01. Introduction

This leaflet gives you an outline of your legal position if you planning or considering separation or divorce.

It explains:

• Where to start
• Separation
• Divorce
• If you have children
• Supporting your children
• Money and property
• Making arrangements should you die
• Dealing with emergencies
• Terms used in divorce and family law.

The leaflets in this series give you an outline of your legal rights, but they are not a complete guide to the law. If you have a problem, you will need to get more information or personal advice, to work out the best way to solve it.

See ‘Further help’ for sources of advice

You may be feeling very upset and bitter as you are reading this leaflet. Marriage difficulties bring out the worst in most of us. But try to remember that if you do decide to divorce or separate, there are advantages in trying to keep things civil between you and your husband or wife.

• In the first place, the legal proceedings will cost less. There is no point wasting money over an argument if there is another way of reaching an agreement.
• If you have children, a bitter fight will only harm them. Try to put them first.
• A fight will also be more damaging for you. Once the divorce is over you have to get on with the rest of your life. It is harder to do this if you know that you have behaved badly.