Episode Details

There’s a side to divorce and family law that no one prepares you for.

In today’s episode, Dani Zetzer joins us. Dani is a Melbourne-based principal family lawyer, founder of Respect Legal, and host of Diary of a Divorce Lawyer. With over a decade in family law, she’s known for cutting through fear, jargon, and misinformation to bring clarity to conversations most people avoid.

Dani supports individuals navigating separation, power dynamics, and rebuilding life after relationship breakdown, with a strong focus on empowering women through the process.

We dive deep into the realities of family law in Australia, the emotional and psychological impact of coercive control, and what women actually need to know before leaving a relationship.

In this episode, we chat about:

• How Dani became a divorce lawyer after her own childhood experience of family breakdown
• The truth about the family law system and why it can feel disempowering
• What coercive control and narcissistic abuse really look like in relationships
• Why getting legal advice before leaving a relationship is crucial
• How to safely plan your exit from an abusive or unhealthy relationship
• The emotional and financial realities of separation and divorce
• Navigating court systems, custody, and legal processes in Australia
• The impact of divorce and conflict on children

This conversation shines a light on the intersection of domestic violence, coercive control, and family law, while also offering practical insight into how individuals can approach separation with more clarity, support, and confidence.

Connect with Dani:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellezetzer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.zetzer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-zetzer/

Website: https://danizetzer.com.au/

Diary of a Divorce Lawyer Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NUoVIZh15FSWEcqIY8ItQ

Respect Legal: https://respectlegal.com.au/

Life After I Left: Podcast Party early bird tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/life-after-i-left-podcast-party-tickets-1982055720014

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