What Is a Legal Separation?

A legal separation is a court-ordered arrangement whereby a married couple lives apart, leading separate lives. A legal separation is a popular alternative to a divorce when the parties are unsure of the state of their marriage but want to establish financial boundaries and responsibilities, such as separation of assets, custody of dependents, and child support.

Why Would You Get a Legal Separation?

Although the reasons for seeking a legal separation vary, there are some common ones worth noting. Some religions prohibit married couples from divorcing and a legal separation grants most of the benefits of a divorce without compromising religious tenets. Also, those unsure of their marital future may opt for a legal separation, hoping for a reconciliation.

In spite of the pain from a split, sometimes a legal separation makes sense when a divorce doesn't. For example, a legal separation can be temporary, while a divorce is permanent. Some couples legally separate when trial separations don't work. This may be their last attempt at saving their marriage. Couples with minor children often cite that a legal separation is more ideal for their children than a divorce. Although the parents function as a separate unit, the family may remain together, maintaining stability and order, for the most part. Moreover, many parents find that their children are better able to adjust to a divorce if they legally separate first.

Additionally, a legal separation is often simpler and more cost-effective than a divorce. With a legal separation, it's possible to retain health and retirement benefits. Also, for those who want a divorce, a legal separation is required in some states before a judge will grant one.

Keeping Benefit Entitlements

Reaching a 10th anniversary is a monumental occasion, but it is also a milestone that affects future benefits. For couples deciding to part ways, a legal separation may keep benefit entitlements intact. For example, military spouses must remain married for a decade to take advantage of the benefits provided by the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act.

Also, having remained married for at least 10 years qualifies ex-spouses for certain spousal Social Security benefits. If your spouse will draw significantly more Social Security than you will in retirement, it is beneficial to remain married for a minimum of 10 years so you can draw a larger sum by drawing on your spouse's Social Security retirement benefits.

Other Types of Separation

Legal separation isn't the only option for couples who prefer to separate instead of divorce.

Trial Separation

Unlike a legal separation, a trial separation is an informal decision by a couple to temporarily separate. As the name suggests, couples use this approach when they aren't entirely certain about the separation and want to test whether or not a separation is right for them.

Permanent Separation

Permanent separation is considered by some to be the stage preceding a legal separation. Unlike a trial separation, the couple has at this point decided to separate permanently and assume there is no hope for reconciliation. However, for whatever reason—perhaps due to health insurance issues, costs, or just inertia—the couple has not taken action to mark the separation in court.

Separation vs. Divorce vs. Annulment

Though a divorce marks the official end of a valid marriage, an annulment treats the marriage as if it had never happened. When a judge grants an annulment, it indicates that the court does not recognize the arrangement as having been a legally valid marriage.

There are a number of scenarios in which a person can request an annulment. Among them:

• The marriage was a result of force, fraud, or physical or mental incapacity.
• The marriage took place when one or both spouses were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• The marriage took place when one or both spouses were already married.

Is Separation the Same as Divorce?

In most cases, the legal termination of a marriage will result in a divorce. Unlike a separation, a divorce is permanent. This means both spouses are free to remarry. However—depending on the state where the couple lived and how long the marriage lasted—a divorce also means the termination of economic benefits such as shared insurance, assets, and liabilities. Ultimately, electing for a divorce over a legal separation or vice versa is a personal choice. Factors such as the cost of the divorce, religious beliefs, the shared benefits that come with remaining married, any time-frame thresholds such as a 10-year anniversary for military couples, as well as simple uncertainty about permanently ending the marriage may make separation the correct choice.

Legal Separation Requirements

Every petition for legal separation must include the following information:

• The legal names of both spouses
• The date and location of the marriage
• The names of any children or dependents of the marriage
• The proposed custody arrangement of the children
• The date when—and addresses where—the couple began living apart
• Any child support arrangement, as well as any other financial responsibilities to which both parties have agreed
  

What Are the Disadvantages of a Legal Separation?

Legal separations are serious and shouldn't be rushed into. While not as well known and extreme as a divorce, they still can be expensive, complicated to execute, create further friction between couples, and introduce obligations that may be complicated to reverse. Some argue that a married couple should either work out their differences or just divorce. With a legal separation, the couple is legally separated but remains married. This leaves them in a kind of strange middle ground. For example, with this status spouses cannot remarry, as they would be able to do with a divorce. And if legal separation does lead to divorce, the couple will end up spending more money on court and legal fees, etc.

The Bottom Line

In most states, but not all, it’s possible to legally separate from your spouse. The process involves filing a petition in court, and leaves you neither married nor divorced—it’s a middle ground where you live separate lives and have separate bank accounts but are unable to remarry. Legal separation is a serious matter that comes with duties that each party is legally obligated to uphold. And it is generally pursued as an alternative to divorce for religious beliefs, the benefit of younger children, or financial reasons.