Have you and your partner separated? Do I need legal advice? Here are 5 explanations why you need a lawyer when going through a separation.

  1. Legal Entitlements – Lawyers are able to give you detailed advice about your legal entitlements. Whether it's about the arrangements for the care of your child or your entitlement to a percentage of the marital asset pool, your lawyer is there to lay out your options and provide you with advice, to allow you to manage your expectations and be able to make the best possible decisions for your case.
  2. The Do's and Don'ts – Your lawyer will help to guide your decisions about what to do and what not to do, and the impact it will have on your case. When issues inevitably arise as your matter takes it's course, you can be confident with each step that you are acting in your best legal interest.
  3. Removing the emotion – In most cases, family law separations are quite emotionally charged. Lawyers are there to ground you and provide you with rational and sensible advice to ensure your case progresses in line with your end goal or expectations.
  4. Dispelling the urban myths – We've all heard the old; “if they cheated, I should get more financially from the property settlement”, “the mother always gets full care of the child”, “if I brought 3 houses into the marriage, I should get to keep those three houses”. In most cases, what you hear on the street about family law is not the reality. The outcome in each case will be different depending on the circumstances and the history of the couple. Your lawyer is there to dispel those urban myths and consider your specific circumstances and give you tailored advice.
  5. Confidant – Your lawyer is a trusted person that you can talk to about offers of settlement and the potential outcomes of your matter. The contents of family law proceedings are confidential and should not be disclosed to anyone that is not involved in your case. It is important to have a lawyer on your side to discuss your concerns and expectations with.

If you are going through a separation and are in need of family law advice, our experienced, friendly family lawyers are available to provide you with direction and specific advice that will help guide you through the process smoothly.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.