• Divorce Planning Webinars

Whether you are considering divorce, in the middle of it, or planning for what might come next, choosing to become informed is one of the most empowering steps you can take.

This divorce planning webinar is designed to give you clarity and control — wherever you are joining from. You’ll gain a practical understanding of the legal process, the financial and tax implications, and the emotional strategies that support sound decision-making. The purpose of this online experience is to help you avoid costly mistakes, ask smarter questions, and approach this transition with confidence rather than uncertainty.

By the end of this webinar, you should leave with a clearer roadmap, concrete next steps, and a stronger sense of stability about your future. Divorce is a major life transition — but with the right planning and knowledge, it can also be the beginning of a well-prepared next chapter.

  • Seminar Timeline

10:00 – 10:20 AM
Introduction: Overview of the Legal Process

10:20 – 11:50 AM
Session 1: Mediation As Your First Choice

11:50 – 12:05 PM
Refreshment Break (15 Minutes)

12:05 – 1:35 PM
Session 2: Financial Review of Investments and Accounts

1:35 – 2:05 PM
Midday Break (30 Minutes)

2:05 – 3:35 PM
Session 3: Most Important Legal Considerations

3:35 – 3:50 PM
Afternoon Break (15 Minutes)

3:50 – 4:30 PM
Session 4: The Emotional Calculus of Separation

4:30 PM
Closing & Resource Packet Distribution

  • Important Points

Most people make their first divorce decisions:

  • In shock
  • In anger
  • In fear
  • With incomplete financial information
  • Without understanding long-term consequences

Those early decisions can cost thousands — sometimes hundreds of thousands — of dollars.

Divorcing Dorothy was created to give you something most people never get:

A plan before the paperwork.

This is not a lecture.

It’s a structured, expert-led roadmap.

You will hear from a:

  • Certified Mediator
  • Financial Advisor
  • Family Law Attorney
  • Personal Coach

Each professional walks you through the decisions that matter most.

  • Individuals considering divorce
  • Spouses who have recently been served
  • Those wanting to avoid unnecessary legal fees
  • Parents who want to minimize impact on children
  • Anyone seeking clarity before making permanent decisions

We don’t sensationalize divorce.
We don’t weaponize it.
We don’t encourage escalation.

We believe in:

  • Strategy over chaos
  • Preparation over panic
  • Information over intimidation
  • Stability over retaliation

You deserve to make decisions from strength — not fear.

What You’ll Walk Away With

  • A clear understanding of the divorce process
  • Financial awareness and next steps
  • A mediation strategy
  • Legal insight from an experienced attorney
  • Emotional decision-making tools
  • Child-centered stability guidance
  • Resource checklists and planning tools

Most importantly:

You’ll leave knowing what to do next.

  • Review Sessions

Opening

  • Divorce is both a legal and life transition.
  • Normalize uncertainty, fear, and overwhelm.
  • Focus on empowerment through information.
  • This seminar is educational, not individualized legal advice.

Remember:

“You don’t have to make every decision today. You just need to understand the road ahead.”

The Divorce Roadmap

  1. Filing and Service
  2. Financial Disclosures
  3. Temporary Orders (if needed)
  4. Discovery (if contested)
  5. Negotiation / Mediation
  6. Settlement or Trial
  7. Final Judgment

Explain:

  • Timeline realities
  • What drives cost
  • Why preparation matters
  • How early decisions affect long-term outcomes

Mindset Shift

Three core principles:

  • Preparation reduces conflict.
  • Clarity reduces cost.
  • Emotional regulation improves legal outcomes.

Topics Covered:

1. What Mediation Is — and Is Not

  • Neutral third party
  • Confidential process
  • Voluntary (in most states)
  • Not therapy
  • Not a judge

2. Why Mediation Works

  • Lower cost
  • Faster resolution
  • Greater control
  • Reduced conflict
  • Better co-parenting outcomes

3. When Mediation May Not Be Appropriate

  • Domestic violence
  • Extreme power imbalance
  • Hidden assets

4. How to Prepare for Mediation

  • Financial documentation
  • Clear goals
  • Emotional readiness
  • Legal consultation before and after

5. Real-Life Case Scenarios

  • High conflict couple
  • Amicable separation
  • Parenting dispute

Topics Covered:

Part 1: Identifying Marital Assets

  • Bank accounts
  • Retirement accounts (401k, IRA)
  • Brokerage accounts
  • Pensions
  • Real estate
  • Business interests
  • Stock options / RSUs
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Life insurance cash value

Part 2: Understanding Division

  • Community property vs. equitable distribution
  • Tax implications
  • QDROs (Qualified Domestic Relations Orders)
  • Capital gains consequences
  • Hidden costs of keeping the house

Part 3: Debt Analysis

  • Credit cards
  • HELOCs
  • Personal loans
  • Business debt

Part 4: Post-Divorce Financial Planning

  • Budget recalibration
  • Emergency fund rebuilding
  • Insurance updates
  • Beneficiary changes
  • Credit rebuilding

Key Message:

Divorce is a financial restructuring, not just a legal process.

Core Legal Pillars:

1. Custody & Parenting Plans

  • Legal vs. physical custody
  • Decision-making authority
  • Parenting schedules
  • Relocation restrictions
  • Enforcement realities

2. Support

  • Child support guidelines
  • Spousal support / alimony
  • Duration factors
  • Modification rules

3. Asset Division

  • Marital vs. separate property
  • Commingling issues
  • Business valuations
  • Hidden assets

4. Risk Assessment

  • What mistakes cost the most
  • Social media risks
  • Moving out of the house prematurely
  • Informal agreements

5. Strategic Positioning

  • When to negotiate
  • When to litigate
  • How judges actually think
  • Documentation discipline

Interactive:

Key Message:

Emotion drives conflict. Documentation drives outcomes.


Topics:

1. The Stages of Separation

  • Shock
  • Anger
  • Negotiation
  • Grief
  • Acceptance

2. The Cost of Reactive Decisions

  • Revenge spending
  • Custody battles
  • Refusing compromise
  • Prolonged litigation

3. Emotional Regulation Tools

  • 24-hour rule
  • Trigger awareness
  • Scripted responses
  • Support systems

4. Identity Reconstruction

  • Who am I outside this marriage?
  • Rebuilding confidence
  • Future-focused thinking

Topics:

1. What Children Actually Need

  • Stability
  • Predictability
  • Protection from adult conflict
  • Reassurance

2. Age-Based Reactions

  • Toddlers
  • Elementary age
  • Teens

3. Co-Parenting Principles

  • Business-like communication
  • Consistent rules
  • Unified messaging
  • No triangulation

4. What Damages Children Most

  • Loyalty conflicts
  • Oversharing legal issues
  • Parentification
  • Hostile exchanges

5. Building a Parenting Plan That Works

  • Transitions
  • Holidays
  • Communication protocols
  • Conflict resolution methods

Closing Reflection:

“The marriage may end. The parenting partnership does not.”

Seminar Recap, Handouts, Goodbyes

  • Recap the 5 pillars:
    1. Legal clarity
    2. Mediation mindset
    3. Financial awareness
    4. Strategic legal decisions
    5. Emotional stability
    6. Child-centered planning
  • Resource packet:
    • Divorce preparation checklist
    • Financial document checklist
    • Mediation preparation guide
    • Co-parenting communication template
  • Seminar Schedule

Time Session Details
10:00 – 10:20 AM Introduction: Overview of the Legal Process Seminar Opening
10:20 – 11:50 AM Session 1: Mediation As Your First Choice Presented by Certified Mediator
11:50 – 12:05 PM Break 15-Minute Break
12:05 – 1:35 PM Session 2: Financial Review of Investments and Accounts Presented by Financial Advisor
1:35 – 2:05 PM Break 30-Minute Break
2:05 – 3:35 PM Session 3: Most Important Legal Considerations Presented by Family Law Attorney
3:35 – 3:50 PM Break 15-Minute Break
3:50 – 4:30 PM Session 4: The Emotional Calculus of Separation Presented by Personal Coach
4:30 PM Closing & Resource Packet Distribution Seminar Conclusion
  • Coming Up!

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Divorce Planning Webinars
  • Logistics
  • 1
    Dates and Times Coming
  • 2

    Technology Requirements

  • 3

    Starting in 2026

  • Event Details

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

  • Includes structured breaks and expert Q&A
  • Resource packet included
  • Space is limited to maintain an interactive format.

Take the First Smart Step

  • Speakers

  • Jason McDermott, MFT

    Jason McDermott, MFT

    San Raspin Counseling Center

  • Lindsey Hernandez, J.D.

    Lindsey Hernandez, J.D.

    Hernandez Family Law

  • Renee Chin, J.D. Mediator

    Renee Chin, J.D. Mediator

    Mediation Center of California North

  • Tyron Washington, CPA CFP

    Tyron Washington, CPA CFP

    Washington Financial

  • Workbook and Kit

Seminar Workbook

Worksheets

  1. Your Divorce Roadmap Snapshot
  2. Mediation Readiness Assessment
  3. Financial Clarity Organizer
  4. Legal Risk Awareness Map
  5. The Emotional Decision Filter
  6. Parenting Stability Planner

Bonus Worksheet:

  1. My Post-Divorce Identity Vision
  2. Master Divorce Preparation Checklist