When you’re separating, it’s natural to have concerns about your financial future, especially if you haven’t had much experience managing money. Speaking with a financial expert can be a good idea to give you peace of mind about your short and long-term financial security.

You don’t have to work towards your former partner’s budget and money goals any longer, but perhaps you need help figuring your new ones out. A financial advisor or coach can support you through the financial aspects of your separation, help you understand your needs, shape your vision of the future, and create the path to get there.

How can a financial expert help?

Financial wellbeing: Money can provoke many emotions – good and bad. We all have a relationship with money that can go right back to childhood. Your emotions around money can really be heightened when going through a separation and dealing with increased uncertainty. An empathetic financial expert can work with you to build a healthy relationship with your finances and improve your financial wellbeing by understanding how you can mindfully spend and save your money.

Clarity for decisions: A financial expert can provide support and clarity during this challenging time, talking out some of the emotions to help you make rational decisions about how you choose to structure your separation settlement and which assets you choose to hold on to.

Financial planning: They can help you create a clear and achievable financial plan for your future. They can consider your income, expenses, and goals and tailor a plan that suits your specific needs.

Understanding assets and debts: They can help you understand your current financial situation, including any assets and debts. This clarity is crucial during a separation.

Cash flow and budgeting: If you’re new to managing finances, a financial advisor can assist in creating a budget that ensures you can meet your financial obligations while also saving for the future.

Housing decisions: Whether you’re refinancing your home, searching for a new one, or exploring the rental market, an advisor can create custom options to boost your confidence in your choices.

Insurance review: An advisor can comprehensively review your insurance coverage and protect you against unforeseen events.

Investment guidance: If you have investments or want to invest funds from your settlement, a financial advisor can guide you on making the most of your money.

Retirement planning: Planning for your retirement is vital. A financial advisor can help you prepare for your post-work years.

Tax implications: Separation can have tax implications. A financial advisor can guide you on how to navigate these changes efficiently.

Meet the financial experts in our network

Coaching

Karen Eley, Women Talking Finance – Money Coach

Karen Eley is a former financial adviser turned money coach who helps women navigate the financial side of divorce with clarity and confidence. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in financial advice and behavioural finance, she empowers women to take control of their money—starting with everyday cashflow, through to understanding assets, superannuation, and long-term financial wellbeing.

Karen combines practical financial strategies with emotional support, helping her clients rebuild their confidence and make informed decisions during one of life’s most challenging transitions. Her approach goes beyond numbers, focusing on education, empowerment, and creating a renewed sense of financial independence.

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Financial advice versus financial coaching

Financial advisors are registered to offer long-term financial planning, advice, and recommendations for managing your money. They may assist you with setting goals and the plan to reach them. They may also work with you on an ongoing basis managing your investments and financial wellbeing.

A financial coach offers more of a guiding hand to help you organise and facilitate the financial aspects of separation. A coach who specialises in supporting you through your financial separation can help you understand your financial position, your assets and liabilities, income and expenses, and guide you through financial documents that might be unfamiliar to you and the financial information required for a property and financial settlement. They can also collate the relevant financial information and all supporting documentation in a form that can be presented to your family lawyer or used in private negotiations.

A coach cannot offer financial advice – rather they provide financial education and support through your separation.

When should I speak to a financial advisor?

When facing a divorce or separation, Tribeca’s best advice is to give yourself time. Look after yourself and your family first. Don’t rush any decisions. When you’re ready, they are there to help you with your financial choices and plan for the future.

There’s no one right time to speak to an expert. There are benefits to seeking financial support at many stages of the separation journey, depending on your situation.

Before you separate
You may choose to engage a financial expert before you separate, particularly if you have a complex asset pool or are new to managing finances and need assistance with impending changes to cash flow and budgeting.

Before or during negotiations
A financial advisor can empower you by helping you know your short and long-term needs and goals before you enter your negotiations. This gives you clarity on what you need. It also lets you know what you can compromise on in your agreement.

A financial coach can guide you to locate all your assets and liabilities and prepare your documentation negotiate from a place of empowerment and clarity.

After you settle
Once your property is settled, you may wonder what’s next. A coach can support you with financial literacy and budgeting for your new life. A financial advisor can help you set goals for a secure financial future with the freedom to make financial choices, absorb shocks and enjoy your new life.

Can a financial advisor or coach tell me what I’m entitled to?

Financial advisors and coaches can’t answer questions relating to your legal rights and entitlements around your asset pool.

If your money questions are about your entitlements, the laws and regulations related to asset division, parenting matters, and child support, your next step is to educate yourself with The Separation Guide Legal Plan on the Support Hub and speak with a family lawyer.

If you have money questions about the best way to manage your money, set your financial goals and move from surviving to thriving financially, then it’s time to engage the help of a financial advisor.

The Separation Guide aims to make separation and divorce simpler, more manageable and less stressful. To learn more about how one of our Network Members could support your separation, take our free three-minute Q&A.

Disclaimer
The information in our resources is general only. Consider getting in touch with a professional adviser if you need legal, financial or well-being support.

At The Separation Guide, we pride ourselves on partnering with lawyers who uphold our Ethical Charter. They operate with transparency, ensuring you understand their fee structures and what to expect at each stage of your separation. Unfortunately, not all family law practitioners work this way.

Sometimes, clients come to The Separation Guide after they’ve already engaged a lawyer outside our Network, and they find themselves facing unexpectedly high legal bills. These clients often describe feeling ‘held captive’, with proceedings half finished and charges building up.

Separation and divorce are already challenging enough without the added stress of potential overcharging. There are steps people can take to address the issue. We recommend that they have their fees independently reviewed.

When should I dispute legal fees?

Legal advice and services come at a cost. Often when you go through separation, it might be the first time you’ve engaged with lawyers for more than a conveyancer or wills and estates lawyer, and the price for separation agreements and drafting might seem daunting or excessive.

It’s important to recognise that legal advice and services are tightly regulated and provided by people who are highly qualified and experienced. A lawyer’s hourly rate may sit between $300-$600 plus GST, depending on their location and speciality. Costs for drafting consent orders sit in the thousands.

An issue with fees only occurs if you have been charged excessive or unreasonable fees for the work a lawyer has carried out on your behalf. Identifying whether you’re being overcharged is the first step in addressing a potential dispute. Here are some common signs to watch out for.

Excessive billing hours A noticeable increase in billed hours without significant progress in your case.

Unreasonable charges Billing for tasks that seem trivial or unrelated to your legal matter, such as excessive administrative work.

Lack of transparency Receiving vague or unclear billing statements that make it difficult to understand the charges.

Unapproved change in the scope Billing for an increase in costs and/or scope of work that hasn’t been clearly outlined before the work was carried out.

What should I do if I think my lawyer has overcharged me? 

If you believe your lawyer has overcharged you, you need to be proactive.

Review your agreement Check the engagement agreement or contract you signed with your lawyer to ensure the fee structure aligns with what was initially agreed upon.

Request detailed billing statements Ask for itemised billing statements that clearly outline the services rendered and corresponding charges to identify any discrepancies.

Open communication Discuss your concerns directly with your lawyer to seek clarification on billing issues. Sometimes, open dialogue can resolve misunderstandings.

Who can help me dispute legal costs?

If direct communication fails, consider seeking help from legal fee dispute resolution specialists.

The Legal Services Commission in your state can help up to certain limits and on certain matters.

The other option is to speak with a cost lawyer who offers several services to help you challenge excessive legal fees.

What is a cost lawyer?

Cost lawyers specialise in dealing with the costs aspect of legal proceedings. They provide expert advice and services related to the assessment, negotiation, and management of legal costs. Here’s an overview of what cost lawyers do and when you might need their services.

Expert Analysis Conducting a thorough review of your case and billing statements to identify instances of overcharging or billing irregularities.

Negotiation Skills Experienced professionals can negotiate with your lawyer or law firm to reach fair and equitable fee resolutions.

Mediation Services Attending mediation on your behalf to facilitate constructive dialogue and find mutually acceptable solutions.

Legal Representation Providing competent legal representation if disputes escalate and legal action becomes necessary, advocating for a refund or reduction in fees.

Costs recovery Assisting in the recovery of legal costs from the opposing party, ensuring that you receive the appropriate amount owed to you.

Discovering that your lawyer has overcharged you can be unsettling, but it’s important to know that you have options to address the issue. By taking proactive steps—such as reviewing agreements, requesting detailed billing statements, and seeking external assistance—you can challenge excessive legal fees.

Meet the cost lawyers in our network

Law in Check is a law firm specialising in helping people who have been unfairly charged by their lawyers. They review invoices, cost agreements and trust account statements to determine any unfair bill charges and provide expert advice to help reduce legal fees and make sure that you are being charged a fair and reasonable amount for legal services.

Law in Check will only engage with you if they believe you have a case and you are likely to receive a reduction in your fees. The team works hard to make sure their own fees are fair and fit what their clients need. They keep everything transparent, so you know exactly what they’re being charged. Many times, Law in Check can get the previous lawyer to cover a big part of the assessment costs.

By engaging a cost lawyer from Law in Check, you can navigate the complexities of legal costs with confidence, knowing that you have a dedicated professional advocating for your best interests. fair and reasonable value for the legal services provided to you.

What is the process of engaging Law in Check?

You first have a free chat with a member of the Law in Check team who can assess your matter. They can outline their costs, and let you know if it is in your best interests to proceed further.

Your next step is to provide documents for a paid review and meet with a cost lawyer in the practice, who can advise you on how to progress your matter.

What are the benefits of engaging Law in Check?

• Transparency: They offer a free initial consultation so you can discuss your situation and their fees clearly before you decide to move forward.
• Save money: Law in Check specialises in reviewing legal fees and potentially reducing them if they find they’re unfair or unreasonable. This could mean getting money back in your pocket.
• Expert help: Their team has experience in legal costs, which can be a complex area. They can analyse your bill and identify areas where you might have been overcharged.
• Peace of mind: Dealing with legal fees can be stressful. Law in Check can take the weight off your shoulders by handling the communication with your lawyer on your behalf.

At The Separation Guide, we are committed to making your separation process less stressful and more cost-effective.

Consider contacting Law in Check if you need peace of mind that the family lawyer you’ve engaged has priced their services fairly and appropriately.

A co-parenting app is designed to simplify life for separated or divorced parents by helping them manage the day-to-day shared responsibility of raising their children.

Many separated parents find that using a co-parenting app can empower them to create a smooth and organised co-parenting experience, giving their children a happier and more stable environment.

When do I need a co-parenting app?

You might consider using a co-parenting app in several situations:

Busy or dynamic schedules Do you and your ex struggle to keep track of multiple child schedules, appointments, and birthdays? Perhaps you have a flexible approach to shared care that is not always regular week to week. A co-parenting app can streamline your calendars and avoid confusion.

Desire for improved communication Even if co-parenting is relatively amicable, a co-parenting app can still be beneficial. These apps offer features to streamline communication and keep everything organised and in one place.

Long-distance co-parenting Do you live far from your co-parent? A co-parenting app can help bridge the physical distance by providing a central location to share information and communicate.

Reducing co-parent conflict If you are looking to improve communication with your ex-partner for the benefit of your children, or if your relationship is strained or argumentative, a co-parenting app can provide a neutral platform. Some have tools designed to help you both communicate better. It can also benefit privacy if you want to remove or block your former partner from other contact methods.

Court-ordered agreements If you have a court-ordered custody agreement, some co-parenting apps can help you track and document adherence.

Ultimately, co-parenting apps are tools that help make co-parenting smoother and more efficient. If you would like to improve communication, organisation, or any other aspect of co-parenting, then a co-parenting app might be a good solution for you.

What are the benefits of using a co-parenting app?

Prioritise clear communication Ensure your children’s needs are always met by keeping communication open and transparent with your co-parent. Co-parenting apps provide a safe and documented platform for all discussions.

Simplify co-parenting challenges Juggling schedules, expenses, and information sharing can be overwhelming, even before separation. Using a custom app streamlines your calendars, keeps track of finances, and stores important documents in one place.

Reduce conflict and increase cooperation Co-parenting apps help avoid misunderstandings and disagreements by providing a clear and organised system for managing co-parenting responsibilities.

Provide stability in a time of upheaval Using all the features of a co-parenting app can create a consistent and organised routine for your children, even amidst a family transition and show your kids you’re committed to working together for their wellbeing.

Peace of mind for co-parents An app designed to take the guesswork out of co-parenting allows you to focus on what truly matters—spending quality time with your children. This reduces stress and creates a more positive co-parenting dynamic.

What kind of features can I expect in my co-parenting apps?

Shared calendar This allows parents to easily view and manage their custody schedule, including regular exchanges and appointments for the children.

Secure messaging Co-parents can communicate with each other through the app, ensuring all messages are documented and time-stamped. Some apps offer privacy features like video calling without revealing phone numbers.

Document storage Important documents related to custody agreements, medical records, and school information can be stored securely in one place accessible to both parents.

Expense tracking This helps parents track shared expenses related to the children, such as childcare, medical bills, and extracurricular activities. Some apps allow for secure payment requests and transfers within the app.