This article is intended as an overview of the contents of a separation agreement.
If you are separating from your partner and are trying to decide whether a separation agreement is appropriate, this article will give you an idea of the practicalities of the agreement and the types of assets and responsibilities it aims to formally divide between you and your partner. If you do decide that a separation agreement is for you, the document we sell (see the end of this article) also provides you with notes to help you work through the agreement and what to do once you are happy with it.
Background to the parties separating
The agreement first seeks to outline the relationship background: the names of the separating couple making the agreement, how long they've been living together and any children of the relationship or outside of it. It also states the date of the separation when the agreement will come into effect.
Basic principles of a separation agreement
In order for the agreement to be taken seriously by both parties and by the law it is essential that it clearly states the principles under which you are making the agreement. This is where you acknowledge that the agreement is a true reflection of your intentions.
There are three basic principles that make a separation agreement likely to be upheld in court.
- You are entering into the agreement freely and voluntarily – neither party should feel under pressure or duress to agree to the terms, as this would imply it was not an agreement.
- Both parties have made full disclosure of all their assets and responsibilities – this is essential to end up with a fair agreement. For example the terms of the agreement can hardly be seen as fair if it is later discovered that one party has a financial income or burden which they have not revealed.
- That it is a full and final agreement – both parties accept that it encompasses all things relevant to the separation and agree on the settlements detailed within it. Here you're agreeing not to make any claims after the agreement.
There are also some clauses which can be found throughout such an agreement which allow for variations in the agreement due to changes in circumstance.
Common clauses in a separation agreement
Your agreement should deal with what is to be done in the event of:
- death of either party
- breach of the agreement
- re-marriage or co-habitation by either party
- other significant change of circumstance, for example change in income
In order to formalise 'full disclosure', the agreement should include several lists or schedules detailing all assets and responsibilities, their values and other relevant details. These lists are then referred to by the various sections of the terms of the agreement that deal with different types of assets and responsibilities.
Your house or home
The agreement should set out what is to be done with the property you have been living in. For example, you may need to take steps to sell your house or flat and divide the proceeds from the sale according to the agreement. Alternatively one party may pay the other to gain sole possession of the property, or you may wait to sell until your children have matured. The agreement also addresses how any ongoing expenses associated with the process are to be split.
Personal effects
Here you decide who keeps what, and a time-frame for collecting personal items. You also agree to care for items until they are collected.
Financial and business assets
This includes actual or potential assets and businesses. Generally this section sets out the amounts of money to be transferred in order to achieve sole ownership of assets by each party. For businesses, the party leaving the business agrees to completely disassociate themselves from the business, giving up any title, business contacts, intellectual property etc.
Maintenance payments
Here the agreement sets out any payments – lump sum or periodic – which will go to a partner for their maintenance and/or for that of any children. There could be a clause here which allows for inflation in living costs.
Parental Rights
This section ensures that both parties will do their utmost to ensure they both maintain the best possible relationship with their children, for example, by agreeing to avoid criticising the other partner to the children or obstructing their relationship in any way. The time that each partner is to spend with the children is set out.
Lump sum payment
Here it is agreed if there is to be a lump-sum payment to either partner: the amount, the time-frame and acknowledgement that this is a final payment.
Provision for divorce
If this agreement is intended as a precursor to divorce, this section ensures that both parties agree to this intention and the time-scale for proceedings. It also states that they intend use this agreement as a basis for their divorce settlement.
Miscellaneous provisions
The Net Lawman agreement then covers some clauses which will make it flexible to change in circumstance and fair in the eyes of the law, and provides a space in which the separating couple put their signatures.
Further information and useful documents
Next, you may like to read about why and when to use a separation agreement.
Of course, you can also write your own agreement using our separation agreement template.