Medical professionals face unique issues in separation: complex income structures, practice valuations, variable rosters and high career pressures. This guide explains what doctors need to know during divorce and how to protect their practice, patients and financial future.
Why separation is different for doctors
Doctors and specialists often have:
- Multiple income streams
- Public and private work
- Irregular hours
- Stipends, on-call loadings and allowances
- Practice ownership
- Service agreements
- Long training timelines
- High career stress
These factors affect both property division and parenting arrangements.
Practice and income considerations
- Practice valuations
Medical practices have unique goodwill considerations:
- Patient lists
- Location
- Equipment
- Partnerships
- Reputation
Solo practices rely heavily on personal goodwill, which needs careful valuation.
- Income streams
Doctors often have:
- Base salaries
- Allowances
- Procedure fees
- Specialist consulting income
- Rural loadings
- Agency work
- Private lists
All must be disclosed and understood in context.
- Parental responsibilities
Unpredictable rosters can make parenting arrangements more complex.
Courts prioritise consistency and child availability.
Managing disruption to your work
We focus on minimising:
- Impact on patient care
- Unnecessary financial disclosure burdens
- Stress during already high-pressure working conditions
Why Resolve is uniquely positioned
Being surrounded by doctors her whole life, our Founder Rose Cocchiaro understands the practical realities. The on-call nights, the fatigue, the limited time.
We structure processes that respect your workload and reduce court time.
FAQs
Will my practice be split?
Usually you keep your practice, but a buy-out or offset may occur.
How are my variable hours assessed?
Courts focus on predictability and care arrangements, not income alone.
What if my partner claims future earning potential?
Earning capacity is relevant, but only to a reasonable degree.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we can assist with your unique circumstances, please book a free 15-minute call with our client care team by clicking here.