18 point checklist guide for an amicable divorce

Wondering how to get divorced? The process can seem daunting and complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve put together a divorce checklist with all the things you’ll need to consider for an amicable separation.

Following this simple list of practical tasks will help you to become an effective co-parent, manage your finances, and complete the right legal steps – leaving you to focus on building a positive future apart. Consider this to be your 'to-do list for divorce’.

Decide on a parenting plan

1. Agree on where your children will live.
2. Make a plan for how and when they will see both of you. Remember to talk about special occasions: decide how to arrange Christmas, birthdays and holidays.
3. Talk about how the children’s lives will be financed and decide who will pay for what (including any school fees).
4. Sort out how and when other family members such as grandparents will see the children.
5. Discuss the rules for raising them and make sure you are both on the same page.

Figure out your finances

6. Decide whether you are keeping or selling the family home.
7. If you are keeping the home, decide which of you will live in it and who will live elsewhere.
8. Work out how you will be paying for both homes.
9. Agree on how to divide up your personal property – from the car to the kettle.
10. Work out what assets, investments and savings you have and decide how to divide them.
11. Work out what debts you have (like credit card bills or overdrafts) and decide how to split those too.
12. Make a plan for how to pay for any divorce fees.

Prepare and submit the legal paperwork

13. Submit your divorce application.
14. Apply for a conditional order.
15. Apply for a final order.
16. Submit a consent order if you want to make the agreements above legally binding. You can do this after the conditional order (formerly decree nisi) stage.
17. Decide whether you want to make or change your will.

Think about who you need to tell

18. Tell all the necessary organisations that your marital status has changed. For example:

• benefits office
• your council
• mortgage lender
• utility companies
• tax office
• banks or building societies
• credit card provider
• house insurer
• life insurer
• student loan company
• pension provider
• GP surgery
• dentist
• optician
• any schools or nurseries

We hope you find this simple to-do list for divorce useful. For more information on how amicable can help you just contact us on 020 3004 4695.

FAQs

How do I prepare a divorce checklist?

If you follow our above steps, this should help you create your own divorce checklist. If you would like any more personalised advice, please book a call with us.

What is the first thing to do when getting a divorce?

Children should always be the primary concern when formulating a to-do list for divorce. You need to decide where they will live and how you will care for them.

What can you not do during a divorce?

There are many different ways to go about getting a divorce, the measures above will help set you off on the right foot and make the process smoother and more amicable. If you need more bespoke advice or would prefer to speak to a human then book a free 15-minute call. For more information read 5 tips for an amicable divorce.

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