The Chesnutt Law Firm

05/26/2026

I've seen it happen more times than I can count. Two people both want to move on, sitting across from each other in mediation, but the process still takes years.

Not because they're fighting, but because neither have answered one of the most important (and most stressful) questions: "Will I be financially okay after this?"

Steven Bryant built his entire career around answering that question. In Episode 55, we talk about how financial clarity before settlement can entirely change the outcome for families, and why most cases take longer than they should.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1TUAaIhFSjVGvaBSaTbVk7?si=J2tIDM-rTkClqGjG7qy6jg

From Foster Care to Family Law - A Child Welfare Focus · Episode

05/20/2026

Olivia and I tell clients this more than almost anything else: you cannot cure the fact that your co-parent is an a**hole.

As much as we wish we could wave the magic wand, you cannot cure the other parent's personality. You cannot control how they behave at their house. You cannot litigate someone into being a better person.

And honestly? A lot of people grew up with a difficult parent in a married household. There are a million TV shows about it. Divorce doesn't create the problem, and it doesn't "fix" it either. It just changes the living arrangement.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/60Wafw0xO1vlUofhLYMllI?si=0J_flsNkQg-4nqURzWASpw

05/18/2026

Parallel parenting sounds harmless. But is it really?

In my latest episode, family law attorney Olivia St. Clair Long from O. Long Law, LLC made a point that really stuck with me. Parallel parenting — where each parent just does their own thing in their own home — can actually be a way of abdicating your responsibility as an adult. Barring situations where parallel parenting may be necessary for safety, it means refusing to work through the discomfort of communicating with your co-parent, while your kids are left navigating two completely different sets of rules, standards, and expectations.

Think about what that feels like for a five year old.

It's not always the "safe" middle ground we think it is. And in this episode, we talk about what it really takes to show up for your kids, even when it's hard.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/60Wafw0xO1vlUofhLYMllI?si=NGHmKWgkQHmLTJIbUmjvgw

05/18/2026

05/15/2026

"It makes a broken system even harder to participate in."

That's how I described Florida's equal time-sharing presumption when it comes to domestic violence victims, and I meant every word.

Imagine surviving an abusive relationship, finally finding the courage to leave, and then walking into a courtroom where the judge's starting point is already 50-50. Before you've even said a word. Before your trauma has even been heard.

Domestic violence victims are already on the defense the moment they walk through that door. They're often still healing, or haven't had the chance to heal at all. And a blanket presumption doesn't account for any of that.

In my latest episode with family law attorney Olivia St. Clair Long, we had a raw, honest conversation about how legislation like this can fail the very people it should be protecting.

This one is important. Please share it with someone who needs to hear it.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/60Wafw0xO1vlUofhLYMllI?si=i6o2e6blSMSfmNrGBNuf4A

05/13/2026

"I don't even care about what happens to my assets. I just want to know what happens to my kids."

I hear this all the time. And honestly? It's the right question to be asking.

In my latest episode with family law attorney Olivia St. Clair Long from O. Long Law, LLC , we dug into what it really means to put children first in a divorce, and how even the law can fall short. Here in Florida, a 2023 change to the statute created a rebuttable presumption of equal time-sharing. But when we start dividing children like fractions, are we really focused on their best interests?

If your kids are your priority through this process (and they should be), this is the conversation for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/60Wafw0xO1vlUofhLYMllI?si=WfFTt94WSQuI06jRQNihGw

05/11/2026

Litigation is not the answer most people think it is.

In my latest episode with family law attorney Olivia St. Clair Long from O. Long Law, LLC , we broke down the true cost of taking a family law matter to trial. Years of your life. Pennies on the dollar. Enormous emotional toll. And almost certainly not the outcome you were hoping for.

The financial and emotional damage of prolonged litigation is something I see devastate families every day. There are better ways to resolve conflict, and if you do decide to take your family matters to litigation, it’s important to know what to expect. In this episode, we talk about what those actually look like.

If you're in a high-conflict situation, hear this conversation before you decide how to move forward.

🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/60Wafw0xO1vlUofhLYMllI?si=fM0tkUymRBKArEoCjs-a_w

05/08/2026

"By the time the parents are litigating… one or both has completely lost sight of what would be good for their kids." – Olivia St. Clair Long
That quote stopped me in my tracks, and it's exactly why this conversation matters.
In my latest podcast episode, I sat down with family law attorney Olivia St. Clair Long from O. Long Law, LLC to talk about high-conflict custody cases and the hard truth about what really happens when parents focus on winning instead of their children.
We talked about:
✅ How coercive control plays out in custody cases (and why courts often miss it)
✅ Why litigation is usually a sign that the focus has already shifted away from the child
✅ What healthy co-parenting actually looks like — hint: it's not about winning
✅ The role of guardians ad litem and parenting coordinators
This one is a must-listen if you're navigating a difficult co-parenting situation or working with families in conflict.
🎧 Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/60Wafw0xO1vlUofhLYMllI...

From Foster Care to Family Law - A Child Welfare Focus · Episode

01/31/2026

Human trafficking doesn’t always look the way people expect—and survivors often need far more support than they receive.

In this episode, Susan Chesnutt is joined by Kristy Norbert for an important conversation about how communities, professionals, and legal systems can better support survivors of human trafficking.

Kristy brings firsthand experience and insight into the realities survivors face, including the barriers that prevent them from seeking help and the long road toward healing and stability. Together, they discuss why awareness alone isn’t enough—and how meaningful support requires education, trauma-informed responses, and long-term resources.

This episode explores:
• What human trafficking actually looks like in real life
• Why survivors may not identify themselves as victims
• Common myths that prevent people from recognizing trafficking
• How legal advocates and community partners can play a role in recovery

🎧 How Can We Help Survivors of Human Trafficking?
👉 Listen here: https://thechesnuttlawfirm.com/29-how-can-we-help-survivors-of-human-trafficking/

💬 Join the conversation:
What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about human trafficking?

Susan interviews Kristy Norbert of the Empower Her Network about her organization's mission to help survivors of human trafficking.

01/26/2026

Most adults think they’d recognize child exploitation if it were happening right in front of them.
The uncomfortable truth? Many don’t—and this episode explains why.

In this episode of "From Foster Care to Family Law", Susan Chesnutt sits down with Erin Williamson to talk candidly about how exploitation happens, the warning signs adults often miss, and why listening to children matters more than we think.

This conversation is an important reminder that prevention starts with awareness—and that informed adults can make a real difference in protecting vulnerable kids.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here:

A powerful conversation on child exploitation, grooming, and disclosure. Learn how trust, silence, and fear shape real-world harm.