8 things you should know when separating

Deciding to separate is difficult, there are many emotions to sift through, as well as future decisions to make.

Having the right information is crucial so you can make informed decisions as to what steps you should take regarding your marriage and future family situation.

In this article, we help dispel eight of the common misconceptions that come from getting advice on social media or Joe Bloggs down the road.

1. You don’t have to be divorced to get property orders

A lot of people seem to think that divorce and property orders should go hand in hand. Or that you need to be divorced before you can get property orders. Although as Family Lawyers we think it is best to wrap everything up at once, you don’t need to be divorced in order to get property orders.

People often refer to the “12-month rule”. This refers to the length of time required by the Family Law Act that you need to be separated before you can get divorced and the time after being divorced from which you can seek property orders. You can be separated forever and never get divorced. You can also apply for property orders whilst you are still living together or two minutes after you leave.

2. Just because your name is not on the title doesn’t mean you’re not entitled

There is a common view that if parties had no joint assets there should be no distribution of the property. The Family Law Act gives courts the power to deal with any asset or interest belonging to either of the parties or jointly. If the property has all stayed in one person’s name and the other party has no access to the property that does not preclude them from an order that might give them access to the property. This flows into another common misconception people often have about parties to a relationship who stay at home.

3. Problems will immediately end

A person may decide to separate or divorce because they are tired of the constant stress and fighting. They assume these issues will be relieved once the process is complete. This isn’t always the case. One spouse might find his or her standard of living significantly changes following the separation and/or divorce, which can lead to issues and significant changes to future and current lifestyles. It’s important to understand where you stand financially and receive the right advice to maximise your individual situation.

4. Just because you never worked doesn’t mean you won’t get part of the pie

The Family Law Act sets out a range of matters to be considered when deciding how the assets of a relationship should be divided up. Significantly, the contributions of each party need to be considered. The Family Law Act clearly states that contributions are not just monetary, they can be about home maintenance or improvements, parenting or homemaker. Each case will be decided differently but just because you never worked definitely does not rule you out.

5. You can be separated and divorced even whilst living in the same house

In Sydney’s current environment it can be hard enough finding the money to support a family living under one roof with two salaries, let alone trying to manage two households. More and more we are noticing that people will continue to live in the same house after they separate for financial reasons or because it is easier on the children. Both of these reasons are totally valid.

As mentioned above, you need to have been separated for a period of 12 months before you can apply for a divorce. “Separation” is not defined solely by one person moving out. The Court takes into consideration factors like sleeping arrangements, sex after separation, care arrangements for the children and public perception of your relationship when determining whether or not you have been separated for 12 months.

Also read: Separation Under One Roof

6. Mum doesn’t automatically get “full custody”

The approach of Courts in relation to who children should live with and how that should be determined has changed dramatically over the last few decades.

First and foremost, the Court doesn’t talk about custody anymore, they talk about who the children should live with or spend time with. Secondly, the factors the Court needs to consider are far more extensive than ‘who was the primary carer during the relationship’, whether this was mum or dad is important but not the deciding factor. The most important thing the Court wants is for the child to have the benefit of a meaningful relationship with both parents. How this will look will vary from case to case but there is no presumption that mum automatically gets primary care.

Related post: How To Face Your Separation With Confidence When You’re A Stay At Home Mum

7. Equal shared parental responsibility does not mean equal time

The Family Law Act addresses parental responsibility. Children have rights, parents have responsibility. There is a presumption that it would be best for children if their parents could share parental responsibility and consult about major issues in their lives. The Family Law Act goes on to say that if an order is made for equal shared parental responsibility they need to consider whether equal time is appropriate but these are not the same thing and one does not determine the other.

Where an order is made for Equal Shared Parental Responsibility the people sharing the responsibility are to consult each other about major long-term issues concerning the children and make a genuine effort to come to a joint decision about that issue. Many parents who do not spend equal time with their children will have an order made for Equal Shared Parental Responsibility, which puts an onus on the parents to discuss things like schooling, religion, health, name and living arrangements where either party might seek to move.

8. Property orders after separation are not guaranteed

Up until recently, there was prevailing wisdom that after separation everyone would get a piece of the pie. The High Court has recently clarified that you cannot assume that just by nature of separation there should be any adjustment of property interests. This might be because each party has about what they should have in their own names, or because one of the parties has not contributed in a way that would justify an alteration. What’s important to consider is whether an alteration of property interests is ‘just and equitable’ this is determined by the various factors set out in the Family Law Act.

At Doolan Wagner Family Lawyers we are specialised in the resolution of complex family law matters.  If you have recently separated or had a Family Law enquiry, you can contact us on (02) 9437 0010 or send us an email to enquiries@familylawyersdw.com.au to discuss your matter in complete confidence.

About the Authors:

Lisa Wagner is Managing Director and Principal of Doolan Wagner Family Lawyers. Lisa is an Accredited Family Law specialist, a Collaboratively trained Family Lawyer and a nationally registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. Lisa has close to 30 years of experience as a specialist family lawyer, experienced litigator and skilful negotiator in all family law matters.

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisawagnerdwfl

Christine La Cava is a Senior Associate at Doolan Wagner Family Lawyers. Christine is an Accredited Family Law specialist and experienced Senior Associate having worked exclusively in Family Law for the past fifteen years. She has also held roles in Local Courts throughout NSW including as Chamber Magistrate, Clerk of the Court, Registrar and Coroner. Christine is a Collaboratively trained Family Lawyer, her breadth of experience and natural empathy, help to make her clients family law experiences as easy as a difficult situation can be.

Connect with Christine on LinkedIn: Christine La Cava | LinkedIn

Disclaimer:

These posts are only intended as an overview or comment on current issues that may interest you and are not legal advice. If there are any matters that you would like us to advise you on, then please contact us.

 

 

 

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