A separation can be incredibly painful and stressful. It is important that you have support throughout the process, both emotionally and with the legal aspects.
People like the idea of do-it-yourself divorces because they are supposed to save both time and money.
There are many divorce kits that can be bought in shops and online which are supposed to provide all the documents and knowledge you need to obtain a divorce.
Unfortunately, such kits have led to people making mistakes that cost them far more than advice from a solicitor would have cost.
It would be a good idea to have at least one meeting with a solicitor to determine what matters need to be dealt with. If you choose to deal with some or all of them yourself, at least you have a checklist of things to consider.
If you are planning to meet with a solicitor to discuss your options, try to prepare a brief summary of your circumstances.
Perhaps make a short list of questions you want to ask. This is a stressful time for you and you are bound to forget something you wanted to ask.