Page 18 - BOL Mar 22 Edition

Your Team to Separate

It might take a village to raise a child but when it comes to guiding
you through a marriage breakdown, you may only need a team to
help you through the process.

Not everyone who is separating needs every professional but
there are a few that are worth considering to make sure that you’re
getting (and keeping) every dollar possible. Most importantly, you should get a lawyer. You don’t know what you
don’t know and there are an impossible number of complications
The first is an accountant – asset sales can have tax implications and that can come up at any stage of the separation process. A good
there aren’t many things worse than having the ATO wanting their lawyer will be able to identify early on which additional professionals
share after you’ve finished severing ties with your ex because this can be of assistance and will work in tandem with them to make
can leave a debt unaccounted for solely with you. sure that your final outcome is the best you can get.

The next is a mortgage broker or home loan specialist – knowing A good lawyer will know when stamp duty relief is available (and
how much you can borrow is critical in analysing which assets you how!), whether you stand to lose half of your superannuation, what
can afford to keep since there’s no point going to war over a house happens when you end things with a handshake agreement or if
if the bank won’t give you the loan. Things can get worse if you there’s any truth to the threat from your ex that they’ll just sell the
can’t get finance after reaching an agreement and then get stuck house.
with having to sell anyway because that’s now many thousands of
dollars gone that could’ve been avoided. There are plenty of other professionals who can help you along the
path of separation and not everyone will need all of them. However,
In the same vein, a financial planner can help you focus on which of when you’re faced with many different possible futures, having an
the assets up for division will provide for your best future. army of experts standing with you can help you choose the best one.

Joshua Noble is a Family Law Solicitor at Zande Law Solicitors, Suite 7, Norwinn Centre, 15
Discovery Drive, North Lakes. To contact Joshua for advice, phone 3385 0999.
The information in this article is merely a guide and is not a full explanation of the law. This firm
cannot take responsibility for any action readers take based on this information. When making
decisions that could affect your legal rights, please contact us for professional advice.

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