If a person marries a British citizen, a Commonwealth citizen with right of abode or a person with settled status, s/he will be given initial permission to stay in the UK for two years. At the end of this period, s/he may apply for settled status. If s/he separates or divorces within that two years, her/his application for settled status will almost certainly be refused. Once s/he has been given settled status, separation or divorce should not affect her/his right to stay in the UK.