Family & Divorce

Breaking up is hard to do…

Either you're in the driver's seat effecting the separation or you've been blindsided by the fact your relationship is over.  Breaking up is hard to do...  

Your relationship is coming to an end.  Either you’re in the driver’s seat effecting the separation or maybe you’ve been blindsided by an announcement from your partner that the relationship is over.  Regardless, as the song goes, breaking up is hard to do…

There are likely to be emotions of grief and anger.  Uncertainty probably features amongst those emotions prompting thoughts:  “Where do I go from here?” “Will I be alright?” “How will I get by?”

It is this time that it is best to get advice as to your legal obligations and entitlements. You know what they say – information is a powerful thing.

Getting advice doesn’t commit you to a legal process immediately (or at all) but it can help you to understand what you can and can’t do, what you should and shouldn’t do. It can help you navigate this tricky time and put things in place so that you can be in as strong a position as possible.

The following are just a few scenarios on which you may need advice:

  1. You need financial assistance to tide you over until you receive your share of the property eg you may need to negotiate that your ex pays you maintenance or a lump sum or maybe pays some of the household expenses (eg utilities, mortgage payments, insurance etc) until final arrangements can be put in place; or
  2. You have been in a violent relationship you may need advice on how to separate in a way that keeps you and any children safe; or
  3. You can’t agree how the children will be care for into the future; or
  4. You want to stop the assets being eroded until you have had a chance to have a final settlement.

It is likely you will have many caring and well-intentioned friends who will offer DIY anecdotal advice and the temptation may be to take that advice.  But in some cases you may end up acting against your best interests.  That is why it is so important to get advice from a specialist that responds to your particular circumstances (there is no one-size-fits-all response) and should give you practical opportunities to survive your separation.

It is said that going through a separation is one of the most traumatic times you can go through.  So if you are facing or going through a separation and you need someone to guide you through the impact, we are here to help. To speak without caring, experienced Family Law team simply call (08)8212 1077 or register your details here and we’ll be in touch soon.