Useful information

We know it can be daunting trying to find the right information online. To help point you in the right direction we’ve listed websites below that give clear and practical guidance. They cover a range of topics, and you can skip to the relevant section by clicking on the headings listed, or just browse the resources by scrolling down:

Divorce
Arrangements for children
Extra information: children issues
Sorting out finances on divorce
Extra information: financial issues
Pensions
Going to court
For young people
Emotional support
For single parents
Domestic abuse

Divorce

The Government website explains step-by-step what’s involved in getting a divorce and how to apply:

https://www.gov.uk/get-a-divorce

Arrangements for children

AdviceNow’s ‘Survival Guide’ to sorting out arrangements for children explains your options and the legal basics:

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/survival-guide-sorting-out-arrangements-your-children

Children and young people have put together their own ‘Top Tips’ for parents who are separated. There are tips on communication between parents, and topics like birthdays and extended family:

https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/download/13466/

FMA video about the mediation process, and how the wishes and feelings of each child can be included and explored:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGt7KGZHR-g

Extra information: children issues

The NSPCC’s website gives down-to-earth practical guidance on topics like children’s mental health and what to do if you are worried about a child:

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

Child contact centres are neutral places where children can enjoy contact with their non-resident parent. The National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) oversees around 350 contact centres across the UK and has a ‘Find a Centre’ tool on it’s website:

https://naccc.org.uk/

The National Association of Child Contact Centres

CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) work mainly with families that have gone to court, but their website has many widely-used templates and guides, including a parenting plan:

https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/

If you are a grandparent looking to address issues around contact with your grandchildren, this government website explains where you stand and what your options are:

https://www.gov.uk/contact-grandchild-parents-divorce-separate

Contact with your grandchild if parents divorce

Sorting out finances on divorce

This guide from the Family Justice Council provides information for separating couples who are negotiating their own financial agreements on divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership:

https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/1.-Sorting-Out-Finances-on-Divorce-2024.final-for-publication.pdf

AdviceNow’s ‘Survival Guide’ to sorting out finances will help you think about key issues, gives you options, and explains the legal basics:

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/survival-guide-sorting-out-your-finances-when-you-get-divorced

Extra information: financial issues

For those with concerns or queries about child maintenance, this government website has useful guidance, and a very helpful ‘child maintenance calculator’:

https://www.gov.uk/making-child-maintenance-arrangement

Turn2us are a charity giving financial advice and assistance. Their benefits calculator is widely used and indicates what you may be entitled to depending on your specific circumstances:

https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

Free, expert and impartial advice on debt is available from the charity Step Change. Their website explains the pros and cons of a wide range of options for handling debt:

https://www.stepchange.org/

Pensions

This guide from AdviceNow gives essential information about pensions and clearly sets out your options on divorce. It explains how to go about valuing pensions, clarifies the relevant law, and describes when (and where) you should go for expert help.

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/survival-guide-pensions-divorce

If you’re looking for details on a workplace or personal pension, the Pension Tracing Service can be a good place to start. It won’t tell you the value of your pension, but will show you who to get in touch with:

https://www.pension-tracing-service.com

Do you need information about your State Pension? This Government website allows you to log-on to see a forecast and other useful information. There are also details for the ‘Future Pensions Centre’ who can help over the phone:

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Going to court

If you need to go to court but don’t have a lawyer, these AdviceNow guides can help you navigate the system.

Starting court action for child arrangements:

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-apply-court-order-about-arrangements-your-children-without-help-lawyer

Applying to court about finances:

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-apply-financial-order-without-help-lawyer

Barrister Lucy Reed has produced several videos giving an insight into what happens in court, including practical tips if you don’t have a lawyer:

http://www.nofamilylawyer.co.uk/going-to-court-videos.html

For young people

The ‘Family Justice Young People’s Board’ provide lots of child-centred and child-inclusive advice on their website. The Board is made up of children and young people with direct experience of family separation and disputes:

https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/family-justice-young-peoples-board/

Young Minds offer urgent support and pointers for young people on issues like stress, anger and grief:

https://youngminds.org.uk/

Much more than just a helpline, Childline have a website with a range of activities, tools and information to help with difficult feelings and situations:

https://www.childline.org.uk/

Emotional support

Separation can be a time of emotional crisis for many people. If you feel it’s getting too much, there are places you can approach for support:

This NHS page explains what services are available and how to access them

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-health-services/how-to-access-mental-health-services/

The Samaritans helpline is open 24/7. Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/

A comprehensive list of mental health helplines:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

For single parents

Only Mums and Only Dads support single parents with the key issues they face around the law, mediation, housing, finance and general parenting. For single mums:

https://www.onlymums.org/

For single dads:

https://www.onlydads.org/

Also supporting single parents are Gingerbread. Their website has an information section with useful pointers on topics from holidays to housing. They also host an online forum and have a helpline if you’re stuck:

https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse is behaviour from a family member, partner or ex-partner that is controlling, coercive, threatening, violent or abusive.

The Citizens Advice website has a comprehensive list of support services for those experiencing domestic abuse:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/gender-violence/domestic-violence-and-abuse-getting-help/

Disclaimer

Mediation First are not responsible for the content of external websites. Links are provided for convenience and general information purposes only.

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