Mediators registered with the Family Mediation Council • Confidential and impartial process • Online appointments across England and Wales
Attending a MIAM does not commit you to mediation
Mediators registered with the Family Mediation Council • Confidential and impartial process • Online appointments across England and Wales
Attending a MIAM does not commit you to mediation
This article is part of our Divorce & Separation Guides, which explain common stages of separation and how decisions can be approached constructively.
Understanding the practical steps involved when a relationship ends
Separation and divorce often bring a series of practical decisions that need to be addressed over time.
People may need to consider living arrangements, children’s routines, finances, and how disagreements will be resolved.
While every situation is different, many people move through a broadly similar set of stages as they begin to organise these issues.
Understanding these stages can help make the process feel clearer and
more manageable.
While every situation is different, the process of separating and divorcing often involves several practical stages. These commonly include:
The first stage is often acknowledging that a relationship is ending.
At this point people may begin discussing:
Some couples are able to discuss these matters together early on, while others may find this stage more difficult.
In the early stages of separation, attention often focuses on practical issues such as:
These initial decisions are often temporary while longer-term arrangements are explored.
As the situation becomes clearer, people usually need to consider several key areas:
These decisions can affect each other, so it is often helpful to consider them together rather than in isolation.
Where both people need to discuss arrangements, there are several ways those discussions can take place.
These may include:
Different approaches may be appropriate depending on the circumstances and the issues involved.
You can read more about these approaches here: Mediation vs Solicitors vs Court
Some people will also need to consider the formal legal process for divorce.
In England and Wales, divorce itself is a separate legal process from decisions about children or finances.
Divorce proceedings normally involve:
Practical arrangements about children or finances may be discussed and resolved alongside this process.
Over time, many couples work toward clearer arrangements about:
Some families reach agreements through discussion, while others benefit from structured processes such as mediation.
In some situations, agreements may later be formalised.
For example:
Formal orders are not always necessary, but they may be helpful in certain circumstances.
Once arrangements are clearer, attention usually turns to maintaining workable routines over time.
Circumstances can change, and arrangements may sometimes need to be reviewed as children grow older or situations evolve.
If you are navigating separation and want to understand the options for resolving disputes, you may find these guides helpful:
If you would like to understand how mediation works as a structured process for discussing arrangements following separation please see our page on Family mediation.