Elizabeth Stevenson and Sarah J. Hink of New Direction Family Law, joined by associate attorney Tyler E. Kaestner, interview Veronica Kemeny, a licensed clinical social worker and co-owner of Anchor Perinatal Wellness in Raleigh, during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. They discuss perinatal mental health as an inclusive term covering trying to conceive, pregnancy, postpartum (up to two years), and non-birthing partners, and review conditions including depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. Kemeny explains warning signs such as impaired functioning and inability to sleep when given the chance, normalizes intrusive thoughts, and emphasizes the importance of trained providers due to stigma and misinterpretation. The conversation covers risk factors, medication concerns, impacts on relationships and divorce/custody cases, and resources like Postpartum Support International, nurse visiting programs, UNC’s perinatal inpatient unit, and Anchor’s intensive program, teletherapy, childcare, and free walk-in maternal mental health clinic at anchorperinatal.com.

00:00 UNC Perinatal Units

00:43 Meet the Guests

01:40 Veronica and Anchor Program

03:16 What Perinatal Mental Health Means

04:36 When Symptoms Become Serious

05:51 Red Flags Sleep and Safety

07:20 Intrusive Thoughts and Stigma

10:56 Screening and Provider Gaps

12:23 Risk Factors and Prevention

15:29 Resources Programs and Medication

17:36 Social Media Comparison Trap

17:52 Finding Realistic Support

18:54 Marriage Strain After Baby

19:22 Teamwork and Self Care Plan

22:17 Sleep Boundaries and Visitors

24:28 When to Seek Treatment

25:44 Divorce and Custody Bias

29:07 Free Nurse Visiting Programs

30:25 How to Get Help

31:42 Final Takeaways

Attorneys Sarah Hink and Elizabeth Stevenson return from a hiatus on the Exit Strategy podcast to discuss why custody is often the hardest part of divorce and separation, including the emotional challenge of sharing time with children. They explain that in the North Carolina counties where they practice, courts often start from a 50/50 assumption tied to the child’s best interests and a relationship with both parents, then look for reasons to deviate such as domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health concerns, lack of involvement, or inconsistency. They cover tools like temporary arrangements, tiered custody schedules with treatment requirements, reunification therapy, custody/parent fitness evaluations, guardians ad litem, parent coordinators, and parallel parenting. They warn against false abuse claims, alienation, and putting children in the middle, noting records can follow families and even be found online later.

00:00 Welcome Back Intro

00:20 Why Custody Gets Heated

00:43 Facing 50 50 Reality

01:57 Courts Start at 50 50

02:40 Give Them a Chance

03:32 Custody Can Change

04:00 Tiered Plans and Reunification

05:35 Evaluations and Expert Help

06:55 Parallel Parenting Tools

07:31 Kids Feel the Conflict

08:57 Legal Custody Decision Making

09:42 Third Parties Can Sue

10:11 Domestic Violence Impact

11:10 False Claims Backfire

11:56 Online Records and Kids Testifying

13:23 Parental Alienation Consequences

14:08 Honesty and Realistic Outcomes

16:08 Wrap Up and Final Thoughts

Family law attorneys Sarah Hink and Elizabeth Stevenson of New Direction Family Law discuss North Carolina equitable distribution in divorce, emphasizing that most marital property and debt acquired from the date of marriage to the date of separation is typically divided 50/50, regardless of whose name it’s in, with values generally set as of separation. They explain separate property carve-outs (inheritances kept separate, premarital retirement/house interests) and when debts may be treated as separate (not benefiting the marriage). They warn against trying to manipulate accounts or incurring debt right before separation, and note most cases settle in required mediation if parties avoid “nickel-and-diming” personal property. They also highlight practical issues with houses, refinancing, credit risk, and the need to address property claims before an absolute divorce, which can waive equitable distribution rights.

00:00 Mediation Pitfalls

00:35 Meet the Attorneys

00:57 Equitable Distribution Basics

02:01 Marital Property Freeze Frame

02:33 Unequal Splits and Misconduct

03:44 Separate Property Exceptions

05:02 Messy Assets and Businesses

05:44 DIY Agreements and Prenups

06:41 Pets and Personal Property

07:17 Mediation and Nickel Dime Fights

09:39 Home Values and Letting Go

11:32 Debt Division and Credit Risks

14:06 Bankruptcy and Final Warnings