Preparing for separation

Nobody gets taught how to do this. These are the things we wish someone had told us.

Understanding what's ahead
What actually happens in a first meeting with a family lawyer
It's not what most people expect. Here's how to walk in ready and make the most of expensive time.
4 min read
Agreement, mediation, or court: how to know which path you're on
The path you take is the biggest driver of cost. Most people don't realise they have a choice.
3 min read
Your money
Why your lawyer's first question will be about money
You're dealing with heartbreak and the first thing they ask about is bank accounts. Here's why, and how to be ready.
4 min read
The financial disclosure nobody warns you about
At some point, both sides have to put everything on the table. Knowing what's coming makes it far less overwhelming.
5 min · checklist
MoneySmart: Divorce and separation financial checklist
The Australian Government's free step-by-step financial guide
moneysmart.gov.au →
Your children
What a parenting plan actually covers
Living arrangements, holidays, school decisions, medical consent. Worth thinking through before someone else decides.
5 min read
Telling the children: what the research says
There's no perfect way. But there are approaches that help children adjust, and ones that make it harder.
4 min read

I spent $14,000 before I realised half of it went to my lawyer just understanding my situation. If I'd had my records organised from the start, I'd probably have spent half that.

Based on common experience
Working with professionals
Questions most people forget to ask their lawyer
How they bill, what they can't help with, and the one question that could save you thousands.
3 min read
What to expect from mediation
It's not couples therapy and it's not court. How it actually works and how to walk in ready.
4 min read

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