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

This episode explores family law finance - a line of credit available to people who are going through separation and need to access funds to pay for professional support to reach a fair and equitable settlement that will set them up for a secure future.



We talk to Jack O'Donnell from JustFund about:


the purpose of family law finance
what it can cover
how it differs from traditional loans
who is eligible, and how it is assessed
who can benefit from a family law line of credit.

This episode is a must-listen for people facing a property split who have money tied up in property, a trust or a business that they can't access until settlement. There are options to pay for the right advice.



Resources mentioned in this episode


Check if you're eligible for family law finance with JustFund https://theseparationguide.com.au/resource/podcasts/listen-how-can-i-pay-for-my-separation/
JustFund Borrower Guide https://theseparationguide.com.au/app/uploads/2024/01/2024-Borrower-Guide-The-Separation-Guide.pdf
Family law finance information on The Separation Guide website https://theseparationguide.com.au/resource/podcasts/listen-how-can-i-pay-for-my-separation/

 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.

DisclaimerThe information in our resources is general only. Consider getting in touch with a professional adviser if you need support with your legal, financial or wellbeing needs.

The number of separated couples still living together in Australia is on the rise. Over 50% of people tell us that they have separated but are still living under one roof. The transition from partners to moving out can take some time, but we’re seeing that period grow longer for more and more couples. In this episode, separation and relationship coach Kelly Bagshaw joins us to talk about



what’s causing this rising trend
making this period work in the best way
re-negotiating your relationship, your space, your boundaries and your expectations of each other
communication styles
support to help you get through this period and move on afterwards.


Listen here, or listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

If you’d like to chat with Kelly for independent separation coaching, counselling or relationship coaching either before separation or to work towards a successful separation, you can book in a free 15-minute chat here.


Or read our blog, How to separate from your spouse while living together.



For the latest stats on separation in Australia, you can download our State of Separation Impact Report


If you know someone who will find this podcast helpful, please share.



Disclaimer

The information in our resources is general only. Consider getting in touch with a professional adviser if you need support with your legal, financial or wellbeing needs.

Dividing assets and property in separation and divorce may seem like a simple equation, but it gets complicated quickly. A 50-50 split may not always be the best outcome. Listen to find out what factors need to be considered in determining a fair property split. In this episode, we talked to Lauren Patford-Smith of Padford-Smith Legal Services about:


the 4-step process of Family Law
what assets and debts should you should include in your marital asset pool
how the length of your relationship and when you acquired assets impact the percentage split
how financial and non-financial contributions are considered
how the circumstances of your situation over the life of your relationship affect the split
what happens when one person has spent time out of the workforce as a primary carer
how your needs after separation are considered.

Listen here, or listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on property splits, check out these resources:

Blog:

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.

DisclaimerThe information in our resources is general only. Consider getting in touch with a professional adviser if you need support with your legal, financial or wellbeing needs.

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.