There’s not a chance I would have published a book using just my cobbled together knowledge and personal experience. I spent three years working through the division of my relationship property, going down some expensive and unproductive paths to negotiate agreement.

My relationship property “pool” wasn’t huge, and I was very conscious of the comparatively large percentage of it being used up in legal fees, revaluations, and accounting advice. Double that because my ex was also paying fees out of the same lump of cash.

Researching the legal section, I found great information on the two key areas of contention in most separations – relationship property and children – the New Zealand Law Society website, Community Law, Citizen’s Advice, and Women’s Refuge websites were all helpful, reflecting back on my own experience of each issue.

Finally, having put it all together in a cohesive way, the senior barrister I used personally, Antonia Fisher QC, read and checked the section, confirming it to be an accurate summary of the law in New Zealand.

Do you know your legal rights? Do you understand the law? Upskill and save legal fees – www.uncoupling.guide.