Legal Separation

Unlike divorce, a legal separation does not put an end to the marriage. During a legal separation, you have a court order that outlines the rights and responsibilities of each spouse while you are living apart.

You remain legally married while choosing to live separate lives. Issues that can be addressed in a legal separation agreement are division of assets and debts, child custody and child support, visitation schedules and spousal support.

The same issues addressed during the divorce process are also addressed in a legal separation agreement. A legal separation can protect your interests until the decision is made to file for divorce. The separation agreement also sets a precedence for the divorce that may follow. If you divorce after a separation and your case goes to court, a judge is likely to assume that since you were satisfied with the legal separation agreement, the agreement should carry over to the divorce settlement agreement. For that reason, it is important that you come to a separation agreement you can live with long term.

Let the law office of Steven E. Sufrin help you determine if a legal separation is right for you. Call now for a free initial consultation.