The Four Step Process Explained – Podcast Episode 11

The four-step process is outlined in the Family Law Act and is the exercise undertaken by family law Courts in determining what, if any, property adjustment is required between parties following separation is referred to as a four-step process. 

Put simply, the four-step process provides for an analysis of property adjustments the following:

1. THE PROPERTY POOL – What assets, liabilities, and financial resources there are of each party, joint or separate (the “net property pool”);
2. THE CONTRIBUTIONS – What each party has contributed to those assets, liabilities and financial resources before the commencement of cohabitation, during the relationship and post-separation, and financially, non-financially and as parent and homemaker (in percentage form);
3. THE FUTURE NEEDS – What the ‘needs’ of each party will be moving forward post separation (resulting in a percentage adjustment from point 2 above); and
4. THE JUSTICE & EQUITY – Whether the assessment at points 2 and 3 above and the transactions that will allow for that assessment to be implemented are just and equitable for both parties. Even if you are not in Court proceedings, you need to be guided by the above principles as this is in the law what is considered just and equitable. It will enable you to appropriately conduct negotiations and it will ensure that if you wish to formalise an agreement by way of Consent Orders, the Court will be likely to approve the Orders you are seeking.

The above steps are unpacked and explained in the following podcasts. If you would like the four-step process explained to you and applied to your special circumstances, we offer a family law consultation free 45-minute initial consultation where one of our expert divorce lawyers Gold Coast will walk you through this process.