Custody, Chaos & Communication: A Look at Family Law with Todd Sailer & Guest Dimitri Smirnov | The Injury Pros Podcast

Episode 20 | About This Episode

On the latest episode of The Injury Pros Podcast family law attorney Dimitri Smirnov joins host Todd Sailer (Cordisco & Saile) for a real, unvarnished look at what families face when everything changes at once.

If a crash can upend a life in seconds, a divorce or custody dispute can do the same… slowly, painfully, and right at home. Dimitri explains how judges think about custody, why parental alienation is so damaging (and how it actually plays out), and the few situations where withholding a child is legally defensible because safety comes first. Todd and Dimitri also talk about the part of lawyering we rarely see on TV: urgent calls about PFAs, the scramble when a child is picked up on the wrong week, and the steadying presence clients need when the court’s timeline can’t match real life. Then they zoom out. What really ends marriages?

Dimitri says it’s usually communication breakdown, not just infidelity – resentment grows when people feel unheard, and the coping (affairs, drinking, overworking) follows. They swap practical lessons on work–life balance, being present with your kids, and building honest co-parenting routines. And yes, there’s a lighter side: pet “custody” calendars, high-stakes parrots, and a baseball story or two that started a friendship. If you care about the human side of law – or you’re navigating a tough season yourself – this one’s for you.

Got questions about your injury case? Visit cordiscosaile.com for a free consultation.

Brought to you by Cordisco & Saile | Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers
Phone: 215-642-2335
Email: info@cordiscosaile.com
Website: https://www.cordiscosaile.com