Separating or Divorcing: what you need to do (Gov.uk)

There are certain things you need to do when you separate from your partner in England or Wales. What you do is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If you have children, you and your ex-partner must share financial support for your children (‘child maintenance’). You also need to make arrangements for looking after your children.

Agreeing these things is separate from doing legal paperwork to officially end your relationship.

Deciding what to do when you separate (Citizens Advice)

When you separate from your partner, there are things you’ll need to work out including: where your children will live and how often they’ll see the parent they don’t live with; where you’re going to live; how to divide up any money or belongings you share; whether you’ll be able to afford to pay the bills once you’re living separately; and more.

Citizens Advice have online guidance on deciding what to do when you separate and they also provide telephone and in-person support.

Practical steps when separating (Gingerbread)

Separating from a partner is a big step, especially when you have children. And all the changes this brings can feel overwhelming. Gingerbread is a charity supporting single parents and their children. Their online guidance explains the most important things think about and do when a relationship ends, and how to decide what to tackle first.

Divorce and separation (Advicenow)

Advicenow’s advice guides will help you work out what to do and what to expect, reduce the stress, save you money, and help you get to a better place, sooner. They show you ways to reach agreement, and (if really necessary) how to go to court to get a financial order when you divorce or a child arrangements/ residence order.

Guide to relationship breakdowns (CALM)

Despite what we might hope, relationships don’t always last forever. When a relationship breaks down it can be difficult for everyone involved.

Beside the difficult emotions that you’ll no doubt be going through, there’s often a whole host of other things to think about. You may be worried about your children, home, work, money, relationships with others, or simply what the future holds next. These can all add up and make it tough to cope.

CALM’s online guide talks you through how a relationship breakdown can feel, how to move forward, and where to find more help.

Get a divorce: Step by step (Gov.uk)

Gov.uk’s guidance on how to file for divorce if you’re in England or Wales. There’s a different process if you’re responding to a divorce application (‘petition’) or you’re in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

You can get divorced in England or Wales if all of the following are true:

• your marriage is legally recognised in the UK (including same-sex marriage)
• you’ve been married for over a year
• your relationship has permanently broken down

If you do not want a divorce, you can get a legal separation so you can live apart without ending the marriage. You might also be able to annul the marriage. You can apply for separation or annulment during your first year of marriage.

Agreeing these things is separate from doing legal paperwork to officially end your relationship.

Getting a divorce or ending your civil partnership (Citizens Advice)

If you want to end your marriage, you can apply for a divorce. If you want to end your civil partnership, you can apply for a dissolution. The process is the same for both.

You don’t need to give a reason to get a divorce or dissolution – this is sometimes called ‘no fault’. 

The earliest you can apply for a divorce or dissolution is the day after your first anniversary. If it’s before then, you can find out how to separate from your partner.

Citizens Advice have online guidance on deciding what to do when you separate and they also provide telephone and in-person support.

Thinking about divorcing (Advicenow)

Advicenow’s advice guides will help you work out what to do and what to expect. If you are just beginning to think about divorce there are a few things about the process that are really useful to understand at the outset. 

Your process options for divorce and dissolution (Resolution)

For many people, the best way to sort out their separation or divorce is away from the family court. There are many ways in which you and your ex can sort out all the decisions required, especially around money and children, enabling you to reach a final agreement.

Getting a divorce (The Law Society)

Getting divorced or dissolving a civil partnership can be a difficult time. A family law solicitor will support you through the whole process, making it as simple and stress-free as possible.

If you’ve been living together but are not married, a family solicitor can help you understand your rights if you break up.

If a divorce is against your religion, a solicitor can tell you about other forms of separation.

Ending a Civil Partnership (Gov.uk)

You can apply to end (‘dissolve’) your civil partnership if you’ve been in the partnership for over a year. You must apply to a court to do this.

If you do not want to end the civil partnership, you can get a legal separation. You can apply for separation during the first year of your civil partnership.

Ending your civil partnership (Citizens Advice)

If you want to end your civil partnership, you can apply for a dissolution.

You don’t need to give a reason to get a dissolution – this is sometimes called ‘no fault’. 

The earliest you can apply for a dissolution is the day after your first anniversary. If it’s before then, you can find out how to separate from your partner.

Citizens Advice have online guidance on deciding what to do when you separate and they also provide telephone and in-person support.

Ending a Civil Partnership (Coram Child Law Advice)

Coram’s Child Law Advice website provides information on dissolving or ending a civil partnership including the grounds and reasons for ending the civil partnership, how to make an application and information on the overall process.

Financial Remedies Court (Gov.uk)

The FRC is a specialist part of the Family Court. Following the breakdown of a marriage or civil partnership there are often financial issues that need to be resolved.

Financial support for children sometimes falls outside the remit of the Child Maintenance Service. The purpose of the FRC is to ensure that family finances are resolved efficiently by specialist judges.

Divorce Coaching

A divorce coach is a trained professional who provides support and guidance to individuals navigating the emotional, logistical, and practical aspects of divorce. They are not therapists or lawyers, but rather a supportive resource offering guidance on decision-making, emotional management, and navigating the complexities of the divorce process