How Not To Suck At Divorce – Details, episodes & analysis

You are in for a juicy treat, friends! In today's episode, we bring on shareholder and family law attorney Kara Chrobak who specializes in high-net-worth divorce to talk about various infamous celebrity divorces! That's right- We touch on Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck, Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan, and Billy Ray Cyrus & Fire Rose. We explore legal intricacies such as the lack of prenups, intellectual property disputes, and contested spending, equitable vs. community property states, importance of identifying intangible assets, and understanding alimony. You DON'T want to miss this one.

Connect with Kara:

Linked in

Our Divorce Crash Course was designed to hold your hand through the process and help you avoid major and expensive mistakes. Learn more here: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/divorce-crash-course

Our Family Wizard is another fantasitc resource for those who need help navigating the "fun" world of coparenting. Head to this landing page to see how we work closely with them to support our listeners! http://www.ourfamilywizard.com/notsuck

Friends, slide into our dms, we love love love hearing from you. We are always here to listen and help in any way we can. You've got this and we've got you.

Instagram: @hownotosuckatdivorce

Follow Andrea: @theandrearappaport

Follow Morgan: @divorceattorneychicago

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.

We're baaaack! And today we're talking about common divorce myths and you know how we do- we're providing practical advice for navigating high-conflict separations. The episode addresses misconceptions about co-parenting, alimony, legal advantages for moms, and the impact of infidelity. We also examine the realistic limitations of court intervention in cases of emotional abuse and share personal success stories to inspire hope for post-divorce happiness.

Join our private Facebook community!

Our Divorce Crash Course was designed to hold your hand through the process and help you avoid major and expensive mistakes. Learn more here: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/divorce-crash-course

Our Family Wizard is another fantastic resource for those who need help navigating the "fun" world of coparenting. Head to this landing page to see how we work closely with them to support our listeners! http://www.ourfamilywizard.com/notsuck

Friends, slide into our dms, we love love love hearing from you. We are always here to listen and help in any way we can. You've got this and we've got you.

Instagram: @hownotosuckatdivorce

Follow Andrea: @theandrearappaport

Follow Morgan: @divorceattorneychicago

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.

Listen to this episode BEFORE you go into mediation.

It IS possible to have a positive outcome from mediation, even if you feel like your soon to be ex spouse agree on NOTHING.

And before we get into the nitty gritty: Do you have our Divorce Crash Course?

It literally holds your hand through ALL major divorce decisions!

Get it here: https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com/divorce-crash-course

Here are 3 EXPERT tips, (from a mediator herself- Joy Rosenthal-https://www.joyrosenthal.com/), to help you reframe your mind before entering mediation:

1) You don't have to RESPECT your soon to be ex, but you still need to have some DIGNITY for them. In other words, treat them like a human who also has wants and needs (even if their wants and needs are questionable and they're acting like a total tool)

2)Start to think of the problem as something that's outside of you and your soon to be ex. Meaning, the issue is "who gets the kids this Christmas?" or "who gets the lake house?" or "who's going to get the collection of ketchup bottles?" (yes, that was an actual issue for one of Morgan's cases). The issue is not about YOU, and it's not about you soon to be ex, it's simply a "problem" that needs to be "solved".

3)Think about why you want what you say you want. This one is kinda about checking ego, and also just gaining some perspective on the situation.

It's important to keep in mind that everyone loses something in a divorce. You're not gonna come of this thing with EVERYTHING you want, it just doesn't work like that.

In fact, the old divorce joke goes, "if both parties are unhappy and feel they got cheated, then the attorneys did their job" I (Andrea) HATE that joke and it makes me want to scream, but that's the way it goes!

And remember, mediation, divorce- all of this mess-is just going to be ONE event that happened in your life. It's not your life, you have a lot more life to live when this is all behind you.

Our Family Wizard is here to help you though your coparenting journey. Learn more about them here: http://www.ourfamilywizard.com/notsuck

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.

Today, a dear listener is sharing her divorce story with us. Welcome to the show, Zoe!

Zoe talks about how she stayed in her deteriorating marriage for 6 years. She recalls the control her ex had over her, how finances and religion played a role in her staying, and the moment she knew it was finally over.

Morgan shares some great tips if you're overwhelmed by all the paperwork and Andrea talks about finding the humor in a family therapy session over zoom with her ex-husband.

We know divorce is hard and draining, and that’s exactly why we are here. We are a part of your community now, and we got you.

DM us your stories and questions, we are here to help you.

@divorceattorneychicago

@theandrearappaport

Check out our shiny new website and let us know what you think!

https://www.hownottosuckatdivorce.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.

This week on How Not To Suck At Divorce, we're having wine at 2:00. We're also listening to you, the best audience ever. Many of you have asked us to break down the steps to get a divorce so today we are diving in.

Listen in to find out about the 10 main steps needed to get divorced.

We will answer:

How many lawyers should you meet with before deciding to move forward with one?

What information do you need for the financial affidavit?

Who should you consult when filling out the parenting agreement?

What's it like that final day in court when your divorce is finalized?

Plus, Andrea shares her own story of getting divorced over zoom during the pandemic with her kids e-learning in the next room. Spoiler...it was bizarre.

We LOVE hearing from you so please dm us with your questions, stories or if you just need to be seen and heard.

Morgan on Instagram

Andrea on Instagram

You can also reach us on hownottosuckatdivorce.com

You got this, and we got you.

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.

Out of all the podcasts in all the world, we’re in the top 5%! What?! How did this happen?! Thank you so much to all of our listeners, especially the 6 of you in Wyoming.

Today's episode is like divorce meets CSI as we welcome Tracy Coenen. You may have seen her on CNBC On the Money, CBS, NBC, and in the Wall Street Journal. Tracy is a certified public accountant, certified in financial forensics, a master analyst and fraud investigator. If you're wondering what all this means, Tracy finds money. Money that has disappeared that you want back.

Tracy breaks down:

-When is hiring a fraud investigator or forensics accountant necessary?

-Common red flags like when a spouse is having an affair.

-How to trust your gut during your divorce.

-What to do if your spouse is telling you “we have no money”.

-If you should be concerned about the spouse who is quiet about finances or has changed passwords.

-If you should you confront your spouse about missing money or being suddenly locked out of accounts.

-What is a lifestyle analysis?

-Would Tracy rather wave a red flaeg or a white flaeg?

You will also hear Tracy's story about the infamous Instagram investigation.

This is a don't-miss episode for sure.

Tracy knows not everyone can afford to hire a private forensic accountant or investigator so she has developed a tool people can use to do it themselves.

Be sure to sign up to be notified when Tracy’s tool launches at sequenceinc.com

You can also connect with Tracy on LinkedIn

Slide into our dms and tell us what you thought of today's episode! Have you found red flags with your finances?

@theandrearappapport

@divorceattorneychicago

Hownottosuckatdivorce.com

I know anything having to do with finances during a divorce is scary, but remember, you got this and we got you.

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.

Today we’re doing something a little different; we’re answering listener questions. And they are good. This podcast is for you and so we love when you dm us your questions and stories. Thank you for being vulnerable with us.

Just a few of the questions we answer are:

How do you support a friend who is going through a divorce when you’re happily married?

What’s the best way to organize your documents for divorce?

How do you answer the dreaded question from acquaintances “how are you”?

We’ll also hear one more way Andrea sucked at her divorce. Learn from her mistake-this is a don’t miss episode.

Wyoming, are you out there? Slide into our dms!

@divorceattorneychicago

@theandrearappaport

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.

We are back with part two with the fabulous Dr. Randy Heller. If you missed part one, you'll definitely want to listen to last week's episode first.

Today we're talking about how to co-parent effectively and why co-parenting should be viewed as a business relationship.

Dr. Heller answers:

How is a family therapist different than a regular therapist?

How can we co-parent effectively?

How can we protect kids during a divorce?

Will kids be ok if we get divorced?

How can I get my spouse or ex to agree to family therapy?

What if my spouse or ex is a narcissist or has bipolar disorder?

How to find a family therapist in your area.

The best ways to manage the business of co-parenting.

We love hearing from you so slip into our dms!

Andrea Rappaport

Morgan L. Stogsdill

Where you can find Dr. Randy Heller:

familynetworkflorida.com

familynetworknewyork.com

646-717-6718 (NY)

954-236-4490 (FL and CT)

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.

This week we are excited to welcome Dr. Randy Heller to the show. Dr. Heller is a licensed mental health therapist, collaborative divorce therapist and a mediator. A true unicorn.

Today we're discussing the three conversations Dr. Heller recommends people have before filing for a divorce. We'll also be addressing the biggest concern parents have, "will the kids be ok?"

We love hearing from you so feel free to slide into our dms @theandrearappaport and @divorceattorneychicago

Where you can find Dr. Randy Heller:

familynetworkflorida.com

familynetworknewyork.com

646-717-6718 (NY)

954-236-4490 (FL and CT)

Thank you for 10k downloads (11.8k to be exact)! Your support means the world to us.

Today Morgan and Andrea are stuck in a snowstorm talking to wealth advisor Franco La Marca.

Earlier this week Andrea posted on Instagram about financial abuse in a marriage and throughout the divorce process. So many people reached out sharing similar stories and many women said they didn't realize what they were experiencing was actually financial abuse.

So they decided to have the financial expert himself, Franco La Marca, join in on the conversation and share 3 essential things everyone should be doing to protect their finances.

We would love to hear from you after today's episode. Please feel free to message Morgan @divorceattorneychicago and Andrea @theandrearappaport.

You can find Franco La Marca at:

www.bernstein.com

franco.lamarca@bernstein.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Smarter Way to Sell Your Jewelry

After my divorce was finalized, I sold my old engagement ring to a jeweler — and honestly, I was stunned by how little I got for it compared to what it originally cost. If I could do it all over again — which is kind of the theme of this podcast — I would have sold it through Worthy. Worthy is a modern, smarter way to sell your jewelry online. Their process is incredibly easy: they cover shipping and insurance, professionally clean and photograph your jewelry, and have it graded by experts to help maximize its value. What makes Worthy different is that they create a competitive auction environment where buyers bid against each other for your piece — meaning they are motivated to help you get the highest price possible. It’s completely risk-free and honestly something I wish I had known about sooner. Get started today by heading to worthy.com/divorcepod and lock in an extra $100 when your jewelry sells for more than $1,500.