Separation

Relationship breakdowns are one of the most stressful experiences in life so it is easy to become overwhelmed.

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UNITED KINGDOM

LEADING FIRM

2021

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UNITED KINGDOM

LEADING FIRM

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UNITED KINGDOM

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Separation

Relationship breakdowns are one of the most stressful experiences in life so it is easy to become overwhelmed.

legal22 1.2

UNITED KINGDOM

LEADING FIRM

2021

legal22 1.2

UNITED KINGDOM

LEADING FIRM

2022

legal22 1.2

UNITED KINGDOM

LEADING FIRM

2023

legal22 1.2

UNITED KINGDOM

LEADING FIRM

2021

legal22 1.2

UNITED KINGDOM

LEADING FIRM

2022

legal22 1.2

UNITED KINGDOM

LEADING FIRM

2023

Request a callback

Enter your details below and organise a no-obligation, confidential callback. We offer a low-cost, fixed-fee consultation.

Separation

Whatever has led you to separate from your partner, our divorce lawyers in London and Hertfordshire can guide you through the stress and complexities of divorce, separation and dissolution law. We can advise you on the most appropriate form of resolution for your situation including mediation, collaboration, direct negotiation and Court.

We are also experienced in assisting unmarried couples where a relationship has broken down and there is a disagreement about how the assets should be divided.

Where there are children of the relationship, we encourage both parents to put the needs of the child first and can help you to put realistic and robust child care arrangements in place.

In all circumstances we will act with empathy and discretion, providing realistic and practical solutions to any issues that you are finding difficult to resolve.

Separation FAQ'S

What happens if I separate from my partner?

This will depend on if you are married or not. If you are married, you will need to obtain a divorce, which is a process by which your marriage legally comes to an end. This is important, as it will involve separating out your finances, dealing with issues relating to your will and also will end you being your spouse’s next of kin. If you are not married, then you may also have to sort out your finances, for example, if you have any jointly held assets. If you have children, regardless of if you are married or not, you may need to agree how much time the children will spend with both of you going forward. In short, a relationship breakdown, be you married or not, can have a lot of issues to resolve.

Many separating couples do not need the court’s involvement. The court is there to impose a decision when parties are not able to come to an agreement by themselves. The court can intervene to determine how marital assets are divided, how property is divided and how much time the children will spend with each parent.

Child maintenance is an obligation to pay for the upkeep of your children. The Child Maintenance Service is the government body that deals with the vast majority of child maintenance issues. Only if you or your partner earn over £156,000 per year will the court have the power to deal with child maintenance.

A Separation Deed is a document that records an agreement reached between you and your partner. They can be helpful if, for example, you are not married, as it shows that you have taken steps to address any financial issues that may arise following the ending of your relationship. Whilst married couples do sometimes use separation deeds they are not ideal; they do not bring finality as that can be only achieved by having a court order in place.

A Separation Agreement or Deed of Separation is not binding for couples that are married.

How your assets are handled when you separate depends on the legal status of your relationship. Are you married, or not? If you are not married, you may find that your position is much more vulnerable than if you had been married. The “common law” marriage is perhaps the most popular misconception in English law. Regardless of if you are married or not, it is important to obtain specialist advice when going through a separation to ensure your rights are protected.

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