Stress usually happens when you find yourself in a situation you cannot control or feel under pressure or threatened.

Most of us are used to experiencing some stress in our daily lives. A small amount of stress can be positive to move you forward, but there is also a type of stress that can be damaging and affect you mentally and physiologically. This is characterised by being intense or lasting for a long time. That’s the kind of stress that you may encounter when facing a divorce.

Divorce is rated as one of the most stressful experiences you could have in your life. It’s a significant life transition involving considerable changes. Whether the decision to end the relationship was yours, mutual or out of your hands, or whether the process is amicable or contentious, it can be a stressful and painful journey.

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There is much-outdated advice online about what you should or shouldn’t do in the eyes of the law if your relationship has ended but you remain living in the same family home.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.