SPLITUP

Launi Sheldon and Robert DiCarlo

Welcome to the SplitUp Podcast, your trusted guide through the challenges of divorce, separation, custody, and family law. Hosted by experienced family law attorney Launi Sheldon and forensic psychologist Dr. Robert DiCarlo, we’re here to provide compassionate, expert advice to help you navigate the legal and emotional complexities of family court. Each episode offers practical strategies, legal insights, and mental health tips to empower you during one of the most difficult times of your life. Whether you’re facing divorce, battling custody issues, or navigating high-conflict relationships, we’ve got your back. Join us as we break down the process step by step, tackle tough questions, and bring clarity to your unique situation. Let us hold your hand and help you move forward with confidence. Listen now and take the first step toward a better tomorrow! Keywords: Divorce, Custody, Family Court, Mental Health, Legal Guidance, Support, Co-Parenting, Separation, High Conflict.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Should you talk to the kids about infidelity

    We break down how to tell kids you’re getting divorced without dumping adult pain onto them, and why the first conversation matters less than the calm pattern you set afterward. We also dig into cheating disclosures, revenge impulses, and practical co-parenting rules that protect your kids and your case.  • planning the talk around safety, timing, and emotional regulation  • using a simple child-sized script that centers love and stability  • anticipating kids’ concrete worries about routines, school, and pets  • tailoring language for preschoolers versus teens while keeping boundaries  • why kids do not need cheating details and how loyalty binds form  • responding when teens push for “the truth” without oversharing  • how revenge shows up through kids, texts, and social media  • why courts scrutinize disparaging posts and alienating behavior  • showing sadness in a healthy way without making kids caretakers  • special-case guidance for domestic violence and substance abuse  • rebuilding co-parenting trust through consistency and predictability  • protecting kids from being messengers, spies, therapists, or judges  If you found today’s episode helpful in any way, we really appreciate you sharing our podcasts and signing up for our social media and of course downloading the split up app if it’s you know if it’s something that could be helpful to you for you or a friend

  2. Jul 19

    Co-Parenting Plans That Actually Work - With Guest Annette Burns

    The fastest way to blow up co-parenting isn’t a major legal fight. It’s the daily grind: the missing sweatshirt, the “forgotten” school gear, the watch that tracks the other parent’s address, and the two-page email that ruins your nervous system for the rest of the day. We sit down with Arizona certified family law specialist and author Annette Burns to talk about how to design a parenting plan that actually works once real life hits. We get specific about kids’ possessions and how to stop the constant back-and-forth over clothing, shoes, lunchboxes, comfort items, and “it’s definitely at your house” arguments. Annette shares simple systems that reduce conflict, like using one calm inventory email on a schedule, staying neutral, and knowing when it’s cheaper and healthier to replace an item than to keep the fight alive. We also unpack parallel parenting and why being more disengaged can be a smart, healthy strategy rather than a failure. Then we tackle modern parenting-plan landmines: GPS watches, Apple Watches, phones, location tracking, cloud accounts, and password sharing that can accidentally expose way more than a kid’s device settings. We also discuss teen driving and why a written driver agreement covering readiness, cars, insurance, passengers, and sibling transport can prevent chaos when your child hits 15 and a half. If your co-parent’s communication goes off the rails, we close with BIFF-based tools, boundary lines, and when “received, disagree” is the only reply you need. If this helped, subscribe, share it with a co-parent or friend, and leave a review so more parents can find practical co-parenting and parenting plan guidance.

  3. 09/05/2025

    Beyond the Couch: When Parents Disagree on Child Counseling

    We explore the emotional and complex conflict that arises when one parent feels their child needs therapy after divorce while the other parent opposes it, examining both legal pathways and psychological perspectives to help families prioritize children's mental health needs. • The scenario of Emily – one parent wants counseling for anxiety, possible self-harm; other parent refuses • Legal decision-making requires joint agreement for counseling in most cases • Many counselors require both parents' consent even with sole legal decision-making • Steps to resolve disagreements: attempt mediation before court intervention • Building a court case with school reports, doctor recommendations, and behavior timelines • Consulting the child's pediatrician for professional recommendations carries weight • Addressing concerns about stigma – therapy typically provides relief, not labels • Children experiencing divorce may face grief, anxiety, guilt, depression requiring support • Crisis situations with self-harm or suicidal ideation require immediate emergency response • Forensic professionals consider multiple hypotheses when symptoms appear in one household • Finding common ground through time-limited counseling trials and reevaluation If you're having issues navigating co-parenting conflicts around counseling, download Split Up for more in-depth strategies to help you co-parent effectively.

  4. 09/05/2025

    Celebrity SplitUp: Jessica Simpson

    Jessica Simpson's recent divorce from Eric Johnson highlights crucial issues facing families with children of different ages, examining how kids from preschool to pre-teen process separation differently and what parents can do to support healthy adjustment. • Children at different developmental stages experience divorce distinctively – 4-year-olds may believe it's their fault while 10-11-year-olds often assign blame • Preschoolers show signs through regression, separation anxiety, and behavioral changes while older children may externalize with anger or internalize with anxiety • Parents should never tell children "they left us" as this incorrectly suggests abandonment rather than ending a marital relationship • Age-appropriate explanations about divorce avoid details about affairs or betrayal that damage parent-child relationships • Children should not be told why parents are divorcing as adult relationship complexities are beyond their comprehension • Books like "It's Not Your Fault, Koko Bear" help reinforce important messages that divorce isn't the child's fault • Virtual parenting through video calls requires different approaches based on age – structured activities work better than simple conversations • Creative solutions include participating in daily routines via video, playing online games together, or synchronized movie watching • Collaborative custom parenting plans work better than standardized court orders for addressing unique family needs • Professional mediators, forensic psychologists and collaborative divorce attorneys can help create tailored arrangements that truly serve children's interests Download our Split Up app for guidance through family court issues, and contact us with questions or topic suggestions for future episodes.

  5. 09/05/2025

    Designing Smarter Parenting Plans

    Family law experts Annette Burns and Nicole Segueiro-Stoutner introduce SPARK—an innovative method for crafting parenting plans that work better for families during divorce or separation. They share practical advice for creating agreements that stand the test of time while remaining focused on children's best interests. • SPARK stands for Sustainable, Precise, Attainable, Reduces conflict, and Kid-focused • Sustainability means planning for how children's needs change over time, not just current circumstances • Precision requires specific language about times, dates, and responsibilities instead of vague terms like "reasonable" • Attainable provisions recognize real-world constraints like parents' work schedules and geographic distance • Reducing conflict includes respectful communication protocols and clearly defined decision-making processes • Kid-focused plans prioritize children's needs over exact equality in parenting time • Common pitfalls include first right of refusal clauses that create "stalking" behavior between parents • Parallel parenting may be necessary and appropriate for high-conflict situations • Consider specific provisions for international travel based on State Department safety ratings • Avoid provisions requiring identical household routines as they're rarely attainable Check out Annette and Nicole's book "Co-Parenting by Design: The Definitive Guide for Divorced or Separated Parents" for more in-depth guidance on creating effective parenting plans. - https://amzn.to/48GkJDa

About

Welcome to the SplitUp Podcast, your trusted guide through the challenges of divorce, separation, custody, and family law. Hosted by experienced family law attorney Launi Sheldon and forensic psychologist Dr. Robert DiCarlo, we’re here to provide compassionate, expert advice to help you navigate the legal and emotional complexities of family court. Each episode offers practical strategies, legal insights, and mental health tips to empower you during one of the most difficult times of your life. Whether you’re facing divorce, battling custody issues, or navigating high-conflict relationships, we’ve got your back. Join us as we break down the process step by step, tackle tough questions, and bring clarity to your unique situation. Let us hold your hand and help you move forward with confidence. Listen now and take the first step toward a better tomorrow! Keywords: Divorce, Custody, Family Court, Mental Health, Legal Guidance, Support, Co-Parenting, Separation, High Conflict.