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

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.

Jack Whelan, Barrister, Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner spoke with Dr Mandy-Jo Ellis from the Relationspace, Carolyn Devries, CEO of NEW Way Lawyers, Australia’s first not for profit law firm, and New Way Law Family Law expert practitioner Ryan Cropper to discuss some of the issues facing separating and divorced families in a pandemic. 

We chat with Rebecca Dahl, partner at Nicholes Family Lawyers, about 10 common family law myths. True or false?  If you leave the family home, you'll lose your share in the property. If you're still living together, you can't be separated. 'I put the money in and so I should get the money back.' Do you need help sorting family law fact from fiction?  Our 5-minute Q&A can help connect you with experts like Rebecca to guide you through the maze. For more free separation resources, go to theseparationguide.com.au. Read more about Rebecca and Nicholes Family Lawyers.

Today, we chat with Davide Di Pietro, Principal therapist at The Resilience Centre's Family Clinic, about communicating through separation. This practical conversation covers: Setting separation conversations up the right way Communication barriers Grounding strategies Psychological rigidity vs. psychological flexibility. 'The families that I've worked with where I've met them before the separation has occurred and been able to...walk through with them that whole process, it seems to go quite well.' Thinking about separation? Our 5-minute Q&A can help connect you with the right experts to guide you through the maze. For more free separation resources, go to theseparationguide.com.au. Read more about Davide and The Resilience Centre.