie King. If you are involved in a high conflict custody dispute and you and your co-parent have a difficult time making decisions that affect your children, a Parenting Coordinator may be the answer. This episode will explain what a Parenting Coordinator is and how to get one, as well as offer tips for working with your Parenting Coordinator once one has been appointed.
Episode 4 features special guest Haleh Moddasser, CPA. Haleh is the Senior Vice President and Managing Partner of Stearns Financial Group's Triangle Office, and she has recently published a book entitled Gray Divorce: Silver Linings. In Episode 4, Haleh and host Jaime Davis discuss the concept of Gray Divorce and the different impact divorce after age 50 can have on women versus men. For more information about Haleh, go to http://www.stearnsfinancial.com/team_member/haleh-moddasser/
In Episode 3, host Jaime Davis explores common myths surrounding separation and divorce with her law partner Carrie Tortora. Carrie and Jaime discuss such topics as whether "papers" are required to be legally separated; whether committing adultery means a spouse loses everything; and whether the children get to decide where they live.
In Episode 2, host Jaime Davis discusses the topic of mediation with fellow family law attorney and mediator Lynn McNally. This episode addresses questions such as: How does mediation work? How much does it cost? Why is mediation beneficial? Are there any downsides to mediation?
In Episode 1, host Jaime Davis discusses issues related to co-parenting with Dr. Lori Thomas, a licensed psychologist with Wynns Family Psychology. Dr. Thomas offers tips and suggestions for how parents can continue to successfully co-parent their children despite a separation or divorce.