Breaking up with the person you’d planned to spend the rest of your life with is tough.  In addition to being emotionally stressful, there’s a lot to think about in terms of putting new plans in place for the future.

Divorce happens because the marriage has irretrievably broken down, for one of a number of possible reasons.  The reasons used in your divorce petition depend on where you live, as the laws and processes are different in Scotland than in England and Wales.  In general, the reasons for breakdown of a marriage are things like unreasonable behaviour, adultery or separation.  In England and Wales, you can only start divorce proceedings if you have been married for a year and a day.  To start divorce proceedings in Scotland you must have been living there for at least a year.

It’s always a good idea to ask experts for advice and help to finalise the end of your marriage.  Divorce law experts and an independent financial adviser (IFA) can guide you through the legal and financial issues around the divorce process.

Ideally, a family law solicitor will help you to let your partner know how you’d like to divide your assets and, if you have children, what arrangements you’d like to make about which parent they live with and how the other parent can have access to the children.  Hopefully, you’ll be able to reach an amicable agreement but it’s not always that simple.  An independent financial adviser (IFA) can help you prepare a statement of your assets, and suggest how they should be divided between you and your partner.

Questions you might like to ask the experts…

What are my rights and what are my obligations to my former partner?

Can your fees be paid by Legal Aid?