When a relationship ends it’s often difficult for couples to decide who should keep the family pet. We often have clients ask us if they can ‘share custody’. Despite the love we have for our pets, under Relationship Property law pets aren’t treated the same way as children, they’re considered ‘family chattels’ and should be …
Who gets the goldfish or the dog when separating? Read More »
Breaking up is hard to do, and it turns out a global pandemic makes it even harder. January is already known as “splitting season” in the lawyer world, because after the financial stress of Christmas, being cooped up with the family 24/7, trying and sometimes failing to have a good time, some of us simply decide …
Trusting your partner is not the same as being financially blind Read More »
Bridgette Jackson with Carly Flynn on The Café this week! Click here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=717204912215461
I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Duncan Garner this morning about the dynamics of blended families. Equal Exes #tv3 #theamshownz https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=345909470157695
I had the opportunity to talk to Roman Travers on Magic Talk Radio on Sunday. Hear what I had to say 💚 #nzsleadingdivorcecoach #equalexes https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=676613813228030
Love and marriage don’t always go together like a horse and carriage. Although New Zealanders are getting divorced at lower rates than a decade ago – 8.6 divorces in every 1000 unions compared to 10.9 in 2009, according to Statistics NZ – it doesn’t mean we’re getting any better at staying hitched. Marriage rates have been in …
https://www.facebook.com/equalexes/photos/a.233765950846154/687640378792040/?type=3
There’s a line in the multi-award-winning 2019 film Marriage Story where Alan Alda’s divorce lawyer says to his client, “Getting divorced with a kid is one of the hardest things to do. It’s like a death without a body.” Tell that to Kimberlee Sweeney and she’ll smile the smile of someone who’s probably said the same thing, …
Auckland entrepreneur Bridgette Jackson battled through a high-conflict divorce that cost $500,000 and five years to negotiate – the experience was so traumatic it prompted her to start a new business in divorce coaching. Jackson, a qualified lawyer with a post-graduate qualification in dispute resolution, founded Equal Exes and wants to turn the story of divorce into “the business of divorce”. SUPPLIED …
Filing for divorce spikes in the new year, but is there a better way to split? Read More »
When: Mon 15 Jun 2020, 2:00pm–3:00pm Where: Virtual Location, Online, Virtual Restrictions: All Ages Registration Types: Registration : Free ($0.00) Eventfinda tickets no longer on sale Website: Equal Exes Listed by: bridgette3tn Bridgette Jackson is the Founder and CEO of Equal Exes and Equal Exes Online. She is an experienced entrepreneur, with many years …
Get a Grip On Parenting In These Challenging Times Read More »
When dealing with high conflict partner/ex people and situations, we might engage in aggressive, passive or assertive approaches. The latter is the most effective though it’s easy to be Aggressive if you’re being attacked by someone who might not be thinking rationally or Passive if your ex is controlling. The following describes each approach and gives tips …
Best approach to deal with a high conflict partner/ex spouse? Read More »
Is it possible to have a truly happy Christmas after separation? We think so! Christmas is a time for families to come together and share the magic and the memories. Which is why it’s a really difficult time for parents who are separated or divorced. Conversations to sort out arrangements are fraught with emotion. It’s …
The new Privacy Act 2020 comes into force this week and affects people just like you who are separating. Thank you to Jeremy Sutton, asset and risk divorce law specialist, for sharing this crucial amendment to the Privacy Act. Please read the changes to the law below carefully and be mindful when you are wanting …
How does the new Privacy Act 2020 relate to separating couples? Read More »
“I had a supplementary credit card, no budget and no responsibility for the family finances except paying bills. “As my ex-husband had full control of the money, I had no idea how to manage my finances.” Money. It’s the driving factor behind many life choices, but is it the be-all and end-all? ‘Me and My …
This week our CEO/Founder, Bridgette was featured in the NZ Woman’s Weekly talking about her experience of divorce, her business learnings and other challenges that her and her family have faced over the last few years. Here is the NZ’s woman’s weekly magazine article! Here are some of the tips that Bridgette shared in the …
We all have our divorce stories. We have all experienced divorce which sits firmly at the top of the stress continuum. Here’s my own divorce story I got married at the age of 27 after a whirlwind romance with my brother’s friend. We got together at a friend’s wedding. He lived in Australia and I …
Bridgette would like to share a client story with you. Let’s call her Jane. Jane didn’t know which way to turn after her husband left her for another woman. She felt emotionally overwhelmed and was so worried about what her future would hold. Then there were the three children to think about and her finances …
So if you have decided to separate you will probably need to engage a divorce lawyer to assist you. For many people, apart from buying a house you may never have dealt with a lawyer. So, here are our top 10 tips:#1 Get a lawyer that “speaks your language”. While that may mean your heritage …
Quick Announcement – our Membership programme is live and discounted to $9.99 until lockdown ends. This is a very common question that I get asked on a regular basis by my clients. It is very pertinent especially at this time too with families together locked in isolation for weeks on end. The stress and …
How do I tell my husband/wife/partner that I want to separate? Read More »
I’ve got a big announcement to make about our online Membership I hope you are doing well in lockdown. I’ve got a big announcement to make about my new online membership programme. This lockdown has been such a blessing in disguise. I know it shocked me when it first started but to be honest, the …
How’s your relationship going to survive lockdown? Expert Lynda Moore gives us two important money actions If you realise your relationship won’t survive lockdown what can you do from a financial point of view to make it easier to separate afterwards? If you’ve just run out of love – and you can talk to each …
Thinking of Separating or Divorce? Mum’s the Word! Expert lawyer, Kalev Crossland has these tips for anyone who is thinking of ending their relationship and separating or divorcing. This article is directed to spouses/partners who are seriously considering ending a relationship but are uncertain what lies ahead in terms of relationship property division. Particularly …
Sadly we know from experience that a number of you are victims of violent and abusive relationships – it doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or how well off you are. When you are in this sort of relationship you may feel like you are to blame for the problems. We can assure …
I wanted to share these 2 informative articles with you at this difficult time, sourced from the UK as they have been dealing with the virus scenario longer than us Kiwis. Firstly an article about the legal situation in New Zealand as it relates to children in shared parenting situations during lockdown. And secondly some …
How to positively & effectively co-parent during difficult times Read More »
You find yourself stuck at home contemplating some serious alone time with someone you have been thinking about leaving… …so what do you do to survive especially if your children are at home too? Make sure you create a space somewhere where you can retire to if things get bad – “Your Happy Place”. Be …
Help me! I’m in self isolation with someone I don’t like….. Read More »
Bridgette was on Newstalk ZB with Kerre McIvor when the topic for discussion was divorce and separation. Kerre asks The length of time it takes to divorce – there should be a time limit. Was this due to failures in the legal system or difficulties from your partner or their lawyer? Would it be possible …
Parenting and Children is a crucial cornerstone for the Equal Exes programme. I am often asked when clients are going through the divorce/separation process what they should say and what they should not say to their children about their impending divorce or separation. This article will help you sort out your own thoughts and plan …
New Beginnings is the final cornerstone for the Equal Exes programme. To show what it can be like our founder Brigette Jackson has written about her personal journey. So what have my new beginnings been like? It’s been one hell of a stressful journey for me and my children over the past 6 years. No …
Relationships end, for many reasons and when they do, the parties to the relationship are left with the difficult task of resolving the division of their property. In New Zealand we have legislation black letter law, that deals with the division of relationship property, that legislation is called the Property (Relationships) Act 1976. The act …
You’ve decided to separate, how do you de-merge your money? Your relationship is over and it’s time to move on and rebuild your own life. In amongst everything else you are dealing with; you will have to talk about your finances and start the process of separating them. De-merging your finances in divorce is very …
Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviour in which one intimate partner uses physical violence, coercion, threats, intimidation, isolation or emotional, sexual or economic abuse to control the other partner in the relationship. Domestic violence does not necessarily involve physical violence and it equally affects all aspects of our society, rich or poor, regardless of …
Why do people need a lawyer when they go through divorce/separation? If your scenario has any complicated issues such as custody, abuse or there is a question mark over your relationship property pool a lawyer can be a valuable resource. Engaging an appropriate lawyer can also reduce your stress levels as it will allow you …
How to choose a lawyer who won’t fuel your divorce/separation Read More »
Our founder, Bridgette Jackson, was quoted in a Stuff article about why divorce filings increase after the Christmas break. This is what they wrote THE BUSINESS OF DIVORCE Auckland entrepreneur Bridgette Jackson battled through a high-conflict divorce that cost $500,000 and five years to negotiate – the experience was so traumatic it prompted her to …
You know the scene – two people who are unable to hold a civil conversation because every exchange is emotionally charged. Nothing beneficial or positive comes from a situation like this and so in order to move forward one person has to take control of the communication. This article will teach you a method of …
How to communicate with your toxic ex in high-conflict situations Read More »
Leaving a relationship when you have children can be one of the most difficult decisions to make. Although we realise we might be in unhealthy relationships, we often stay longer than we should particularly when children are involved. We might think we’re doing the best by them if we stay but in fact, we expose …
Understanding the impact separation and divorce has on your teens Read More »
Below are questions you should ask yourself before you make a firm choice to separate or get divorced. Ask yourself these ten questions first. These questions have the biggest impact when you tell the truth to yourself. When you ask yourself each question, focus on your internal state: If you don’t alter this, then wherever …
10 Questions To Ask Before Deciding to Separate or Divorce Read More »
1. Split the cost of back-to-school stationary 2. Drop the children off together on the first day of school 3. If your ex can’t be there take a photo for them 4. Let your children’s teachers know who is who in your blended family 5. Use the OurFamilyWizard app to diarise school events 6. Attend …
Everyone has someone on their Facebook feed who only posts negative and depressing messages..DON’T BE THAT PERSON. Before you type your troubles away on social media please ask yourself the following: * Could this post get me in trouble? Am I slandering my ex? Name calling? Exposing sensitive information? Publicly threatening him or her? * …
Too many times in the midst of divorce, unresolved anger takes over a person’s behaviour and they become something that they usually are not. This can happen to the nicest of people; no one is free from the temptation of hurting their ex or soon-to-be-ex as much as, if not more than, they have already …
Divorce or a breakdown of a cohabitation relationship is an extremely emotional process. While divorce is a personal matter the emotional impact can spill over into the workplace suddenly making it a public affair. There are so many unknowns about divorce that people are often confused, filled with fear and unsure of how to navigate …
Here’s how to handle it when your child is 0 – 5 years old. * What you need to watch for – signs of distress include fear, anger and emotional instability which could be displayed as clinginess, anxiety, whinging or irritability. Your toddler may also go backwards in terms of their development or start waking …
It’s impossible to avoid conflict completely, but you can learn to control it. Here are nine useful tips for reducing the harmful effects of conflict during and after divorce. There are several things parents can do to protect their children from conflict and reduce the harmful effects of long-term conflict during and after divorce. Some …
9 Tips For Protecting Children From Conflict During Divorce Read More »
You are not alone. No matter where you are on your personal journey through separation and divorce the challenges and emotional highs and lows take their toll. Everyone faces bad reactions. Let’s run through the main reasons. After reading this article review the green text. Write down the key things that resonate for you and …
7 Reasons Why Smart People Have Bad Reactions in Separation & Divorce Read More »
What is the role of a Parenting Plan? 1. Is a default agreement if parents cannot agree; 2. Establishes a pattern and consistency; 3. Assures fairness and/or consideration for each parent. So, what are the benefits of a Parenting Plan? • The child(ren)’s best interests are put first; • The parenting plan is unique, devised …
