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 FOLLOW YOURTANGO INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/yourtango TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@yourtango THREADS | https://www.threads.net/@yourtango TWITTER | https://www.twitter.com/YourTango FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/YourTango/ “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. Subscribe to catch new episodes of Getting Open with Andrea Miller every Tuesday at 3 PM ET. 📚 Read more at: https://www.YourTango.com 📩 Have a relationship issue or topic you'd like to discuss on the show? Email us: gettingopen@yourtango.com #divorceadvice #divorce #divorcesupport Laurence Wilson divorce, Own Your Own Divorce, how to get a divorce, mediation vs litigation, collaborative divorce explained, cooperative divorce participation agreement, choose a divorce lawyer, divorce confidentiality, DIY divorce tips, costs of divorce, community property vs separate property, divorce peacemaker, family law mediation, volunteer settlement judge, when to go to court in divorce, divorce resources, preserve dignity in divorce

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