7 Shocking Realities Of Jill Duggar’s Life After Leaving TLC: Her New Career, Derick’s Sabbatical, And The Family Feud Rebuilding

Jill Duggar Dillard, once known globally as a star of the wholesome reality TV series *19 Kids and Counting*, has dramatically redefined her public image and personal life in recent years, culminating in a series of shocking revelations and a new path forward in 2025. As of this current date, December 14, 2025, Jill is navigating a complex "rebuilding phase" with her famous family while embracing freedom from the strictures of her childhood, a journey she chronicled in her explosive memoir, *Counting the Cost*.

Her transition from a rigidly controlled reality star to a candid author and advocate for religious trauma awareness has captivated the public, peeling back the layers of the Duggar family’s private world and the controversial teachings of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). This is the definitive, up-to-date look at Jill’s life, her family, and the true cost of her freedom.

Jill Duggar Dillard: Complete Biography and Profile

Full Name: Jill Michelle Dillard (née Duggar)

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Date of Birth: May 17, 1991

Place of Birth: Tontitown, Arkansas, U.S.

Parents: Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar

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Siblings: The fourth of 19 children, including siblings like Jessa Seewald, Jinger Vuolo, and Joy-Anna Forsyth.

Spouse: Derick Dillard (m. June 21, 2014)

Children (Sons):

• Israel David Dillard (b. 2015, approximately 10 years old)
• Samuel Scott Dillard (b. 2017, approximately 8 years old)
• Frederick "Freddy" Michael Dillard (b. July 7, 2022, approximately 3 years old)

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Education: Midwives and Birth Assistants Program (Apprenticeship)

Career: Former Reality Television Personality (*19 Kids and Counting*, *Counting On*), Author, Public Speaker, and Advocate.

Notable Work: Memoir *Counting the Cost* (2023)

Current Residence: Northwest Arkansas

The Shocking New Path: Derick’s Career Sabbatical and Family Life in 2025

The Dillard family’s life in 2025 is marked by a significant shift in career and a renewed focus on their immediate family unit. Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, have been transparent about their unconventional path, which is a stark contrast to the expected trajectory of a former Duggar family member.

Derick Dillard’s New Chapter After Law

After years of pursuing a legal career, including attending the University of Arkansas School of Law, Derick Dillard became a licensed attorney in both Arkansas and Oklahoma. He served in public service as a prosecuting attorney, specifically as an Assistant District Attorney in Stilwell, Oklahoma. However, in a major update in 2025, Jill confirmed that Derick has taken a "sabbatical" from his job.

This career pause has allowed the couple to focus on their family and their joint advocacy work, including the continued promotion of their New York Times Bestselling memoir. This move signals a prioritization of personal well-being and a departure from a traditional, demanding career path, which has been a hallmark of their post-TLC life.

Raising Israel, Samuel, and Frederick

Jill and Derick are dedicated to raising their three sons—Israel David, Samuel Scott, and Frederick Michael—outside the rigid, sheltered environment of the IBLP. Their sons are often featured in vlogs and posts that showcase a more typical, modern American childhood, including activities like attending public school and wearing modern clothing, which were not options for Jill growing up. The birth of their youngest son, Frederick "Freddy" Michael, in 2022, rounded out their "boy tribe" and brought immense joy to the family.

The Untold Cost: Exposing IBLP and Religious Trauma

Jill’s true impact in the mid-2020s comes from her willingness to speak out about the spiritual and familial trauma she experienced. Her memoir, *Counting the Cost*, is more than a celebrity tell-all; it is a critical examination of the fundamentalist belief system that governed her life.

The Secrets of *Counting the Cost*

The 2023 memoir, co-authored with Derick and writer Craig Borlase, provided a no-holds-barred look at the manipulation, financial exploitation, and intimidation Jill faced behind the scenes of *19 Kids and Counting* and its spin-off, *Counting On*. Key takeaways from the book include:

• Financial Exploitation: Jill detailed the family's finances and the contract that she says locked her into the TV series without proper compensation for years. This led to a legal battle for her earnings.
• Controlling Environment: The memoir revealed how her parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, and the teachings of Bill Gothard’s IBLP, controlled everything from her dating life and clothing choices to her career.
• Seeking Freedom: The book documents the emotional and spiritual toll of breaking away and the challenges of establishing boundaries with her powerful family.

Advocacy Against the IBLP

Jill has become a prominent voice in the conversation surrounding religious trauma and high-control religious groups. She has publicly discussed how "faith is weaponized" within the system she grew up in, likening some aspects of the IBLP to a "cult". Her candor, alongside her appearance in the Amazon Prime documentary series *Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets*, has given strength to other survivors who grew up under the Gothard teachings.

The Current Status of the Duggar Family Relationship

The most persistent question surrounding Jill’s life is the status of her relationship with her parents and siblings. As of 2025, Jill has described the situation as "complicated" but confirmed that she is actively working on a "rebuilding phase".

Reconciliation and Boundaries

Jill has been clear that establishing healthy boundaries was necessary for her family's well-being, even if it meant distance from her parents, Jim Bob and Michelle. However, recent updates suggest a softening of the relationship with some family members. Jill has stated that she has "stronger relationships with siblings and family" and that they "needed time" to heal from the trauma of their shared past.

There have been rare, documented reunions with her mother, Michelle Duggar, and sister, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, who also lives a more modern life in California. These small, public steps toward reconciliation indicate a cautious but deliberate effort to maintain familial ties on her own terms, a powerful message of independence and self-determination that resonates with her readers and supporters. Jill Duggar’s life today is a testament to the courage required to forge an authentic path, one that prioritizes mental health, marital partnership, and the well-being of her own Dillard family.