My relationship is ending — where to start
When a relationship is ending, it can be hard to know where to begin — or even what the questions are. This guided pathway asks a few quiet questions about your situation and helps you see what may need sorting: whether you were married or living together, what happens with the home and money, and the arrangements for any children. There is no pressure, and nothing is decided here.
How it works
The pathway moves at your pace. It asks whether you were married, in a civil partnership or living together — because that changes your options — and then points you towards the parts that matter for you: ending the relationship itself, sorting finances and property, and arrangements for any children.
If you were married or in a civil partnership, there is a clear legal process for the divorce or dissolution and for dividing finances fairly. If you were living together, the picture is different — there is no common-law marriage — and your position on the home usually turns on property law instead.
Where there are children, the focus is on practical arrangements for where they live and how they spend time with each parent. These can very often be agreed without court, through discussion or family mediation, and are decided by a judge only where that is not possible.
Nothing here is advice on your situation, and using it commits you to nothing. It is simply a calm way to get your bearings before talking to someone — and when you are ready, we can help you take the next step.
Questions about My relationship is ending — where to start
Court is usually a last resort. Many couples reach agreement on finances and on arrangements for children through discussion, solicitors or family mediation, and only ask a judge to decide where agreement is not possible.
Married couples and civil partners have a clear process and a range of financial claims on separation; cohabiting couples do not, and their position on property is decided quite differently.
Since April 2022 you no longer have to give reasons or assign blame; one or both of you simply confirms the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and there is a minimum timeframe before it is finalised.
You are simply getting your bearings; you can use the pathway as many times as you like, and you decide if and when to get in touch.
The law puts the children's welfare first. Most parents are able to agree where the children live and how they see each parent, with court involved only where agreement cannot be reached.
If you decide to go ahead, we explain clearly how we charge and set out a written estimate, so there are no surprises.
For married couples the home is part of the overall financial settlement; for cohabiting couples it depends on how it is owned and what each of you contributed. The right route depends on which applies to you.
Breaking it into those three areas makes a daunting situation more manageable, and not all of them will apply to everyone.
Have a question that isn't covered here? Speak to one of our specialists directly.
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Confidential, no pressure, and we'll explain what's involved before you commit to anything.