Why the Court System Is Destroying Families And What to Do Instead | with Joerika Stitt

<p>In this episode of the Amicable Divorce Network Podcast, host Tracy Ann Moore-Grant sits down with <strong>Joerika Stitt</strong>, Illinois-based attorney, certified mediator, and collaborative divorce professional, for one of the most honest conversations we&#39;ve had about what traditional litigation actually does to families and why there is a better way.</p><p>Joerika brings a perspective that is truly one of a kind. Before becoming a lawyer, she spent nearly a decade as a psychiatric social worker. She then built her legal career at Prairie State Legal Services doing legal aid work for domestic violence survivors. And then she went through a decade-long divorce herself. She has seen this system from every possible angle, and what she has to say about it will stop you in your tracks.</p><p><strong>In this episode you&#39;ll learn:</strong></p><ul><li>Why Joerika&#39;s own divorce lasted 10 years — and what she wishes she had known going in</li><li>How the court system is structurally designed to be adversarial, and why that is actively harmful to families</li><li>What a &quot;status hearing&quot; actually is, why you keep having them, and why your lawyer bills you every single time</li><li>How lawyers can — intentionally or not — create and escalate conflict between parties</li><li>Why even &quot;winning&quot; in court often leaves clients emotionally and financially depleted</li><li>The real timeline and cost difference between a litigated divorce and an out-of-court process</li><li>Why AI-generated divorce agreements almost never hold up in court</li><li>What limited scope representation is and how it can help if you can&#39;t afford full representation</li></ul><p><br></p><p>💻 Work with Joerika at <strong>joerika.com</strong><br>🌐 Find Joerika and other vetted Illinois professionals at <strong>amicabledivorcenetwork.com</strong><br>🌐 Check your state&#39;s divorce waiting period at <strong>divorceamicably.com</strong><br>📧 Connect with ADN directly at <a href="mailto:info@amicabledivorcenetwork.com">info@amicabledivorcenetwork.com</a></p><p><br></p><p>👉 <em>If this episode opened your eyes, share it with someone who thinks court is their only option. It might be the most important thing you send them.</em></p>