Episode #473
Who's Steering Your Divorce? A Calmer Way Through, with Paula Lawhon on Divorce & Beyond #434
Walking into a courtroom for a divorce rarely ends in justice. The most likely outcome is a continuance. People take the day off from work, pay their attorney a good sum of money, and watch the judge kick the can down the road, walking out with nothing resolved. Now picture the opposite: one skilled, neutral person at the helm of the entire divorce, guiding both spouses through the divorce process step by step until every last piece is finished. Susan Guthrie welcomes Paula Lawhon, a certified family law specialist and full-time divorce mediator in northern California who has spent more than two decades helping families reach agreements without turning their lives into a war. Paula started as a litigator and realized in a courthouse hallway that there had to be a better way, then built her entire practice around finding it. She is the author of Effectively Steering the Ship, a new book from the American Bar Association that offers a blueprint for a divorce built around resolution instead of conflict, with one neutral person steering the whole process at a pace that fits your life and no surprises waiting after the papers are signed. This conversation explores what a divorce looks like when it is actually managed well, why so many divorces stall out and cost far more than they should, and the one thing anyone can ask their own mediator for that could change the entire experience. For anyone facing divorce, and the professionals guiding families through it, this one changes what you think is possible. What You'll Hear: Why there is no one-size-fits-all divorce, and how you and your spouse can design mediation to fit your family, your finances, and your timeline. How a case-managing mediator steers the whole ship, guiding you from the first filing all the way to the final judgment and beyond so nobody is ever lost. Why you and your spouse are the only decision-makers in mediation, with no judge, no dictating, and no one telling you what your life should look like. How full disclosure protects you, and why, when in doubt, it is better to over-disclose. Why you are not done when you sign the papers, since retirement transfers, title changes, and settlement payments are where good divorces quietly fall apart. How to ask your mediator for more, including the next steps, the action items, and the "you are here" dot on the map. Get this week's FREE RESOURCE: The First-Meeting Mediation Guide: 10 Questions That Put You at the Helm can be found on the website at https://divorceandbeyondpod.com/latest-episode About this week's special guest: Paula Lawhon Paula Lawhon is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a full-time divorce mediator based in Northern California, where she has spent more than two decades helping families reach agreements without turning their lives into a war. She started as a litigator, realized somewhere in a courthouse hallway that there had to be a better way, and built her entire practice around finding it. She is a member of the Association of Professional Family Mediators, she has served as a settlement mediator for her county's Superior Court, and she is the author of a brand new book from the American Bar Association called Effectively Steering the Ship CONNECT WITH PAULA LAWHON: Effectively Steering the Ship: https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/455546260/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sfmediation/ Paula's law practice: Lawhon Law & Mediation P.C.: https://www.lawhonlaw.com/ If This Episode Helped You Follow Divorce & Beyond so you never miss an episode. Share it with someone who needs clear, reliable guidance right now. And if you have a moment, a five-star review makes a real difference in helping the show reach the people who need it most. Follow Divorce & Beyond Website: divorceandbeyondpod.com Instagram: instagram.com/divorceandbeyondpod About the Host: Susan Guthrie, Esq. Susan Guthrie is one of the nation's leading family law and mediation attorneys, with more than 35 years of experience helping people navigate divorce with clarity and strategy. She is a Past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, a best-selling author, and a sought-after speaker and trainer. Susan recently appeared as the featured expert on The Oprah Podcast and has contributed to The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Town & Country, The Washington Post, NewsNation, and NBC Chicago Today, among others. As the creator and host of Divorce & Beyond, ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts worldwide with more than 1.3 million downloads and an Apple Top 100 Self-Help designation, Susan brings together leading legal and mental health experts to help listeners move through divorce and into what comes next. Learn more at divorceandbeyondpod.com/about. Disclaimer: The commentary and opinions shared on this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state regarding your specific situation.
