Posts

Your Custody Case Starts Before Court: How What You Say, Do & Post Can Shape the Outcome

Your Record Starts Early Many parents assume a custody case begins when they file the paperwork. Yet daily conduct may become part of the record long before court. Messages, social posts, recordings, and choices during conflict can shape how others view a parent’s judgment, communication, and focus on the children. Keep Communication Calm Pause before sending a message and reread it. Sarcasm, profanity, threats, and repeated texts can look harsher in writing, especially when readers see only a short excerpt. Keep replies brief, respectful, and focused on the child. If upset, wait until you can respond calmly. Take Responsibility And Show Change Taking responsibility can protect credibility. Discuss mistakes candidly with your lawyer rather than denying what evidence shows. Explain what you learned, then follow through on steps such as parenting classes, counseling, or recommended testing. Change does not erase the past, but it shows effort to improve. Keep Useful Records Keep ac...
Post a Comment
Read more

105: Will Divorce Ruin My Kids? 10 Co-Parenting Strategies to Protect Your Child’s Emotional Health

In this episode, Krista speaks directly to parents who are lying awake at night asking the same question: Is this going to ruin my kids? Drawing from decades of experience as an attorney, mediator, parenting coordinator, and child advocate, Krista unpacks a hard truth—divorce itself does not automatically damage children, but chronic conflict and poor co-parenting absolutely can. She walks through ten practical, immediately usable strategies to lower tension and protect a child’s emotional safety. Krista shares real stories from her work with families, highlighting how tone, structure, exchanges, and emotional regulation shape a child’s long-term wellbeing. Divorce handled with maturity and intention can still raise secure, emotionally healthy children—and that choice starts with the adults. In this episode, you will hear: Why divorce itself does not automatically damage children but chronic conflict does Ten practical strategies to reduce co parenting tension and protect emotio...
Post a Comment
Read more

Social Media With Your Custody Case

What Judges See, What It Costs You, and How to Protect Yourself A post written in anger can resurface months later in a custody dispute. Photos, comments, stories, dating profiles, check-ins, and messages may all become relevant if they shed light on a parent’s conduct or a child’s well-being. Before sharing, consider who might see the post beyond your intended audience. How Social Media Can Enter Court In Colorado, courts decide parenting arrangements by considering the child’s best interests. Social media may offer time-stamped information about a parent’s activities, statements, or location. Posts can be shared during discovery or offered as evidence. The person presenting them may need to show they are authentic, but familiar details, photos, or account information can help establish that. A parent’s own statements may also be offered against them. A private account does not create legal privilege, and screenshots can circulate beyond a selected group of followers. Posts That ...
Post a Comment
Read more

104: Your Custody Case Starts Before Court: How What You Say, Do & Post Can Shape the Outcome, with Virginia Family Law Attorney Whitney Pennington

A custody case can begin long before filing: an angry message, social post, or tense exchange may shape how a judge sees a parent. Krista talks with Virginia family law attorney Whitney Pennington about choices that shape a family’s record. Pennington urges parents to pause before replying, keep communication respectful, avoid involving children, and answer hostile messages without escalating. Sarcasm, profanity, threats, repeated texts, and labels such as “narcissist” can damage credibility. When past conduct is raised, she says, acknowledge it honestly, explain what you learned, and show steps taken to change. The conversation also covers choosing mediation where possible, documenting incidents and parenting time, and keeping records of child support payments and missed amounts. Pennington stresses that local laws differ, including rules for ending support obligations. Listeners will hear how calmer communication, accountability, and careful recordkeeping can protect children, re...
Post a Comment
Read more

Co-Parenting and New Partners: Introducing Significant Others Without Derailing Your Children’s Stability

Key Takeaways To a child, a new partner isn’t an addition — it’s another change. Handle the introduction as a transition for your child, not a milestone for the couple. Turnover hurts more than any single family structure. Research links the number of adult transitions to behavior problems, which is the strongest argument for waiting until a relationship is serious and stable. Connection before correction. The parent stays the parent. A new partner should be a warm, steady adult who isn’t in charge of discipline, possibly forever. Protected one-on-one time is essential, not optional. What kids fear most is losing you. Colorado courts don’t punish parents for dating. Restricting parenting time requires evidence of actual endangerment, though parents can agree to reasonable waiting periods and notice provisions. Introduction You’ve been through the separation. The parenting plan is in place. Things have settled into some kind of rhythm. And the...
Post a Comment
Read more

103: Social Media and Your Custody Case

One late-night post can follow a parent into court months later. In this episode, Krista explains how posts, stories, comments, photos, location data, and dating profiles may become evidence in Colorado custody disputes. She explains evidence rules and how posts can be used against their authors.  Nash explains that private accounts are not legally privileged and warns against deleting potential evidence or accessing an ex-partner’s accounts. Listeners will learn to pause before posting, preserve records, and keep adult conflict away from children. She leaves listeners with two questions: Would I want this read in court? Is it good for my child? In this episode, you will hear: Authentication, hearsay, and relevance rules Posts about co-parents, court proceedings, and parenting Privacy settings and preserving potential evidence Children’s online privacy and location tracking Dating profiles and introducing new partners Social media activity and protection orders Resources fr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Introducing a New Partner To Your Children After Divorce

See It Through Your Child’s Eyes   For most parents, a new relationship feels hopeful. For children, it often feels like another change they didn’t choose. They may worry about losing your attention, feel pressured to “pick sides,” or fear that liking your new partner betrays the other parent. Starting from this perspective helps you slow down and protect their sense of security.   Timing Matters   There is no magic number of months, but two questions help guide timing:   Is this relationship stable and serious   Has my child found some footing after the separation   If your child is still asking if you and your ex will get back together, struggling at school, or having a hard time with exchanges, it is usually too soon. Children also do best when they are not introduced to a series of short-term partners.   Age-Specific Considerations   Young children (under 5) form attachments quickly. The risk is losing someone they bonded with if the relationship ends.   School-age...
Post a Comment
Read more