Generally, if you have separated from a partner but continued to live within the same home during any part of the required 12-month separation period, the Family Court will require additional evidence from you before the divorce is granted.
Smooth and simple separations are the exception rather than the norm, for fairly straightforward reasons. Parties to a marriage or de facto relationship may become fearful that the other party may take money out of a joint bank account for their own purposes.
There are several recent decisions by the Family Court where parents who have admitted regular drug use have been allowed to continue caring for their children, and other instances where they have not.