This paper explores young people’s experiences of family relationships and adjustment after parental separation. It summarises key findings from a survey of 623 Australian adolescents from separated families, first published in the report ‘Views of adolescents in separated families: a study of adolescents’ experiences after the 2006 reforms to the Family Law System’ (2010). The findings highlight adolescents’ differing developmental capacities to understand and accept family changes, and their sensitivity to the conflicts and distress of their parents. The paper also notes the practical implications for parents and practitioners to support adolescents during separation.