Separation can be a confusing and emotionally taxing time, and planning ahead can make all the difference in ensuring you navigate the process smoothly.
This checklist aims to help you think through both the big decisions and the smaller, practical steps that will help you move forward. From finances to children to emotional well-being, this guide covers all aspects of planning for a separation.
Getting your finances in order
- Inventory of your belongings
Make a list of all joint and individual assets. This can include real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, superannuation, and personal belongings. Keep records of what is agreed upon and any valuations that are conducted.
- Take stock of your liabilities and debts
Before proceeding with a separation, create a complete list of liabilities and debts. Include everything—bank accounts, properties, loans, credit cards, vehicles, and personal items of value.
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Make copies of important financial documents, including bank statements, tax returns, and property titles. Keeping this information organised will help save you headaches later.
- Open a bank account in your own name
Set up a bank account in your own name, especially if you’ve previously shared all finances. This will give you financial independence and make managing your budget more straightforward.
- Set a budget
- Seek professional financial advice
If you are unsure how separation might impact your finances in the long term, consider seeking advice from a financial planner or accountant. They can provide clarity and help you plan for the future.
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Centrelink offers a free Financial Information Service that can provide guidance during this period.
Addressing housing and living arrangements
- Decide who will stay in the family home
One of the key issues to decide during a separation is whether one person will remain in the family home, or if both will move out. This decision can depend on who has primary care of the children or other financial considerations.
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If you cannot agree on who should leave the home, get in touch with a mediator.
- Make a plan for temporary living arrangements
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If you choose to remain under the same roof while separated, keep a record of how you have separated your living arrangements. This is important if you need to demonstrate separation for legal purposes later on.
Make plans for your children
- Discuss care arrangements
If you have children, start considering how you will share parenting responsibilities. Think about what arrangements would work best for the children’s stability, considering school schedules, extra-curricular activities, and their emotional well-being.
- Create a parenting plan
A written parenting plan can help establish each parent’s responsibilities and provide a reference if disagreements arise later. This doesn’t have to be legally binding initially, but it does help establish a clear structure.
- Communicate with the children
When it comes to separation, children need love, reassurance, and as much stability as possible. Make a plan for how you will tell your children about the separation. It’s usually better if both parents can sit down and explain things together.
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Keep the focus on ensuring the children understand they are not at fault, and that both parents still love them deeply.
Protect your privacy and plan for the future
- Change important passwords
Change the passwords to your email, online banking, and social media accounts. It’s important to protect your privacy and ensure that your estranged partner no longer has access to your personal accounts.
- Redirect your mail
If you are moving out, set up a mail redirection through Australia Post to make sure you receive all important correspondence. This is especially critical for any financial or legal documents.
- Make new emergency contacts
If your spouse was your emergency contact, make sure to update this information with your children’s school, your doctor, and any other important services.
- Move your important documents somewhere safe
Passports, birth certificates and any other critical documentation that needs to be protected should be relocated somewhere safe from harm or loss.
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Keep the focus on ensuring the children understand they are not at fault, and that both parents still love them deeply.
- Update personal details and authorised contacts
Make sure to update all key documents such as your driver’s licence, passport, and banking records. Remove your partner from any authorisations to access your personal accounts such as phone plans and health insurance.
Consult with a lawyer before you...
- Make any major financial decisions
- Proceed with court processes
- Decide whether you need to make a claim for spousal maintenance
- Make changes to your Will and any Power of Attorney
- Plan any overseas trips
