FAQs, Divorce & Separation Support | The Separation Companion

About the service

The Separation Companion provides practical, organised and compassionate support to people going through divorce or separation. The service was founded by Katherine Waterhouse, who experienced the trauma of her parents' divorce as a child, and later navigated her own divorce as an adult, going through the full process including co-parenting, financial remedy proceedings, mediation and court. It exists to offer the kind of grounded, real-world support that is hard to find elsewhere, from someone who truly understands the process from both sides.

No. I am not a solicitor and do not provide legal advice. The support I offer is practical, organisational and emotional, helping you understand and navigate the process, prepare documentation, complete forms and feel less alone. Where legal advice is required, I will always tell you clearly and encourage you to consult a qualified solicitor.

Absolutely. Many people find that practical and emotional support sits alongside their solicitor's work very well. Solicitors are experts in the law; The Separation Companion helps with the day-to-day reality of living through the process: the admin, the communication, the organisation, and the emotional weight of it all.

Most services are available remotely by phone or video call, so location is no barrier for the majority of support. McKenzie Friend court attendance is available for courts in Essex and the surrounding area, please get in touch to discuss your specific situation.

Practical matters

Sessions take place by phone, video call, or in person in Essex. The format depends on what kind of support you need. Some people prefer regular check-in calls; others need focused working sessions for specific tasks like completing forms or preparing for court. We'll work out what suits you best.

I aim to respond to all enquiries within 24–48 hours. If you have an urgent situation, such as a court hearing approaching, please mention this when you get in touch and I will do my best to prioritise you.

Yes. Everything you share is treated with complete discretion. I take confidentiality seriously and will never share your details or the details of your situation with any third party without your permission.

That's completely fine. There's no minimum commitment. You can book a single session or ask for help with one specific task: completing a form, reviewing a document, preparing for a hearing. You don't need to commit to ongoing support.

Legal questions

No. I am not a solicitor and cannot provide legal advice. What I can do is help you understand the process, prepare documentation, organise your case and give you practical guidance based on lived experience. This service is particularly useful for self-representing parties (litigants in person), people managing their own case without a solicitor, who need practical support rather than legal representation. I will always be transparent about where legal advice is needed.

I can help you make sense of the process, terminology and what typically happens at different stages, which can make it easier to follow and engage with what your solicitor is telling you. I can't advise on the specific legal merits of your case.

A solicitor is a qualified legal professional who can represent you in court, give legal advice and advocate on your behalf. A McKenzie Friend is a non-legal supporter who can sit with you in court, take notes, and offer quiet support and assistance, but cannot speak in court on your behalf unless given specific permission by the judge. See the McKenzie Friend section below for more.

McKenzie Friend

A McKenzie Friend sits alongside you in court hearings, takes notes, helps you find documents, and offers quiet assistance during the hearing. They provide calm, practical support in what can be an intimidating environment. They cannot speak on your behalf, but they can help you stay organised and calm.

Yes. You should notify the court in advance that you intend to have a McKenzie Friend attend with you. In most cases this is straightforward and judges are familiar with the role. I can help you with this notification as part of the preparation.

Not automatically. A McKenzie Friend can only speak in court if the judge grants specific permission to do so. In most family court hearings, the role is as a quiet, supportive presence rather than a speaker.

I am based in Essex and available to attend courts in Essex and the surrounding area. Please get in touch with your court location and we can discuss whether attendance is practical.

Costs & payment

Yes, completely free, no obligation. It's a 20-minute call to talk through where you are and whether I can help. There's no pressure and no follow-up if it's not right for you.

Full pricing details are on the Pricing page. Support is available on an hourly basis, as a monthly package, or as a one-off intensive session. Concessions are available in some circumstances, please ask.

I understand that financial circumstances during separation are often very difficult. Please get in touch and have an honest conversation with me. I will always do my best to find a way to help if I can.

Getting started

You can book a free 20-minute call via the Contact page, where you'll find a booking link to choose a time that suits you. Alternatively, just send a message and I'll get back to you within 24–48 hours.

Nothing specific. a clear head and a sense of where you are and what you're finding most difficult. The call is informal and the aim is just to get a feel for your situation and whether I can help.

That's completely normal, most people who get in touch feel the same way. You don't need to have it all figured out. Just get in touch and we'll take it from there together.

Unfortunately, incomplete or misleading financial disclosure is more common than it should be. Both parties are legally required to provide full and honest disclosure on Form E, and the courts take this seriously, deliberately hiding or understating assets can have significant consequences. If you suspect information is being withheld or misrepresented, I can help you work through the disclosure you have received, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and organise your concerns clearly so that they can be raised effectively, whether through a formal questionnaire, with a solicitor, or directly with the court. You don't have to simply accept what you've been told.

It is deeply frustrating when you feel that the other party is misrepresenting the facts, whether in correspondence, court documents or statements. One of the most practical things you can do is keep a clear, dated record of events, communications and agreements from the very beginning. I can help you build and organise that record, draft clear and measured responses to inaccurate accounts, and make sure your version of events is presented calmly and credibly. Courts respond well to well-organised, evidenced positions, and poorly to emotional or reactive ones, however justified the frustration.

Questions &

Just ask