The first 48 hours after separation.

If you do not already have an individual account, open one today. Redirect your salary to it. This is not about hiding money - it is about ensuring you have access to funds regardless of what happens with joint accounts.

Take screenshots of all joint account balances, mortgage balances, credit card balances, superannuation balances, and any investment accounts. Do this today before anything changes. Save them somewhere only you can access.

Even if you feel it is unfair, keep all joint debt payments current. A missed payment goes on both credit files and stays there for 2 years. Protect your credit now - sort out fairness later through the settlement process.

Change passwords on your personal email, banking apps, and any accounts your partner has access to. This is a practical safety step, not an adversarial one.

List every asset and every debt - jointly and individually. Property values, mortgage balances, super balances, savings, car values, credit cards, personal loans. You need this for any settlement discussion.

Before you talk to a lawyer, talk to a broker. Knowing what you can borrow on your own income shapes everything - what you can keep, what you need to sell, and what your settlement position looks like. This conversation is confidential and at no cost.

Find a family lawyer. Many offer an initial consultation at no cost or reduced fee. Do not sign anything or agree to any property split without legal advice first. If you cannot afford a lawyer, contact Legal Services Commission SA for assistance.

Use the post-separation budget calculator to understand what your life costs on your income alone. This is confronting but essential - you need to know the number.