Modern Arizona

Attorney Billie Tarascio

Brought to you by Arizona Divorce Attorney Billie Tarascio of Modern Law, and the Modern Divorce Navigator, our mission is to help all families navigate life and law in Arizona.

  1. Sep 10

    Coercive Control 101: What Every Parent and Attorney Needs to Know

    Send us Fan Mail Arizona's Alec and Lydia Act now defines coercive control as domestic violence, and family courts across the state are racing to catch up. Host Billie Tarascio, founder of Modern Law, sits down with one of the country's leading coercive control experts to break down what the new law means for child custody, parenting time, and anyone facing an Arizona divorce where abuse is part of the story. Dr. Lisa Fontes holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from UMass Amherst, spent 31 years as a college professor teaching courses on child abuse, sexual violence, and intimate partner abuse, and has worked as an expert witness in family, criminal, civil, and immigration courts for 11 years. She has testified in more than 20 states, including on Modern Law cases, which makes her the right person to explain how coercive control laws actually play out in court. Key Takeaways: - Why experts consider coercive control the core of almost all domestic violence - How the Alec and Lydia Act shifts the burden of proof onto the abusive parent - What happened in states like Maine, Massachusetts, and California after their laws passed - How DARVO works: deny, attack, reverse victim and offender - Recognize the "provoke and record" tactic abusers use against their victims - How to tell a victim's reaction apart from a true pattern of abuse - Why 1 in 5 domestic homicides had no prior physical violence allegation, only coercive control - What "spiteful disregard" means when abusers harm children to punish an ex - Why intimate partner sexual violence stays hidden, even from attorneys - How to vet an expert witness and spot fake credentials or AI-written reports - What judges should ask before an abuser rebuts the custody presumption - Where attorneys can find real training on abuse and coercive control Chapters: 00:21 Introduction to Coercive Control and Expert Witnessing 03:01 The Impact of the Alec and Lydia Act in Arizona 06:02 Coercive Control in Family Law: Insights from Other States 09:06 Challenges in Proving Coercive Control in Court 11:27 Understanding Lethality Indicators and Child Safety 14:12 The Role of Experts in Domestic Violence Cases 17:11 Rebutting Presumptions: The Journey of Abusers 19:45 The Complexity of Domestic Violence Dynamics 22:35 Recommendations for Legal Professionals 24:52 Conclusion and Future Directions To connect with Dr. Fontes, visit https://lisafontes.com/

    Coercive Control 101: What Every Parent and Attorney Needs to Know

  2. Aug 20

    Raised Between Two Homes: An Attorney's Personal Take on Custody Done Right

    Send us Fan Mail Long distance parenting plans, blended families, and Arizona child custody look very different from the inside. Billie Tarascio talks with Modern Law attorney Eilen E. Castellano Tatis, who spent her childhood moving between her mom's home in New York and her dad's home in Utah after her parents divorced. Eilen explains what her parents did right, why she still credits them at 26, and how that experience shapes the way she guides Arizona families through divorce and custody today.  Eilen E. Castellano Tatis is a family law attorney at Modern Law, serving clients across Arizona in divorce, child custody, and parenting plan matters. She started her career as a homicide prosecutor in Maricopa County, moved to civil litigation at a 170 plus attorney Phoenix firm, and chose family law because it lets her advocate for people instead of entities. She earned her law degree at the University of Arizona and brings courtroom experience plus lived experience to every case. Key Takeaways: - Long distance parenting plans can still build close relationships with both parents - Kids carry the memory of how their parents handled the split - Keep children out of the middle instead of using them as messengers - Remarriage and stepfamilies change the dynamic more than the divorce itself - Parents who protect the other parent's relationship give their kids stability - Zealous advocacy and de-escalation work together in family law - Winning one argument today can cost your client the next ten years - Ask what you are actually trying to accomplish before you escalate - Family law rewards emotional intelligence as much as legal skill - Separate what feels upsetting from what needs a legal response - Criminal cases end at sentencing while family cases shape the future - Choose mentors who want you to outgrow them Chapters: 00:00 Meet Eilen Castellano Tatis 00:58 Growing up between two households 04:31 How her parents kept her out of the conflict 07:41 The moment that led her to law 10:29 Homicide prosecution and the toll it takes 13:44 Why she moved to family law 15:42 When to fight and when to de-escalate 22:34 Cycling, mentors, and life outside court 28:37 The clients and cases she wants most Connect with Eilen E. Castellano Tatis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eilen-e Modern Law: https://mymodernlaw.com/our-team/eilen-e-castellano-tatis/  Talk to a Modern Law attorney about your divorce, custody, or parenting plan. Call 480-649-2905 or visit https://mymodernlaw.com to schedule a consultation. Note: this episode includes a first hand account of a violent death the guest witnessed as a young child. Listener discretion advised.

    Raised Between Two Homes: An Attorney's Personal Take on Custody Done Right

  3. Aug 6

    Arizona’s New Coercive Control Law: What It Means for Your Custody Case

    Send us Fan Mail Arizona just passed a coercive control law, and the family bar, the bench, and the litigants are all figuring it out in real time. Billie Tarascio sits down with returning guest Dr. Cocchiola to look at what actually happened in Connecticut, where a nearly identical statute has been on the books since 2023. The answer matters for anyone facing an Arizona divorce, a custody fight, or a family court judge who has to sort out who holds the power in a relationship. Dr. Cocchiola is a therapist, expert witness, and coercive control researcher with almost four decades in the field. She testified in support of Connecticut's Jennifer's Law, trains judges and court professionals nationally through AFCC, runs a support group for male survivors, and co-authored a collection of survivor accounts from inside the family court system. She also lived it, which shapes how she talks about children, attachment, and what recovery actually takes. In this episode: - Understand why coercive control sits underneath domestic violence instead of beside it - Learn how Connecticut's Jennifer's Law has played out three years in - Spot the abuser traits that read as calm and credible in a courtroom - See how abusers flip the script and file coercive control claims against protective parents - Recognize post-separation escalation as the clearest signal courts overlook - Question the automatic 50/50 custody model and who it actually serves - Protect attachment when a child aligns with the controlling parent - Weigh the real risks of reunification camps and forced repair therapy - Document patterns with parenting apps and written records that hold up - Negotiate with an abuser who needs to believe the outcome hurt you - Rebuild your child's sense of safety as the parent who repairs Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Coercive Control and Domestic Violence 02:43 Understanding Coercive Control as a Trajectory of Behavior 05:46 The Impact of Coercive Control Legislation 08:18 Challenges in Family Court and the Weaponization of Laws 11:13 The Role of Children in Coercive Control Dynamics 13:58 Systemic Issues in Family Court and Child Safety 16:49 Expert Testimony and the Nuances of Coercive Control 19:47 The Complexity of Parenting Time Decisions 24:01 The Role of Court Professionals in Family Dynamics 27:02 Challenges in Family Court and Child Safety 28:44 The Importance of Documentation and Boundaries 31:27 Understanding Power Dynamics in Relationships 34:41 Therapeutic Interventions and Their Complexities 38:58 Advice for Family Law Professionals and Litigants Modern Law helps Arizona families through divorce, custody, and high-conflict cases across Phoenix, Mesa, and Scottsdale. Call 480-649-2905 or visit mymodernlaw.com to talk with our team.

    Arizona’s New Coercive Control Law: What It Means for Your Custody Case

  4. Jul 23

    Six and a Half Years, Four Attorneys: Surviving a High Conflict Divorce

    Send us Fan Mail A high conflict divorce can stretch on for years, drain your savings, and leave your children caught in the middle. Glee Nahon spent six and a half years in litigation, worked with four different attorneys, and fought a spouse who hid business assets and refused to settle. She joins family law attorney Billie Tarascio to break down what she wishes she had known before filing. Glee Nahon spent 26 years in a marriage before filing for divorce with five children at home. What followed was six and a half years of litigation, four attorneys, a spouse who emptied their joint accounts and filed for reconciliation as a delay tactic, and a court that found no fraud despite fabricated financial documents. She is not a lawyer or a coach. She is someone who lived it and is willing to say exactly what went wrong. Glee wants listeners to know two things she did not get to say fully on the recording. First, she filed in large part to show her daughters what a strong woman looks like and to teach all five of her children that marriage and family life should not be toxic. Second, she maintains a caring, loving relationship with all five of her children today. The divorce brought them closer, not further apart. What you will learn in this episode: - Recognize when emotional abuse escalates after filing for divorce - Identify the red flags that mean it is time to change attorneys - Interview divorce lawyers properly instead of just telling your story - Build a divorce strategy before you file, not after - Understand why delay tactics and false reconciliation drain your case - Gather financial records before filing, since joint account access disappears fast - Understand how moving out of the marital home affects settlement leverage - Value a spouse's business when they control all the financial records - Decide when to stop chasing hidden assets and negotiate instead - Weigh the real cost of fighting for a fair split versus settling - Protect your children when temporary orders are not in place - Push for court-ordered therapy when co-parents disagree - Understand the limits of child interviews in Arizona family court - Know that court-ordered fee shifting is not always enforced - Build financial and emotional support before litigation starts Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Glee's background 01:30 Reasons for the divorce and initial challenges 02:24 Escalation of conflict during divorce 03:36 Living apart and emotional toll 04:00 Duration of the divorce and reasons for delay 05:20 Outcome and lessons learned from the lengthy process 06:10 Litigation tactics and court challenges 07:21 Changing lawyers and communication issues 08:45 Advice on lawyer selection and red flags 10:46 Final strategy and successful lawyer selection 12:01 Settlement process and asset discovery 13:24 Dealing with dismissive lawyers 14:12 Nuancing settlement terms 15:07 Impact on children and therapy 17:03 Children's relationships post-divorce 18:17 Handling hidden assets and financial uncertainty 19:50 Acceptance and moving forward 20:58 Mediation considerations 22:48 Surprises and insights from the process 23:41 System flaws and potential improvements 24:17 Proposed system changes and child voice 25:03 Lessons learned and advice for others 27:11 Managing costs and emotional support 28:15 Celebrating resilience and family support If you are facing a high conflict divorce in Arizona, Modern Law can help you build a strategy before you file. Call 480-649-2905 or visit mymodernlaw.com.

    Six and a Half Years, Four Attorneys: Surviving a High Conflict Divorce

  5. Jul 17

    Plead Guilty, Lose Your Kids? How Criminal & Family Court Collide

    Send us Fan Mail Criminal charges and Arizona family court collide more often than most parents realize, and one guilty plea can quietly reshape a custody case. Billie Tarascio sits down with criminal defense attorney Ryan Cummings to break down how DUIs, domestic violence charges, and even a teenager's bad decision online can follow an Arizona family through both courtrooms at once. Ryan Cummings is the founding partner and lead attorney at R&R Law Group, where he focuses exclusively on criminal defense across Arizona. Raised by a 27-year detective, he brings a rare view from both sides of the badge and a mission built on giving clients safety, clarity, and hope through the hardest moments of their lives. What you'll learn: - Why pleading guilty to domestic violence can cost you decision-making over your kids - How the domestic violence "tag" gets added to charges like disorderly conduct or assault - Why a strangulation charge can whittle down to non-DV disorderly conduct, and what that means for custody - How pending criminal charges collide with family court testimony and the Fifth Amendment - Why crime in Arizona runs in seasonal waves tied to heat, holidays, and big events - How marijuana, alcohol, and drug offenses differ in charges and consequences - What the new wave of e-bike and Lime scooter citations means for Arizona kids - Why Snapchat and "deleted" posts keep resurfacing in criminal cases - How AI-generated nude images of classmates can become CSAM charges - What Arizona's Romeo and Juliet laws do and don't protect - How the Maricopa County Attorney decides whether to press charges - The single best conversation to have with your teenager tonight Chapters 00:26 Meet Ryan Cummings 03:04 Balancing Competing Interests in Law 04:29 Why Crime Runs in Seasonal Waves 08:58 Domestic Violence and the DV Tag 11:13 Guilty Pleas, Diversion, and Custody 12:14 Criminal Charges Meet Family Court Testimony 14:02 E-Bikes, Scooters, and Teen Safety 20:02 How the County Decides to Press Charges 25:26 What to Tell Your Teenager 29:09 Nudes, AI Images, and CSAM Risk 33:31 Where to Find Ryan If you're facing a family law matter in Arizona, Modern Law is here to help. Call 480-649-2905 or visit mymodernlaw.com. Connect with Ryan Cummings: - Website: rrlawaz.com - Email: info@rrlawaz.com - Phone: 480-400-1355

    Plead Guilty, Lose Your Kids? How Criminal & Family Court Collide

  6. Jul 9

    The Attorney Who Lived It: Empathy, AI, and Complex Custody

    Send us Fan Mail Most divorce attorneys study the law. Richard Nedlin lived it. The Arizona family law attorney joins Billie Tarascio to talk about how his own custody battle, his years as a prosecutor, and an unconventional path through racing and criminal justice shape the way he handles complex custody and divorce cases today. They also dig into how AI is changing the practice of family law and what it means for clients. Richard Nedlin is a family law attorney at Modern Law who began his legal career as a prosecutor in Colorado before moving to Arizona. He brings rare empathy to divorce and custody work because he has been through it himself, and he handles some of the toughest cases involving children, domestic violence, and high-conflict legal decision-making. What you will learn: - How personal experience builds empathy a casebook never could - Why family law is about reducing harm, not winning - How perspective keeps clients focused on outcomes instead of spiraling - Why separating logic from emotion protects clients - How AI is changing the way family law gets practiced - What makes complex custody and legal decision-making cases different - How judges are weighing mental health and safety in parenting time - Why best interest rulings vary more by judge than by county - How an attorney carries trauma without taking it home - Why there is real hope and a future after a hard divorce Chapters:  00:00 The Unconventional Journey of Richard Nedlin  03:20 Life Experience and Empathy in Family Law  06:05 Navigating Divorce: Logic vs. Emotion  08:22 The Role of Technology in Modern Law  11:07 Understanding Complex Custody Cases  13:59 Judicial Discretion in Family Law  16:41 Coping with Trauma in Family Law Practice  19:22 Finding Hope After Divorce If you are facing divorce or a custody dispute in Arizona, Modern Law is here to help. Call 480-649-2905 or visit mymodernlaw.com.

    The Attorney Who Lived It: Empathy, AI, and Complex Custody

  7. Jul 1

    The Alec & Lydia Act Explained (Expert Perspectives from Modern Law)

    Send us Fan Mail Arizona's family law just changed dramatically.  In this roundtable, Modern Law's Richard Nedlin and Gina Godbehere — both former prosecutors — break down the Alec & Lydia Act (HB 2995) and what it means for parents navigating domestic violence allegations, custody, and legal decision-making in family court. We cover the new burden-shifting standards, what "coercive control" really means, and how courts will handle presumptions against parenting time. If you have a case touching on this new law, don't navigate it alone. Richard and Gina are taking consultations now  - Book below, visit www.mymodernlaw.com or call us at Call 480-649-2905  https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/c941efa0/?categories%5B%5D=Modern%20Law%25%E2%80%A6  #AlecAndLydiaAct #ArizonaFamilyLaw #DomesticViolenceAwareness #ChildCustody #ModernLaw

    The Alec & Lydia Act Explained (Expert Perspectives from Modern Law)

  8. Jun 26

    How the Alec & Lydia Act is Rewriting Arizona Family Law

    Send us Fan Mail Arizona just passed the biggest family law change in two decades. The Alec and Lydia Act reshapes how family court handles domestic violence, coercive control, and child custody, requiring judges to document specific findings before granting parenting time. Billie Tarascio sits down with Hope Hooton, the child safety advocate behind the law, to talk about what failed, what changed, and what it means for Arizona families facing abuse. Hope Hooton is a child safety advocate, author, and podcast host, and the founder of The Alec and Lydia Act. In May 2024, her two children, Alec and Lydia, were murdered by their father during court-ordered parenting time, after a family court granted 50/50 unsupervised custody despite documented lethality risk markers. She turned that loss into landmark legislation now making Arizona one of a small number of states to recognize coercive control in custody decisions. What you will learn: - How Arizona family court granted unsupervised custody despite an order of protection - Why judges are now required to write specific findings in temporary orders - What coercive control is and why it qualifies as a lethality risk - How domestic violence against a partner signals danger to children - The lethality indicators that family courts often overlook - Why Arizona leads the country in family court filicide cases - How the Alec and Lydia Act differs from Cadence Law - What changed in the legislation after concerns about false allegations - Why mental health did not make it into the final bill - How child safety first laws are reducing harm in other states - What this law means for victims afraid to leave abusive relationships Chapters:  00:00 Introduction to Hope Hooton and Legislative Changes  03:07 Hope's Personal Experience with Family Court  05:50 The Impact of Court Decisions on Children  08:39 The Tragic Outcome and Legislative Response  11:05 Creating the Alec and Lydia Act  13:54 Differences Between Alec and Lydia Act and Cadence Law  16:39 Challenges and Cultural Shifts in Family Court  19:33 Lethality Risks and Child Safety  22:13 Future Legislative Goals and Community Support Connect with Hope Hooton: Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com Socials: Hope In The Pain Podcast: Voices Against Filicide Book: There's Still Hope: A Journey of Adversity, Tragedy, and Unshakable Faith (available on Amazon in ebook, softcover, and Audible)

    How the Alec & Lydia Act is Rewriting Arizona Family Law
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About

Brought to you by Arizona Divorce Attorney Billie Tarascio of Modern Law, and the Modern Divorce Navigator, our mission is to help all families navigate life and law in Arizona.

Information

  • Creator
    Attorney Billie Tarascio
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    270
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Modern Arizona
  • Show Website
    Modern Arizona

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