In short
The Marital Affair guides are for married and attached adults who are considering, or already in, an affair. They cover the questions to ask yourself first, how affair sites work and what they cost, profile privacy, meeting safely, scams and blackmail, sexual health, boundaries, ending an affair, counselling and the basics of separation and divorce. Start with the questions to ask yourself.
If you haven't made up your mind, start with the questions to ask yourself first: they cover what you want, what you could lose and who else is affected. If you're ready to look around, read about profile privacy before you write a word, and keep the first-meeting safety checklist handy for later.
Start with your situation
Each guide answers one practical question. Pick the row closest to where you are now.
| Where you are | Read this first |
|---|---|
| Thinking about it, nothing decided | Questions to ask yourself first |
| Wondering what it will cost | What affair dating sites cost |
| About to write a profile | Profile photos and privacy |
| Arranging a first meeting | First-meeting safety checklist |
| Someone is asking for money or making threats | Scams, blackmail and fake profiles |
| Seeing someone and want clear ground rules | Setting boundaries |
| Ready to stop | How to end an affair with care |
| Leaving the site | Cancelling or deleting your account |
Thinking it through
- Thinking about an affair? Questions to ask yourself first: what you want, what you could lose and who else would be affected, including other routes such as counselling.
- Married dating: what people mean by it, and what it involves: the difference between secret affairs, open arrangements and companionship.
- Open relationships and affairs: how they differ: why consent is the dividing line, and how to raise the subject with a partner.
How the sites work, and what they cost
- How affair websites work: what's free, what's paid, who can see your profile and what is and isn't checked.
- Is Marital Affair legit? Who runs it and what you pay: who runs the site, its history, what it costs and what is checked.
- What affair dating sites cost, and how billing works: memberships, credits, trials and renewals, and what shows on your card statement.
- Cancelling your membership or deleting your account: the steps to stop paying, then remove your profile, in the right order.
Privacy and safety
- Choosing profile photos and details when you value privacy: what to include, what to leave out and how to share photos with care.
- Meeting someone for the first time: a safety checklist: a video call first, a public place, your own way home and knowing when to leave.
- Scams, blackmail and fake profiles on affair sites: the warning signs of romance fraud and sextortion, what to do and where to report it.
- Sexual health with a new partner: testing and protection: condoms, free confidential testing, home kits and what to do quickly if a condom fails.
When things change
- Setting boundaries with someone you're seeing: the ground rules on contact, privacy, health, money and stopping that are worth agreeing early.
- When an affair turns into real feelings: recognising what has changed and how to decide what to do next.
- How to end an affair with care: what to say, tidying up afterwards, and what to do if the other person won't accept it.
- Getting support: counselling for you, or for you both: counselling on your own or as a couple, and where to turn if you need help today.
- Separation and divorce in the UK: the basics: how divorce works in each part of the UK and what happens to money and children.
How we write these guides
The guides are written by the Marital Affair editorial team for adults making their own decisions. We don't judge, and we don't give advice on deceiving or monitoring anyone. Laws, helplines and reporting lines are linked to the official body or charity that publishes them, and each guide shows when it was last updated. For the facts about the site itself, see how Marital Affair works and the discretion page.
Questions people ask
Where should I start if I haven't decided anything yet?
With the questions to ask yourself first. It covers what you are really looking for, what you could lose, who else would be affected and the alternatives, such as counselling or an honest conversation at home. Joining is free, so there is no reason to rush that thinking.
Which guide covers being blackmailed or threatened?
Scams, blackmail and fake profiles. It explains romance fraud and sextortion, why you should never pay, how to keep evidence and where to report in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Ireland. If you are in immediate danger, call the emergency number where you are.
Are these guides written by counsellors or lawyers?
No. They are written by the Marital Affair editorial team, and every legal, health or reporting fact links to the official body or charity that publishes it. They are information, not legal, medical or therapeutic advice, and they point you to qualified help where you need it.