By Alex Beattie | The Divorce Planner If you've ever Googled "where do I even start with divorce," you're not alone. Most people enter the process completely unprepared — and they pay for it. Not just emotionally, but financially, in real attorney fees for questions they could have answered themselves. A divorce preparation toolkit is exactly what it sounds like: a system that helps you organize your documents, understand your finances, clarify your goals, and walk into every

Watch the full conversation above, then read on for the essential strategies that will help you create a co-parenting agreement that protects your children's future. Creating a parenting plan is one of the most emotionally difficult parts of divorce. No parent starts a family thinking, "I'm only going to have my kids for a certain percentage of the time." But here's the thing—a well-crafted parenting plan can save you thousands in legal fees, protect your relationship with yo

Here's a statistic that should stop you in your tracks: What happens when she earns more but still does more at home? The divorce rate triples. Female breadwinners represent just 16% of all married households—but account for 42% of divorces. Let that sink in for a second. Women who earn more than their husbands are nearly three times more likely to get divorced than couples where the man earns more. And if she's the sole breadwinner? The divorce rate is more than double. I se

If you're reading this, you've probably been Googling divorce questions at 2 a.m., trying to figure out what you're supposed to do next. You're not alone. Millions of people search for divorce information every single month. And the questions they're asking? They're probably the same ones you have. So let's cut through the legal-speak and get to the nitty gritty about what you really need to know from the top 10 divorce searches. Subscribe to The Divorce Planner's newsletter

Let's be honest: choosing a divorce attorney is one of the most important decisions you'll make during this process. And it's also one of the most intimidating. You're supposed to interview them like you're hiring for a job, but you're doing it while you're stressed, overwhelmed, and probably have no idea what you're even looking for. I get it. I've been there. So let me walk you through exactly how to choose an attorney who's the right fit—not just for your case, but for you

AI has definitely changed the world, whether for the better is yet to be seen. AI versus human, what's better? There are so many pros and cons to using it including environmental concerns, accuracy, extreme bias and the erosion of work for actual humans. Full transparency, AI is definitely my biggest competition. And I know this for a fact because my website has AI platform tracking capability, and it constantly shows me that ChatGPT and other platforms are pulling my informa

Made it through another holiday season thinking “I can’t do this one more year”? You’re not alone. Divorce attorneys see a 33% increase in January. January has a hidden nickname in the legal world: Divorce Month . Why January Is Called “Divorce Month” Family law attorneys brace for a surge of calls starting the first week of January. Divorce-related Google searches skyrocket. And by March, divorce filings hit their annual peak. But is January really when most people divorce

How to Co-Parent with a High-Conflict Ex: Strategies That Actually Work If you're co-parenting with someone who's high-conflict or toxic, you know how exhausting it is. You're juggling custody schedules, managing big emotions, and trying not to fall into old patterns that kept you stuck for so long. I sat down with certified divorce coach Leah Marie Mazur to talk about what actually works when you're dealing with a narcissistic, manipulative, or just flat-out difficult co-par

If you’re heading into the holiday season while navigating divorce or separation, this time of year can feel anything but merry. That mix of gratitude and complete overwhelm? Totally normal. Dread and anxiety? Yup, normal. The holidays during or after divorce feel different. But here’s what I want you to know: different doesn’t have to mean bad. Subscribe to The Divorce Planner's weekly newsletter and get divorce prep tips and tools delivered right to your inbox! Whether it’s

What the Podcast Didn't Cover: Strategic Financial Preparation for Divorce After 50 Watch Oprah's podcast about gray divorce. Last week, something significant happened in the divorce conversation. Oprah Winfrey released a podcast episode entirely dedicated to gray divorce—the term for divorce after age 50. The episode featured some of the leading voices in this space: Susan Guthrie, host of The Divorce & Beyond Podcast  and a family law attorney with over 30 years of experien

High-Conflict Co-Parenting: How to Protect Your Kids With a Bulletproof Parenting Plan Does your co-parent make every interaction about drama instead of putting your kids first? That's not normal co-parenting—that's toxic behavior, and it requires a completely different approach. I sat down with parenting plan expert Samantha Boss, who specializes in high-conflict co-parenting situations. Samantha knows how to deal with manipulative co-parents who show up late on purpose, bad

"Where do I start when preparing for divorce? I feel completely overwhelmed and don't know what to do first." This question lands in my inbox almost daily, and honestly? It's completely understandable. Divorce feels like standing at the base of a mountain without a map. You know you need to get to the other side, but the path forward seems impossible to figure out. Here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out at once. And you definitely don't need to do it alone.

"Some days I feel strong. Other days, I don't know who I am anymore." Who you get to be after divorce is up to YOU. This is one of the most common things I hear from clients—and it takes me right back to my own divorce. The hardest part wasn't just losing the relationship. It was losing me in the version of "we" that I had been living for years: the routines, the role of being a wife, the role of being a mother, being in "just trying to survive" mode, and having no idea who I

How treating yourself with kindness becomes your most powerful tool for navigating divorce with clarity and strength Treat yourself with the same compassion you would give to your best friend. When people talk about protecting your energy during divorce, they often suggest rest, long walks, or bubble baths. And while those things help, they don't go deep enough. Because the biggest energy drain isn't always your ex, your lawyer, or your to-do list -- it's your inner critic. Y

The strategic framework that turns overwhelming decisions into clear action steps Divorce can feel like a big game of chess. Every move you make has consequences—some you see immediately, others that don't reveal themselves until it's too late. Subscribe to The Divorce Planner's newsletter  and get divorce prep tips and tools delivered right to your inbox! A client of mine came to me insisting that she wanted to keep the family home and most of the retirement accounts. It fel

You can get just about anything online these days: a first date, wedding registry, and a divorce. Is an online divorce service right for you? Yep, you read that right. Getting divorced online is now as common as ordering your morning coffee through an app. But before you start thinking divorce is as simple as adding items to your Amazon cart, let's pump the brakes and talk about what online divorce services actually are, how they work, and whether they're right for your situa

Why Your Marriage Ending Might Be Your Best Life Beginning Your next chapter gets to be written by YOU. When you're facing divorce after 45, it feels like everything is falling apart. The life you built, the future you planned, the person you thought you were—suddenly none of it makes sense anymore. I hear this from clients all the time: "I should be grateful for what I have, so why do I feel so empty?" Here's what I want you to consider: what if this is your moment to finall

With some thoughtful planning, you can turn summer during divorce from “yuck”  to “yeah!" Summer is supposed to be the season of freedom and fun for kids—but if you’re navigating divorce, you know it can bring a whole different set of challenges. I’ve worked with countless families who dread the approach of summer break, worried about custody schedules, vacation conflicts, and how their kids will handle all the changes. Here’s what I want you to know: your kids can absolutely

When you're going through divorce, it's not just your living situation that's changing—your entire relationship with yourself is being tested. I've been there, and I know how easy it is to become your own worst critic during this time. "I should have seen the signs," "I'm a failure," "I'm not good enough," "I've ruined everything"—sound familiar? Self-compassion during divorce isn't a luxury—it's the foundation that helps you make clearer decisions, heal faster, and build res

Going into divorce negotiations prepared ensures you'll end up with a satisfying outcome. "Divorce negotiations are fun!" said no one ever. Even in the best of circumstances, divorce negotiations often become battlegrounds where emotions run high and rational decision-making takes a backseat. Going into the process unfamiliar or unprepared for the negotiation process is a recipe for disaster that can haunt you for years to come. But that's not going to happen to you because I