The new tool features 33 possible steps to make after a relationship breakdown
The Ministry of Justice has released an online tool to help people navigate the breakdown of a relationship.
“Breaking up is hard to do. It’s a life crisis that many of us go through and there is no one way or right way to do it. Formally ending a marriage or civil union requires a court process, as can the decisions about the care of children and the division of joint property,” the ministry said.
Last year, the courts created 8,500 new divorce cases, it said.
The tool features 33 possible steps to make after a break-up. The steps are organised under six overarching topics: getting support; Family Court and legal help; children, money, and pets; separation and divorce; and family violence.
The tool has information on Family Court processes, available legal services, children’s safety, custody decisions, family remediation services, relationship property, money and debts, family pets, getting a divorce, separation orders, and protection orders.
The ministry said that the new tool acts like a funnel, with people selecting the topics that are important to them. The tool then lets users delve deeper into the topics.
“This recognises that a break up is not a linear process. People take their own pathway and go at their own pace, which can mean visiting the website many times over an extended period. The tool makes sure that they aren’t overwhelmed by all the information at once,” the ministry said.
The steps can be added to a to-do list for users to save or share.
“Because we know that people are grappling with much more than legal processes we have included links to help people access emotional support, legal support, support with family violence, as well as cultural and language support,” the ministry said.
