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068: Colorado Family Law: Understanding the Role of a CLR in Custody and Parenting Cases

In this solo episode of the Children First Family Law podcast, Krista, a Colorado-based family law attorney and child advocate, breaks down her structured approach to serving as a Child’s Legal Representative (CLR) in high-conflict divorce and custody cases across the state. Krista shares her 11-step process for advocating on behalf of children during some of the most complex and emotionally charged family law matters. Drawing on her experience practicing throughout Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs, she guides listeners through the process of how CLRs are appointed, their interactions with families, and how they contribute to shaping child-centered solutions both inside and outside the courtroom. From initial appointments and home visits to therapeutic collaboration and final court engagement, Krista explains how an active, negotiation-based model empowers children to have a voice while protecting their well-being. She also compares the CLR role to other evaluativ...
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When Divorce Is Handled With Intention, Children Notice

Divorce is often described as a breaking point for families, but for children, the experience can be defined less by the separation itself and more by how the adults behave afterward. When parents prioritize clarity, consistency, and emotional boundaries, children can experience divorce not as a collapse, but as a transition. Children are highly observant. They absorb tone, timing, and subtext even when adults believe they are being discreet. When parents approach divorce thoughtfully, children feel safer navigating change and are less likely to internalize conflict as their responsibility. The Power of Being Told Together One of the most important moments for a child is how they learn about the divorce. Being told together sends a clear message: both parents are still aligned in caring for their child. It reinforces that the child is not losing a parent, choosing sides, or being asked to manage adult emotions. Focusing the conversation on reassurance rather than blame helps childr...
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067: Best Hits from the Archives: Top 10 Things to Do (and Don’t Do) When Hiring a Divorce Attorney

Hiring the right attorney in a divorce case involving children can make or break your case. If you hire the wrong one, they could be a big problem. In this replay episode of Children First Family Law, Krista offers the 10 dos and don’ts of hiring a divorce attorney. A good attorney should be a peacemaker, not a gladiator, which can foster the destruction of children’s well-being, parents, and individual parties. Toxicity generally isn’t necessary, even in potentially adversarial cases. Finding amicable solutions for children’s best interests is at the heart of this episode. Using Krista’s tips for finding a good divorce attorney, you could avoid a litigious, expensive, and destructive road. In this episode, you will hear: The importance of hiring an attorney who is empathetic, warm, likable, and ethical Krista’s tips for testing the accessibility and responsiveness of an attorney and their team Ensuring your attorney will be clear and transparent about each step of the process ...
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066: Divorce Done Well: A Child’s Story, with Special Guest, Liberty

In this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista sits down with Liberty, a 21-year-old who grew up navigating her parents’ divorce in a way many families hope for but rarely see. Liberty shares what it felt like to be told about the divorce as a sixth grader, how her parents’ intentional co-parenting kept her out of the middle, and why clear structure and communication mattered more than she realized at the time. Liberty reflects on growing up in two homes without conflict, watching her parents show up together for milestones, and later welcoming stepparents and stepsiblings into her life. Her story offers a rare, honest look at how divorce can reshape a family without breaking it. This conversation is a powerful reminder that when adults truly put children first, kids can grow up feeling secure, supported, and hopeful. In this episode, you will hear: Being told about divorce together and why that moment mattered Growing up without being put in the middle of parental conflic...
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10 Resolutions Divorced Parents Can Make to Truly Help Their Children

The new year often brings resolutions, but for divorced and separated parents, the stakes are higher. Children notice the tension, the unspoken rules, and the emotional ups and downs between parents. Krista Nash, attorney, mediator, parenting coordinator, and child advocate, shares 10 resolutions designed to make a meaningful difference in children’s lives. Stop speaking negatively about your co-parent Children pick up on tone, gestures, and facial expressions—even when words are controlled. Protect their emotional safety by keeping criticisms to yourself. Avoid using your child as a messenger Children should not carry adult messages, financial disputes, or emotional communications between parents. Handle it directly. Pause before responding Quick, reactive messages often escalate conflict. Slow down, reflect, and ask: Does this serve my child? Support your child’s relationship with the other parent Unless there are safety concerns, encourage love and connection. Avoid ...
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065: New Year, Same Kids: 10 Resolutions Divorced Parents Can Make to Truly Help Their Children

In this solo episode of Children First Family Law®️, Krista shares 10 practical resolutions for divorced and separated parents to make the new year—or any time of year—supportive for their children. Recognizing that most parents genuinely want the best for their kids but often feel overwhelmed, hurt, or reactive, Krista emphasizes that children feel the effects of parental conflict even when no words are spoken. These resolutions are not about perfection. They are about intentional choices that prioritize children’s emotional well-being. Krista walks through each resolution, offering concrete examples and strategies that parents can realistically implement. From stopping negative talk about the co-parent to creating calmer transitions, supporting consistency across households, and practicing flexibility, each resolution is designed to empower parents to show up differently for their kids. She also stresses the importance of processing personal emotional pain, seeking support through...
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Divorce Coaching Explained: A Child-Centered Tool Parents Don’t Know They Need

When parents face divorce, most assume their options are limited to hiring a lawyer, finding a therapist, or doing both at once. What many don’t realize is that there is another form of support explicitly designed to reduce conflict, improve decision-making, and protect children from the emotional fallout of separation: divorce coaching. In this episode of the Children First Family Law®️ podcast, Krista welcomes Tracy Callahan, co-founder of the Divorce Coaches Academy, to explain what divorce coaching really is and why it plays such an important role in child-centered family law outcomes. Divorce coaching is often misunderstood. It is not therapy, and it is not about preparing parents for court battles. Instead, divorce coaching is a future-focused, action-oriented form of dispute resolution. Its purpose is to help parents manage emotions, understand conflict patterns, and develop communication skills that allow them to move through divorce with greater clarity and less damage to th...
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