What Attorneys Wish Clients Understood About Fairness

Divorce Coaches Academy

Divorce Coaches Academy
What Attorneys Wish Clients Understood About Fairness
Jan 28, 2026 Season 1 Episode 195
Tracy Callahan and Debra Doak

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Fair can feel like justice. In divorce, it often becomes a trap. In this episode, we sat down with attorney and managing partner Sara Marler to explore why “I just want what’s fair” derails strategy, inflates costs, and delays peace—and how a trauma-informed, whole-person approach helps clients pivot toward outcomes they can actually live with. Sara opens the curtain on what courts really weigh under standards like “just and equitable,” why judges prioritize clarity over grievance, and how stories of betrayal still matter when they are used to guide better decisions rather than to fuel a courtroom campaign.

Together, we map the gap between emotional fairness and legal reality, then show how to close it with reframing, education, and the right team. You’ll hear how validating a client’s experience builds trust, how divorce coaches reduce legal fees by handling the emotional heavy lifting, and why amicable and collaborative professionals consistently deliver faster, more sustainable results than “shark” tactics. We also talk practical tools—mindfulness, targeted parenting classes, curated resources—that help parents stop scorekeeping and design plans centered on children’s needs, not adult ego.

If you’re navigating separation or advising clients through it, this conversation offers a clear path from conflict to closure: focus on what you can control, choose resolution over vindication, and measure success by stability, not revenge. Divorce splits one household into two; it won’t look the same, and that’s okay. The goal is a livable outcome that protects your kids, your wallet, and your future self. 

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To learn more about Sara visit her practice website at: https://marlerlawpartners.com/

Learn more about DCA® or any of the classes or events mentioned in this episode at the links below:

Website: www.divorcecoachesacademy.com
Instagram: @divorcecoachesacademy
LinkedIn: divorce-coaches-academy
Email: DCA@divorcecoachesacademy.com

Episode Artwork What Attorneys Wish Clients Understood About Fairness 33:55 Episode Artwork Reframing Fairness Without Invalidating Emotion 32:34 Episode Artwork Fairness Vs. Resolution Within the ADR Framework 24:20 Episode Artwork Fair is the Four Letter Word: Why Chasing Fairness Keeps People Stuck in Divorce 21:23 Episode Artwork Diversity in Divorce Coaching: A Reflection on Access, Trust, and Effectiveness 31:57 Episode Artwork Artificial Intelligence and Divorce Coaching: Will AI Take Our Jobs or Help Us Do Them Better? 25:29 Episode Artwork The Most Dangerous Sentence in Divorce 23:21 Episode Artwork Roadmap To A Sustainable ADR Divorce Coaching Practice 36:22 Episode Artwork Reframing Conflict in Divorce Coaching: From Pathology to Pragmatism 18:59 Episode Artwork ​​​​Preparing for Divorce Month: Coaching for an Exit Strategy 40:20 Episode Artwork When Men Divorce: Exploring the Male Experience in Divorce Coaching 37:03 Episode Artwork Navigating Divorce When Family Advice Clashes With Resolution 30:39 Episode Artwork How Thoughtful Parenting Plans Reduce Conflict And Protect Kids 39:30 Episode Artwork Defining Divorce Coaching: Role, Boundaries, and Impact 25:08 Episode Artwork The Power of Mentorship: Guiding Growth in the Divorce Coaching Journey 24:34 Episode Artwork Breaking the Cycle: How Confirmation Bias Keeps Divorcing Couples Trapped in Conflict 35:28 Episode Artwork Inside New Zealand’s FDR Shake-Up: Free Mediation, Fewer Supports, and the Case for Coaching 34:20 Episode Artwork Fear-Driven Divorce: Unpacking Client Anxieties 23:12 Episode Artwork Brick by Brick: Divorce Lessons from the Three Little Pigs 17:59 Episode Artwork Waiting for Sorry: Moving Beyond Apologies in Divorce 20:40 Episode Artwork When Drinking Concerns Meet Custody: The Soberlink Solution 32:41 Episode Artwork The Unexpected Professionals Reshaping Divorce Support with Canadian Director Dori Braddell 24:25 Episode Artwork Who's On My Side? Helping Clients Navigate Conflicts with Their Divorce Team 24:31 Episode Artwork Why Some Divorces Cost $3,000 and Others Cost $300,000 24:48 Episode Artwork Clients, Credibility, and Cashflow: Real Talk About The Time It Takes to Build Your Business 17:37