• The date of separation and living apart

  When you separated, and that each is free to live as they choose and not to interfere with the other.

• The home, property and accounts

  Who occupies the home and what happens to it, who receives what, and how accounts, savings and retirement interests are dealt with.

• Vehicles and debts

  Each vehicle and who takes it, each debt and who pays it, and closing joint accounts and cards.

• Support and children

  Support between you, and where children live, time with each parent, holidays, decisions, child support and shared expenses.

• Taxes, insurance and reconciliation

  Tax filing, beneficiaries on policies, and what happens if you resume living together.

A separation agreement records what spouses or registered partners who have decided to live apart have agreed about their home, property, accounts and retirement savings, vehicles, debts, support, taxes and arrangements for any children. It is made between the two of you, before or alongside any court process.

This blank form is completed by hand and signed by both. It says that arrangements for and support of children are ultimately for a court, and that if a divorce or dissolution begins later the parties intend this to be put before the court. Whether a court adopts it, and what disclosure and advice a state expects, varies, so each party should consider their own lawyer.

Not sure? Talk to an attorney about your situation first.

These are separate documents, for different jobs.

• Child Visitation LetterConfirm visitation arrangements for a child in writing.View document
• Postnuptial agreementsAgree during marriage how property and finances are handled.View document
• Divorce document supportHelp preparing the documents a divorce requires.View document
• Family-law consultationTalk through a family-law matter with a lawyer.View document

• After agreeing who stays in the home
• Before one spouse moves out
• When a couple has settled money terms and children's arrangements

• Prenuptial agreementsAgree before marriage how property and finances are handled.View document
• Postnuptial agreementsAgree during marriage how property and finances are handled.View document
• Child medical consentLet another adult agree to medical care for your child.View document
• Affidavit of residencyA sworn statement of where you live.View document