--- title: Legal separation and when you should get divorced - Sarah Birdsey description: Legal separation and when you should get divorced - Sarah Birdsey image: https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/QRsmartdiv-Sep-06-2023-10-59-31-6923-AM.jpeg --- [0161 706 1072](tel:01617061072) [![logo-colour](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/brand-logos/logo-colour.svg "logo-colour")](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/) [![logo-white](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/brand-logos/logo-white.svg "logo-white")](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/) - [About you](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/about-you) - [About us](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/about-us) - [What we do](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/what-we-do) - [FAQs](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/faqs) - [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog) - [Contact](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/contact) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # Legal separation and when you should get divorced - Sarah Birdsey Legal Vlog Altrincham Separation Children divorce 1 minute read by Tamsin Caine In this episode, Tamsin speaks to family solicitor Sarah Birdsey about legal separation and when this might be appropriate, rather than heading straight to divorce Sarah is a specialist family solicitor and managing director at Nicholls Solicitors. Sarah has extensive experience in all areas of private family law and is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in family finances and child arrangements. Sarah most commonly deals with divorce, financial relief and children matters. Her cases on financial relief often involve complex business and foreign assets. Sarah has good working relationships with specialist barristers, financial advisors and other experts to call upon their expertise where required. Sarah is also regularly instructed in respect of pre and post nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements. Sarah has recently completed ‘what about Henry’ training with a clinical child psychologist to better understand how to support families and particularly children who are dealing with family separation. Client’s and colleagues recognise Sarah’s personal, down to earth and sensitive approach but she is someone who is not afraid to fight for clients’ to ensure a fair outcome. Sarah is regularly recommended and has built up strong reputation in the family law field. @sarahlbirdsey (twitter) [www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081468305246](http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081468305246) [www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-birdsey-3180b21b4](http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-birdsey-3180b21b4) @sbirdseysolicitor (Instagram) --- Tamsin is a Chartered Financial Planner with over 20 years experience. She works with couples and individuals who are at the end of a relationship and want agree how to divide their assets FAIRLY without a fight. You can contact Tamsin at [tamsin@smartdivorce.co.uk](mailto:tamsin@smartdivorce.co.uk) or arrange a free initial meeting using [**this link**](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/tamsin-caine/initial-chat-about-how-we-can-help). She is also part of the team running [**Facebook group Separation, Divorce and Dissolution UK**](https://www.facebook.com/groups/469020344490906) Tamsin Caine MSc., FPFS Chartered Financial Planner Smart Divorce Ltd [**https://smartdivorce.co.uk**](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/) P.S. I am the co-author of “My Divorce Handbook – It’s What You Do Next That Counts”, written by divorce specialists and lawyers writing about their area of expertise to help walk you through the divorce process. You can buy it by scanning the QR code… ![Scan me](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/QRsmartdiv-Sep-06-2023-10-59-31-6923-AM.jpeg?width=100&height=144&name=QRsmartdiv-Sep-06-2023-10-59-31-6923-AM.jpeg) ## Latest insights and articles [Lifestyle](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/lifestyle) [Relationships](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/relationships) [financial planning](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/financial-planning) [divorce](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/divorce) [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/blog) ##### How Hard Is It To Say No? [Read more](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/how-hard-is-it-to-say-no) 3 minute read [financial planning](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/financial-planning) [divorce](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/divorce) [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/blog) ##### The Questions Almost Every Divorce Client Asks (But Often Too Late) [Read more](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/the-questions-almost-every-divorce-client-asks) 2 minute read [Wellbeing](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/wellbeing) [financial planning](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/financial-planning) [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/tag/blog) ##### What a Week at Club La Santa Taught Me About Financial Planning [Read more](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/what-a-week-at-club-la-santa-taught-me-about-financial-planning) 2 minute read [See all articles](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog) ![Smart divorce](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/brand-logos/logo-colour.svg "Smart divorce") #### Menu - [About you](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/about-you) - [About us](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/about-us) - [What we do](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/what-we-do) - [FAQs](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/faqs) - [Blog](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog) - [Contact](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/contact) #### Address Beehive Lofts, Unit 4.1 Waulk Mill 51 Bengal Street Manchester M4 6LN ![AFPF_logo_118-small](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/website-images/accreditations/AFPF_logo_118-small.jpeg?width=200&height=58&name=AFPF_logo_118-small.jpeg) ![ch firm58](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/website-images/accreditations/ch%20firm58.png?width=241&height=58&name=ch%20firm58.png)   #### Sign up to our newsletter - [Privacy Policy](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/privacy-policy) - [Terms and Conditions](https://smartdivorce.co.uk/terms-and-conditions) Site developed by [ClientsFirst](https://www.clients-first.co.uk/) Smart Divorce is a trading style of Smart Financial Planning Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can find Smart Financial Planning Ltd on the FCA register by [clicking here](https://register.fca.org.uk/ShPo_FirmDetailsPage?id=001b000000Mg7KfAAJ). Smart Financial is registered in England & Wales. Company number: 06274060. Registered Office: Beehive Lofts, Unit 4.1, Waulk Mill, 51 Bengal Street, Manchester, M4 6LN. The guidance and/or advice contained in this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore restricted to consumers based in the UK. The FCA does not regulate tax or estate planning. © 2026 All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Tamsin Caine", "url" : "https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/author/tamsin" }, "dateModified" : "2023-09-06T10:59:52.407Z", "datePublished" : "2023-02-02T13:13:44.000Z", "headline" : "Legal separation and when you should get divorced - Sarah Birdsey", "image" : [ "https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/QRsmartdiv-Sep-06-2023-10-59-31-6923-AM.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://smartdivorce.co.uk/blog/legal-separation-and-when-you-should-get-divorced-sarah-birdsey-vlog", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://smartdivorce.co.uk/hubfs/brand-logos/logo-colour.svg" }, "name" : "Smart Divorce" } } ```