How to Divorce Without Destroying Each Other: Save Money, Protect Your Kids, and Stay Friends

In this episode of Getting Open, Andrea Miller talks with Laurence (Larry) Wilson, JD, AAML — a Bay Area divorce lawyer, mediator, collaborative attorney, private judge, and volunteer superior court judicial officer who has helped 4,000+ divorcing couples. Larry explains kinder, more efficient ways to separate (DIY, mediation, collaboration, cooperative & litigation), how to choose the right professionals, when court is necessary, and how to preserve dignity, finances, and family through the process.

Chapters:
00:00 – Why this episode is about divorce
01:10 – Laurence Wilson’s background & the 4,000+ couples he’s helped
02:08 – His book Own Your Own Divorce — what readers learn
15:39 – The divorce industrial complex explained
21:40 – AI, supply/demand, & rising costs are reshaping divorce services
26:03 – 4 ways to divorce: DIY, Mediation, Collaboration, Litigation
28:18 – Mediation: pros, cons & confidentiality
33:20 – Customizing settlements — designing an ending that fits your family
37:27 – Mediation limitations: trust, disclosure, and when it’s risky
46:04 – The lawyer/client conflict
47:37 – When court is needed (safety, abuse, severe misconduct)
50:44 – Why most cases still settle
51:41 – How to choose a great lawyer or mediator—what to ask them
01:02:23 – Lead with kindness: post-divorce dignity

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“Getting Open w/ Andrea Miller” is a podcast aimed at helping people truly open up to one another and themselves by digging into hard truths and varying perspectives. This show offers expert-approved relationship advice through vulnerable stories, dynamic discussions, and inspiring insights.

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