🎧 Listen if…

• Your ex handled the money and you don't know what you own

• Your accountant is also your ex's accountant

• You're offered an investment property "worth the same" as the home

• Your ex says the business makes no profit

• There's a trust, company or SMSF and you're panicking

⚠️ General information only – not legal, financial or tax advice.

🛟 Discusses financial abuse.

Chartered accountant and tax agent Vanessa Bell (Bell & Co Accounting & Tax) explains what to gather before you leave, what happens when you share an accountant with your ex, capital gains tax and CGT rollovers, family trusts, Division 7A loans, business valuations, super splits, post-separation budgets, forensic accountants, and how to switch accountants safely.

00:00 – Accountants in Divorce: Is Your Accountant Also Your Ex's?

03:00 – Thinking of Leaving? The First Financial Steps to Take

05:00 – Divorce Documents Checklist & How to Store Them Safely

09:00 – Can One Accountant Help Both of You After Separation?

11:30 – Accountants' Ethical Duties & When to Get Your Own

14:30 – Locked Out of the Finances? What a New Accountant Can Access

16:30 – How Accountants Decode Your Ex's Financial Disclosure

17:30 – Building Your Asset Pool: Assets and Liabilities

18:30 – Capital Gains Tax When You Sell Everything in Divorce

20:00 – Latent Tax Liabilities: The Hidden Cost in Your Split

22:00 – CGT Rollover Relief & Family Home vs Investment Property

24:00 – Family Trusts in Divorce: Transfers, Tax & What Happens Next

27:30 – Division 7A Loans Explained in Plain English

29:15 – How a Business Is Valued in Property Settlement

32:00 – "The Business Makes No Profit" & Other Company Claims

35:30 – Is Splitting Superannuation Taxable in Divorce?

38:00 – SMSFs, Defined Benefit Super & Leaving With Little Super

40:30 – Post-Separation Budget & Planning for Future Tax Bills

44:00 – How Accountants and Family Lawyers Work Together

47:00 – Financial Abuse Through Accountants & Forensic Accountants

52:00 – How to Switch Accountants & Red Flags to Watch For

56:30 – Rapid Fire: The Biggest Tax Mistakes and Myths in Divorce

🎧 Episodes

Tech abuse with WESNET (Ep 310) – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/is-your-ex-watching-you-coercive-control-goes-digital/id1503451022?i=1000758578403

Financial abuse & coercive control (Ep 325) – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/financial-abuse-and-coercive-control-when-money/id1503451022?i=1000776879697

Business tricks in divorce (Ep 218) – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/business-tricks-in-divorce-10-sneaky-tactics-to-watch/id1503451022?i=1000733969897

Super split myths (Ep 196) – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/super-split-myths-why-equalising-isnt-always-fair-in/id1503451022?i=1000708394387

1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732 | Lifeline 13 11 14 | Police 000

Free webinar – https://www.thedivorcecourse.com.au

Vanessa's documents checklist get it by subscribing to our newsletter | Bell & Co Accounting & Tax – https://www.bellandco.com.au/ Tax Practitioners Board – https://www.tpb.gov.au

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

- You've done the maths on lawyer fees and your stomach dropped

- You want to do more of your divorce yourself but don't want to get it wrong

- You've got a small property pool and full-time lawyers don't add up

- You have a Legal Aid lawyer and want to help your case move faster

- You and your ex are "amicable" and thinking of skipping the paperwork

⚠️ General information only – not legal advice. Australian family law; always consult a qualified family lawyer about your circumstances.

🛟 This episode touches on family violence and coercive control. If you're in danger call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 13 11 14.

Lawyers charge around $500-$1000 an hour Mum and I talk about which hours you actually need to pay for and which you can do yourself.

00:00 – DIY Divorce: Which Lawyer Hours Can You Do Yourself?

03:00 – Why People DIY Their Divorce: The Real Cost of Lawyers

05:00 – Legal Aid Lawyers and Becoming Your Own Project Manager

07:00 – The Family Court Was Built for DIY (Safari Suits Included)

10:00 – Controlling the Pace: Deadlines, Cost Orders and Associates

14:00 – DIY Divorce With Coercive Control: What's Safe to Do

16:00 – Property Settlement Step 1: Your Asset and Debt List

17:00 – Disclosure Explained (and the Five Shopping Bags)

20:00 – Contributions, Future Needs and Your Percentage

22:00 – Negotiating Your Settlement: The Grocery Basket Analogy

24:00 – Consent Orders: Making Your Agreement Enforceable

25:00 – Why You Must Formalise It (Plus Stamp Duty Relief)

27:00 – Parenting Arrangements: From Early Days to a Plan

29:00 – Parenting Plan vs Consent Orders: Why Write It Down

31:00 – What You Can DIY: Divorce Application, Disclosure, Valuations

33:00 – Mediation Without a Lawyer: Save Your Money for Court

35:00 – Three Lawyers at Mediation, None at the Appeal

36:00 – Filing Your Own Consent Orders on the Court Portal

37:00 – The Two Lawyer Checkpoints You Shouldn't Skip

38:00 – "My Case Isn't Normal": Businesses, New Partners, Big Contributions

39:00 – What You Can't DIY: Binding Financial Agreements and Trials

43:00 – DIY vs Winging It: Kitchen-Table Agreements and Disclosure

45:00 – Get Organised: Email Folders and Disclosure Systems

48:00 – Vague Parenting Plans and How to Make Them Specific

50:00 – Advantages and Disadvantages of a DIY Divorce

55:00 – Can You File Your Own Divorce and Consent Orders?

🎧 Episodes Mentioned

Worried About Your Divorce Lawyer? – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/worried-about-your-divorce-lawyer-delays-bills-and/id1503451022?i=1000792296761

Do I Really Need a Lawyer? – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/do-i-really-need-a-lawyer-for-my-divorce-or-defacto/id1503451022?i=1000769729536

Disclosure: The What, Why, When & How – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/disclosure-the-what-why-when-how-of-disclosure/id1503451022?i=1000608265425

Percentages in Property Settlements Explained – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/percentages-in-divorce-property-settlements-explained/id1503451022?i=1000729446519

Big or Small Property Pool? – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/big-or-small-property-pool-how-size-changes-your-divorce/id1503451022?i=1000777815540

4 Ways to Agree (Ep 333) – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/4-ways-to-agree-in-divorce-or-de-facto-separation/id1503451022?i=1000783951018

🔗 Links & Resources

DIY Divorce Blueprint + Family Court Companion Course waitlist – www.thedivorcecourse.com.au

Section 90 Family Law Act (stamp duty) – https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/fla1975114/s90.html

1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732 | Lifeline – 13 11 14 | 🚓 Police – 000🌐 www.thedivorcecourse.com.au – free webinar: click "Reserve My Seat"🎓 Blog: www.thedivorcecourse.com.au/blog

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

- You've just found out your ex was cheating – and your lawyer doesn't seem to care

- You're wondering if the affair changes your property settlement

- You're combing through disclosure for gifts, hotels and a money trail

- You're scared of being painted as the "jealous ex" in family court

- Your ex's new partner is suddenly part of your kids' lives

⚠️ General information only – not legal advice. Australian family law; always consult a qualified family lawyer about your circumstances.

🛟 This episode discusses emotional abuse, gaslighting and coercive control. If you're in danger call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 13 11 14.

Mum and I unpack the question "my ex cheated – does it actually matter?" We cover wastage of joint money, proving the money trail in disclosure, negotiating while you're hurt (without swinging from give-up to revenge), the traps around kids and the new partner, and why your reaction – not their cheating – is what the court ends up watching. Plus the cases Gollings & Scott and Tajani & Tajani

⏱️ Episode Timeline

00:00 – My Ex Cheated: Does It Actually Matter in Divorce?

01:00 – From Private Investigators to No-Fault Divorce in Australia

04:00 – The Emotional Hit: Gaslighting, Paranoia and Flashbacks

06:00 – Two Separate Recoveries: Healing vs the Legal Process

08:00 – What the Court Cares About: Joint Money Spent on an Affair

10:00 – STIs and When Cheating Crosses Into Abusive Behaviour

12:00 – Before, During, After: When Affair Spending Counts

13:00 – The Judge's Range: How Conduct Can Lift Your Percentage

14:00 – Proving It: Gifts, Hotels and the Money Trail in Disclosure

17:00 – The Hat Trick: Separating Heartbreak From Strategy

18:00 – Negotiating While Hurt: The Two Traps

19:00 – The Pendulum Effect: Give Up, Fair or Everything

21:00 – Guilty Exes and Generous Offers: Grab Them or Not?

23:00 – Negotiating to Punish and the "Jealous Ex" Label

26:00 – The Five Stages of Grief After Betrayal

28:00 – Adjustment Disorder and Family Reports

30:00 – Co-Parenting With the Affair Partner

31:00 – New Partners in Parenting: Subpoenas and Safety Checks

33:00 – How Soon Is Too Soon to Introduce a New Partner?

38:00 – Don't Interrogate the Kids: The Car Ride Strategy

44:00 – Rapid Fire: Affairs Before, During and Under One Roof

45:00 – Onerous Contributions, De Facto Overlaps and Tajani & Tajani

48:00 – Two Property Settlements, Filing First and the Family Home

51:00 – Does a New Partner's Income Affect Your Settlement?

53:00 – The Biggest Takeaway: Adjustments, Not Revenge

🎧 Episodes Mentioned

Are We De Facto? – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/are-we-de-facto-what-it-could-mean-for-property/id1503451022?i=1000743246854

Property or Parenting First? – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/property-or-parenting-first-does-the-order-actually/id1503451022?i=1000782876028

Coercive Control vs a Bad Relationship https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/coercive-control-vs-a-bad-relationship-how-to-tell/id1503451022?i=1000774925805

Coercive Control & Domestic Violence in Family Court https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/coercive-control-domestic-violence-in-family-court/id1503451022?i=1000764231660

🔗 Links & Resources

Family Law Act 1975 – Section 79 – https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/fla1975114/s79.html

📞 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732 | Lifeline – 13 11 14 | 🚓 Police – 000

🌐 www.thedivorcecourse.com.au – free webinar: click "Reserve My Seat"

🎓 Blog: www.thedivorcecourse.com.au/blog

If this episode helped you understand what cheating does and doesn't change in your divorce, please follow, rate, review and share The Divorce Course Podcast. All our best, Laura & Lyn – Your Guides By Your Side.

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

- You dread every text from your ex and screenshot messages "just in case"

- Your co-parent avoids, delays or denies every conversation that matters

- You can't get a straight yes or no

- You carry the mental load of every reminder, newsletter and schedule

- You've been told to "document everything" and want it done automatically

⚠️ General information only not legal advice. Australian family law; always consult a qualified family lawyer about your circumstances.

🛟 This episode discusses family violence and coercive control. If you're in danger call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 13 11 14.

unpack the co-parenting app that courts here actually trust.

⏱️ Episode Timeline

00:00 – Dreading Texts From Your Ex? Why You Need This Episode

01:00 – Meet Erin Green From OurFamilyWizard Australia

02:00 – Why Avoidant Co-Parents Stop Communicating

05:00 – The Amicable Trap: Becoming the Communication Manager

07:00 – What Is OurFamilyWizard? The Co-Parenting App Explained

08:00 – Uneditable, Encrypted Records vs Deleted Text Messages

10:00 – Calls Feature: Transcripts and Documented Call Activity

11:00 – Family Violence Orders: Calling Without Sharing Your Number

12:00 – The Shared Calendar and Change Requests Without Drama

15:00 – Expense Tracking: Invoices, Receipts and Proof for Court

17:00 – The Info Bank: Schools, Medications and Clothing Sizes

18:00 – Who Uses OurFamilyWizard (And When Courts Order It)

20:00 – Putting the App in Your Consent Orders

21:00 – Timestamped Messages: No Deleting, No Rewriting History

22:00 – Free Divorce Webinar With Laura & Lyn

23:00 – Court-Admissible PDFs and Professional Access

25:00 – The AI Writing Assistant That Flags Escalating Language

27:00 – Message Search + Safety for Survivors of Abuse

29:00 – Word Salad, Yes-or-No Requests and Coercive Control

31:00 – Check-Ins and Location Privacy After Family Violence

33:00 – A Tool, Not a Safety Plan: Tech Stalking Reminders

34:00 – What If Your Ex Refuses to Use a Co-Parenting App?

36:00 – Protection Orders, Mediation and Raising the App

37:00 – Fee Waivers for Family Violence and Financial Duress

38:00 – Defence Force Discount Explained

40:00 – OurFamilyWizard Cost: Essentials, Premium and Max

43:00 – Erin's Best Advice: Pause Before You Reply

44:00 – What to Embroider on a Cushion This Week

🎧 Episodes Mentioned

Coercive Control and Your Kids – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/coercive-control-and-your-kids-how-to-protect-your/id1503451022?i=1000777679728

Co-Parenting With a High Conflict, Narcissistic or Avoidant Ex – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/co-parenting-how-to-successfully-do-it-even-with-a/id1503451022?i=1000559535573

Take the Divorce Personality Quiz – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/take-the-divorce-personality-quiz-learn-why-your/id1503451022?i=1000748290587

Is Your Ex Watching You? Coercive Control Goes Digital – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/is-your-ex-watching-you-coercive-control-goes-digital/id1503451022?i=1000758578403

Creating a Safety Plan Before You Need One – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/from-fear-to-freedom-creating-a-safety-plan-before/id1503451022?i=1000741625311

Co-Parenting Without Court Orders – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/co-parenting-without-court-orders-the-real-rules-and/id1503451022?i=1000735234386

🔗 Links & Resources

OurFamilyWizard Australia – https://www.ourfamilywizard.com.au

Fee waiver (via your lawyer, mediator or support professional): [email protected]

Help using the app: [email protected]

📞 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732 | Lifeline – 13 11 14 | 🚓 Police – 000

🌐 www.thedivorcecourse.com.au – free webinar: click "Reserve My Seat"

🎓 Blog: www.thedivorcecourse.com.au/blog

🎧 Listen if you…

- Keep hearing "you're not getting more than 50/50" from your ex

- Are stuck yelling percentages at each other and getting nowhere

- Feel greedy asking for what's actually fair

- Want your proposal backed by real law before mediation

⚠️ General information only – not legal advice. Australian family law; always consult a qualified family lawyer. 🛟 This episode discusses coercive control and duress. In danger? Call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

In this episode we show you how to build your case the way the court does contributions, then current and future circumstances then get your ex's buy-in fact by fact, and back it all with legislation and recent cases (including Mum's AustLII "note up" trick). Plus the mindset work, the "amicable" trap, and my cringe-but-effective strategy

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Ex Says 50/50 or Nothing? How to Negotiate More

02:00 – Why Exes Refuse: The Win–Lose Business Mindset

03:40 – Mum's #1 Rule: Never Negotiate in Percentages

06:00 – The Court Case That Proves Percentages Backfire

07:30 – What the Family Court Actually Does in Property Settlement

08:30 – The Five-Step Property Settlement Process

10:00 – Big vs Small Property Pools: Why Adjustments Differ

11:45 – Is More Than 50% Greedy? When 50/50 Actually Happens

16:00 – Get Your Mindset Sorted Before You Negotiate

18:00 – "Who Died and Made Them Boss?"

19:30 – The Future Self Test and Negotiation Fatigue

21:00 – Why Wanting to Be "Amicable" Can Be a Trap

23:30 – Laura's Divorce Vision Board (Cringe but It Worked)

25:45 – Financial Contributions: The Polythene Pipe Analogy

28:00 – Non-Financial, Homemaking and Parenting Contributions

29:45 – Post-Separation Contributions and Common Shenanigans

32:00 – Contributions and Future Needs in the Family Law Act

36:30 – Putting It in Writing: Getting Buy-In Fact by Fact

38:30 – The AustLII Note-Up Trick for Backing It With Law

42:00 – When They Stop Negotiating or Lawyer Up

43:30 – Reframing the Deal: "50/50 of What?"

46:15 – Rapid Fire: Delete "Amicable", Say "Fair" Instead

48:45 – The Superannuation Equalising Trap and the Give-In Wall

52:45 – "I Won't Leave Until You Sign": Duress, Safety and 1800 RESPECT

56:45 – Embroider It on a Cushion: Your Fair Future

🎧 EPISODES MENTIONED

Percentages in Divorce Property Settlements Explained – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/percentages-in-divorce-property-settlements-explained/id1503451022?i=1000729446519

Pitfalls of Premature Percentage Negotiations – https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bxTgrdymCeW16Q7z5njUe

Big or Small Property Pool? – https://open.spotify.com/episode/697VeO4FrXQt9LYaabHtUC

BATNA in Divorce – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/batna-in-divorce-how-to-negotiate-property-and/id1503451022?i=1000719715152

Coercive Control & DV in Family Court – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/coercive-control-domestic-violence-in-family-court/id1503451022?i=1000764231660

Super Split Myths – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/super-split-myths-why-equalising-isnt-always-fair-in/id1503451022?i=1000708394387

Convincing the Unconvincible – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/convincing-the-unconvincible-in-divorce-negotiations/id1503451022?i=1000526927752

📞 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732 | Lifeline – 13 11 14 | Police – 000

⚖️ Family Law Act 1975 s79 – https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/fla1975114/s79.html

🌐 www.thedivorcecourse.com.au

If this helped, please follow, rate, review and share so others can find it too.

All our best, Laura & Lyn – Your Guides By Your Side

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

• You have no idea what's happening with the kids this Christmas

• Your ex just announced their Christmas plans like it's already decided

• You didn't know there's a family court deadline in November

• You want Christmas clauses in your orders with no wriggle room

• Every handover is a fight and you're dreading the silly season

⚠️ Disclaimer: General information only, not legal advice. Based on Australian family law (WA differs). Always get independent legal advice.

🛟 This episode discusses family violence and coercive control. If you're in danger call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) | Orange Door | Lifeline 13 11 14.

About this episode:

What about Christmas morning? What if there are no orders and your ex announces the plan like it's done? Mum and I cover the family court Christmas deadline, what to do if you have no orders, your options; changeover on the day, alternating blocks, or letting Christmas fall where it lands and how to make sure your christmas plans have no loopholes

⏱️ Timeline

00:00 – Who Gets Christmas Morning?

01:30 – Family Violence Warning & Disclaimer

03:00 – Why Christmas Is Chaos in Family Law Offices

04:00 – Your First Christmas Separated

05:30 – The Creep Strategy at Christmas

06:30 – The Court Deadline: Second Friday in November

08:00 – Why Christmas Isn't Legally "Urgent"

09:30 – Your Ex Just Announces the Plan? What to Do

12:30 – Propose a Child-Focused Plan in Writing

14:30 – Already in Court? Interim Applications

16:00 – Don't Poke the Bear vs a Dog Off the Leash

18:30 – Too Afraid to Ask? You've Been Trained

20:30 – Reasonable Question + Crazy Response = Proof

22:30 – Option 1: Changeover on Christmas Day

24:00 – Changeover by Divorce Personality Type

26:00 – Option 2: Christmas Eve–Boxing Day Alternate Years

26:30 – The Travel Trap in Christmas Orders

27:30 – Presents That Can't Travel: The Clause You Need

28:30 – Option 3: Let Christmas Fall Where It Lands

29:00 – How School Holidays Are Split in Orders

30:00 – Gazetted Holidays and Pupil-Free Day Traps

32:00 – Contact Centres at Christmas: Book Now

33:30 – Christmas Phone Call Clauses

35:30 – Handover Locations: Drive There First

38:30 – Do Kids Get a Say?

40:00 – Parenting Plan vs Consent Orders

41:00 – Why Exes Misbehave in December

42:30 – Non-Compliance and Enforcement

44:30 – Making It Watertight: Times, Not Descriptions

47:30 – The Lateness Rule at Handover

48:30 – No Wriggle Room & the Spirit of the Orders

51:50 – Your October Checklist

53:00 – The Notice of Intention to File

56:00 – Rapid Fire: Presents, No-Shows, Three Strikes

58:30 – New Partners at Changeover

1:01:30 – Plans for Every Divorce Personality Type

1:07:50 – Kidsmas

🎧 Episodes mentioned:

The Creep Strategy Exposed (Ep 336) →

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/domestic-violence-in-custody-battles-the-creep/id1503451022?i=1000788566797

Separated for the Holidays? (Ep 178) →

https://youtu.be/tdDduzuSK8I?si=3dUJ6YitO0TTXnFT

Co-Parenting & the School Holidays (Ep 78) → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flibR76WrNc

Divorce Holiday Survival Guide (Ep 224) → https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/divorce-holiday-survival-guide-how-to-communicate-when/id1503451022?i=1000740365814

📞 1800 RESPECT — 1800 737 732 | Orange Door | Lifeline — 13 11 14 | Police — 000

🌐 www.thedivorcecourse.com.au – free resources + DIY Divorce Blueprint (Module 3 parenting templates)

If this helped you get ahead of Christmas, please subscribe, like and share so others can find it too.

All our best,

Laura & Lyn Your Guides By Your Side

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

• You've sent emails and heard nothing back for weeks
• The strategy has completely changed without a discussion
• The family violence you disclosed isn't even in your affidavit
• Your lawyer is great at invoices but not much else
• You're thinking about leaving your lawyer but don't know the steps

⚠️ Disclaimer: General information only, not legal advice. Based on Australian family law. Always get independent legal advice, and consider all aspects before deciding to leave your lawyer. 🛟 This episode discusses family violence and coercive control. If you're in danger call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

About this episode: Bad lawyer, bad fit – or a good lawyer having a bad month? Mum and I walk through what a good lawyer relationship looks like, reasonable response times, why strategies change (and when backpedaling is a red flag), what to do when your lawyer minimises family violence, how to question a bill without feeling horrible, the repair conversation to have before you leave, and the exact steps to change lawyers without leaving yourself in the lurch. You're the client – it's okay to ask questions.

⏱️ Timeline 00:00 – Warning Signs Your Divorce Lawyer Might Be the Problem 01:00 – Why Family Lawyers Are Hardworking (And Human) 02:00 – You're the Client: Permission to Ask Questions 04:00 – Legal Disclaimer and Family Violence Warning 05:00 – What a Good Lawyer Relationship Looks Like 06:00 – What Your Lawyer Should Explain Without Being Asked 07:00 – A Good First Meeting: Chronologies and Probing Questions 09:00 – Over-Promising Lawyers and the Polaroid Analogy 10:00 – How Long Should You Wait to Hear Back? 11:00 – Busy Lawyer vs Neglectful Lawyer 13:00 – Never Miss a Court Deadline 15:00 – Radio Silence? The Email to Send the Principal 16:00 – Will Complaining Make My Lawyer Hate Me? 17:00 – Trust and Full Disclosure 18:00 – The Dot-Point Chronology Trick 19:00 – Illegal Activity and Legal Professional Privilege 21:00 – Section 128 Certificates 22:00 – Affairs, New Partners and Why Lawyers Don't Judge 23:00 – Strategy Changes and Backpedaling 27:00 – Defensive Lawyers and Letters of Advice 28:00 – When Lawyers Gatekeep Family Violence 29:00 – Section 43: Safety Over Everything 30:00 – The 2024 Reforms: Is Your Lawyer Up to Date? 34:00 – What a Normal Legal Bill Looks Like 35:00 – What You Can Question in a Bill 38:00 – The Repair Conversation 39:00 – Meeting the Principal and Testing Their Reaction 41:00 – Project Managing Your Case 43:00 – Leaving Your Lawyer: Pause the File, Check Timing 44:00 – Find Your New Lawyer First 45:00 – Outstanding Bills and Court Portal Access 46:00 – Rapid Fire: Second Opinions and Support People 48:00 – Step In, Step Out 49:00 – Is It Though? Why Questioning Is Everything

🎧 Episodes mentioned: Legal Gatekeeping: Is Your Lawyer Telling Your Full Story? → https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/legal-gatekeeping-is-your-lawyer-telling-your-full-story/id1503451022?i=1000666744026 Choosing a Family Lawyer – The Red Flags Not to Ignore → https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/choosing-a-family-lawyer-the-red-flags-not-to-ignore/id1503451022?i=1000555058558 Take the Divorce Personality Quiz → https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/take-the-divorce-personality-quiz-learn-why-your/id1503451022?i=1000748290587 Decoding Divorce Word Salad Legal Letters → https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qiOSiGK9yOrt0lEdqCudQ

📞 1800 RESPECT — 1800 737 732 | Lifeline — 13 11 14 | Police — 000 🌐 www.thedivorcecourse.com.au – free checklists + DIY Divorce Blueprint

If this helped you work out whether your lawyer is the right fit, please subscribe, like and share so others can find it too.

All our best, Laura & Lyn – Your Guides By Your Side

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

• Your ex is rewriting your shared history in lawyer's letters or affidavits
• Money is disappearing before your property settlement
• You suspect secret super, hidden cash, or crypto
• Your ex has turned your family or your own accountant against you
• The person who hurt you is now playing the victim
• You want to know these patterns are predictable and you're not alone
• You suspect your ex is a narc

⚠️ Disclaimer: General information only, not legal advice. Based on Australian family law. Originally recorded in 2021 – laws may have changed. Always get independent legal advice. 🛟 This episode discusses family violence and coercive control. If you're in danger call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) | Lifeline 13 11 14.

About this episode: From the vault over 300 episodes back to one of the very first and most requested episodes we ever recorded. Mum draws on 35+ years in family law to open up The Narcissist Playbook: the 10 patterns she sees again and again with controlling and manipulative exes in divorce. If the playbook existed, it would have two chapters "I only care about me" and "I tell lies." Once you can see the patterns, you can see the next move coming.

⏱️ Timeline 00:00 – From the Vault: Why We're Replaying The Narcissist Playbook 01:00 – Family Violence Warning & Disclaimer 02:00 – The Two Rules of the Narcissist Playbook 04:00 – Pattern 1: They Rewrite History 07:00 – How to Prove the Lies: Photos, Receipts, Credibility 09:00 – Pattern 2: Spending Money Before Property Settlement 10:00 – Add-Backs: How Wasted Money Gets Counted 11:00 – Pattern 3: Secret Super, Bank Accounts and Hidden Cash 12:00 – Crypto and Digital Wallets 13:00 – Positive Credit Card Balances and Gambling Accounts 14:00 – Pattern 4: Undermining You With Family and Kids 16:00 – Building Your Support Group 17:00 – Pattern 5: Playing the Victim and DV Cross-Applications 18:00 – Keeping a Diary of Coercive Control 21:00 – Pattern 6: Parent of the Year Transformation 22:00 – Toys, Trips and Trash Talk: The Cost to Kids 24:00 – Genuine Change vs Performance 25:00 – Pattern 7: They Re-Partner Almost at Once 26:00 – Recruiting the New Partner Into the Campaign 27:00 – When the New Partner Wakes Up: Witnesses and Subpoenas 28:00 – Pattern 8: Turning Joint Professionals Against You 30:00 – Get Your Own Accountant and Team 31:00 – Pattern 9: Claiming Credit for Your Contributions 33:00 – Why Judges See Through It 34:00 – Pattern 10: Reversing the Blame 35:00 – How Courts Catch the Lies 37:00 – New Court Rules: Responding to Their Affidavit 38:00 – The Ten Patterns Recapped 39:00 – Reviewer of the Month: Free 30-Minute Consult With Lyn

🎧 Episode mentioned: Finance and Financial Planners (with Pedro)

📞 1800 RESPECT — 1800 737 732 | Lifeline — 13 11 14 | Police — 000 🌐 www.thedivorcecourse.com.au – free resources + DIY Divorce Blueprint ✉️ Questions: [email protected] or DM @thedivorcecourse ⭐ Review the podcast each month for a chance to win a free 30-minute chat with Lyn

If this episode helped you recognise the patterns and feel less alone, please subscribe, like and share so others can find it too.

All our best, Laura & Lyn – Your Guides By Your Side

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

• You've been told to "just get the house valued" but nobody's explained who, how, or what it costs
• Your ex reckons the house is worth a completely different number
• Your ex won't let a valuer through the door – or is stalling on purpose
• You separated years ago and don't know which date the house gets valued at
• You're heading into mediation and need a number that holds up

⚠️ Disclaimer: General information only, not legal advice. Based on Australian family law. Always get independent legal advice for your circumstances. 🛟 This episode discusses manipulative and controlling behaviour. If you're in danger call 000. Support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

About this episode: You can't divide the property until you know what it's worth. Mum and I unpack appraisals vs valuations, the panel-of-three process for choosing a single expert valuer, the joint letter, the seven-day rule that stops a stalling ex, the dirty tricks people pull, and the date trap – your house is valued at mediation or trial, not the day you separated. Plus strategies for every personality type, from amicable to manipulative and controlling.

⏱️ Timeline 00:00 – What Is Your House Really Worth in Divorce? 01:00 – Why a Valuation Is the Foundation of Property Settlement 02:00 – Legal Disclaimer 03:00 – Why Property Division Is a Mathematical Exercise 04:00 – Rates Notices and Numbers That Don't Count 05:00 – The "Willing But Not Anxious" Test 06:00 – Appraisal vs Valuation: Why Court Wants One Number 07:00 – The Divide-By-Four Trick for Appraisals 08:00 – Selling, Keeping or Being Bought Out 09:00 – Consent Orders With a Formula 10:00 – Keeping the House: Agreed Number or Single Expert 11:00 – Dirty Tricks: Half-Finished Renovations 13:00 – Avoidant Exes Living in the House 14:00 – The Valuer vs Agent Tactic 16:00 – The Panel of Three: Choosing a Valuer Fairly 17:00 – The Joint Letter to the Valuer 18:00 – The Seven-Day Rule That Stops a Stalling Ex 19:00 – Single Expert Valuers: What You're Signing Up For 20:00 – Retrospective Valuations 21:00 – What a Valuation Costs and Who Pays 23:00 – Getting Your Ex to Pay 24:00 – What Happens on Valuation Day 25:00 – Falling House Prices and Timing 26:00 – Do You Need to Be There? 27:00 – Do It Before Mediation 28:00 – What If You Disagree With the Valuation? 29:00 – Shadow Valuers and Cross-Examination 30:00 – When the Valuation Comes in Below the Mortgage 32:00 – The Date Trap: Value at Mediation, Not Separation 33:00 – Building a Wastage Argument 34:00 – Falling Markets and Updated Valuations 36:00 – Why Court Won't Punish Market Timing 37:00 – Court-Ordered Sales and Auctions 39:00 – Rapid Fire: Mortgages, Equity, Selling Costs 41:00 – Valuing the House Without Your Ex's Permission 42:00 – Amicable and Avoidant Exes 44:00 – High Conflict: Single Expert Takes the Fight Out 45:00 – Manipulative Exes on Inspection Day 47:00 – Delay Tactics and Final Thoughts

🎧 Episodes mentioned: Renovations and Divorce:

📞 1800 RESPECT — 1800 737 732 | Lifeline — 13 11 14 | Police — 000 🌐 www.thedivorcecourse.com.au – free resources + DIY Divorce Blueprint waitlist ⚖️ Case: Woodland & Todd

🎧 Listen to this if…

• Your ex keeps saying supervised visits are "going well" so it's time for unsupervised

• You got a lawyer letter that says "this won't look good for you in court"

• You're being pressured into an agreement your instincts say isn't safe

• You've been told "you'll be accused of alienation"

• Your ex has done a online course and now claims they've changed

• You want to know what the courts are saying about supervised time and safety

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer & Trigger Warning

This is general information only it is not legal advice. The content reflects Australian family law and may not apply to your specific situation. Always consult a lawyer about your circumstances. Laws may have changed since this episode was recorded. This episode discusses family violence, coercive control and child safety. If you are in danger, call 000. For support: (1800 737 732).

⏱️ Timeline

00:00 – The Creep Strategy

02:30 – Separated Under One Roof

04:00 – What Supervised Visits and Contact Centres Are

06:00 – The Creep in Action:

09:30 – Pressure Tactics: Alienation Accusations & Court Threats

11:45 – Pressure From Your Own Lawyer

12:30 – Step-Up Orders

15:15 – Does Refusing Unsupervised Time Look Bad in Court?

17:00 – The 50/50 Myth Busted

19:15 – The Trap: Agreeing to Unsupervised Time

22:45 – An Ex Who Refuses Supervised Time

25:15 – Dorval & Augustin [2025]:

27:30 – Drew & Mason [2025]:

29:20 – Bergsberg & Hyde [2026]:

36:15 – When Step-Up Orders Are Appropriate

37:30 – Condition-Based Orders, Drug Testing

39:50 –You're Protecting Your Kids, Not Punishing Your Ex

41:00 – The Mediation Phrase

42:30 – How to Answer Pressure Letters

🎧 Episodes

1. Episode 141 – Decoding Divorce Word Salad Legal Letters:

2. Episode 309 – Refusing 50/50 Care?

3. Episode 73 – Drug & Alcohol Abuse:

4. Episode 183 – Parental Alienation False Allegations: 📞 Lifeline — 13 11 14🌐 The Divorce Course — www.thedivorcecourse.com.au🎓 The Divorce Course Podcast —www.thedivorcecourse.com.au/blog for links to cases

🎧 Listen to this episode if…

- Your divorce negotiations have stalled and every message gets "no" or no reply at all - Your ex keeps delaying and you can't work out why - You're stuck arguing over percentages and getting nowhere - Your ex is "sitting pretty" with no reason to settle - You're wondering whether it's time to send that final warning letter

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer This podcast is general information only it is not legal advice. Always consult a qualified family lawyer about your individual circumstances.

🛟 Family Violence Trigger Warning This episode touches on coercive control and controlling ex-partners. If you're in danger, call 000. Confidential support: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline (13 11 14).

Have your negotiations stalled? In this episode, Mum and I go through 10 practical ways to move the needle when your divorce feels completely stuck in three phases. First, the soften-and-unstick approach: diagnosing why your ex is stalling, repackaging your offer, getting off percentages, and showing them how the settlement will actually happen. Then smart pressure: keeping a live offer on the table, treating terrible offers as data, letting the law do the arguing, and making the maths impossible to ignore. And if none of that works, we show you how to make staying stuck expensive from spousal maintenance to the notice of intention to file, the warning letter Mum describes as "an unblocked drain" for stalled negotiations. No one stays stuck forever and we're here with you every step of the way.

⏱️ Episode Timeline 00:00 – Divorce Negotiations Stuck? 10 Tips to Move the Needle 01:00 – Three Phases: Soften, Smart Pressure, Make Stalling Expensive 02:00 – Why Divorce Negotiations Stall in Almost Every Case 03:00 – The Four Divorce Personality Types That Get Stuck 05:00 – Tip 1: Diagnose Why the Stall Is Happening 06:00 – Tip 2: Change the Packaging, Not the Offer 08:00 – Tip 3: Get Off the Percentages 10:00 – Why 50/50 Means Nothing Without Agreed Values 12:00 – Tip 4: Show the How, Not Just the Outcome 15:00 – Tip 5: Keep a Live Offer on the Table at All Times 17:00 – Making Offers When Disclosure Is Missing 20:00 – Tip 6: Treat Terrible Offers as Data and Bank Every Concession 23:00 – Tip 7: Let the Law Do the Arguing 25:00 – Finding Family Law Cases on AustLII and the Court Website 26:00 – Tip 8: Make the Maths Impossible to Ignore 29:00 – The 2% Spiral: When Arguing Costs More Than It's Worth 31:00 – Tip 9: Remove the Comfort Funding the Stall 33:00 – Spousal Maintenance: Not Sitting Pretty Anymore 35:00 – Tip 10: The Notice of Intention to File 38:00 – What Happens After You Send the Warning Letter 40:00 – Recap: All 10 Tips to Unstick Your Divorce 43:00 – Mindset: No One Stays Stuck Forever 48:00 – DIY Divorce Blueprint: Doors Closing

🎧 Episodes Mentioned Take the Divorce Personality Quiz (Ep 302) → https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/take-the-divorce-personality-quiz-learn-why-your/id1503451022?i=1000748290587 Percentages in Divorce Property Settlements Explained (Ep 214) → https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/percentages-in-divorce-property-settlements-explained/id1503451022?i=1000729446519 Costs, Family Court and Calderbank Offers (Ep 64) → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/costs-family-court-and-calderbank-offers/id1503451022?i=1000575595095 Divorce Dynamic: Balancing Power & Progress (Ep 165) → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/divorce-dynamic-balancing-power-progress/id1503451022?i=1000666075743

🔗 Links & Resources 📞 1800 RESPECT — 1800 737 732 (24/7 DV support) 📞 Lifeline — 13 11 14 🚓 Police — 000 (immediate danger) 🌐 The Divorce Course — www.thedivorcecourse.com.au 🎓 Podcast blog & notes — www.thedivorcecourse.com.au/blog 🎓 Enrol in the DIY Divorce Blueprint — www.thedivorcecourse.com.au/enroll

If this episode helped you find a way to get your stuck divorce moving again, please follow, rate, review, and share The Divorce Course Podcast so others going through the same thing can find this information too.

All our best, Laura & Lyn Your Guides By Your Side Co-Hosts of THE DIVORCE COURSE PODCAST