Separation Agreement

Decide whether you want an informal separation, a separation governed by a formal, written agreement or governed by a court order.

Agree on the content of the agreement.

Consider living arrangements: do you plan to live separately?

Decide where your children will live.

Decide how you will share the financial obligations involved in supporting your cheildren.

Decide how you will divide your assets.

If choosing for judicial separation, decide how you're going to work through the process of applying to the court.

Practical Steps

Make an inventory of your major assets.

Take an inventory of family debt, including mortgages, credit card debt, consumer debt, and any other items.

Work out each spouse's individual living costs.

Address your retirement benefits.

Prepare a budget to cover children maintenance.

Consider whether either of you has any hidden or contingent assets.

Evaluate your wills and any estate planning.

Budget for any legal fees that may be required in implementing your separation.

Consider what professional advice you will require.

Download or Print this Separation Checklist

Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.

Who it's for

This Separation Checklist is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.

Avoid forgetting - keep all your Separation essentials in one place (external memory)
Save time - start from a proven Separation structure instead of a blank page
Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time

How to use this Separation Checklist

Save Separation Checklist to your free Checklist account so your progress is saved and synced across devices.
Customize it in the app: remove anything that does not apply, then add your own details for Separation (dates, sizes, addresses, notes).
If others are involved, invite them to collaborate and divide responsibilities.
Work through the list: check items off as you go, and set reminders for time-sensitive steps.

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