Children First Family Law - Transforming how families navigate the challenging landscape of divorce.

In today’s episode of Children First Family Law, Krista explores one of the most high-conflict areas in Colorado family law: relocation after divorce or custody orders. When one parent wants to relocate, whether within or outside the state, courts must decide what serves the child’s best interest, not the parent’s. Krista walks through how Colorado handles relocation under C.R.S. §14-10-129, expla...

In today’s episode of the Children First Family Law podcast, Krista is joined by Dr. Susan Fletcher, a licensed psychologist in both Texas and Colorado, known for her deep experience with court-involved families and child-focused evaluations. Together, they explore what children truly experience during and after a divorce and how parents and professionals can better support their transition to lif...

In this episode of the Children First Family Law Podcast, Krista welcomes Seth Goldstein, a California-based family law attorney, expert witness, and former police officer with over four decades of experience in child protection. The conversation centers on how courts respond—or fail to respond—when child abuse allegations arise in the context of divorce or custody disputes. Drawing on his experie...

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 charg...

In this moving episode of the Children First Family Law Podcast, Krista welcomes acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ellen Bruno, the creator behind the powerful films “Split: The Early Years” and “Split Up: The Teen Years.” These documentaries feature a cast of real children who had experienced divorce of their parents, with purely their voices and artwork, no experts, no therapists, no adults – just...

Choosing a therapist for your child often feels daunting because it’s an important decision in the divorce process. Today’s guest offers invaluable advice on what to look for in a therapy professional. On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes child custody expert and Texas-licensed professional counselor Christy Bradshaw Schmidt. Christy has served as a private child custody e...

Many professionals in the divorce community are beginning to recognize the impact divorce can have on children. Out of that realization, innovative programs are emerging that can help children and families flourish despite a divorce. On today’s Children First Family Law, Krista interviews Trina Nudson, creator of nationally available child-centered co-parenting programs that parents anywhere can a...

When couples split up, animosity and resentment can fester, leaving children caught in the middle. On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes Jill Reiter and Dr. Shelley Bresnick to discuss their program, Co-Parenting with Respect, a 10-session curriculum that brings children’s voices to the forefront and delicately facilitates parents learning to be the best possible co-parents...

Courts worldwide handle divorce and children differently, and Australia’s system is one today’s guest knows well. On today’s episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes Justice Tom Altobelli, a family law judge from Sydney, Australia, who has served as a leader of international organizations focusing on doing divorce better. Justice Altobelli is a former professor at Western Sydney Unive...

Parents often want their children’s voices to be heard during the divorce process. However, how that happens can vary greatly depending on the family’s situation. On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista explains the “best interests” standard in Colorado and what families can expect regarding their child’s voice being heard in court. She outlines the nine factors Colorado uses to deter...

Co-parents often find themselves at a stalemate with one parent distrustful of the other. Trust can be rebuilt, and returning guest Dr. Michael Saini has some tips on how to do it. On today’s episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes back Dr. Saini, a Toronto-based renowned psychologist who has authored more than 200 publications, including book chapters, government reports, systematic...

Divorce brings many challenges to families going through a divorce, and involving a mental health professional can make all the difference in their outcomes on the other side of the divorce. On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista sits down with Lauren Blake, owner and founder of Michigan-based Blake Family Consulting. Lauren is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a decade o...

Keeping children’s best interests at the forefront in family courts should be a common goal, but unfortunately, they are often caught in litigious battles. Understanding the processes behind court proceedings can often smooth out the rough edges, and today’s guest specializes in advocating for kids and serving their needs.   On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes Dr. Ben Gar...

Dispute resolution is a talent, and those gifted with this talent are adept at reaching out to both parties during conflict resolution to reach an acceptable conclusion. On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes the Honorable Michael E. Hegarty, long-time attorney, litigator, and a retired federal judge from the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Judge Hegarty se...

Science offers us some intriguing perspectives on divorce’s impact on children. Today’s guest is using science to better understand and support parents and kids through the complexities of the experiences of loss.   On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista welcomes Dr. Karey O’Hara, a psychologist and assistant research professor at Arizona State University with a focus on navigating t...

When a divorce or separation occurs, despite the complicated emotions that accompany it, a family remains a family.   On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista sits down with Dr. Premela Deck, a Boston-area family law attorney and forensic social worker with a Ph. D. in her field who is creating innovative solutions to integrate law and social work to help children and parents navigate...

It’s no secret that separations and divorces can be stressful, costly, and emotionally exhausting, and finding a solution that works for both parties involved and the children can feel impossible. On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista outlines the options available to those seeking a divorce or separation, particularly in Colorado. The choices individuals make in this situation have...

Substance misuse and abuse is a complex topic, especially in a divorce situation in which children are involved. Today’s guest helps to unravel complexities surrounding addiction issues to help families navigate these complex situations while keeping children’s well-being at the forefront.   On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista sits down with Lorraine Bockman, a licensed clinical s...

Too often, family courts focus on viewing cases through a typical civil court lens rather than considering the children and families who need nuanced solutions that best preserve coparenting and meet specific needs of specific children. Typical courts that rotate judges and have little background in these nuances often fail to meet such needs, leading to debate about whether dedicated family court...

Maintaining a child’s attachment to a parent with substance abuse issues can be a complex path to navigate. With advice from experts and keeping the child’s best interests first and foremost, parents and courts can successfully co-parent and maintain a healthy parent-child relationship. This episode of Children First Family Law is part two of Krista’s two-part series on navigating substance misuse...

Substance abuse is often used as a weapon in family court, even when there isn’t a significant problem. Courts have several ways of handling this issue, and each method can have long-term implications. In this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista explores how family courts determine whether a parent is safe with a child. She outlines her experiences with families dealing with these scenari...

Personal issues such as addiction can jeopardize parental custody, but through hard work, dedication, and earning back trust, it is possible to co-parent with an ex-partner successfully. On this episode of Children First Family Law, Krista sits down with Mike, a former client and recovering addict who came to Krista for help when his personal issues threatened custody of his baby daughter during h...

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 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...

Don’t miss this episode of Children First Family Law in which Krista speaks with Dr. Matthew Sullivan, an internationally known researcher, speaker, psychologist, and author of two leading books on parental alienation and parent-child contact problems. His work emphasizes solution-driven approaches, providing practical encouragement to improve coparenting dynamics to help children flourish.   Dr....

In this episode of Children First Family Law, Dr. Richard Spiegle, a renowned clinical and forensic psychologist, joins Krista to share his extensive experience in family law and child advocacy. With a background in special education and a specialization in forensic psychology, Dr. Spiegle offers a unique perspective on the struggles that arise and the complexities involved in repairing parent-chi...