I Now Pronounce You Divorced

Melone Hatley, P.C.
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  • Education
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Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the thrilling world of I Now Pronounce You Divorced podcast! Join us as we embark on a captivating journey through riveting topics like divorce, military divorce, custody and visitation, trust and estate planning, and all things family law. Our podcast is guided by the expertise of three acclaimed family law attorneys and occasional special guests. Prepare to be enlightened, entertained, and put at ease by our comprehensive insights.

  1. 40m ago

    Equal Isn’t Equitable: Rethinking Your Divorce Settlement

    You keep the house. Your spouse keeps more of the retirement savings. The numbers look equal—but will they support equally stable futures? In this episode of I Now Pronounce You Divorced!, attorney and CEO Charles D. Hatley, Esq., sits down with Monica Cervantes, a financial advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) at PAX Financial in San Antonio, TX, to explore why a divorce settlement’s value goes far beyond the balances on a statement. From taxes and retirement benefits to mortgage eligibility and everyday expenses, they unpack the financial questions that can be easy to overlook when you’re focused on reaching an agreement. You’ll hear:• Why equal account balances may have different after-tax values• How keeping the marital home can put pressure on your finances• Why access to cash matters when planning your next chapter• How bringing financial, tax, mortgage, and legal professionals together early can help you make more informed decisions Whether you’re considering divorce, weighing a proposed settlement, or supporting someone through the process, this conversation offers a clearer way to think about what comes next. What would you like us to explore further: keeping the house, dividing retirement accounts, or budgeting after divorce? Leave a comment or send us your topic suggestion. Follow or subscribe to I Now Pronounce You Divorced! for practical conversations about protecting your family, finances, and future. Share this episode with someone who could benefit from looking beyond the numbers.

  2. Oct 27 ·  Bonus

    The Cases That Still Haunt Us: Attorneys Share Their Legal Horror Stories

    What do a custody dispute, a contested estate, and digging up a body have in common? They’re all stories our attorneys can’t forget. In this Halloween special of I Now Pronounce You Divorced, attorneys from Melone Hatley, P.C. share real legal stories with twists that sound like they belong in a scary movie. From the complications of dying without a will to custody and visitation disputes, courtroom testimony, and supernatural claims, these cases show just how unexpected family law and estate matters can become. One estate dispute even raises the question of exhuming a body. Behind each story is a lesson about the importance of understanding your options, preparing for the unexpected, and seeking guidance when family matters become complicated. 🎃 Listen in for a Halloween episode filled with unforgettable cases, surprising turns, and takeaways for protecting your family’s future.

  3. Oct 20

    How Do You Know When to Leave a Marriage?

    Should you keep working on your marriage, consider a trial separation, or move toward divorce? When you’re hurt, disconnected, or exhausted from trying, it can be difficult to know what comes next. In this episode of I Now Pronounce You Divorced, Charles Hatley, Esq., welcomes Dana Che Williams, marriage and relationship coach, speaker, author, and host of the Rebuilding Us podcast, for an honest conversation about making that decision thoughtfully.   Drawing on her work helping couples rebuild communication and trust—and her own experience rebuilding a marriage after infidelity—Dana Che explores the questions worth asking before deciding whether to stay or leave. Together, they discuss emotional withdrawal, a lack of effort, personal non-negotiables, and why seeking help early can make a difference.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Why apathy and disengagement deserve attention alongside frequent argumentsWhat to consider when infidelity or another breach of trust challenges your boundariesHow to acknowledge your emotions without letting them drive every decisionWhy the emotional and financial costs of divorce deserve thoughtful considerationWhen a trial separation may help, and why clear expectations matterHow personal healing can help you recognize unresolved patterns before entering another relationship Whether you’re hoping to repair your marriage or considering separation or divorce, this conversation offers questions to help you approach your next steps with greater clarity and intention.

  4. Oct 13

    Lessons from the Past: The Side of Divorce No One Prepares You For

    Divorce is more than a legal process. It can reshape your identity, your relationships, and the way you parent. The paperwork matters, but the emotional side is often the harder part. In this Lessons from the Past episode of I Now Pronounce You Divorced, we revisit conversations with three mental health and coaching professionals about what it takes to move forward after a marriage ends: Karen McNenny, author, life coach, and divorce coachFrances Futrell, licensed therapist with Your Mental Health MattersMelissa Zetner, licensed therapist with It Begins Within Healing CenterTogether they cover how to handle difficult conversations, support your children through the transition, process grief, and rediscover who you are. They also explain how therapy and a strong support system can help, and why your emotional well-being affects the legal decisions you make along the way. In this episode, you’ll learn: How divorce affects your emotional health and sense of identityHow to support your children and parent mindfully during a divorceWhy communication breaks down and how to handle itHow to work through grief and loss and rebuild after divorceHow therapy and support systems help you through the processWhy emotional well-being matters in legal decision-makingHow to find stability, healing, and a fresh startDivorce may end a marriage, but it doesn’t have to define the rest of your story.

  5. Oct 6

    Beyond Physical Abuse: Understanding Power, Control, and Domestic Violence

    Why is it so difficult to leave an abusive relationship? From the outside, it can seem simple: recognize the abuse, leave, and move forward. But domestic violence is often built around power, control, fear, financial dependence, emotional manipulation, and isolation — making the decision to leave far more complicated than many people realize. In this episode of I Now Pronounce You Divorced, we are joined by Kelsey Fadness from Samaritan House to discuss the realities of abusive relationships and the barriers victims may face when considering separation. We explore the different forms abuse can take beyond physical violence, including emotional abuse, financial abuse, coercive control, and social isolation. Kelsey also explains how fear can influence decision-making, why someone may still have strong feelings for an abusive partner, and why abuse may continue or even escalate after separation. If you or someone you know is experiencing an abusive relationship, understanding the dynamics of domestic violence can be an important first step toward finding support and developing a safer path forward. This episode is intended for educational purposes and discusses domestic violence, abuse, and other sensitive topics.

  6. Sep 29

    Lessons From The Past: Building Your Financial Team Through Divorce

    In this special compilation episode of I Now Pronounce You Divorced, we revisit conversations with financial professionals Tasha Baron Smith, Kari Jessen, and our Managing Attorney Erik McCauley, Esq., to highlight some of the financial decisions that deserve attention before, during, and after divorce. You’ll hear practical conversations about reviewing your estate plan when a marriage ends, understanding your debts and credit, protecting yourself from new financial liabilities, considering the role of life insurance when support obligations are involved, and creating more structure around your finances. The episode also explores the unique challenges business owners can face during divorce, including the importance of accurate bookkeeping, understanding cash flow, and moving from a reactive approach to a more intentional financial strategy. If you are going through divorce or preparing for what comes next, this compilation offers practical lessons on surrounding yourself with the right expertise and making informed decisions about your financial future.

  7. Sep 22

    Preparing for a Deposition: What to Expect and How to Prepare

    In this Encore episode of I Now Pronounce You Divorced, family law attorney Rebecca Melone, Esq., and Charles Hatley, Esq., break down one of the most important tools attorneys may use during the discovery process: the deposition. A deposition is a formal, sworn question-and-answer session conducted before trial. Attorneys use depositions to gather information, preserve testimony, evaluate witnesses, uncover inconsistencies, and better understand the facts that could affect settlement negotiations or a future trial. You will learn when depositions can be especially valuable in divorce and family law cases, including matters involving custody disputes, financial questions, and allegations that may require deeper investigation. You'll also learn how attorneys prepare clients for the process, why answering only the question asked matters, and how staying calm can make a major difference when emotions are running high. Whether you are preparing for a deposition yourself or simply want to better understand how attorneys gather information during a divorce case, this episode offers a practical look behind the scenes of the discovery process.

  8. Sep 15

    Financial Red Flags You Can’t Ignore in Divorce

    Divorce is already complicated, but when the financial picture doesn’t add up, knowing where to look can make all the difference. In this episode of I Now Pronounce You Divorced, our host Charles D. Hatley, Esq., sits down with forensic accounting expert Jacque James, Founding Partner of ARA Litigation Consultants and Founder and President of ARA Fraud and Forensic Services, to explore how financial experts uncover the truth behind complex divorce cases. They discuss the warning signs that may point to hidden assets or financial misconduct, how lifestyle analysis can reveal discrepancies between reported income and actual spending, and what separates a forensic accountant from a traditional CPA. Jacque also explains how forensic accountants take complicated financial records and turn them into information clients, attorneys, and courts can actually understand. The conversation also highlights why timing matters. Bringing in a financial expert early can help identify potential issues before negotiations begin, verify the information being provided by the other side, and give clients a clearer picture of their assets, liabilities, and overall financial position. Because when it comes to divorce negotiations, you only get one opportunity to make informed decisions—and knowing your numbers can make all the difference.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the thrilling world of I Now Pronounce You Divorced podcast! Join us as we embark on a captivating journey through riveting topics like divorce, military divorce, custody and visitation, trust and estate planning, and all things family law. Our podcast is guided by the expertise of three acclaimed family law attorneys and occasional special guests. Prepare to be enlightened, entertained, and put at ease by our comprehensive insights.

Information

  • Creator
    Melone Hatley, P.C.
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Melone Hatley, P.C.
  • Show Website
    I Now Pronounce You Divorced

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