The Separation Guide | A starting point for better separation and divorce

Telling your partner that you want to separate is a daunting prospect. Doing it wrong could have consequences like escalating conflict, creating unnecessary hurt for those around you and, in extreme circumstances, it could be dangerous. Preparing yourself to tell your spouse the right way can set the tone for a low-conflict separation from day one. In this episode, we speak to our Senior Separation Consultant, Arabella Feltham, about: safety as your number one consideration discussing separation if moving out isn’t an option the right moment to bring up separation having a support person present what to consider if you have children how to prepare yourself the words to use to avoid escalation how to approach a trial separation emotional reactions to expect from your partner and yourself. You can find out about the Separation Support sessions mentioned in the podcast here. Please subscribe for episodes about all aspects of separation and divorce in Australia. If you know someone who will find this podcast helpful, please share. The Separation Guide aims to make separation and divorce simpler, more manageable and less stressful. To find out more about how one of our Network Members could support your separation, take our free 3-minute Q&A.

Around a third of Australia’s population was born overseas. Many married and de facto couples have at least one person from another country. If this is you, what happens if you separate in Australia?  In this episode, we talk to experienced migration and family Lawyer from Starlight Legal, Eva Liang, about: how Australian Family Law recognises overseas marriages how to divorce when one party is overseas relocating children overseas in a separation spousal visas and their effect on separation cultural and linguistic barriers when dealing with the Family Court system understanding different cultural values,  best interests and family structures.  Please subscribe for episodes about all aspects of separation and divorce in Australia. If you know someone who will find this podcast helpful, please share. You can find information about forms of family violence and links to support services in our blog Separation when there is family violence. The Separation Guide aims to make separation and divorce simpler, more manageable and less stressful. To find out more about how one of our Network Members could support your separation, take our free 3-minute Q&A. If you offer professional help and advice to people going through separation and divorce, Join the Network.

Child support is a way for both parents to make sure that their kids are properly supported financially. There are a lot of decisions that need to be made around how your child support arrangement is set up, managed and collected. There are also a lot of implications to these decisions which might not become clear until you are a fair way down the child support road. In this episode, we speak to Crystal Paduch from Child Support Consultants about many aspects of child support in Australia to give you some insight into how it all works. We cover: how child support is assessed the ways to manage child support private collection versus Child Support collect how Centrelink, Child Support and the ATO are connected the types of income included in an assessment plus income exclusions how days of care affect an assessment what happens if there is an overpayment or underpayment the services offered by CSC. If you'd like to learn more about CSC and book a consultation with Crystal, you can find the link to her calendar here. If you know someone who will find this podcast helpful, please share. The Separation Guide aims to make separation and divorce simpler, more manageable and less stressful. To find out more about how one of our Network Members could support your separation, take our free 3-minute Q&A. If you offer professional help and advice to people going through separation and divorce, Join the Network.

We’ve had ‘no-fault’ divorce in Australia since 1975. Unlike criminal law, there's not a guilty verdict. Your lawyer isn't fighting to 'win' - their job is to help you reach an agreement with your spouse over property and financial settlement and child arrangements. So is there really a place for escalating your matter to an inevitable court date, and who is actually benefiting when that happens? Is it time in Australia for a kind approach to Family Law? In this episode, we speak to Perpetua Kish from Balance Family Law and Angela Harbinson, CEO of The Separation Guide about: the role of the law in separation and divorce what kindness in Family Law looks like and how it benefits clients de-escalation and proactive communication between lawyers what to look for when choosing a lawyer who will avoid escalation possible points of escalation and how to avoid them the financial and emotional cost of escalation and going to court. Please subscribe for episodes about all aspects of separation and divorce in Australia. If you know someone who will find this podcast helpful, please share. The Separation Guide aims to make separation and divorce simpler, more manageable and less stressful. To find out more about how one of our Network Members could support your separation, take our free 3-minute Q&A. If you offer professional help and advice to people going through separation and divorce, Join the Network.

75% of the couples we hear from own property together. Find out about your borrowing options and know where you stand before you negotiate your financial settlement. In this episode, we speak to Senior Lending Specialist Jyana Papanastasiou from SCM Finance Solutions about: covering your loan when you separate refinancing when one person keeps the home pros and cons of selling and releasing equity getting a mortgage as a single person what counts as income for your application when you should speak to professionals. If you know someone who will find this podcast helpful, please share. Find out more about your options in separation and divorce at www.theseparationguide.com.au

Putting children through a family separation isn’t something anyone ever wants to do. So, how should you approach it if it happens? In this episode, we speak with Bron O’Loan from O’Loan Family Law about: telling children about your separation what to say if you can’t answer their questions involving children in decisions about their future messages you give children about the separation support networks for parents and children resilience in children talking about the future after separation. You can purchase Bron O’Loan’s book The Splits: How to help your kids navigate separation and divorce here. If you know someone who will find this podcast helpful, please share. Find out more about your options in separation and divorce at www.theseparationguide.com.au

What happens to your superannuation when you separate? In this episode, we chat with Samatha Miller from Clarity Lawyers, Chris Fagan from SCM Wealth Management and Christina Hobbs, CEO and co-founder of Verve Super about superannuation and separation. Read the show notes. Are you impacted by separation? Our 3-minute Q&A can help connect you with experts like those featured in our podcast to guide you through the maze.  Find out more about your options in separation and divorce at www.theseparationguide.com.au To learn more about Verve Super, head to their website. Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast is of a general nature only. It’s important to do your own research and consider things like fees, investment performance, insurance cover, risk profile, and alignment with your values when considering if a superannuation product is appropriate for you. Consider getting in touch with a professional adviser if you need support with your financial or legal needs. When considering financial returns, past performance is not indicative of future performance.

The Separation Guide CEO, Angela Harbinson, spoke with industry experts Kylie Harding and Selena James about their advice and suggestions for financial empowerment before, during and after separation. Find out more about your options in separation and divorce at www.theseparationguide.com.au Note that Kylie Harding was known by her married name Kylie MacDonald when our podcast was recorded.

Heidi Rogers, a representative from Moving Mindsets, Tanya Hibberd from Aubrey Brown, and Andrew Wilson, a mediator, delve into the complexities of family violence during separation. They discuss various forms of abuse, including coercive control, and highlight the long-term impacts on children. The conversation emphasizes legal protections like Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders and the importance of personalized support. Listeners gain insights into navigating separation safely while ensuring emotional well-being for themselves and their families.

Jack Whelan, Mediator, Barrister, FDRP and Co-founder of The Separation Guide, leads the discussion on the controversial subject of Parental Alienation with Lawyers Kath Manby and Bron O'Loan, together with Family Therapist and Psychologist Lynne Datnow.