Attorney James Sexton on How to Get Divorced Without Going Broke

Divorce attorney James Sexton is back for part two of his conversation with Nicole; in part one, he talked about advice for couples getting married. Today, he’s giving advice for people getting divorced. Nicole and James dig into the financial habits that sabotage marriages, the creative ways people hide money before filing, and the red flags that signal a spouse might be planning an exit. Plus, James gives simple advice on what might be the most complicated part of this process: how to tell your spouse you want a divorce.

James also breaks down how alimony actually works, the best argument for keeping the house, and the negotiating tactics he uses to fight for a bigger settlement. Then things get spicy: the digital footprint mistakes blowing up divorces in real time, the unofficial "a-hole tax" judges impose on bad behavior in court, and the wild story of a $20 million divorce that almost collapsed over a toaster oven.

Check out Part 1 of Nicole's conversation with James Sexton

Start investing investing at SoFi.com/MNN 

Check out Nicole's financial literacy course ⁠The Money School⁠ 

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company ⁠Private Wealth Collective⁠ 

Watch video clips from the pod on ⁠Money Rehab's Instagram⁠ and ⁠Nicole Lapin's Instagram⁠ 

Follow James’ work and check out his latest book

Here's what Nicole covers with James:

00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

02:31 The Financial Habit That Complicates Every Divorce

05:01 How People Hide Money Before a Divorce

09:21 Red Flags Your Partner Might Be Planning a Divorce

11:35 What To Do If You're Thinking About Divorce

12:11 How Much Does a Divorce Actually Cost?

17:13 Mediation vs. Litigation: Which Should You Choose?

19:37 The Best Way To Ask For a Divorce

21:18 How Alimony Really Works

25:00 When the Woman Is the Breadwinner

28:29 Is Alimony About Money or Power?

29:58 The Best Argument for Keeping the House

32:11 Bunnie XO, Jelly Roll, and Who's Entitled to What

34:56 Lightning Round

38:03 The $20 Million Toaster Oven Story

39:14 The Most Expensive Emotion in Divorce

39:20 What To Never (and Always) Put in Writing

40:00 How Social Media Can Blow Up Your Divorce

42:54 The "A-hole Tax" Explained

45:31 James Sexton's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank