21 - Guest Expert: Jennifer Moore, How Primary Caregivers Can Prepare for Separation or Divorce

Cast:
Dr. Tara Egan, host and child & adolescent therapist
Anna, teen cohost
Jennifer Moore, Family Law Specialist

Hey Listeners, welcome to season 2! Anna and I start off our season talking to Jennifer Moore, a board certified specialist in family law, located here in Charlotte, NC. 

Jennifer is with us today to share some information for primary caregivers on how to best protect the children in the early stages of separation and divorce.

We begin with the questions- what should primary caregivers consider early on in the process, prior to separation? We dive into how typically parents will have 50/50 shared custody.  What are instances when 50/50 custody is not necessarily in the best interest of the children? 

In both mine and Jennifer's experiences we find that often the primary care giver is now feeling irritated and even betrayed that their spouse is now taking a more active role in the kids lives after the separation. They may feel that they have lost their identity as the primary caregiver for the family.  There is a better way to reframe this new situation and that this is actually a good problem to have.

What can parents do to protect their kids? Planning is an essential part of the process:
 - Financially- looking at the financial landscape of your current situation and what will be needed for the future for you and your kids, what the next move is
 -  Be prepared to litigate for themselves, have their own advocate
 - Talking to friends and family for help for a little while get you started 

If you are a primary care giver what are some things to look for in finding an attorney and how early to seek out support? Jennifer shares it best to start asap and gives us details about the different "types" of family law attorneys to help you in seeking the best support for you.

What are the differences between a parent coordinator and a guardian ad litem? 
Jennifer goes into the details of each and how they support parents and children  in the legal process and the pivotal roles that they play.

Jennifer answers Anna questions about the kids roles in the process.... 
Is the judges opinion influenced by the children? If a parent is talking negatively about the other parent is there anything the legal system can do about it?

To learn about Jennifer and her services or ask any questions: visit her website at www.yourncattorney.com or email her at [email protected]

To learn more about Dr. Tara Egan, visit www.drtaraegan.com.
To learn more about Dr. Tara Egan's private therapy practice, visit www.charlotteparentcoaching.com

Please visit our Facebook page and Instagram page and register for our FREE weekly parenting webinars HERE.

This episode is sponsored by Moe's Southwest Grill. Order a family taco kit for $34.99 and make family dinner fun.