Book your Separation Consult
This might feel like a big step, but it doesn’t have to be.
Start your journey by meeting with one of our senior relationship property lawyers. In your 60-minute consult with a specialist lawyer, you’ll get a clear overview of how the separation process works, what your options are, and what matters most in your situation.
You’ll leave with a plan, next steps, and a better sense of control over what’s ahead.
This consult costs $870+GST
Book your Consult
What's included
We’ve designed the Separation Consult to be more than an hour sitting across from a lawyer. There’s work before the meeting, support afterwards, and a plan for what comes next. Here’s what’s included:
Pre-Meeting Groundwork
We review the information you provide before your meeting (in an online form – it will take you 15 – 20 minutes), so your appointment can be spent talking about you, not gathering basic facts..
Your Strategy Hour
A full one-on-one hour with a relationship property specialist, answering your questions, helping you understand where you stand, what matters most, and what your sensible next steps are.
Your Clean Break Plan
You don’t need to remember everything we talk about. After the meeting, we’ll send you a clear written summary of the advice we gave and your next steps.
The “I Forgot to Ask” Guarantee
Think of something after you leave? Send us your question within 24 hours and we’ll reply with a short video.
Not able to travel to our office? We are happy to meet you online.
Insights
Free practical advice to help you with your separation.
Finding Love After Separation
The Courage to Love Again By Sarah Moon, founder of Clean Break. Adapted from her article featured in Nelson Magazine. When a long-term relationship ends, it can feel as though the ground has shifted beneath you. Familiar routines disappear. The…
Clean Break Named Finalist for Family Law Firm of the Year
Two nominations. Two years in business. One very proud little team. Two years ago, Clean Break was just a big idea and a leap of faith. Today, our little Nelson law firm is being recognised among New Zealand’s best. We’re…
AI Isn’t Replacing Your Lawyer. Here’s What It Is Doing.
AI Gives You a Better Legal Experience There are lots of conversations happening right now about AI and lawyers. Will AI replace lawyers? Will robots be drafting your relationship property agreement? Will Sarah eventually be replaced by a very efficient…
What Happens in a Separation Consult?
Booking your first meeting might feel hard It can stir up thoughts like: Does this mean it’s really over? What if I fall apart in front of someone? Will they judge me? Is this just going to make things worse? …
Five to One: The Math of Staying Together
Five to One: The Math of Staying Together There is a surprisingly small number that predicts whether a relationship will stay together. It’s 5 to 1. The Gottmans’ research found that healthy relationships have five positive interactions for every one…
Ending a Relationship Without Making Anyone the Villain
Ending a relationship without blame When a relationship ends, there is often an unspoken pressure to decide who was “at fault”. Friends ask questions. Families take sides. Even our own minds look for a clean story, ideally one with a…
Stepparents and Child Support: What Actually Happens
Stepparents and child support: what actually happens Most of the time, nothing formal happens at all. When a relationship with stepchildren ends, the question of ongoing support usually gets sorted between the adults. People reach a private arrangement, or they…
Why you get sick AFTER separation
Congratulations, your separation is final! So why do you feel awful? Most people expect to feel better once their separation is finalised. The agreement is signed. The house settles. The money changes hands. And often, there is genuine relief. A…
Can you separate while still living together?
Can you separate while still living together? Yes. You can be legally separated from your spouse while still sharing a house. The two-year clock for divorce starts ticking from the date of separation – which can be well before either…
What Your Lawyer Really Thinks About AI
Ever wonder what your lawyer really thinks about you using AI? More of our clients are leaning on ChatGPT (and tools like it) during their separation. We get it – it’s free and available at 11pm when you can’t sleep…
Grief After Separation
Grief After Separation: Sometimes You Have to Go Through the Flood The Maitai River here in Nelson is in flood today. And it makes me think about our grieving process, and the natural way of the world. To be healthy,…
The Cost of Goodbye
The Cost of Goodbye When a relationship ends, it’s not just your heart that takes a hit — your bank account often does too. At Clean Break, we support people at all stages of separation. Some arrive with spreadsheets. Others…
When Things Start Heading Toward Court
No one wants to end up in the Family Court. But if you have a feeling things might be heading in that direction, this guide is for you. You might still be trying to resolve things. You might be hoping it doesn’t get…
Ongoing Costs After Separation
In the first article in this series, we looked at occupational rent — what it is, and when it may be fair to recognise one partner’s exclusive use of the family home after separation. In this second article, we turn…
How to Deal With High Conflict People
You Can’t Control Them, But You Can Control Your Response One of my go-to phrases is that you can’t control how the other person behaves — but you can absolutely control your response. That’s where a tool like BIFF can…
Trusts and Separation: What Happens When a Relationship Ends?
Trusts are everywhere in New Zealand. They are so common that many people barely think twice about them. Your family home might be owned by a trust. A business you run, a farm, an investment portfolio or even your bach…
Rethinking What “Failure” Really Means in Separation
The Cultural Story of “Forever” We grow up hearing that true love lasts forever. At most weddings, even now, some version of the same promise is made: till death do us part. Against that backdrop, separation can carry a heavy,…
What is Occupational Rent and how does it work?
When a couple separates, a lot of attention is usually paid to their financial position at that point. But separation is rarely the end of the story. There can be months (sometimes years!) between separation and a final settlement, during…
If You’re Feeling Unsafe in Your Relationship
If You’re Feeling Unsafe in Your Relationship Sometimes what begins as tension or conflict slowly shifts into something heavier. You might notice you’re second-guessing yourself. Watching your tone. Explaining where you’ve been. Feeling anxious in your own home. If that sounds familiar, pause for a moment. …
Your Business and Separation: What You Need to Know
When a relationship ends, dividing property is rarely simple. When a business is involved, it can feel even more overwhelming. Many business owners are surprised to learn that company shares, money lent to the business, or increases in business value during the…
The Shiny Trap of Love Bombing
The Whirlwind at the Beginning We all know the early stages of love can feel like a whirlwind—late-night conversations, butterflies at the sound of a text, the thrill of being wanted. But sometimes, that whirlwind becomes something else entirely. There’s…
Eight Tools for When You’re Stressed
When life changes — suddenly or slowly — our minds aren’t the only things affected. Our bodies feel it too. Whether you’re going through a separation, grieving a shift in family life, wrestling with some medical news or trying to…
Getting through a Summer Separation
Holiday Smiles, Hidden Grief The holiday season is painted as joyful: bubbly, carols, family arriving from out of town. But if you are separating, the cheer can feel at odds with the reality of your world falling apart. There is…
Your FREE guide to navigating separation
Separation is one of the most challenging transitions anyone can face. It’s more than paperwork — it’s an emotional journey filled with questions, grief and sometimes conflict. After working with hundreds of clients and reflecting on our own experiences, we…
What a Divorce Lawyer Knows About Lasting Love
My biggest fear when I became a relationship property lawyer (or divorce lawyer) was becoming jaded about love. Surrounded by bitterness and broken hearts, I wondered if I’d slowly turn into someone muttering “relationships are doomed” at weddings. Instead, I…
When “Fair” Isn’t 50/50: Economic Disparity Claims in NZ
When couples who met early in life separate in New Zealand, the starting point is usually simple: everything is split 50/50. That’s what the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 presumes — an equal division of relationship property. And in many cases,…
Can we DIY our Separation?
Can we DIY our Relationship Property Division? When a marriage or relationship ends, one of the biggest questions is: what happens to the property we shared? If things are amicable, you might wonder whether you and your ex can simply…
What Happens When You Separate?
What happens when you separate (or divorce) in New Zealand? Separation is one of life’s biggest curveballs. Alongside the emotions, there’s a long list of “what now?” questions about property, money, kids, and even the paperwork of ending a marriage…
Collaborative Law: A Better Way Through Separation and Divorce
Collaborative law (sometimes called collaborative practice) offers a different way forward when you’re facing a separation or divorce. Instead of a combative, stressful, and expensive legal process — especially around dividing relationship property — collaborative law focuses on problem-solving, respect,…
Building a Strong Relationship with Yourself
We’re taught how to navigate relationships with other people. But no one teaches us how to be in a relationship with ourselves. Who are you when the roles shift? When the relationship ends, the job changes, the kids grow up?…
Grief After Separation
Most people think grief only happens when someone dies. But if you’ve ever gone through a breakup, lost a job, watched a friendship fade, or had to start over, you’ve probably met grief too. It just didn’t show up wearing…
Boundaries in Separation: Why Saying “No” Can Be Your Most Loving Act
Do you find yourself saying “yes” when every part of you wants to say “no”? You’re not alone. Setting boundaries is hard, especially during a separation. At Clean Break, many of our clients come to us emotionally and physically drained…
Frequently Used Words in Separation Explained
When you’re going through a separation, it can sometimes feel like lawyers are speaking a completely different language. Words like “chattels,” “disclosure,” or “economic disparity” might pop up and suddenly the conversation feels overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created this simple…
Do You Owe Your Ex for Student Loan Payments?
Do you, or have you ever had, a student loan? Has your ex? If your answer is yes, you should talk to your relationship property lawyer about it. We explain why below. Under New Zealand’s Property (Relationships) Act 1976, relationship…
How to Stay Close to Your Older Children After a Separation
Your children will be affected by your separation, whether they are 13 or 35. Family estrangements can sometimes occur after a separation when separating parents behave badly. This isn’t rocket science but we encourage you to make this as easy…
Are You Still in a Relationship with Your Ex?
While some relationships end with a bang, others slowly cool off over time. The tricky part is that determining your separation date isn’t always straightforward and it has very real legal consequences. Your lawyer doesn’t care why you and your…
Clean Break or Messy Split? Your Divorce and Separation FAQs Answered
We answer some of the most frequently asked questions about relationship property and separations, and provide practical advice and insights to help you make decisions. Achieve a Clean Break with confidence.
Our Guarantee
You can be confident in your choice with our 30-day money back guarantee. If you aren’t happy in your first 30 days, tell us why. If we can’t fix it and you need to fire us, (provided we haven’t already signed your agreement) we will refund you everything you have paid. We will also point you in the direction of another good lawyer who might be a better match.