58. Unemployed, Underemployed, or Starting Over? Vocational Expert Dr. Sabrina Taylor Explains Income Issues in Divorce

Separation and divorce completely changes a family’s financial reality, especially when one spouse has been out of the workforce or is earning less than they may be capable of earning. In this episode of Legal Lounge, Theresa speaks with vocational expert Dr. Sabrina Taylor about how many factors - including education, transferable skills, and local job opportunities - can affect employability and earning capacity. They explain why a person’s current income or lack of employment does not always tell the whole story. Vocational evaluations can bring objective information into disputes involving alimony, child support, and post-divorce financial planning. The conversation also offers a realistic look at what happens when one household becomes two – and why both spouses may need to reconsider their careers, budgets, and expectations for the future.Dr. Sabrina Taylor, PhD, LPC (DC), CRC, CWIP, is the founder of Benefits Understood Counseling Services and a vocational expert specializing in forensic vocational evaluations, employability analysis, earning capacity, transferable skills, labor market research, and vocational rehabilitation. Her work helps attorneys and individuals better understand realistic employment options and income potential in family law and other legal matters.Connect with Dr. Taylor:[email protected] 410-618-3699From prenuptial agreements to divorce, Modern Legal is here to protect your family at all stages of life. With new offices now open in Waxhaw, Gastonia, and Statesville, you can schedule a consultation with our team today at the location most convenient for you.3 Realities About Earning Capacity After Divorce:Your current income or lack of employment compared to your earning capacity are not necessarily the same. A vocational evaluation considers employment history, education, transferable skills, functional limitations, training needs, and local labor-market information to estimate what someone could realistically earn rather than assuming current income tells the whole story.Time away from the workforce can create real barriers without eliminating someone’s ability to work. Industries such as healthcare, finance, and technology can change dramatically in a matter of years, so returning professionals may need updated certifications or retraining before they can compete for positions comparable to the ones they previously held.Two households create more expenses without automatically creating more income. Objective information about employability and earning potential can help spouses, attorneys, and courts make more grounded decisions about child support, alimony, relocation, career changes, and the lifestyle adjustments that may be necessary during a separation and divorce.The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution. Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action. Connect with Modern Legal:WebsitePhone: 704-286-6302InstagramLinkedInYouTubeFacebook LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.