"The Good Divorce": How It Can Be a Beginning, Not An End

Beschreibung

Event Date(s): 03/08/2011 | Event Location(s): New York City, New York, United States | Description: 10:54:07 STILLS Photo of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and his then-wife Photo of actress Robin Givens and her then-husband Mike Tyson GFX: Graphic of the book "The Good Divorce" by Raoul Felder. 10:55:18 STILL Photo of real estate mogul Donald Trump and his then-wife Ivana Trump Raoul Felder joins Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb live in Studio 1A. Celebrity divorce attorney Raoul Felder has represented everybody from Mayor Rudy Giuliani to Robin Givens during her divorce from Mike Tyson. But divorce doesn't have to be the end, it can be the beginning. KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, co-host: Raoul shares his savvy negotiating secrets in his new book, "The Good Divorce: How to Walk Away Sound and Emotionally Happy." KOTB: I like good divorce. GIFFORD: It sounds almost impossible... KOTB: Yeah, it sure does. GIFFORD: ...but you say it isn't. It's possible. Mr. RAOUL FELDER: It's possible. GIFFORD: Mm-hmm. Mr. FELDER: You know, it's--it could be a positive journey. It's one of the only two situations in life where if somebody signs a piece of paper, you could have a happier life. The first is if you're a prisoner. The governor signs a pardon. GIFFORD: You're released, yeah. Mr. FELDER: The second is if a judge signs it, it makes a divorce. Too many people will tell you the worst experience of their life, it's a negative experience. It doesn't have to be, though. KOTB: Well, a lot of people don't do prenups and that ends up causing, obviously, a lot of problems when it comes to money. Mr. FELDER: Yes, yes. KOTB: You should definitely do one, I guess, right? Mr. FELDER: Well, today. KOTB: Yeah. Mr. FELDER: If you don't get a prenup, you ought to be a psychiatrist, not a lawyer. KOTB: Yeah. Mr. FELDER: I mean, it's just crazy. Unless you love lawyers and want to waste a lot of money, get a prenup. They stand up. GIFFORD: Yeah. Mr. FELDER: They stand up. KOTB: They do. GIFFORD: Yeah. There was a time there where we thought they might not. They were being contested all over the place. Mr. FELDER: Well, yes, but that's because of Donald Trump. Donald... GIFFORD: Yeah. Well, we can blame on poor Donald, huh? Mr. FELDER: Yeah. But Donald Trump's or Ivana's... GIFFORD: Yeah. Mr. FELDER: ...you know, contested a prenup and there was some postnup, and everybody said, `Gee whiz, Donald Trump, the smartest guy in the world, if there's something wrong with his prenup, what about mine that was prepared by Joe Schmo around the corner?' KOTB: Yeah. GIFFORD: Right. Mr. FELDER: Well, the fact is, his was good, prenups are alive and living and well in America. KOTB: People become vicious going through a divorce. GIFFORD: But it's the greed part. KOTB: Yeah, that's what happens. GIFFORD: Yeah. Mr. FELDER: Yeah. The greed is a problem. People want too much. That's one of the problems. KOTB: What's the other? GIFFORD: But what if you've been the injured party? Say you find out your husband's been fooling around for 20 years... Mr. FELDER: Right, right. GIFFORD: ...and then you just want--you feel like for pain and suffering you want more than what, you know, you'd just be... Mr. FELDER: Well, but Kathie, there ain't reparations in a divorce case. You'll get a lawyer who will pander to you and do whatever you want him to do, we're going to destroy, we're going to ruin. That's the lawyer to stay away from. GIFFORD: Yeah. Mr. FELDER: And don't look for it. It's not a perfect world. You move on in life. GIFFORD: It's going to end up in his pocket anyway, isn't it? Mr. FELDER: Yeah, yes. GIFFORD: Yeah. KOTB: Raoul, the book is called "The Good Divorce." Mr. FELDER: Divorce, yeah. GIFFORD: "The Good Divorce." KOTB: Who knew? Mr. FELDER: Yes. GIFFORD: Thanks so much. Mr. FELDER: Thanks so much. Thank you. KOTB: Thanks, Raoul. Thanks. GIFFORD: Thank you.