The end of a marriage can be a messy, expensive and traumatic time, or it can be a sad but necessary stage on the path to new lives for you, your spouse and your children.

This Guide aims to help you help yourself. By being aware in advance of the problems you may encounter and the issues that need resolution, you can prepare to deal with them in an atmosphere of negotiated agreement rather than arbitrary and hurtful dispute. This book should also save you money at a time when financial concerns may well be troubling you.

DIY Separation & Divorce explains the legal and financial issues involved in divorce, and takes you step-by-step from the petition to the final decree, as well as providing guidance on the practicalities of separation.

It also gives advice on how to care for and maintain contact with your children after divorce and deals with crisis situations, such as domestic violence and child abduction.

Valid in England and Wales only.

About the Author

The author, Maureen Mullally, studied law at King's College, University of London. Afterwards, she was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in London and also to the Irish Bar at King's Inn in Dublin.

She has practised as a barrister specialising in family law for over 25 years and now works as a mediator in family disputes.

1. Thinking about divorce
2. Separation
3. Can you handle your own divorce?
4. The grounds for divorce
5. Mediation
6. Protecting yourself during divorce
7. Who gets what when you split up
8. Children and the law
9. Caring for the children
10. Children - reports to the court
11. Child support
12. Child abuse
13. Domestic violence
14. Child abduction
15. Eight steps to divorce