Episode 2: Yaakov's Story

In this episode I interview Yaakov.

We talk about the divorce process, the uncertainty of its early days, the role of spouses involved in a divorce as former spouses and as parents, and how for many people the divorce doesn’t just end when the papers are signed.

He talks about what it’s like to be on the other side of a case handled by Shalom Task Force, a an organization that provides high-conflict divorce lawyers to Jewish women, free of charge. We also discuss how doing routine things, like taking his child to visit family in a nearby state cost thousands of dollars in litigation and required appearances and motions in court.

One important lesson that I want people to take away from this interview, is that even though Yaakov won many of his motions for custody modification, it still cost him thousands of dollars and a huge emotional toll. That is, even though some people like to brush off these problems by saying “well we have a justice system that will deal with it”… well ya, there is a justice system, but it’s not exactly accessible or practical for most people. The system doesn’t just crank out “justice”. If you can’t afford the “justice”, you don’t get the justice. Luckily Yaakov has had some important wins, but he still a monumental challenge ahead.

Yaakov has done a lot of homework on the organization that is assisting his former wife and shares some pretty concerning details as well as with some details about navigating the court system,