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In this guide, you’ll learn the key considerations, work through a practical example and find useful next steps. Take your time and use the free worksheets to put ideas into practice.

What you’ll take away

  • Income and expenditure
  • Assets and liabilities
  • Value and timing

Income and expenditure

Gather payslips, self-employed accounts, benefit letters and regular spending records.

Assets and liabilities

List bank accounts, property, loans, credit cards, savings and pensions, noting whose name is on each.

Value and timing

Use dated statements and identify estimates rather than presenting them as confirmed values. Pension valuations can need specialist interpretation.

Protect information

Store documents securely, avoid accessing accounts without permission and follow legal directions on disclosure.

Try it yourself

Make a checklist of missing statements, account details, pension documents and questions for a family-law professional.

Important limits and risks

This is an organisation guide, not advice on negotiating a settlement or pension sharing.

Putting your learning into practice

Use the guidance above to identify the information you need and the questions to investigate. Consider:

  • Income and expenditure.
  • Assets and liabilities.
  • Value and timing.
  • Protect information.

This is general financial education, not a personal recommendation, an assessment of suitability or an invitation to buy or arrange a financial product. Check current official information and obtain appropriate professional advice for individual circumstances.

Further information

Official or independent UK information →

Educational information only. Family Money Matters does not recommend particular investments, pensions, mortgages, insurance policies, credit products or individual transactions. Seek an appropriately authorised adviser where regulated advice is needed, and a solicitor or accountant for legal or tax questions.

Put your learning into practice

Explore the workbook for your situation and record your own figures.

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Keep learning

Use a worksheet to explore your own figures, or browse another topic in the guide library.

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