MAS: Married couples

Businesses often form a central part of any divorce or civil partnership dissolution. You may need to get your business valued by an accountant who specialises in valuing businesses for divorce purposes, called a forensic accountant. However, this can be expensive, especially if you disagree about how much the business is worth and each pay for your own valuation. Try to agree what you think it is worth and how to deal with it, so as to avoid this expense. Sometimes a valuation of the business won't be necessary, so speak to a solicitor first – see Useful links.

The settlement could include an agreement for one of you to pay the other a one-off lump sum. This may be, for example:

If you were not married or in a civil partnership, then a new relationship will not impact on your financial rights or obligations towards your former partner.

If you were not married or in a civil partnership, then a new relationship will not impact on your financial rights or obligations towards your former partner.

The Child Support Agency (CSA) will be able to deal with most but not all circumstances and deals with payments for children until they are 16 or 19 if they are in full-time education. See When to use a court for the areas where the CSA cannot help.

The cost of bringing up children increases as they get older. Try talking to your child's other parent to see whether you can agree an increase in the level of maintenance that is being paid. If you cannot agree and the level of maintenance being paid has been set according to a CSA agreement (see If you have children), then you should speak to a solicitor to see whether it would be possible for you to ask the court to increase the amount being provided. There are only limited circumstances where this would be possible (see If you have children - when to use a court).

The cost of bringing up children increases as they get older. Try talking to your child's other parent to see whether you can agree an increase in the level of maintenance that is being paid. If you cannot agree and the level of maintenance being paid has been set according to a CSA agreement (see If you have children), then you should speak to a solicitor to see whether it would be possible for you to ask the court to increase the amount being provided. There are only limited circumstances where this would be possible (see If you have children - when to use a court).

You will need to deal with joint bank accounts as part of any financial agreement or order. Usually these are closed or transferred into the name of one of you. You and your spouse, civil partner or partner will use accounts set up in your sole names moving forwards.

You will need to deal with joint bank accounts as part of any financial agreement or order. Usually these are closed or transferred into the name of one of you. You and your spouse, civil partner or partner will use accounts set up in your sole names moving forwards.

It may be sensible not to take out any further loans until the financial agreements have been finalised, unless you have no other option. For information on dealing with your home, see Living arrangements.

Splitting up means each of you will have your own household. It often means getting used to living within a different budget.

Running two households from assets and income that used to run one may mean that your standard of living may fall. This section offers ideas to help you keep track of your day-to-day income and outgoings so that you can meet your day-to-day expenditure

If you are going to need a mortgage to help you buy a property, you may want to speak to a mortgage adviser before you start looking, to give you an idea of what price range you can afford, the type of mortgage that might be suitable and any mortgage fees involved - see Useful links.

From 2011, some changes to Child Support Agency (CSA) arrangements are due to be made:

If you were not married or in a civil partnership then a change in your capital position or that of your partner is unlikely to give rise to any financial claims between you, although it may be possible for you to make further claims on behalf of any children (see if you have children)

If you were not married or in a civil partnership then a change in your capital position or that of your partner is unlikely to give rise to any financial claims between you, although it may be possible for you to make further claims on behalf of any children (see if you have children.)