I am from Scotland

The first step is to have a look at the availability of visas. There are usually online guides that help you work out if your family has the skills to be offered a visa in whichever country you choose. Start by looking UK Border Agency Visa Services Home Page and American Visa and US Immigration: American Visa Bureau to see if you qualify. One year visas are usually easier to come by than permanent visas (working holiday type visas). Another thing to think about is the custody arrangements with your children, as if your ex does not agree you will probably not be allowed to take them overseas for any length of time.

If you get through all that and emigration is still an option for you, the rest is fairly simple. There are firms that will assist you with getting the visa, and others that will pack up all your belongings and put them on a ship to wherever you decide to go. It is a great exercise for your children, to expose them to another country and culture (even if the language is the same, there are massive differences between countries).