Nobody plans a separation. When it happens, the questions come fast: where do the children live, who pays for what, and who decides. Here is how we walk parents through the first month.
1. Agree the routine before the money
The children’s week matters more than the bank accounts, and courts think so too. Write down where the children sleep, who does the school run and how holidays split. A one-page plan that both of you sign is worth more than a year of argument.
2. Keep the children out of the middle
Do not use the children as messengers and do not ask them to choose. If you need to say something difficult to the other parent, say it by email or through us. Judges notice which parent kept things calm.
3. Get the finances on paper early
List every account, pension, debt and property, with a rough value. Full disclosure is not optional, and the sooner both sides see the whole picture the sooner a fair split can be agreed.
Most separations we handle never see a courtroom. A mediator, with each of you advised by your own lawyer, is faster and cheaper, and the agreement is one you both chose. We will tell you honestly if your case is one of the few that needs a judge.
If you are at the start of this, the first call is free. Bring your questions and we will tell you what happens next.
