What's Inside This Guide?

Our moving on checklist covers:

• Getting your Consent Order approved Making your agreement legally binding
• Updating your will Protecting your children's inheritance
• Changing beneficiaries Pensions, life insurance, bank accounts
• Telling your children Age-appropriate language for explaining changes
• Practical admin tasks Final checklist of tasks to complete

Essential Legal Tasks

First priority: get your Consent Order submitted to court. Until it's sealed, your agreement isn't legally binding. Use a solicitor to draft the order properly - it's worth the cost.

Next, update your will. When you divorce, any gifts to your ex-spouse in your existing will are automatically revoked - but you should make a new will to ensure your wishes are clear and your children are protected.

• Submit Consent Order to court (use a solicitor)
• Make a new will with clear instructions
• Update life insurance beneficiaries
• Change pension death benefit nominations
• Review joint bank accounts and close if appropriate

Talking to Your Children

Once everything is finalized, you and your ex-partner should talk to your children together if possible. Keep it age-appropriate, reassure them of both parents' love, and focus on what will stay the same.

Younger children need simple language: 'Mummy and Daddy won't live together anymore, but we both love you very much.' Teenagers may have more questions about logistics and want more detail.