Joining me this week is Seth Nelson, family lawyer and host of the podcast, How to Split a Toaster. He is going to help us break down divorce law in the United States – because not only can it be overwhelming, it can be confusing, and frustrating. The good news is that there are some universal truths to divorce law that can help you manuever through the court system and work with your lawyer with ease.

After law school, Seth found that he could do the greatest good by helping people through one of the most difficult times of their lives – divorce.  Being a divorcee himself, as well as a father, he understands what you’re going through. I am thrilled to welcome him to the show.

Show Highlights

• How to know when you should hire or consult with a lawyer for your divorce. (8:39)
• All of the items you should consider (and prepare) for your first legal consultation. (10:51)
• Seth takes us through his PEACE acronym: Parenting plan, Equitable distribution, Alimony analysis, Child support, and Everything else. (11:21)
• Some state laws require couples to be legally separated for one year before they can divorce. So, what does that actually mean? Seth explains. (20:36)
• The best way to communicate with your lawyer. (25:02)
• How to ensure you are receiving copies of all documents that get filed with the court system (and why you should have copies too). (32:38)
• How to know if you have a really shitty attorney. (34:13)
• Your primary legal goal: to have great representation, have someone help you through the process as economically feasible, and get a great outcome. (38:20)

Learn More About Seth:

Seth Nelson is a Tampa-based family lawyer known for devising creative solutions to difficult problems. “I have been through a divorce and have a young child. As difficult as the divorce process can be, especially when there are kids involved, things will get better,” he said when asked about the divorce process.

At Nelson Koster, the motto is “Helping good people through difficult times.” This is Seth’s aim in every case, though how he works to achieve it varies greatly with each family’s unique situation.

From an early age, he has always wanted to help people. After law school, he found that he could do the greatest good by helping people through one of the most difficult times of their lives.  Being a divorcee himself, as well as a father, he understands what you’re going through.

Seth focuses on Florida divorce law, Florida family law, and Florida family law mediation. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida’s College of Law. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable John C. Godbold, Senior Circuit Judge for the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Returning home to Tampa, he then worked for other Florida law firms before establishing his own practice in South Tampa. Since 2008, he has been the sole shareholder of Nelson Koster.

Seth is a registered mediator with the Florida Supreme Court Family Mediator Association and is currently a Member of the Executive Council for the Stann Givens Family Law Inns of Court. He also served as the Chair of the Family Law Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and continues to serve on its Executive Council. He has been given excellent ratings by Superlawyers and Avvo Ratings and has been honored to receive Super Lawyer’s2012 Rising Star award and 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, and 2018 Super Lawyer awards.

In How to Split a Toaster: A Divorce Podcast About Saving Your Relationships, Nelson and co-host Pete Wright take on the challenge of divorce with a central objective — saving your most important relationships with your family, your former spouse, and yourself.

Resources & Links:

How to Split a Toaster Podcast
Kate’s Interview on How to Split a Toaster
Seth’s Firm on Facebook
Seth’s Firm on Instagram
Seth on Twitter
Seth’s Firm on LinkedIn
Seth on LinkedIn
Andrea on The Divorce Survival Guide
Should I Stay or Should I Go (Kate’s Program)