Pre-separation legal advice.
We advise on your rights and entitlements before separation to protect your position.
Understanding your property entitlements before separation
We help you understand the asset pool and what fair division looks like.
Advice on parenting arrangements before separation.
We advise on likely parenting arrangements before any formal arrangements are made.
Guidance on what to document and what not to say.
We advise on what to gather, avoid and keep confidential before you act.
Financial preparation before separation.
We help you understand what financial conversations to have, and when.
Safety planning before leaving a controlling relationship.
For controlling relationships, we combine legal preparation with careful safety planning.
What most people don't know before they separate.
Most people assume a family lawyer is only relevant after things have already fallen apart. By the time they call, decisions have already been made that affect their legal position, sometimes significantly.
What you do before you separate matters legally.
The steps you take before separation, including which assets you document, what financial information you gather, and which agreements you make or avoid, can directly impact your property settlement. Getting pre-separation advice before you act means getting advice while you still have options available to you.
Safety and legal preparation go hand in hand.
For clients in controlling or abusive relationships, the period before leaving is often the most dangerous. Legal preparation and safety planning need to happen together. We understand both dimensions and can help you navigate them.
Speaking to a mortgage broker before you leave can significantly affect your financial position after separation.
Many clients don't realise that their ability to access finance, refinance a property, or secure their financial future can be significantly affected by decisions made before separation. We will tell you which conversations to have and when to have them, before you take a step.
Pre-separation advice may be right for you if:
You are considering leaving a relationship…
and want to understand your legal position before you make any decisions.
You are in a controlling or abusive relationship…
and need to plan your exit carefully, with both your safety and your legal position in mind.
You have significant assets, property, or complex finances…
and want to understand how separation will affect them before you act.
You want to know what to document, what financial information to gather…
and what conversations to avoid before you separate.
You are not ready to leave yet, but want to understand your options…
so you are prepared when the time comes.
Someone close to you is considering leaving a relationship…
and you want to help them get the right advice before they act.
Our values-driven commitment reflects Natalie's longstanding relationship with the DV service community and her history with Women's Legal Service Queensland. Please mention this when you get in touch.
Answers to your pre-separation advice questions.
We know that the period before separation can feel uncertain and overwhelming, particularly when safety, finances and parenting arrangements are all in play at once. We have compiled answers to the questions that come up most often from clients who are considering leaving a relationship or planning their next move. If you can't find your answer here, get in touch directly.
I’m considering leaving my partner. When should I speak to a family lawyer?
As early as possible. Many people wait until after they have left before seeking legal advice. However, the decisions made before separation can significantly affect your property settlement, parenting arrangements, and financial position. Speaking to a family lawyer before you act means understanding your options while you still have options available to you.
What should I do before I leave a relationship?
Can I get legal advice before separating if I am still living with my partner?
How does pre-separation advice help with a property settlement?
What is the difference between pre-separation advice and a property settlement?
If your legal matter doesn’t end here
The word ‘strategy’ is intentional because you don't leave with a brochure and a follow-up email. You leave with a real picture of your situation, an honest assessment of what it will take to reach a resolution, and a specific plan for how to get there.
Book your $495 strategy session with our Principal, Natalie Locke, at Locke Family Law today.
QUICK EXIT