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There are certain things you need to do when you separate from your partner in England or Wales.

If you have children

You and your ex-partner must share financial support for your children (‘child maintenance’).

You also need to make arrangements for looking after your children.

Agreeing these things is separate from doing legal paperwork to officially end your relationship.

Dividing money and property

You have different financial rights, depending on whether you’re separating from:

• your spouse or civil partner
• a partner you’re not married to or in a civil partnership with

If you’re married or in a civil partnership

You need to agree on how to separate your finances. You must apply to a court for an agreement about your money and property if you want this to be legally binding.

Find out how to:

• get a divorce to officially end your marriage
• officially end your civil partnership

If you do not want to divorce or end your civil partnership you can:

• get a legal separation so you can divide your money and property without ending the relationship officially
• get an annulment if it counts as ‘voidable’ or was never legally valid (‘void’)

If you’re not married or in a civil partnership

Dividing money and property is different .

You do not have the same rights or legal status as married or civil partners, even if you’ve lived together for a long time or have children. ‘Common law marriages’ do not exist in England and Wales.

Get help or advice

You can get advice about legal paperwork and making arrangements from:Ìý

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Find a legal adviser if you need legal advice.

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