O'Loan Family Law

16/10/2026

Words like these are why we do what we do. 💙

Separation can be one of the hardest things you ever go through. When you're in the middle of it, what you need most is a team that explains things clearly, supports you properly, and stands up for you when it matters.

That's what we work to give every client:
✓ Clear advice, so you always know where you stand
✓ Genuine support through every step
✓ Strong advocacy when things get difficult

Thank you to this client for trusting us, and for taking the time to share their experience.

Navigating divorce and want a team firmly in your corner? Book a free insight call with our team: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5Fn0

14/10/2026

Can I ask for spousal maintenance after separation?

Possibly. Spousal maintenance is financial support one former partner pays the other when they can't adequately meet their own reasonable expenses. It applies to both married and de facto couples.

Who may be eligible
You may be able to seek it if you can't support yourself adequately because you:
✓ Care for a child of the relationship who is under 18
✓ Can't work because of your age, health or a physical or mental incapacity
✓ Have another adequate reason, such as years out of the workforce

The other person must also be reasonably able to pay.

What the court looks at
The court considers your age and health, and each person's income, property and earning capacity. It also looks at who cares for the children, what a reasonable standard of living is, and how the relationship affected your ability to earn.

How it differs from child support
Child support is for the children, and Services Australia usually assesses it using a formula. Spousal maintenance is for you. It is either agreed between you or ordered by a court, and it can be paid regularly or as a lump sum.

Time limits matter
✓ Married: apply within 12 months of your divorce taking effect
✓ De facto: apply within 2 years of the relationship ending
After that, you need the court's permission to apply, and it isn't guaranteed.

Wondering whether spousal maintenance applies to you? Book a free insight call with our team: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5FJ0

12/10/2026

"I just want this over with."

It's one of the most understandable things we hear. You want to avoid conflict. You want to move on. So you agree quickly, just to get it done.

But the most costly mistakes in separation usually happen early. That isn't because people don't care. It's because they don't have the full picture yet.

A few we see often:
✓ Agreeing before you understand your full financial position
✓ Assuming property is automatically split 50/50 (it isn't)
✓ Believing assets can be kept out of view (they can't)
✓ Leaving agreements informal, which can mean things reopen later

Once things are formalised, they can be very difficult to change. That's why a pause now matters.

Clarity first. Then decisions.

Are you being asked to agree to something before you feel ready? Book a free 15 minute call with our team: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5Bw0

11/10/2026

I’ve just finished a really crappy breakfast in a hotel room in Sydney … all for AI. goals

09/10/2026

Meet Masood Salehi, our Senior Associate 👋

Masood has worked in law since 2015 and has focussed on family law for over 7 years. His earlier work in civil litigation, criminal law and wills and estates gives him a broad view of the issues that can come up when a family separates.

He's a strong advocate if Court is needed but firmly believes in resolving disputes outside court wherever possible, through negotiation and mediation, with the focus on fair, child-focused outcomes.

Masood's superpower? Connecting with people. His warmth makes it easy for clients to trust him at a time when they often feel their most vulnerable.

Outside work, you'll find him with family and friends. His coffee order? An oat latte. ☕

Get to know Masood a little better: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5z_0

07/10/2026

"I can't communicate with my ex."

If every message turns into an argument, you're not doing anything wrong. High-conflict communication wears anyone down. You don't need to win the exchange. You need to protect your peace and your position.

A few ways to take the heat out of contact:
✓ Keep it in writing, by email or a co-parenting app, so there is a clear record
✓ Keep it brief, businesslike and focused on the children or the practical issue
✓ Don't reply straight away. Give yourself time to respond, not react
✓ Ignore the bait. You don't have to answer every accusation
✓ Never use the children as messengers
✓ Keep copies of messages, especially anything threatening or abusive

Know when to hand it over, too. If messages have become threatening, you feel unsafe, or every conversation stalls progress, it may be time for your lawyer to step in as the buffer. We take on the communication, so you don't have to carry it alone.

If you are ever in immediate danger, call 000.

Dealing with an ex who turns every conversation into a battle? Book a free insight call with our team: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5z80

02/10/2026

Today is the International Day of Non-Violence.

For many people going through separation, safety isn't an abstract idea. It's the quiet worry behind every message, every handover and every decision about what comes next.

If that sounds familiar, you are not alone, and you don't have to work it out by yourself.

Where safety is a concern, we act quickly. Our team works with you to:
✓ Understand your options, including protection orders such as ADVOs
✓ Put parenting and property arrangements in place that keep safety front and centre
✓ Step in between you and your ex, so you don't have to manage the conflict alone

We guide you with care, discretion and strength. 💙

If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For support any time, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

Worried about your safety, or your children's, as you separate? Book a free insight call with our team: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5x_0

30/09/2026

Sometimes it’s the smallest part of a review that means the most.

What stands out to us in this one is not the outcome. It is that it mentions reception. The person who answers the phone when you are calling a family lawyer for the first time, usually from the car, usually not sure what you are even going to say.

Separation is handled by a whole team, not just the lawyer whose name is on the file. We are glad that came through.

Thank you to our client for taking the time to write this review and for trusting us with you matter.

Looking for a legal team to step in and help you when you need it most? Book a free insight call with our team:
https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01p5w60

28/09/2026

Separation and divorce are not the same thing. Confusing them costs people time, and sometimes money.

Separation is the day your relationship ends. There is no form to lodge and no court involved. It is a date, established by how the relationship actually functions, not by any paperwork.

Divorce is a formal court order that ends the marriage itself. You can be separated for years without ever applying for one, and plenty of people are.

Three things worth knowing:
✓ You can be separated while living under the same roof. What matters is how the relationship operates, not the address on your licence.

✓ Your property settlement and parenting arrangements do not wait for a divorce. They can be sorted well before you apply, and usually should be.

✓ Once a divorce order takes effect, a twelve month clock starts. That is your window to bring a property or spousal maintenance claim. After it closes, you need the court's permission, and that is not guaranteed.

Which is why the order matters. Sort the property and the parenting while the picture is clear. Apply for the divorce when you are ready. Doing it the other way around is where people get caught.

Not sure whether you are separated, divorced, or somewhere in between? Book a free insight call with our team: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01jbR30

25/09/2026