Irreconcilable: The Divorce Podcast

You’ve worked hard to build your business—but what happens to it when your marriage ends? In Episode 22 of Irreconcilable: The Divorce Podcast, the Sullivan Law & Associates team explores the challenges business owners face during divorce. From determining what a business is worth to addressing ownership and income, we discuss the questions that can affect both your financial future and your c...

In this episode of Irreconcilable: The Divorce Podcast, host Matthew Sullivan sits down with Senior Attorney Rachael Bennett from Sullivan Law & Associates to play everyone’s favorite game: Truth or Myth? From infidelity and spousal support to default judgments and hidden assets, we tackle some of the biggest questions and widespread misconceptions in California family law. Timestamps / Chapte...

In Episode 21 of Irreconcilable: The Divorce Podcast, attorneys from Sullivan Law & Associates take a deep dive into prenuptial agreements, community debt, and how California law treats financial obligations in marriage and divorce. While prenups are often associated with protecting wealth and assets, protecting yourself from pre-existing or accumulated debt is just as crucial. The team debate...

Separation is one of the most confusing stages of divorce. You are technically still married, but living apart, and every decision you make can impact your case. In this episode, we break down the biggest mistakes people make during separation and the smart moves that can protect you legally and financially. We cover topics like dating before the divorce is final, moving out of the family home, po...

Not every divorce is civil. Some cases involve manipulation, false allegations, constant court filings, and a spouse who refuses to cooperate no matter what. In this episode, we break down what makes a divorce "high-conflict," how it affects custody, finances, and your mental health, and what strategies actually work when you are dealing with a difficult ex. We cover how California court...

50/50 custody sounds simple on paper, but the reality is much more complicated. In this episode, we break down what equal custody actually looks like in practice, how California courts evaluate whether it is in the best interest of the child, and why a 50/50 schedule does not always mean a 50/50 experience. We cover the most common scheduling arrangements, including alternating weeks, 2-2-3 rotati...

Ignoring a court order in a family law case can cost you more than you think. In this episode, we break down what happens when one party refuses to follow a custody arrangement, misses support payments, or violates the terms of a divorce judgment. We cover the legal consequences of noncompliance, including contempt of court, fines, jail time, and how it can affect your standing in custody and supp...

Domestic violence changes everything about a divorce case. In this episode, we break down what happens when abuse is part of the picture, how it affects custody decisions, restraining orders, spousal support, and the legal protections available under California law. We walk through what the court considers when domestic violence allegations are raised, including how Family Code Section 3044 create...

Money is one of the most stressful parts of any divorce, and it is also one of the most misunderstood. There are countless myths about how finances work in a California divorce that lead people to make bad decisions, agree to unfair terms, or panic over things that are not even true. In this special edition, we take on the biggest financial myths in divorce one by one. Does the higher earner alway...

One parent left their career to raise the kids. The other spent years climbing the ladder and building income. When the marriage ends, both sides walk into the process with very different concerns and very different vulnerabilities. In this episode, we break down how California family courts handle the stay-at-home parent versus working parent dynamic in divorce. We cover how judges evaluate each...

There is no shortage of bad information floating around about child custody in California. Friends, family, social media, and even some outdated legal advice have created a long list of myths that parents carry into their cases expecting outcomes that are not based in reality. In this episode, we go myth by myth and break down what is true, what is false, and what falls somewhere in between. We ta...

We get a lot of the same questions from clients, consultations, and our social media audience. So we decided to sit down and answer them all in one episode. In this special FAQ episode, we tackle the questions we hear most often about divorce, custody, and family law in California. How long does a divorce actually take? Do mothers really have an advantage in custody cases? What happens if my spous...

The new school year brings a wave of logistics that can be stressful for any family, but for divorced or separating parents, it adds an entirely new layer of complexity. From deciding which school the kids attend to figuring out who shows up to parent-teacher conferences, back-to-school season is one of the most common triggers for co-parenting conflict. In this episode, we break down the custody...

Divorce rates are dropping across the board, but there is one group where they keep climbing: adults over 50. Gray divorce now accounts for more than a third of all divorces in the United States, and California leads the nation in cases. But divorcing after decades of marriage is a completely different process than splitting up in your 30s or 40s, and the financial stakes are significantly higher....

Family court has a reputation for favoring mothers, but California law does not actually give either parent a built-in advantage. So why do so many fathers feel like the system is working against them? And what can dads do to make sure they get a fair outcome in custody and support disputes? In this episode, the Sullivan Law team tackles one of the most talked-about topics in family law. They brea...

What Judges Actually Care About in California Family Court | Stop Wasting Time on What Does Not Matter Most people walk into family court focused on the wrong things. They want to prove their spouse is a bad person. They want to explain every detail of every argument. They want the judge to hear their side of the story. And then they watch the judge make a decision based on something they barely m...

Temporary Orders in Divorce | The Hearing That Can Shape Your Entire Case Most people think the final trial is where their divorce is decided. In reality, some of the most important decisions happen months earlier at the temporary orders hearing, and most people are not ready for it. Before your divorce is finalized, a California family court judge can issue temporary orders covering custody, visi...

Divorcing a Narcissist | What to Expect and How to Protect Yourself in California Family Court Divorcing a narcissist is not like divorcing anyone else. The usual rules of negotiation, compromise, and good-faith co-parenting often do not apply. What works in a typical divorce can actually backfire when the other side is more interested in control than resolution. In Episode 9 of Irreconcilable: Th...

In Episode 8 of Irreconcilable: The Divorce Podcast, Richard Sullivan and Rachael Bennet explore one of the most important mindset shifts anyone facing divorce can make: divorce is not about reacting emotionally; it is about making strategic decisions that shape your financial future, your relationship with your children, and your long-term peace of mind. Too often, people enter the divorce proces...

Gaslighting in Divorce | How to Recognize It, Document It, and Protect Yourself in Court "You are overreacting." "That never happened." "Everyone agrees with me." If you have heard these phrases over and over during your marriage or divorce, you may be experiencing gaslighting. In Episode 7 of Irreconcilable: The Divorce Podcast, the Sullivan Law team takes on one of...

Money problems do not always start with overspending. Sometimes they start with secrecy. In Episode 6 of Irreconcilable: The Divorce Podcast, the Sullivan Law team takes on financial infidelity, the hidden side of divorce that affects far more families than most people realize. From secret bank accounts and undisclosed income to manipulated business books and delayed bonuses, financial deception d...

Can you move out of state with your kids after a divorce? In Episode 5 of Irreconcilable: The Divorce Podcast, the Sullivan Law team breaks down California's move-away laws, including the difference between the Burgess and LaMusga standards, the 45-day notice requirement, what judges actually look at when deciding relocation cases, and why moving before you have court approval can cost you cu...

Tax season is stressful enough on its own. When you add a divorce, separation, or custody dispute to the mix, the financial stakes get even higher. Filing the wrong status, claiming the wrong deductions, or overlooking the tax consequences of a property settlement can cost you thousands of dollars or trigger an IRS audit. In this episode, attorneys Richard Sullivan, Rachael, and Matthew from Sulli...

Spring break and summer vacation should be a time for fun with your kids, not a source of legal conflict. But for divorced and separated parents in California, school breaks are one of the most common triggers for custody disputes. In this episode, attorneys Richard Sullivan, Rachael, and Matthew from Sullivan Law & Associates break down everything parents need to know about custody schedules...

This episode explains how California community property law actually works, why title and income are often misunderstood, and how real estate, businesses, and debt are divided in divorce. The discussion uses anonymized matter examples, listener check-ins, and practical explanations to educate without legal jargon.