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

By The Separation GuideSociety & Culture Relationships

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

December 13, 2024 Episode 24: Positive Co-parenting during the holiday season
Positive Co-parenting over the holiday season
In this episode, Lisanne Iriks of the Co-Parenting Institute talks with Sabina Read about creating a positive co-parenting environment for your children during the holiday season.
Whether the separation is relatively new or you are tackling your first Christmas as a separated family, Lisanne shares some ways to manage the emotions and changes to traditions over this time. She shares how to give yourself and your children a positive experience, creating new rituals for the future.
44 min
December 13, 2024 Episode 23: How can I plan my financial future with Tribeca Financial
How can I plan for my financial future?
Live, love, legacy and laugh
During this episode, Ryan Watson of Tribeca Financial will share how to escape fear and live the life you want in the future, following the priorities to live, love, legacy and laugh.
Ryan shares the range of emotions you may feel about your finances during separation. He shares some common fears many people experience during this time, such as the fear that you will lose everything in the process (which isn’t true if you get the right support around you) and how to balance immediate needs versus long-term goals.
His philosophy is that a problem shared is a problem halved.
Ryan thoughtfully covers how you can feel a greater sense of security and certainty by having the right financial advice and the power of seeing your options laid out. It’s an empowering episode that will give you practical information to step forward confidently.
41 min
January 15, 2024Episode 22: How can I pay for my separation?
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.
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.
24 min
September 21, 2023Episode 21: How to live with your ex
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.
46 min
March 20, 2023Episode 20: What's fair when you split your assets?
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.
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.
41 min
December 11, 2022Episode 19: How to tell your partner you want to separate
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.
32 min
November 02, 2022Episode 18: Immigration and separation in Australia
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.
40 min
August 24, 2022Episode 17: What you need to know about child support
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.
42 min
July 26, 2022Episode 16: Kindness in Family Law
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.
53 min
June 10, 2022Episode 15: Buy out or sell? Mortgages and separation
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
37 min