Where to start

[Whatevernow]

Can I ask where to start in leaving a marriage, I seen it mentioned about getting your ducks in a row but what exactly does that mean. Is it a case of just getting financial papers together to take with you or actually getting things in order with a solicitor etc?

Anyone??

What shared assets do you have?

We have a house with a mortgage and a business mindboggled88

Get your passports, birth and marriage certificates, details of savings and bank accounts, copies of incriminating emails, and store them safely, delete browsing and printing histories, change passwords and PINs.

Get your passports, birth and marriage certificates, details of savings and bank accounts, copies of incriminating emails, and store them safely, delete browsing and printing histories, change passwords and PINs.

is this something everyone would do or only in the case of the nasty separation, it seems quite harsh/sneaky

It's something everyone should do to be honest. It's good to have your important documents to hand because you will be asked to provide this information, probably several times during the course of a divorce.

And changing your passwords regularly is only a good thing.

As for deleting printing and browsing histories, I think it's sensible if you share a living space with someone you are not in a relationship with. There are going to be bumps etc along the way, and homes/businesses can take a while to prepare for sale, so you should really try to keep your privacy as much as you can during the splitting up process. Maybe you will use the computer for venting to MN or a friend, maybe one of you will start online dating or sign up to see who's out there, etc. and if there is a shared computer or whatever this stuff can pop up easily if left by the last user. It can breed acrimony even if the split is initially amicable. Really it is best if everyone keeps their own business to themselves, and that might mean protecting your information from being accidentally rubbed in your ex's face as much as it does them going snooping.

Is the ending of the marriage a ️mutual decision or are you leaving it? Do you work together in the business, and how will that work after you split?

Essentially, your affairs are currently bound together in law, and decisions will need to be made about who gets what when the marriage ends.

'Getting your ducks in a row' is assessing the current situation, seeing how things will work after the split, and getting things ready to make the necessary changes.

It will be me leaving, I don't work in the business so there wouldn't be an issue of us still having to work together. I think we'd have to sell both the business and the house due to debt and then would maybe have some money left over once everything is paid off.

Take all the necessary precautions as described by cafenoirbiscuit, because lots of divorces start off with every intention of being conducted amicably and end up being nasty. Like a good Bot Scout - be prepared.