Warning: The Hidden Financial Mistakes Divorcing Couples Make That Affect the Rest of Their Lives

Patricia Van Haren is the President of Collaborative Practice California and Collaborative Divorce Solutions of Orange County. A highly respected Collaborative Family Law Attorney and Mediator, she leads Moradi Neufer’s collaborative law team, helping couples resolve disputes outside of court through practical, solution-focused strategies.With more than 21 years of family law experience and over a decade as a practicing attorney, Patricia has handled complex matters involving divorce, child custody, support, property division, and marital agreements. She is the recipient of the 2023 Eureka Award for her contributions to collaborative law and is committed to educating families through articles, videos, workshops, and her book on family law.In this episode…Most people going through a divorce are focused on getting through it as fast and painlessly as possible. But family law attorney Patricia Van Haren says that urgency is exactly what leads to the financial mistakes that follow people for the rest of their lives. Waiving spousal support to avoid conflict, agreeing to a settlement without understanding community property law, or assuming that money in your own account belongs solely to you — these are decisions that feel reasonable in the moment and become very costly once the paperwork is signed.Patricia breaks down what California community property law actually says, why an inheritance is treated differently than income earned during a marriage, and how equity compensation like stock options and RSUs requires a much deeper financial analysis than most couples expect. She also explains how collaborative divorce gives families a private, structured way to resolve even the most contentious situations without handing a judge the power to decide their financial future — and why about 95% of divorce cases, even litigated ones, never actually go to trial.In this episode of Verdict Signal, host Daniel Gouw interviews Patricia C. Van Haren, partner at Moradi Neufer LLP and one of California's most respected collaborative family law attorneys and mediators with over 21 years of experience in family law. Patricia is the President of Collaborative Practice California, past president of Collaborative Divorce Solutions of Orange County, a board member of the IACP, recipient of the 2023 Eureka Award, and author of "How to Survive a Divorce in California." The conversation covers collaborative divorce, prenuptial agreements, community property, equity compensation, custody mistakes, and what it truly costs when couples settle without fully understanding their rights. Tune in to learn how to make informed choices that protect what you build.Want to be featured in the Verdict Signal Podcast?Register here: https://ednadm.com/verdict-signal-application