Living together for years can feel like a marriage in everything but name – but legally, it isn’t. In this episode, Kate walks you through the legal rights unmarried couples have when they separate in England and Wales.

We talk about:

• Why there’s no such thing as ‘common-law marriage’
• What happens to your home – and why the paperwork matters
• What parental responsibility means for unmarried parents
• Why a will matters if you’re not married
• How a separation agreement can record what you’ve both agreed

If you’re separating from a partner you’re not married to, this episode will help you understand where you stand.

This episode gives general information only, not legal advice.

More separation resources

Need expert help right now?

Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.

Got a question for a future episode?

Share your thoughts at podcasts@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.

#Legal

Join Kate live on Thursday 12th November at 12:30pm for a webinar on sharing a home during and after separation, with Julia Carter, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, and Alex Woolley, amicable’s head of legal innovation.

Send in your questions beforehand or ask them on the day. If you can’t make it, it’ll be recorded. Watch it on amicable space with a 14-day free trial. Instructions below.

1. Go to the webinar page
2. Sign up to amicable space and start your 14-day free trial (card needed, cancel any time)
3. Register for the webinar on Thursday 12th November, 12:30pm
4. Send in a question beforehand, or ask it live on the day
5. You'll receive reminders and instructions on how to join via email

Talking about mental health doesn’t come naturally to most dads — and divorce can make that even harder.

Kate is joined by Mark Guthrie, Team Lead for our Assisted Divorce Service at amicable, a divorced dad and previously a professional McKenzie friend, to talk about why men struggle to open up during separation, and what can help.

We talk about:

• Why mental health is so often overlooked for men going through divorce
• What a professional McKenzie friend is and how they can support you
• How abuse in relationships can show up during the divorce process
• Where to find support if you’re struggling to speak out

This episode is for anyone navigating separation as a man, or who wants to understand what that experience can look like.

Trigger warning: this episode touches on content that some listeners might find distressing, such as abuse and poor mental health. If you need support, ManKind Initiative, Men’s Advice Line, your GP, Mind, Samaritans (116 123), Women’s Aid, Refuge, and YoungMinds Crisis Messenger can all help. If your life is in danger, dial 999.

More divorce resources

Need expert help right now?

Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.

Want ongoing support through separation?

Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on emotional wellbeing and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.

Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on emotional readiness and timing, navigating separation with kindness and rebuilding your identity and moving forward with confidence. Find it on Amazon today.

Got a question for a future episode?

Share your thoughts at podcasts@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.

#EmotionalJourney

In partnership with Octopus Money

Welcome back to our 3-part mini-series on The Divorce Podcast, on finance before, during and after divorce. This is the last part - all about helping you set up for a financial fresh start.

It’s easy to think the financial work is done once a divorce is finalised – but this is actually where the rebuilding begins. Kate is joined again by Molly Haylett, Chartered Financial Planner at Octopus Money, to talk you through the main steps.

We talk about:

• Why implementing your pension sharing order shouldn’t wait
• Getting familiar with your new cash flow
• Checking your will and pension beneficiary nominations reflect your wishes today
• Small, realistic habits for rebuilding savings and credit after divorce

If you missed parts 1 and 2, go back and catch Molly’s tips on getting organised at the start of the process and making sense of the money mid-divorce.

The discussions in this podcast, including the adviser's own experiences, are not personal recommendations. Please seek advice from an authorised adviser familiar with your circumstances before taking action. This podcast provides general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. Octopus Money is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This content is intended for UK residents only and is based on UK regulation as of the date of recording.

About Octopus Money

Octopus Money is on a mission to make investing and money advice accessible to all – because we believe everyone deserves to feel confident about their future. You can get in touch with them to find out more on their website.

More divorce resources

Ready to get clear on your finances?

Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.

Want ongoing support through separation?

Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on finances and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.

Kate’s book amicable divorce includes a dedicated chapter on navigating finances during separation, including reaching financial agreements based on your real needs (not just 50/50 splits) and guidance on commonly overlooked assets like pensions. Find it on Amazon today.

Got a question for a future episode?

Share your thoughts at podcasts@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.

#Finances

In partnership with Octopus Money

Welcome back to our 3-part mini-series on The Divorce Podcast, on finance before, during and after divorce. This is part 2.

The two biggest things that come up in the middle of a divorce? The family home and pensions – and neither is as simple as it first looks.

Kate is joined again by Molly Haylett, Chartered Financial Planner at Octopus Money, to unpack the biggest financial decisions you’ll face once you’re in the thick of the process.

We talk about:

• How to get a reliable valuation on the family home, and the difference between selling and transferring
• Why mortgage capacity matters as much as the percentage split
• The difference between defined benefit and defined contribution pensions, and why it matters
• What a pension on divorce (POD) report is, and when it’s worth getting one

If you missed part 1, go back and catch Molly’s tips for getting organised at the start of the process. Stay tuned for part 3, where we cover rebuilding your finances once your divorce is finalised.

The discussions in this podcast, including the adviser's own experiences, are not personal recommendations. Please seek advice from an authorised adviser familiar with your circumstances before taking action. This podcast provides general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. Octopus Money is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This content is intended for UK residents only and is based on UK regulation as of the date of recording.

About Octopus Money

Octopus Money is on a mission to make investing and money advice accessible to all – because we believe everyone deserves to feel confident about their future. You can get in touch with them to find out more on their website.

More divorce resources

Ready to get clear on your finances?

Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.

Want ongoing support through separation?

Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on finances and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.

Kate’s book amicable divorce includes a dedicated chapter on navigating finances during separation, including reaching financial agreements based on your real needs (not just 50/50 splits) and guidance on commonly overlooked assets like pensions. Find it on Amazon today.

Got a question for a future episode?

Share your thoughts at podcasts@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.

#Finances

If you're divorced and thinking about marrying again, you already know why the money conversation early on is so important. Watch the full episode on YouTube.

Kate is joined by Andrew Bowker, co-founder of wedding booking platform Wedissimo, to talk about why honest conversations about money are the foundation of any relationship – and why prenups exist to have that conversation properly, not to plan for failure.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why people remarrying after divorce approach money and prenups differently
• What a prenup is actually for
• Why agreements like these need revisiting as life changes
• Why younger generations find it easier to talk about money

This episode is for anyone remarrying after separation or divorce, or anyone who wants to have a better money conversation with their partner from the get-go

About Wedissimo

Wedissimo is a UK wedding booking platform that makes it easy for couples to find, compare and book wedding suppliers online. Since launching, Wedissimo has helped thousands of couples book everything from photographers to celebrants, giving Andrew a unique perspective on how modern couples plan their weddings and prepare for marriage.

Sources mentioned in this episode

The £26,000 average cost of getting married: Financial Times, "The wedding racket: how tying the knot became so expensive," 26 April 2025.

Generational attitudes to talking about money (baby boomers 50%, Gen Z 17% say it's vulgar to discuss): YouGov, "Is it vulgar to talk about money?"

The UK government's prenuptial agreement proposals, including the 28-day pre-wedding signing requirement: "A Fairer End to Relationships," a government consultation that ran 5 June–14 August 2026. The consultation has now closed and a government response is pending.

The UK's top 1% of households by wealth: Office for National Statistics, Wealth and Assets Survey, with a net wealth threshold of around £3.1 million (Round 8, April 2020–March 2022, published January 2025) to £3.6 million (April 2018–March 2020 round).

More amicable resources

Whether you're moving in together, getting married or getting divorced, amicable helps you navigate change together. Book a free 15-minute consultation for expert legal, financial and practical support.

Got a question for a future episode?

Share your thoughts at hello@amicable.co.uk or through direct messages on Instagram.

#LifeAfter