Dear Divorce Diary - With Daz & Jop

In this emotionally charged and deeply practical episode of Dear Divorce Diary , Darren Mort and Joplin Higgins tackle one of the most heartbreaking and legally complex issues in family law: relocation after separation. What happens when one parent wants to move interstate… or overseas… with the children? Can the court stop a parent from leaving Australia? Does a mother or father have the “right”...

In one of the most confronting and candid episodes of Dear Divorce Diary so far, Darren Mort and Joplin Higgins tackle a topic rarely spoken about openly in family law — pornography, addiction, intimacy, coercion, and the impact it can have on marriages, parenting, finances, and divorce proceedings. This is not a sensationalist conversation. It’s a nuanced and thoughtful discussion about how porno...

In this powerful and deeply practical episode of Dear Divorce Diary , Darren Mort and Joplin Higgins unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of the family law system — mediation. After receiving a flood of listener messages and social media comments, Darren and Jop dive into the reality of Family Dispute Resolution (FDR), court-ordered mediation, shuttle negotiations, coercive control during me...

In this practical and highly informative episode of Dear Divorce Diary , family law barrister Darren Mort and family lawyer Joplin Higgins answer one of the most common questions sent in by listeners navigating the family law system without legal representation. Drawing directly from a listener question submitted through social media, Darren and Joplin unpack the reality of preparing for a final h...

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions surrounding coercive control, family violence, emotional abuse, psychological harm, victim survival responses, and trauma-informed legal practice. Listener discretion is advised. In this deeply important follow-up episode of Dear Divorce Diary , family law barrister Darren Mort and family lawyer Joplin Higgins revisit one of the most confrontin...

In this brutally honest and often darkly humorous episode of Dear Divorce Diary , Darren Mort (Family Law Barrister) and Joplin Higgins (Practising Family Lawyer) dive into one of the biggest modern dangers in separation and divorce proceedings — social media. From angry Facebook rants and passive-aggressive memes to dating app disasters, GoFundMe controversies and children being exposed to online...

⚠️ Trigger Warning This episode contains detailed discussion surrounding: Domestic and family violence Strangulation and choking Trauma and coercive control Psychological abuse Court processes involving victim-survivors Listener discretion is strongly advised. Episode Overview In one of the most confronting and emotionally powerful episodes of Dear Divorce Diary , Darren Mort (Family Law Barrister...

In this thought-provoking episode of Dear Divorce Diary , Darren Mort (Family Law Barrister) and Joplin Higgins (Practising Family Lawyer) tackle one of the most emotionally charged issues in family law: extra-marital affairs and their impact on separation and divorce . Although Australia operates under a no-fault divorce system , Daz and Jop explore why affairs can still play a significant role i...

Coercive and controlling behaviour is one of the most complex and widely discussed issues in family law today . In this episode of Dear Divorce Diary , family law professionals Darren Mort and Joplin Higgins explore how this behaviour appears in relationships, how it is interpreted in the court system, and why it can be difficult to prove. Through an unscripted role-play scenario , Darren and Jopl...

Money can become one of the most confusing and confronting aspects of separation and divorce . In this episode of Dear Divorce Diary , family law experts Darren Mort (Family Law Barrister) and Joplin Higgins (Family Law Solicitor) unpack the importance of financial literacy when navigating property settlements . They explore why many people (particularly women) enter divorce proceedings with littl...

What happens when someone simply ignores Family Court orders ? In this episode, Darren and Joplin unpack one of the most frustrating situations in family law: when a parent refuses to comply with parenting orders or consent orders . They discuss what the law says, what practical options exist for the parent doing the right thing, and why non-compliance can create serious consequences - particularl...

In this deeply insightful episode of Dear Divorce Diaries , family law barrister Darren “Daz” Mort and solicitor Joplin “Jop” Higgins tackle one of the most emotionally charged and misunderstood topics in family law: the role of grandparents after separation . Prompted by a wave of listener questions, Daz and Jop unpack the common misconception that grandparents have “rights” in the family law sys...

In Episode 6 of Dear Divorce Diaries , Darren “Daz” Mort and Joplin “Jop” Higgins dive into a topic that is often misunderstood and frequently misused in family law — trauma-informed practice . Daz & Jop explain why this term is not just a trendy buzzword, and why many lawyers and judicial officers may not truly understand what it means in practice. Joplin, a recognised expert in the field and...

In Episode 5 of Dear Divorce Diaries , Darren “Daz” Mort and Joplin “Jop” Higgins tackle one of the most important decisions people make during separation: how to choose the right family lawyer . The episode opens with the hosts explaining the podcast rules: they can’t provide direct legal advice, but they can discuss themes based on listener questions. The conversation is driven by questions subm...

In Episode 4 of Dear Divorce Diaries , Joplin Higgins and Darren “Daz” Mort return to answer listener questions and discuss some of the most emotionally charged issues in family law — especially change of residence and how the court evaluates parenting capacity . Daz & Jop begin by reminding listeners of the podcast’s ground rules: they will discuss themes, not give direct legal advice, and th...

In Episode 3 of Dear Divorce Diaries , Darren “Daz” Mort and Joplin “Jop” Higgins explore the emotional realities behind family law — and why separation feels like uncharted territory for most people. They explain that many separated parents unintentionally make mistakes because they simply don’t know what to do — and then they’re judged for it in court. This episode goes beyond legal process and...

In Episode 2 of Dear Divorce Diaries , Darren “Daz” Mort and Joplin “Jop” Higgins discuss one of the most critical topics in family law: co-parenting after separation . With years of courtroom experience, they explain why only a small percentage of cases actually need to go to trial , and why many families would benefit from avoiding court entirely—both emotionally and financially. Daz and Jop foc...

Episode 1: An Introduction – About Joplin Higgins & Darren Mort In this opening episode of Dear Divorce Diary , family law barrister Darren “Daz” Mort and family lawyer Joplin “Jop” Higgins introduce themselves, the purpose of the podcast, and the values that sit at the heart of their work. Drawing on decades spent “at the coalface” of the family law system, they explain why separation and div...

When a relationship ends, it can feel like the world is breaking apart — legally, emotionally and practically. The Dear Divorce Diary Podcast exists to guide you through that difficult landscape with clarity, compassion and a child-focused mindset. Each episode, Darren “Daz” Mort and Joplin “Jop” Higgins draw on their extensive experience within the family law system to unpack what separation and...