Separation and divorce are different things
Separation is a change in the relationship: living separate and apart, even sometimes under one roof. Divorce is the legal end of a marriage, granted later by a court. Most of the important decisions, about children, support and property, are made in the separation phase, not the divorce paperwork.
Children come first, in law and in practice
Parenting arrangements are decided on one question: the best interests of the children. Stability, relationships with each parent, and safety carry real weight; parental score-keeping does not.
Practical tip: keep communication with the other parent civil, child-focused and in writing where possible. It is better for the children, and it reads well later if anything is ever disputed.
Support: two kinds, two purposes
Child support is the child's right, calculated primarily from income under established guidelines, with additional shared expenses on top. Spousal support is separate, and depends on factors like the length of the relationship, roles during it, and each person's means and needs.
Numbers depend on details: income types, parenting time, special expenses. Get real figures for your situation before agreeing to anything.
Property: what is shared, what is not
In British Columbia, the general starting point is that property and debt acquired during the relationship are shared, while certain property, such as what each person brought in or received as gifts or inheritances, may be treated differently, though its growth may be shared.
The details are technical and exceptions matter, which is why property questions deserve advice before positions harden.
Agreements resolve most separations
Most families never see a courtroom. A properly negotiated and drafted separation agreement can settle parenting, support and property in one document your family can actually live with, and courts respect agreements made fairly, with disclosure and independent advice.
That last part matters: each person getting their own legal advice is not a formality. It is what makes the agreement durable.