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The Ultimate Guide to Divorce (For You & The People You Love)

You wouldn't believe the amount of times Mel has asked to do an episode on divorce And finally….here it is: The ULTIMATE guide on how to handle divorce - for you and the people you love. Whether you’ve been through a divorce, are thinking about one, are going through one now, have a loved one you need to support, or are the child of divorced parents, this episode is a resource. World renowned divorce lawyer James Sexton is back to break down divorce from every imaginable angle, and give takeaways that you can implement today regardless of where you are in what he calls divorce’s “six stages”. James will tell you the five situations where he believes divorce may be necessary, how to tell your spouse the marriage is over, and the 48 hour plan you should have in place before you do. You’ll also learn how to protect yourself financially, how to choose the right attorney, and how to stop the need for “revenge” from costing you money. James also addresses “staying together for the kids,” explains how a divorce ends a marriage and not a family, and why your decision on whether to have a divorce or not affects your kids even more than you know. You’ll learn: -The 6 stages of divorce and what to do during each one -Who you should — and should not — talk to when you’re considering divorce -What financial documents and information you need to protect yourself -The biggest mistake people make once they’re in the middle of a divorce -Why trying to “win” your divorce can destroy your future -How to set goals for your post-divorce life before emotions take over -Why you should get a therapist before you get a dating app -How to rebuild your identity and your life after divorce -The best way to support someone you love who is going through a divorce James says “The grief isn't evidence that the marriage failed, it means it mattered.” If you are dealing with divorce yourself, this episode will help you understand where you are and what may be next. If someone you love is going through a divorce, you will learn how to show up in a way that is meaningful. Either way, the more informed you are, the better you can navigate it. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-437/ Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 The Ultimate Guide to Divorce 15:44 The Warning Signs Your Marriage Is Headed for Divorce 23:38 How to Know if You Should Get Divorced 32:26 Telling Your Spouse You Want a Divorce 42:26 Should You Stay Married for the Kids? 47:30 How to Prepare Financially for Divorce 51:20 How to Choose the Right Divorce Lawyer 58:26 Navigating a High-Conflict Divorce 01:03:49 How to Heal and Move On After Divorce 01:15:49 How to Support Someone Going Through Divorce — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

James SextonguestMel Robbinshost
Sep 24, 20261h 26mWatch on YouTube ↗

Episode Details

EPISODE INFO

Released
September 24, 2026
Duration
1h 26m
Channel
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Watch on YouTube
▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

You wouldn't believe the amount of times Mel has asked to do an episode on divorce And finally….here it is: The ULTIMATE guide on how to handle divorce - for you and the people you love. Whether you’ve been through a divorce, are thinking about one, are going through one now, have a loved one you need to support, or are the child of divorced parents, this episode is a resource. World renowned divorce lawyer James Sexton is back to break down divorce from every imaginable angle, and give takeaways that you can implement today regardless of where you are in what he calls divorce’s “six stages”. James will tell you the five situations where he believes divorce may be necessary, how to tell your spouse the marriage is over, and the 48 hour plan you should have in place before you do. You’ll also learn how to protect yourself financially, how to choose the right attorney, and how to stop the need for “revenge” from costing you money. James also addresses “staying together for the kids,” explains how a divorce ends a marriage and not a family, and why your decision on whether to have a divorce or not affects your kids even more than you know. You’ll learn: -The 6 stages of divorce and what to do during each one -Who you should — and should not — talk to when you’re considering divorce -What financial documents and information you need to protect yourself -The biggest mistake people make once they’re in the middle of a divorce -Why trying to “win” your divorce can destroy your future -How to set goals for your post-divorce life before emotions take over -Why you should get a therapist before you get a dating app -How to rebuild your identity and your life after divorce -The best way to support someone you love who is going through a divorce James says “The grief isn't evidence that the marriage failed, it means it mattered.” If you are dealing with divorce yourself, this episode will help you understand where you are and what may be next. If someone you love is going through a divorce, you will learn how to show up in a way that is meaningful. Either way, the more informed you are, the better you can navigate it. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-437/ Follow The Mel Robbins Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themelrobbinspodcast I’m just your friend. I am not a licensed therapist, and this podcast is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional. Got it? Good. I’ll see you in the next episode. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:40 The Ultimate Guide to Divorce 15:44 The Warning Signs Your Marriage Is Headed for Divorce 23:38 How to Know if You Should Get Divorced 32:26 Telling Your Spouse You Want a Divorce 42:26 Should You Stay Married for the Kids? 47:30 How to Prepare Financially for Divorce 51:20 How to Choose the Right Divorce Lawyer 58:26 Navigating a High-Conflict Divorce 01:03:49 How to Heal and Move On After Divorce 01:15:49 How to Support Someone Going Through Divorce — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com​ — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins​?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

SPEAKERS

  • James Sexton

    guest

    Divorce attorney and author known for advising clients on high-conflict and complex marital dissolutions.

  • Mel Robbins

    host

    Podcast host and motivational author/speaker who leads interviews on personal development and life challenges.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring James Sexton and Mel Robbins, The Ultimate Guide to Divorce (For You & The People You Love) explores a practical, stage-by-stage guide to ending marriage with less damage James Sexton reframes divorce as a controllable process where pain is unavoidable but long-term damage can be minimized through intentional choices.

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