This episode contains graphic depictions of domestic violence and child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788.
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In part two of this series with Theresa’s mother, Eileen Gonzalez, Theresa shares her own experience of domestic violence at the hands of her biological father after her family moved to Cary, North Carolina. Theresa and Eileen explain the events that led to them finally getting help and getting out, and the events that followed when their abuser still fought to maintain power and control over them.
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Resources mentioned:
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
After Eileen’s husband left a threatening note on their front door, one of the police officers that helped Theresa and Eileen told them not to return to their home. Sure enough, he returned that night and the police were ready to respond with critical protective measures.
Basic information about students attending public colleges and universities is easily accessible, but you can request for your information to be private to the point where the school cannot disclose if you are - or ever were - a student there.
The abuser will never accept that you have taken control of your own life and left the situation. It does not mean your future is hopeless or that getting out is not possible, but survivors of domestic violence know there can be a constant, low hum of anxiety and fear about your abuser coming back.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
This episode contains graphic depictions of domestic violence and child abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or text “START” to 88788.
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In this very special series on the Legal Lounge podcast, Theresa invites her mother, Eileen Gonzalez, to share a difficult story that changed her life and the lives of her two children. For nearly two decades, Eileen endured physical abuse, isolation, and harassment from her husband. In this episode, she details the early warning signs, the people who helped her (and those who could have and didn’t), and what she’s come to understand about people who want power and control in a relationship.
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Resources mentioned:
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Traditional expectations of women to keep their families together, especially among religious families, can make it difficult for women to seek support from their communities in a domestic violence situation.
Children of all ages - especially younger kids - observe and remember domestic violence incidents more clearly than people might realize. Theresa remembers one particular incident down to the specific towel that was used to clean up the aftermath.
In one particular incident, the perpetrator’s immediate family members witnessed a domestic violence act turned child abuse act and did not intervene at all. It is critical not to be a silent bystander when you see something like that. Apathy causes harm.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
What do soda shops, Netflix documentaries, and YouTube divorces have in common? Family law lessons.
In this special Q&A episode, producer Kristen Stegall puts Legal Lounge host and family law attorney Theresa Viera in the hot seat. Using examples ripped from reality TV, influencer drama, and real-life hypotheticals, they unpack what courts actually consider in complex custody cases - especially when new partners, cross-state moves, and step-parents are involved.
Kristen Stegall is the founder and lead producer at Novice Studios, a full-service podcast production and marketing agency that helps business owners align their podcasting efforts with broader content and sales strategies. She’s known for helping clients feel confident behind the mic and for transforming podcasting from an overwhelming task into a growth-driven asset.
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Courts adjust custody arrangements based on co-parenting relationships, sibling relationships, safety, and household stability.
Step-parents do not have legal rights to children from a prior relationship unless they go through the formal adoption process–even if they have played a major parental role.
Moving across state lines can raise complex jurisdiction issues under the UCCJEA, which can affect which state has authority over your custody matters.
A parenting coordinator in high-conflict custody cases can help reduce court involvement while focusing on the child's best interest.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Teens today are navigating more pressures than ever - from school and social anxiety to growing up in a pandemic. What happens when you give them space to lead, create, and belong? In this episode, Theresa sits down with Eden, a recent graduate of the Charlotte-based nonprofit Playing for Others (PFO). Eden shares how this teen leadership program changed her life through community service, the arts, and inclusion. She opens up about finding friendship, identity, and purpose - even during the isolation of COVID - and how she plans to carry the “PFO magic” into college and beyond.
Connect with Playing for Others:
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
In this episode, we discuss:
How PFO helps teens answer “Who am I?” and “What can I give of that?” through leadership, creativity, and connection
Why programs like the Buddy Program build empathy and create friendships that last beyond high school
How strong community and clear adult support systems help teens feel emotionally safe, seen, and valued
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Separation is never easy—especially when children are involved. The emotional toll of child custody decisions can feel overwhelming, but there are steps you can take early to reduce stress, avoid going to court, and create a more stable future for your family. In this episode, Theresa is joined by attorney Tiffany Byrd of Modern Legal to break down what parents need to know about navigating custody in North Carolina and South Carolina. Tiffany shares practical advice for how to prepare emotionally, what custody mediation actually looks like, and why a detailed parenting plan makes all the difference.
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Preparing emotionally before separation helps parents support their children with calm confidence. If you are constantly frustrated and stressed, your kids will pick up on it and it can add more fear to an already stressful situation.
Joint legal custody does not mean much without clarity. Between you and your ex, define who makes which decisions and when those decisions should be made so you can avoid future conflict.
Going to court is a last resort. Mediation, attorney guidance, and proactive parenting plans can help keep you out of the courtroom and in control of your family’s future.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Deciding whether or not you want the marital home in your divorce can be a deeply personal and emotional decision, but it can also come down to numbers. In this episode, Theresa is joined by Nicole McAlister, the Owner of Premier Property Solutions, a real estate agency serving the greater Charlotte area. Nicole has seen it all when it comes to home ownership and where it can intersect with separation and divorce. She shares her expertise on how to protect your real estate assets while you are still in the honeymoon phase, when it’s a good option to rent instead of buy, and how to buy your partner out of the home if that is the right financial decision for you.
Connect with Nicole:
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Don’t be caught off guard by not knowing your financial situation, especially when it comes to your home. Know your mortgage payment, interest rate, and how much equity you have in the home.
If you buy a home with your partner, you can structure a prenuptial agreement to say you each receive a portion of the sale of the home proportional to what you each contributed to the down payment.
There are several options to buy your partner out of their share of the home in the event of a divorce, and a great real estate agent like Nicole will help you explore those options.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
There might be one “D” word scarier than Divorce: Dating. Luckily, we have an expert in the house to take that fear away. Laurie Berzack, Owner of Carolinas Matchmaker, joins us in the Legal Lounge to go over the ins and outs of modern dating, how to approach finding a match, and the tried-and-true ways to keep the spark alive and foster healthy communication in a relationship. Whether you are ready to get back out there after your divorce, or looking for ways to improve your marriage instead of separating, this episode is for you!
Connect with Laurie:
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Dating apps create an atmosphere where we focus too much on looks and physical attributes instead of the shared goals and interests that make for a strong relationship. A matchmaker can help remove those blockers and help you find great potential matches based on what truly matters to you.
Learn how the person you are dating likes to communicate, and share your communication preferences up front as well. The earlier you can establish strong communication - even if you are not exclusive yet - the more effectively you will handle conflict down the road.
When things progress to the next stage, division of labor in a relationship becomes an important piece of the “relationship” puzzle. When you are not distributing household responsibilities fairly, it can create a lot of tension and division. And if there’s a chore you both hate? Maybe it is time to consider outsourcing the chore and to work the expense into the budget!
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Separation and divorce can create a lot of uncertainty and stress, especially for men who believe they are going to lose child custody rights or be taken advantage of financially due to alimony and child support issues. While a great divorce attorney will support you in pursuing appropriate legal relief, a divorce coach will help you process your situation to make level-headed, empowered decisions instead of miscalculated reactions rooted in fear. In this episode, Theresa is joined by James Traub, a Certified Divorce Coach® based in Charlotte, NC, to discuss how a divorce coach can help you gain clarity on what you really want and develop the skills needed to move forward peacefully.
Connect with James:
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Reaching out to a divorce coach if you are on the fence about separation is a great way to talk through your fears and stressors. At times, working with a divorce coach can result in avoiding divorce because you identify and get to the root of the issues before the marriage has completely broken.
When your soon-to-be-ex spouse is threatening your financial stability or threatening to take your children away, fear and anxiety will understandably follow. A divorce coach can help connect you to professionals and resources that can expose the reality surrounding such threats, often exposing that there is no weight in the threats and to assist you in becoming an advocate for yourself.
If you do move forward with separation and divorce, a divorce coach and divorce team can help you develop the skills and emotional intelligence needed to maintain cordial relations moving forward (even if you never become friends with your ex again). Public Service Announcement: you will likely interact with your ex again - especially if you have children together - so proceed wisely!
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Divorce can bring up a lot of feelings: sadness, anger, and grief, to name a few. But maybe you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse want to work together to make your separation and divorce as smooth and peaceful as possible. That is where Collaborative Law can help. In this episode, Deb L. Dilman from the Modern Legal team joins Theresa to discuss the process of Collaborative Law, who could benefit from it, and why avoiding the courtroom when possible can ensure the best possible outcomes for you, your ex-spouse, and your children, if you have them.
Deb L. Dilman is an award-winning family law attorney, collaborative attorney, and a NC DRC Certified Mediator. She has been practicing law for over 20 years and she joined the Modern Legal team in 2024.
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Collaborative Law in North Carolina allows you to uncouple from your relationship without acrimony. You will have meetings where you disclose things openly and honestly with each other, and not go to litigation. You actually both sign an agreement saying you will not go to court to settle your divorce amicably.
Attorneys are not trained mental health professionals and often lack the skills needed to deal with the emotional toll of separation and divorce. Having a divorce coach or a mental health professional participate in your collaborative divorce can offer the emotional support you need to talk through the specifics of your separation in an honest, respectful manner.
Collaborative law is different from a lawsuit. Collaborative law allows you to negotiate the terms of your divorce and sign an agreement, so when you or your spouse are ready to officially file for divorce, the terms are already set.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
In a divorce, people tend to get caught up in what they can get in that very moment - the former marital home, alimony, or even a specific piece of furniture - instead of planning for their financial future. In this episode, Theresa is joined by Leah Hadley to discuss how working with a CDFA® can save you tens - if not hundreds - of thousands of dollars and set you up well for your life after divorce and beyond. Leah is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CFDA®) and the Founder of Intentional Wealth Partners, based in Ohio.
Connect with Leah:
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
A CDFA® is different from a general financial advisor. CDFAs understand financial planning, but they have specialized training in how finances and divorce proceedings intersect.
When you are in the middle of a divorce, it can feel critical to get “as much as possible” in that moment, which may not result in the best benefit for you in the future. A CDFA® can help you look to the future and make financial negotiations during divorce proceedings that will set you up for a solid financial future.
Pensions can be a complicated asset to divide, especially if this is your second or third divorce. Without a CDFA®, you could end up in a compromising position where you and/or your beneficiaries are not left with enough to support you in retirement.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Starting and running a business is such an exciting venture, but it’s so important to legally protect yourself. Whether you’re working with a business partner, your spouse, or if you co-own a business with your spouse and now you are getting a divorce, working with a business attorney will ensure you are legally covered. In this episode, Shawn Garrett, a fractional Chief Legal Officer, and owner of Garrett, PLLC, joins Theresa to discuss how business law and family law intersect so you can save yourself some headaches down the road.
Connect with Shawn:
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Operating agreements are kind of like a prenup for a business relationship. It establishes who is responsible for what in the business operations, gives one owner the first right of refusal in the event the other business partner passes away or leaves the partnership, and so much more.
In situations where someone is becoming a franchisee, the franchise might require their spouse to co-sign on that business. Working with both a business attorney and family law attorney can allow you to come up with a solution that protects both spouses.
If spouses co-own a business with a 50/50 ownership split and they decide to separate and divorce, but they still want to co-own the business, it might be a good idea to bring in a third business partner. If the ex-spouses disagree, there’s a third opinion to “break the tie,” so to speak.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Family law matters can bring up a lot of raw emotions, especially if they trigger memories of past trauma. In this episode, Theresa sits down with Veronica Del Pino, LCSW, to discuss the effect trauma has on our bodies, grounding exercises to work through triggering moments, and how to raise kids that know how to advocate for their own boundaries. Veronica is a licensed therapist who specializes in working with mothers who experienced childhood sexual abuse.
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Trauma is stored in the body. We might suppress painful memories, but when something triggers us, those memories come rushing back. That’s why it’s important to work with a trauma therapist who can help you learn coping skills to feel grounded in those moments.
Encourage your children to have bodily autonomy while still setting boundaries. If they don’t want to hug a family member, or are uncomfortable with the way someone is touching them, advocate for them and empower them to set boundaries for their body.
The internet is made for adult brains, not children’s brains. It’s crucial to discuss internet safety with your children and monitor their screentime. The more we have open dialogue with our children about dangers online, the more likely they are to notice it and report it.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
If you are worried that a divorce will be costly because your spouse is going to drag it out, avoiding the divorce is likely not your best option. In this episode, our Podcast Producer Kristen Stegall, CEO of Novice Studios, shares her experience of her mother-in-law’s sudden passing and the legal difficulties that emerged from her being separated, but not divorced. To compound issues further, there was no estate planning either. If you or someone you know is going through a possible separation with an abusive partner, this episode is packed with actionable advice for how to move forward while protecting yourself and your family.
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Resources mentioned:
Watch Episode 22: Can I Afford to Get Divorced?
SafeHouse | Crisis Line: (205) 669-7233 (SAFE)
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Your attorney will work with you to figure out how you can financially cover your legal fees for a divorce, and they’ll help you understand a cost-benefit analysis of how much you may be able to recoup in the divorce.
Talk to an attorney as early as possible. There is no harm in just gathering information to know your options, understand what could happen if you don’t get divorced, and to create a roadmap of your path forward.
In cases of domestic abuse or domestic violence, the victim might have a distorted perception of both their legal and personal rights because their abuser has painted their reality for them. This is where resources like therapy, non-profits like SafeHouse, and a family law attorney can help the victim understand what is actually real.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Estate planning is something we agree is important, but there is nothing easy about leaving your family behind upon your death. In this episode, estate planning attorney Sabrina Winters - who has walked hundreds of people through the process of planning for their estate, medical powers of attorney, financial powers of attorney, and more - shares what’s important - and what’s not - to include in your will, why you need to plan for powers of attorney, when to update your will, and so much more!
Connect with Sabrina Winters:
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Your estate planning process is entirely private and confidential. Your friends and family members are not entitled to know what’s in your will or trust, and are not allowed to be a part of your estate planning process in privileged communications with your attorney.
When you’re choosing an attorney for estate planning, it’s crucial to find someone with whom you feel comfortable sharing your biggest fears, secrets, and wishes. This person will be the person you call for all your big life events, so trust and honesty have to be at the forefront.
Your power of attorney is so important for ensuring your family isn’t left to make decisions about your health and life in the event you cannot make decisions for yourself. Your power of attorney ensures you get to write your last chapter and leave your family to execute those wishes guilt-free.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Immigration law and its intersections with family law is a timely topic. With immigration news and policies evolving so quickly, there is no better time to have an immigrant attorney on the Legal Lounge. Mary Lynn Tedesco, ESQ., Founder and Senior Attorney of Tedesco Legal, PC, joins Theresa to discuss the nuances of immigration law, why it’s so important to secure your own immigration attorney if you need one, and how immigration law and family law intersect.
Meet Mary Lynn Tedesco, ESQ.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Attorney Mary Lynn Tedesco has been working with immigrants since 2010. She is proud to establish Tedesco Legal, P.C. to provide comprehensive legal services to a wide range of clients. Mary Lynn Tedesco is a Certified Specialist in Immigration Law according to the North Carolina State Bar.
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Immigration policies are changing very rapidly. When you have an immigration attorney, they can keep you in the loop and answer your questions so you don’t unintentionally jeopardize your immigration situation.
Having an immigration lawyer in your corner is critical. Sometimes citizenship eligibility can be denied because there is no attorney reviewing your case for your benefit. Your immigration lawyer will be your advocate in those situations.
There are intricacies and intertwining factors when you have an international marriage, divorce, or custody case. In these cases, your immigration attorney and your family law attorney will work together to discern possible paths forward.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
We fully believe that sometimes getting a divorce is what’s best for the children in a home, but that doesn’t mean divorce will be a smooth-sailing process for them. That’s one of the reasons that Brynn Ungerleider, a nanny with over 20 years of professional childcare experience, founded the Premier Nanny Network. In this episode, Brynn joins Theresa to discuss how nannies can support with childcare and household management during your divorce to ensure your children have consistency and stability during this delicate season of transition for everyone.
Brynn Ungerleider has supported parents for twenty years through both the joys and the chaos of home life. With over two decades of experience, she created the Premier Nanny Network with career-driven mothers, divorced families, and everyone in-between in mind. This agency pairs parents with fully vetted and excellent nannies to support them and their families.
Connect with Premier Nanny Network:
Email - premiernannynetwork@gmail.com
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Divorce can create a lot of turmoil for a family, because it’s a huge life transition for everyone in the home. It’s important to prioritize stability, attention, and care for the children in the home. That’s a really tall order for parents who are actively trying to manage their own feelings, jobs, etc.. But you don’t have to do it alone.
A nanny is an incredible person to have on your support team while you navigate divorce. Nannies don’t only watch your kids; they can help with household management tasks to take stress off your plate during this tough transition.
Consistency is key for children, especially during stressful seasons. When they’re suddenly bouncing between two households and splitting time with parents, there are going to be differences in routines in both homes. A nanny can help maintain consistency at both parents’ houses to ensure they have stability no matter where they’re spending the night.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
Divorce is such an overwhelming process, and there are many intense emotions involved. In this episode, we’re peeling back the curtain on the process of divorce and what to expect when you first reach out to a family law firm like Modern Legal. Adrienne Dewberry, Firm Administrator at Modern Legal, joins Theresa to take you step-by-step through the process so you can feel prepared and understand why there are so many steps in the divorce process and how a good family law practice will hold your hand through each one.
Need legal help in your family law matter? Schedule a consultation with our team to make sure you and your future spouse are both legally protected should a divorce occur.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Your first point of contact when you call a family law office will likely be a client intake coordinator or an administrator like Adrienne. Firm administrators, legal assistants, and paralegals are not legally allowed to give you any legal advice or answer legal questions. It might be frustrating not to get an immediate answer, but it’s important that legal advice comes directly from an attorney.
There are professionals that specialize in divorce situations - like CDFAs, CDREs, and divorce coaches - and a good family law attorney will refer you to these specialists to walk you through those steps.
Some prospective clients call a law firm determined to “have their day in court.” But there are several steps before we get there, and it’s actually our goal to avoid going to court to save you money and stress, if that’s what’s best for the client and their case.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, Bernadette Joy joins Theresa to dive into the deeper layers of financial wellness. This isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about addressing the emotional and physical toll of financial challenges. We discuss why professional guidance should be a part of your financial strategy, how societal structures like the patriarchy play a role, and the importance of prioritizing your mental and physical health as you pursue financial freedom. Bernadette shares her wisdom and practical insights, reminding us that true financial success isn’t just about a lavish lifestyle—it’s about stability and thriving in every aspect of life.
Bernadette Joy is a financial educator and coach renowned for her remarkable journey from substantial debt to financial independence. As a first-generation Filipino American, she and her husband paid off $300,000 of debt within three years and subsequently built a net worth exceeding $1 million. She is the Founder of the CRUSH Your Money Goals® system, which is now a book recognized in the top 10 books for personal growth in 2025 by Oprah Daily.
Connect with Bernadette:
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Prioritize yourself first. Bernadette reveals that many people, especially women, stay in unfulfilling jobs or relationships due to financial dependency. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring your own well-being before trying to care for others.
Invest in your future self; don’t settle for shortcuts or only focus on immediate needs. Advocating for your future self requires intentional investments today that will pay off in the long run.
Maintaining hope in the midst of struggle is what we’re here for. Even in the darkest moments of financial or personal crises like divorce, there’s always hope. Clients have proven time and again that it’s possible to rebuild their lives, find love, and achieve financial stability against all odds.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
If wealth management isn’t on your radar, it’s time to reconsider. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Goode, J.D., the National Director of the Institute for Trust and Estate Planning at Bernstein Private Wealth Management. Jennifer and Theresa discuss how planning for life’s “what if’s” can protect and empower your loved ones. From navigating the nuances of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, to building a solid foundation for estate planning, we explore how these tools are acts of love and care that ensure your dreams, values, and legacy are preserved—no matter what the future holds.
Connect with Jennifer Goode, J.D.:
Email - jennifer.goode@alliancebernstein.com
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Prenups can be a powerful tool to foster understanding and collaboration in a marriage, helping couples plan their dream life together while addressing financial realities. By reframing them as an act of care for your partner and children, they serve as a safeguard for "what if" scenarios like divorce or death.
Postnuptial agreements often arise from specific circumstances, such as leveraging tax laws, or new estate planning goals. While postnups tend to be more focused than prenups, they can lead to creative problem-solving for the couple to plan their financial future.
Estate planning ensures your assets and decisions are handled according to your wishes, both during life and after passing. Building a solid foundation now can prevent complications later.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
With the change in administrations this year, there are a lot of questions about whether Obergefell vs. Hodges - the 2015 Supreme Court decision that made same-sex marriage a federal constitutional right - could be overturned, leaving same-sex marriage rights up to the states. In this episode, Theresa and Tiffany discuss the possible repercussions and implications that could result due to a change in law, and how same-sex couples can leverage different tools to protect themselves and their families.
Tiffany A. Byrd is a Family Law and Estate Planning Attorney. As the first attorney in her family, the first graduate of the JD/MSW program at University of South Carolina in over 15 years, a collegiate gymnast, and the product of a long list of individuals who made her journey possible, she combined her unique skill set to become an Attorney with the Modern Legal team.
From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. Schedule a consultation with our team today!
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Obergefell vs. Hodges made same-sex marriage a constitutionally protected right at a federal level. Protected rights to marry also extended domestic violence protections, parental rights, and marital rights to same-sex couples.
One thing you can do to legally protect yourself is to establish your spouse - or someone you really trust - as your Power of Attorney. This person will make decisions and take action on your behalf if you are alive, but unable to make decisions yourself.
Creating a Will or Trust also provides legal protection in the event of your death. It ensures your assets go to whomever you wish, regardless of your legal relationship status. It’s hard to think about, but it will give you peace of mind.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
Connect with Modern Legal:
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.
