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Published on:

31st Oct 2023

You Don't Have to Fight it Out in Court Alternative Solutions to Avoiding Court Battles

Today I am honored to have a fellow mediator, Rosemarie Ferrante on the show. Rosemarie walks us through the emotional and financial prep work that is necessary to have a smooth legal divorce process. She talks about her own experience going through a divorce and how she supports her own clients with the tools they need to create a solid co-parenting relationship. Rosemarie clarifies the difference between mediation, collaboration, and what it’s like having to go to litigation. Tune in to get clarity around all the emotional, financial, and legal information that comes with divorce. 


In this episode:

  • [2:06] What led Rosemarie to do the work she is doing?

  • [5:15] What was Rosemarie’s divorce like?

  • [7:40] Is there ever a time that mediation doesn’t work?

  • [9:30] How does Rosemarie use emotional prep work while working with clients?

  • [16:07] What should people think about finances when they are looking for divorce support?

  • [19:05] How can a mediator support you through divorce and provide law information?

  • [25:10] What is the most important thing to do if you are contemplating divorce?


Key Takeaways: 

  • Divorce doesn’t have to be a fight, destructive, or a traumatic experience, it is possible to go through a divorce in a healthy manner with two adults working together. 

  • There is a team involved in your divorce. You need your coaches, your therapist, and financial support. These are investments, but it can ultimately lead to a cheaper divorce if you can avoid going to court and more agreeable decision making if you have worked on yourself. 

  • When contemplating divorce make sure that you do understand your options for a legal process, collaborative divorce, mediation, litigation, what they are and what they aren't. Understand what divorce professionals you can have on your team to best support you.

Quotes: 

“The court system is, in my opinion, not meant for families.” - Rosemarie Ferrante

“Every family is different. What you need might be different than what your friend or your neighbor or your sister needed. Understanding all the various roles will be really important for you to be able to have the support you need to get through the process.” - Rosemarie Ferrante

“I think that the most important thing if you're contemplating divorce, is to make sure that you do understand your options for a legal process, collaborative divorce, mediation, litigation, what they are and what they aren't. And then also understand what divorce professionals you can have on your team to best support you.” - Rosemarie Ferrante


Guest Bio: 

Rosemarie Ferrante is a family attorney focusing on non-adversarial divorce through mediation and collaborative divorce. She has been practicing exclusively family law for over 25 years. Rosemarie’s goal is to provide families the resources and tools needed to smoothly transition through the divorce process. Her practice helps couples who wish to separate or divorce in reaching agreements that foster goodwill and trust, while meeting each spouse’s individual goals and needs, while most importantly, supporting ongoing positive relationships with their children, and with each other as co-parents.

Resources: 

Divorce Mediation Center of Fairfield County, LLC | Attorney

Divorce Mediation CT Instagram

Divorce Mediation Resources

Lesa Koski Website

Lesa’s Online Courses

Lesa’s Masterclass


The Onward app was made for divorced parents to help track, share, and split their children's expenses. Download The Onward App today for iOS or Android!


I am so honored to introduce my FREE Co-Parenting Masterclass. This masterclass will share tools to co-parent well even with a difficult co-parent. You will learn the 5 C's of a Co-Parenting Plan and a free bonus resource with Certified Divorce Lending Specialist, Tami Wollensak, sharing what you want to consider regarding the family home.

Register for free today at https://www.lesakoski.com/co-parenting-masterclass

Mentioned in this episode:

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About the Podcast

Doing Divorce Different A Podcast Guide to Doing Divorce Differently
Divorce, co-parenting, menopause, marriage, and starting over after 40—Doing Divorce Different is your guide to a healthy, faith filled life transition.

Hosted by Family Law Attorney and Mediator Lesa Koski, Doing Divorce Different is a candid, empowering podcast designed to take the fear out of divorce and guide you toward peace—whether you’re navigating a split, working to stay married, or rebuilding a better life after a major transition. Each week, Lesa brings heart-centered legal insight, emotional support, and holistic wisdom to help you heal, grow, and thrive.

We cover everything from amicable divorce and co-parenting strategies to parenting plans that actually work and support kids in thriving through change. You’ll learn how to prepare for marriage with prenups, revisit your relationship with post-nuptial agreements, and understand what it really takes to stay married or rekindle love after a rough season. If you're in the midst of a grey divorce, wondering how to not get divorced, or questioning whether love can be found again, this show is for you.

Lesa also explores the emotional and physical changes that often accompany midlife and major life shifts. From navigating the impact of menopause on your health, marriage, and mood, to dealing with the loneliness that can come after divorce or empty nesting, you’ll find honest conversations that don’t shy away from real-life challenges. And for those of you in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’ll discover what it means to truly build a better life after 40.

Health and wellness are deeply integrated into this journey. Lesa shares insights on the benefits of rest, joy, nutrition, fasting, protein, and bone health, along with the power of movement, community, and exercise to support mental clarity and physical strength. You’ll learn how to take care of yourself with intention—because healing isn’t just emotional, it’s also biological.

Mindset work and self-coaching are recurring tools offered in episodes to help you reframe your story and shift from fear to freedom. And through it all, the show honors the role of faith, spiritual surrender, and letting God lead you through every season. Whether you're leaning into your relationship with God for the first time or deepening a lifelong practice, you’ll hear how surrender can bring peace even in the hardest moments.

You’ll hear real stories from people who have done divorce differently, saved their marriages, or found new love and purpose on the other side. Lesa also brings in conversations about marriages that have stood the test of time, co-parenting through complex seasons, and the realities of parenting after separation while maintaining stability for your kids.

This is not just a podcast about divorce. Doing Divorce Different is about taking back your life, rewriting your future, and trusting that you’re not starting over, you’re starting better. If you’re craving practical advice, soul-level encouragement, and real conversations about creating a healthy, joyful, purpose-driven life, you’ve found your community.

Subscribe now and join Lesa Koski for weekly episodes that will help you grow stronger in your relationships, your health, and your faith, no matter where you’re starting from.

About the Host:
I’ve spent over 25 years helping families navigate amicable divorce as a lawyer and mediator, always focused on protecting what matters most—your kids and your peace of mind. But my mission has expanded. Today, I support women over 40 not just through endings, but in building stronger relationships—and sometimes even saving their marriages. I’m a breast cancer survivor, a cowgirl at heart, a wellness advocate, and a follower of Jesus. My life and faith fuel my passion for helping women thrive.

About your host

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Lesa Koski