Divorce and separation

Summary

Everything you need to understand and do to separate or get divorced and agree a financial settlement. And if you have children together - help on sorting out child arrangements. People sometimes still call these arrangements 'custody' or 'residence and contact' even though the law moved away from these ideas a long time ago. Our 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. We'll 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. We will also show you how to do it without a lawyer if you can't afford one, and how to make everything easier and ensure it is fair by getting just a little free or low-cost family legal advice if you can. Speak to an expert family lawyer about how the information applies to your situation using our Affordable Advice service. Low cost and fixed-fee, so that you know you can afford it. In partnership with Resolution. Getting free one-to-one advice about family law is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here to help everyone who.

Key information

• •Everything you need to understand and do to separate or get divorced and agree a financial settlement. And if you have children together - help on sorting out child arrangements. People sometimes still call these arrangements 'custody' or 'residence and contact' even though the law moved away from these ideas a long time ago.
• •Our 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. We'll 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.
• •We will also show you how to do it without a lawyer if you can't afford one, and how to make everything easier and ensure it is fair by getting just a little free or low-cost family legal advice if you can.
• •Information Thinking about divorcing If you are just at the beginning, there are a few things that are really useful to understand at the outset.  Information Divorce - getting started Get to grips with what you need to think about, how to come to agreements, and what help is out there for the future.  Information Living together and breaking up Understand the law and what to do now if you were cohabiting with a partner and have now split up.  Information How to use family mediation Understand how family mediation could help you, as well as how to find a good mediator and how much it will cost.  Information hub Arrangements for the children Help to agree where your children live and how much time they spend with each parent. People seem to still call it ‘child custody’ and ‘contact’ even though the law moved away from these ideas a very long time ago. We have all the help you need. 
• •Information How to get a divorce without a lawyer Get to grips with how to get a divorce if you do not have a lawyer, including how to do it online.  Information Help with the divorce court fee If you are on a low income, check if you are eligible for a discount or not have to pay a fee at all. 
• •Information Sorting out your finances when you get divorced All the things you need to know and do to come to a fair agreement about how you divide your money and property. Great for couples agreeing it without help or using family mediation.  Information Pensions and divorce It’s essential to include your pensions when dividing your money and property. Discover how to do that - whether you are agreeing it yourselves, using mediation, or going to court.  Information What to do before applying for a financial order when you get divorced If you are thinking about applying for a financial order, there are things you need to do first. Step-by-step help on what you need to do.  Information Apply for a financial order without a lawyer Step-by-step help if you have to go to court about how you divide your money and property.  Video How to fill in your financial statement (Form E) Watch Rosemary as she completes her own form and explains what details you put where, and what all the gobbledygook actually means.  Information Family mediation Understand how family mediation could help you, how to go about it, and how much it will cost.  Video Pensions and divorce - what should you do? Watch this short video to see why you need to include your pensions when you divide money and property as part of a divorce, and what steps you should take. 
• •Information How to get legal aid for a family case Discover when it is available, and who can get legal aid to pay for legal advice and family mediation.  Information How to get free or low cost legal advice about your family issue Discover which charities offer free or low cost advice and how you might be able to access them.. 
• •Information Getting an international divorce You do not necessarily have to divorce in the country you were married in. Discover which countries you can get a divorce in, and which one is likely to give you the best outcome. 
• •Information How to apply for a financial order without a lawyer Step-by-step help if you have to go to court about how you divide your money and property.  Information Getting help to get an injunction Help to prepare your statement for the court if you decide to apply for a non-molestation order or an occupation order, or both.  Information How to apply for a child arrangements order Step-by-step help if you have to go to court about where your children live, how often they see their other parent, and other parenting issues  Information When the other side has a lawyer and you don't Get to grips with how going to court works and what to expect, as well as help with the skills you need.  Video Representing yourself in family court This short film looks shows you simple tipsbe worrying about and shows you simple tips that will help you put your side as well as you can.  Information Help with court fees in a civil or family case If you are on a low income, check if you are eligible for a discount or not have to pay a fee at all. 
• •Speak to an expert family lawyer about how the information applies to your situation using our Affordable Advice service. Low cost and fixed-fee, so that you know you can afford it. In partnership with Resolution.
• •Getting free one-to-one advice about family law is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here to help everyone who cannot get in at an advice service and cannot afford to pay for legal help.
• •We give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need to deal with the issue yourself, or with the help of friends or family. If you need more help than you can get from our advice guides, we explain how to try to find advice.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Divorce and separation](https://www.advicenow.org.uk/get-help/family-and-children/divorce-and-separation)

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