Separation and Divorce Guide for Military Personnel Spouses and Partners

Abstract: Ending a marriage or long-term relationship is usually stressful and emotional and there are often added complexities to consider if part of the Armed Forces family. The department is committed to ensuring that spouses, partners and families of Military Personnel have access to the support they need throughout this journey. There is a vast amount of information already available, but this can also be overwhelming and hard to find when it’s not all in one place. This comprehensive guide should help to alleviate some of that pressure and uncertainty. When a relationship within the Armed Forces family breaks down there are likely to be additional issues to consider that civilian couples and families don’t have to face, such as eligibility to allowances, and entitlement to Service Family Accommodation (SFA). The information contained in this guide seeks to address some of those nuances. This guide is not a replacement to the wide range of organisations that are on hand to assist, but an online resource containing guidance, information and links to the various organisations and support networks available to you. Whether you are a spouse or partner who is separating from a member of the Armed Forces, or an individual supporting someone who is, these resources have proven helpful to others who have been through similar experiences and I hope that you will find them useful too.