Divorce is that silent social epidemic that affects us all. As we separate and are forced to settle in court, we come to the realisation that we can lose everything we own and everything that is of worth. And as we battle with someone we thought we knew and loved, this then becomes life’s most defining event. This book takes the reader through the disputed divorce and financial settlement processes. We find that this process becomes a high-stakes battle that has the potential to affect our financial security, our well-being, and even our self-worth as we navigate through a quagmire of legal procedures. Then as separation becomes arduous, we quickly also learn to endure the many stresses and trauma of our predicament. This is a story that reveals how we can influence and overcome inherently adversarial and biased processes to gain some control of what eventuates. This is what we should heed so we can suitably prepare to influence what eventuates. This story ends when all the legal fights are fought, settlement is reached, and post–married life begins. This book articulates how we must be accepting of the costs and consequences of our disputed adversarial separation settlement to be able to commence anew, live without regret, and grasp the further life opportunities granted to us.
