Divorce, Parenting and Property – Legal Insights from Village Family Lawyers

VillageFamilyLawyers

Divorce, Parenting & Property – Legal Insights from Village Family Lawyers is your go-to source for calm, clear guidance on separation, parenting arrangements, financial settlements, mediation, and more. Hosted by Lauren Wilson, Founder and Director of Village Family Lawyers, each episode unpacks real questions faced by families during major life transitions — with compassion, legal expertise, and a focus on child and family wellbeing. Whether you’re exploring mediation, preparing for court, or trying to understand your rights, this podcast offers practical insights to help you move forward

  1. Jul 17

    Can I Be Legally Separated While Still Living Under the Same Roof?

    Moving out isn't always possible when a relationship ends.Village Family Lawyers explains that Australian family law recognises separation under one roof as a valid form of legal separation — and that separation is defined by intention and conduct, not by where you live. This episode covers: what the law requires for separationunder one roof, why the date of separation matters, what evidence the court needs in a divorce application where parties stayed in the same home, and how to document your separation from the start. Read the full article:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/separation-under-one-roof-victoria/ Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/booking-request Call: 1300 413 997 Divorce and Separation:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/divorce-separation/

    Can I Be Legally Separated While Still Living Under the Same Roof?

  2. Jul 17

    First Steps After Separation in Victoria: What to Do Now

    Time limits, financial rights, and why early advice changes everything The weeks after separation carry legal consequences mostpeople don't see coming. Village Family Lawyers explains the steps that matter most in Victoria: documenting the date of separation, understanding your financial rights before making any informal arrangements, and knowing the timelimits that can close off your options if you miss them. This episode covers: why the date of separation matterslegally, the two-year limit for de facto couples, what to do about joint finances, parenting arrangements and the difference between a parenting plan and consent orders, and why getting early legal advice is not the same as goingto court. Read the full article:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/first-steps-after-separation-victoria/ Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/booking-request Call: 1300 413 997 Divorce and Separation:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/divorce-separation/

    First Steps After Separation in Victoria: What to Do Now

  3. Jul 17

    How Is Property Divided After Separation in Australia?

    How is property divided after separation in Australia? The short answer is: not automatically, and never by formula. Village Family Lawyers walks through the four-step legal framework that governs every property settlement — what goes into the property pool, how contributions are assessed(financial and non-financial), how future needs are factored in, and how the just and equitable standard actually works. We also cover the 2024-2025 family law reforms: mandatory financial disclosure obligations and the formal recognition of financial abuse and coercive control as factors in property settlement outcomes. If property settlement is on your horizon, this is theepisode to start with. Read the full article:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/how-is-property-divided-after-separation-australia/ Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/booking-request Call: 1300 413 997 Property Settlement:www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au/property-settlement/

    How Is Property Divided After Separation in Australia?

  4. Jun 23

    Financial Abuse and Property Settlement: Recognising Control and Understanding Your Options

    Financial abuse is rarely loud. More often, it is the quiet control of money, information and decisions, and it does not simply stop when a relationship ends. In this episode of Divorce, Parenting and Property Matters, Village Family Lawyers explains how coercive control and financial abuse can affect a property settlement, and what can help. We talk through what financial abuse can look like after separation, why not having the full financial picture affects your decisions, and why financial disclosure matters so much. We look at how a power imbalance can affect negotiation and mediation, and the safeguards that help, why legal advice before you agree to anything is so important, and when accounting or financial advice may also be needed. Village Family Lawyers works exclusively in family law and supports clients calmly, carefully and with discretion. Our role is to help you see the full picture, understand your options, and move forward with more certainty and more control. We support clients across Mount Eliza, Malvern, the Mornington Peninsula, Bayside and Melbourne. To book a free discovery call or an initial consultation with one of our team, in our Mount Eliza or Malvern office or online, visit www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au Key takeaways Financial abuse is about control, not only money. It can mean control over information, access, decisions and confidence. You cannot settle well on a picture you cannot see, which is why financial disclosure matters so much. A power imbalance changes how a settlement should be approached, not whether you can reach one. Getting advice before you agree to anything is one of the most important protections available to you. Where assets are complex or a full picture is not being shared, accountants or forensic specialists can help. Village Family Lawyers supports clients calmly, discreetly, and at a pace that feels safe.

    Financial Abuse and Property Settlement: Recognising Control and Understanding Your Options

  5. Jun 23

    Preparing for Family Law Mediation — Walking In Calm, Clear and Confident

    Preparing for family law mediation can feel overwhelming, especially when you are tired and unsure what is fair. In this episode of Divorce, Parenting and Property Matters, Village Family Lawyers explains how to walk into mediation calm, clear and confident. We start with the question that matters more than "what should I bring", and what you really need to understand before you negotiate. We talk through gathering the right information about property, finances, and parenting; what makes an agreement actually work in real life; and how to prepare for the emotional dynamics and any power imbalances. We explain how lawyer-assisted mediation and our Pre-Mediation Conference can support you, what happens after mediation, and why properly documenting an agreement matters so much. Village Family Lawyers works exclusively in family law. Two of our senior lawyers are Nationally Accredited Mediators who understand the process from the inside, and around 90% of the matters we support through mediation resolve without going to court. We support clients across Mount Eliza, Malvern, the Mornington Peninsula, Bayside and Melbourne. To book a free discovery call, an initial consultation or a pre-mediation conference with one of our team, in our Mount Eliza or Malvern office or online, visit www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au Key takeaways Preparation matters more than the day itself. The steadiest clients are the ones who understood their position before they walked in. The real question is not what to bring, but what you need to understand before you can make a good decision. A workable agreement beats one that only looks equal on paper. A power imbalance changes how mediation should be run, not whether it can happen. Village Family Lawyers' Nationally Accredited Mediators understand mediation from the inside, and around 90% of supported matters resolve without going to court. Get legal advice before signing anything final, because how an agreement is recorded affects whether it holds.

    Preparing for Family Law Mediation — Walking In Calm, Clear and Confident

  6. May 21

    Business Owners and Divorce: When Your Business Partner Is Not Your Life Partner

    When you own a business, separation can affect more than your family finances. In this episode of Divorce, Parenting and Property Matters, Village Family Lawyers explains what can happen when your business partner is not your life partner, and why divorce can still affect a business even when your former partner has never worked in it. We discuss business valuation, disclosure, business partner concerns, cash flow, shareholder issues, commercial sensitivity and the importance of early family law advice. We also explain how The Village Circle can support business owner clients by connecting them with trusted specialists such as forensic accountants, business valuers, commercial lawyers and finance professionals. Village Family Lawyers supports business owners and professionals across Mount Eliza, Malvern, the Mornington Peninsula, Bayside and Melbourne with complex property and financial matters. To book a free discovery call or an initial consultation with one of our team, in our Mount Eliza or Malvern office or online, visit www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au business owner divorce divorce and business ownership  business valuation divorce protecting a business during divorce family law business interests business owner separation Australia family lawyer Mount Eliza family lawyer Malvern Village Family Lawyers podcast

    Business Owners and Divorce: When Your Business Partner Is Not Your Life Partner

  7. May 21

    Early Family Law Advice: The Quiet Step That Can Prevent Bigger Problems Later

    Speaking with a family lawyer early does not mean you are starting a fight, taking formal action or committing to a pathway before you are ready. In this episode of Divorce, Parenting and Property Matters, Village Family Lawyers explains why early family law advice can help protect your peace of mind, your pocket and your ability to make thoughtful decisions in your own time. We discuss why early advice can reduce unnecessary conflict, help with parenting and property decisions, protect against pressure from the other party, and support clearer next steps before problems become harder to resolve. This episode also explains how Village Family Lawyers works on each client’s timeframe, and how The Village Circle can connect clients with trusted professionals where separation involves financial, practical or personal support needs. Village Family Lawyers supports clients across Mount Eliza, Malvern, the Mornington Peninsula, Bayside and Melbourne. To book a free discovery call or an initial consultation with one of our team, in our Mount Eliza or Malvern office or online, visit www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au early family law advice family lawyer after separation separation legal advice family law advice Mount Eliza family law advice Malvern parenting and property settlement advice avoid unnecessary conflict separation Village Family Lawyers podcast

    Early Family Law Advice: The Quiet Step That Can Prevent Bigger Problems Later

  8. May 21

    Cryptocurrency and Divorce: What Happens to Digital Assets in a Property Settlement?

    Cryptocurrency is becoming more common in Australian family law property settlements, especially for professionals, business owners, investors and clients with complex asset structures. In this episode of Divorce, Parenting and Property Matters, Village Family Lawyers explains how cryptocurrency may be treated during separation, why digital assets need to be disclosed, and what can make valuation and tracing more complex. We also discuss when a forensic accountant may be needed, how The Village Circle can support clients with specialist financial expertise, and why early legal advice can help reduce uncertainty in complex property matters. Village Family Lawyers supports clients across Mount Eliza, Malvern, the Mornington Peninsula, Bayside and Melbourne with calm, strategic family law advice. To book a free discovery call or an initial consultation with one of our team, in our Mount Eliza or Malvern office or online, visit www.villagefamilylawyers.com.au cryptocurrency and divorce cryptocurrency divorce Australia digital assets property settlement Crypto assets in divorce forensic accountant cryptocurrency divorce Family Lawyer Mount Eliza Family Lawyer Malvern Property Settlement Lawyer Mornington Peninsula

    Cryptocurrency and Divorce: What Happens to Digital Assets in a Property Settlement?
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Divorce, Parenting & Property – Legal Insights from Village Family Lawyers is your go-to source for calm, clear guidance on separation, parenting arrangements, financial settlements, mediation, and more. Hosted by Lauren Wilson, Founder and Director of Village Family Lawyers, each episode unpacks real questions faced by families during major life transitions — with compassion, legal expertise, and a focus on child and family wellbeing. Whether you’re exploring mediation, preparing for court, or trying to understand your rights, this podcast offers practical insights to help you move forward

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