Over four million Australians are presently grappling with personal relationship conflict. Amidst the prevailing financial climate of high costs of living and inflation, many separating couples cannot afford to live separately and are faced with the reality of living separately under the roof. Negotiating life under the same roof with an ex-partner can be challenging. Here are some tips to navigate this and insights into what to expect.
Ground Rules
Setting ground rules and boundaries within your home and new relationship dynamics is key to keeping things amicable and civil around the house. Particularly if you have children involved, keeping the peace in the household is crucial to their development and emotional well-being as you go through this chapter together. Sit down with your ex-partner and have a calm conversation about what to expect from each other as parents or as house partners.
Sharing the load
If you are stuck in a situation where you are forced to live with your ex-partner, ensuring that you are both sharing the load of household chores can be a helpful way of keeping the house peaceful until you are able to change the situation. Having a roster or agreed schedule in place leaves no room for surprises or slacking off.
Finances
If you are having a hard time keeping afloat of your finances and bills, it is important to ensure that you are transparent with your ex-partner and most importantly seek professional advice. Australia has a National Debt Helpline that specialises in debt information and advice, they can be contacted on 1800 007 007 between Monday to Friday 9:30am – 4:30pm.
Legalities
If you are unsure about your legal rights and entitlements, it is always best to seek legal advice from a qualified family lawyer…
Article by Carolyn Devries, founder of New Way Lawyers
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New Way Lawyers is Australia’s first non-profit law firm. Founded by Carolyn Devries 14 years ago, New Way Lawyers provides family law assistance and representation based on care, accessibility, innovation and excellence.