Top tips for ‘self help’ in your divorce

Get your financial paperwork in order.

Make sure you locate all your financial paperwork so that you are able to provide this to your lawyer in one go. Pension valuations can take months to obtain, so request these early on.

Get copies of all joint paperwork.

Contact the organisation direct, including bank statements, insurance policies, mortgage documents and so forth. If it is your joint names, you are entitled to copies.

Budget.

Understand what you will need each month to make ends meet. Your solicitor will be able to provide you with a draft budget list if you do not know where to start.

Take advantage of free online tools:

• What benefits you might be entitled to:  www.entitledto.co.uk
• What child maintenance should be paid: https://www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance
• What free nursery care you might be entitled to: https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working

If you are struggling to make arrangements for your children, consider using an online parenting tool such as Our Family Wizard:  https://www.ourfamilywizard.co.uk/

Get legal advice early on to understand the best way forward.

Speak with your solicitor about how your case might be resolved and the range of likely outcomes.

Finally, be kind to yourself.

Divorce can be overwhelming. Make sure you have as much emotional support in place as possible. The more resilient you feel, the better able you will be to progress matters.