When you’ve been praised for a smooth divorce but suddenly find yourself representing yourself, what exactly went wrong? This episode dives into the unexpected journey of going pro se with special guest, Hilary – an artist turned self-representative in the courtroom.
Join Gabrielle Clemens, a certified divorce financial analyst, as she explores Hilary’s story of navigating from having top-tier law firms to handling her case solo. Learn the unforeseen challenges she faced, the strategies she employed, and the liberation she found in taking control of her narrative. This episode provides essential insights for anyone considering a self-representation path in their divorce process.
Gabrielle and Hilary discuss:
(00:01:32) Building a legal team and selecting the right attorneys
(00:16:27)Transitioning to self-representation and forming a support network
(00:18:57) The realities and challenges of navigating court systems alone
(00:24:21) Strategies for maintaining composure and boundaries
(00:28:46) Reflecting on empowerment and the feasibility of representing oneself on financial vs. parenting issues
What does it take to transform life after divorce into a journey of empowerment and growth?
In this enlightening episode, Gabrielle Clemens, JD, LLM, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Accredited Estate Planner, sits down with Jayme, a newly divorced woman who has turned her personal challenges into triumphs. Jayme shares her story of separation, financial discovery, and rebuilding a life she loves, offering insights that resonate with anyone navigating significant life transitions.
Key Insights:
Building a supportive network for smoother divorce navigation [00:03:22]
What does it take to transform the turmoil of divorce into a journey of personal growth and fulfillment?
Gabrielle Clemens, JD, LLM, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Accredited Estate Planner engages with Heather, a dynamic guest who has navigated her divorce with grace and a future-focused mindset. Heather’s story is a testament to embracing change, as she shares her experience of mutual respect and cooperation with her ex-husband for the benefit of their children.
They discuss the pivotal role of building a supportive team—attorneys, financial advisers, and therapists—to guide them through these challenges.
Key Insights:
[00:02:18] Heather’s transition from a bustling family life to divorce and beyond
[00:05:26] Selecting the right attorney and the benefits of amicable legal counsel
[00:08:32] The transformative role of therapists for both adults and children during divorce
[00:12:06] Building a robust financial plan with professional guidance
[00:16:12] The power of a collaborative approach to divorce and drafting a fair settlement
[00:25:15] Reflections on when to move forward with divorce for personal growth
[00:30:23] Finding light and fulfillment in post-divorce life
Before joining Babson College, Heather worked at GW & Wade, a wealth management firm based in Wellesley, MA. In this role, she specialized in assisting clients with tax, estate, and financial planning, leveraging extensive knowledge and expertise to provide comprehensive financial solutions.
Are you navigating a divorce and wondering how to protect your financial future?
Gabrielle Clemens, JD, LLM, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and Accredited Estate Planner, sits down with Katie Greeley, Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP), who shares insights on the unique challenges of managing mortgages during divorce.
Discover why having a certified divorce lending professional on your team is critical when navigating the complexities of keeping or refinancing your home post-divorce.
Gabrielle and Katie break down the importance of understanding family law’s impact on mortgage decisions, and how to strategically plan for securing your housing future.
Key Insights:
Key considerations for home buyouts and refinancing options [00:07:48]
The significance of mortgage assumption in divorce [00:11:42]
How to handle joint mortgage obligations when separating [00:15:20]
Takeaways for individuals seeking to maintain or acquire new housing post-divorce [00:26:55]
Katie Greeley is an experienced mortgage professional with a background in project management and financial services. She brings a well-rounded perspective to her clients. She holds a B.A. from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management.
Active in Greater Boston’s real estate and mortgage communities, Katie specializes in guiding clients through major life transitions such as divorce, loss of a spouse, or relocation. She also helps integrate mortgage financing into broader financial plans, working with everyone from first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors.
Katie focuses on education, communication, and preparation to ensure a smooth, stress-free financing process.
What happens when prenuptial planning becomes an enlightened conversation about life partnerships?
Join us for a thought-provoking episode as Gabrielle Clemens interviews Catherine Cappelli, a family law attorney with a unique focus on family formation and prenuptial planning. This episode dives into practical ways couples can plan their financial and personal futures together.
Gabrielle Clemens, JD, LLM, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Accredited Estate Planner and Catherine explore the essentials of financial planning before tying the knot, how prenuptial agreements can evolve, and their relevance beyond just the wealthy.
Listen in as Catherine shares her expertise on:
The unique approach to drafting prenuptial agreements
The role and benefits of mediation and collaborative law in these agreements
Financial and practical considerations for couples avoiding traditional marriage
Tools for protecting parental rights in family formation through science
Catherine Cappelli is a skilled trial attorney with over twenty years of litigation experience. Catherine is highly skilled at responding to crises, anticipating and solving problems, and negotiating and motivating resolutions.
For seventeen years, Catherine served as an Assistant District Attorney in Norfolk County prosecuting scores of complex criminal investigations and major felonies involving families and violence. She also supervised and trained prosecutors, tried cases in the District and Superior Courts, and argued cases before the appellate courts in Massachusetts. Should your case require litigation, Catherine will provide decisive representation, fighting for your rights every step of the way.
In 2015, Catherine was honored by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as one of the Top Women of Law. The award highlights women who are innovators, educators, trailblazers and role models.
Catherine is a frequent commentator on family law topics including Assisted Reproductive Technology (A.R.T.), LGBTQ families, rights and protections, Prenuptial and Marital Agreements and Collaborative Family Law. Catherine is also a trainer in the Commonwealth and nationally for police, corrections, clergy, judges, attorneys, community associations, business leaders, health care professionals, and students in elementary through the graduate school level.
Catherine is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association.
Catherine is committed to providing pro bono legal services. She serves as a volunteer attorney for the Rape Survivors’ Law Project at Boston’s Victim Rights Law Center, Volunteer Lawyer’s Project, Senior Partners for Justice, and the Women’s Bar Foundation.
What makes mediation a powerful tool in resolving high-conflict divorces?
Gabrielle Clemens, JD, LLM, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and Accredited Estate Planner, chats with Ben Stich, a seasoned divorce mediator who specializes in high-conflict situations.
Together, they uncover the transformative power of mediation, showing how it brings calm and clarity to even the most challenging divorces. Ben shares his journey from social work to mediation, offering unique insights into using effective communication and understanding to help couples work through their differences.
This episode’s discussion highlights include:
The surprising role of social work skills in mediation
Understanding high-conflict dynamics and how mediation can help
The structure of a mediation process and its benefits
How mediation saves time and money compared to litigation
Ben is a divorce, co-parenting and family mediator. After years working with families as a social worker, Ben fell in love with mediation after taking a training in 2009 and his mediation journey led him to establish Mediation and Family Services in 2014. He has since mediated hundreds of divorces and family disputes helping families stay in control of their decisions while saving time, money, and heartache. Ben is also a Divorce Coach for divorces following the Collaborative Law model.
In addition to mediation and collaborative law, Ben is an Instructor for William James College’s High Conflict Co-Parenting Program, trains Collaborative Problem Solving for MGH Psychiatry’s Think Kids program, and is on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation. Ben regularly presents workshops on mediation, divorce, advanced divorce mediation training for mediators, how therapists can support divorcing clients, and more.
How can updating your estate plan make a crucial difference in your life post-divorce?
Your estate plan can be a game-changer in ensuring your financial and emotional well-being.
Estate planning attorney Nancy Weissman delves into the complexities of updating estate plans amidst a divorce. She also discusses the practical steps for revising wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations to protect your assets and legacy.
Key conversations include:
Understand the importance of revising estate planning documents, including wills and trusts, during and after a divorce
Learn how Massachusetts laws, such as the ‘nisi period,’ can impact your estate planning decisions
Discover common pitfalls in trust and estate planning related to divorce and how to avoid them
Get expert guidance on managing beneficiary designations to align with your post-divorce financial goals
How do you navigate divorce effectively with a narcissistic spouse?
Join Gabrielle Clemens, JD, LLM, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Accredited Estate Planner, and guest Karen Argetsinger, an attorney and divorce mediator, as they unravel strategies to empower you through divorce mediation, helping ensure a controlled and cooperative resolution.
Together, they share ways to help navigate this difficult terrain with strategies tailored for challenging personalities, including the innovative shuttle mediation approach.
This episode provides actionable insights on divorce mediation, handling narcissistic spouses, and achieving peace through strategic planning!
Key talking points include:
The benefits of mediation over litigation, especially when dealing with narcissism
The effectiveness of shuttle mediation to maintain control and ensure a fair process
Real-life examples of resolving conflicts even in complex situations
Gaining confidence in setting up a supportive team to navigate challenging divorce dynamics
Karen Argetsinger is a mediator and collaborative attorney concentrating her practice on Family, Probate, Health, Employment, and Elder Law. Karen has over 20 years of legal background which included law firm experience at Hale and Dorr, LLP (currently Wilmer Hale) and Warner & Stackpole, LLP (currently Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP) along with experience as a law clerk and independent consultant. She was a judicial intern for over a year with the United States District Court Magistrate, Honorable Judith Dein.
This week on Marriage Is About Love Divorce Is About Money®, Gabrielle Clemens, JD, LLM, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Accredited Estate Planner discusses the financial aspects of divorce, focusing on the division of retirement and non-retirement assets.
She emphasizes the importance of understanding tax implications and the processes involved in equalizing assets during a divorce, covering the distinction between marital and separate property, the complexities of qualified plans, and the necessary steps to ensure a fair division of assets.
Key Insights:
Retirement vs. Non-Retirement Assets: It’s essential to differentiate between retirement and non-retirement assets when dividing them in a divorce
Challenges of Commingling Assets: By keeping a clear record of pre-marital assets and working with your attorney, you can better identify what remains solely yours
IRA Transfers: A straightforward option for dividing retirement assets. A “Transfer Incident to Divorce” can move funds without tax penalties if enough is available in an IRA
Tax Planning in Divorce: When dividing retirement assets, be cautious of tax implications, especially if taking distributions before 59.5 years of age, as early withdrawals can trigger both income taxes and a 10% penalty
This week on Marriage Is About Love Divorce Is About Money®, Gabrielle Clemens, JD, LLM, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Accredited Estate Planner, reveals why divorce isn’t just a breakup — it’s a business deal that demands smart, strategic moves.
Tune in as she shares essential steps to protect your financial future, from building a rock-solid plan to staying vigilant with your money. With her guidance, you’ll be equipped to navigate the twists and turns of divorce, ensuring a smooth transition into your next chapter.
Key Highlights:
Building Your Dream Team: Assemble a power squad of experts — attorney, financial advisor, therapist — who excel in their fields and communicate seamlessly to strengthen your case
Taking Control: Start fresh by opening your own bank accounts and credit cards, and consult with a CPA to explore tax filing strategies that protect you from future liabilities
Boosting Your Credit: Safeguard your financial future by monitoring and improving your credit score. This step is crucial as you transition into single life
Mapping Your Journey: Treat your divorce like a road trip. Whether you take the scenic route or the fast track, a clear strategy will keep you on course for a successful outcome
Stay Organized: Use tools like QuickBooks and Dropbox to keep your financial documents in order, ensuring a smooth transition into your new life
