When you make the difficult decision to divorce, sharing the news with your family and friends can be daunting. It’s natural to worry about their reactions and make assumptions about how they will respond. However, while you can’t control their reactions, you can control how and when you communicate the news. With some planning and preparation, you can take control of the conversation and reduce the anxiety involved.

If you have decided it’s time to break the news, this blog post gives you some helpful tips.

Whether for financial reasons or to offer stability to your children, you may find yourself living under the same roof after splitting up while the final divorce is pending.

There is much-outdated advice online about what you should or shouldn’t do in the eyes of the law if your relationship has ended but you remain living in the same family home. Since the introduction of the new divorce legislation in England and Wales on 6 April 2022, known as the “no-fault” divorce law, there are no longer requirements to be separated for a minimum period before issuing a divorce or to prove that you are “under the same roof but living apart”. The only current requirement for divorce is a statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. This positive change offers separated couples the freedom and flexibility to decide how they wish to organise their new relationship and lives.

Following your separation or divorce, the family dynamics will have changed. If dad is no longer at home, you may have sole responsibility for your children’s care whilst they are with you.

You may find this new parenting situation overwhelming, especially at the very beginning when trying to adjust to your new reality. The change can feel stressful as you are raising your children at home on your own without the support from your ex. You may still be grieving and dealing with the aftermath of your separation or divorce whilst trying to build your new way of life. Day to day domestic chores, work demands, financial worries and the need to safeguard and care for your children during this new episode of your life can put a strain on your well-being.

When you are going through a divorce, one of the things you will need to consider is how to protect your privacy. It is not unusual for spouses to share their personal data during the marriage and have access to each other’s accounts and devices.

Protecting your privacy may not be on the top of your priority list right now with everything else going on, or you may not have contemplated it. However, even if your divorce is amicable, taking proactive steps to protect your online data is vital to keep your privacy and set boundaries. The sooner you regain control over your privacy, the better.