Legal Separation Or Divorce

By Author: Nova AD
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Think a legal separation is the same thing as a divorce? Think again! Though there are not a ton of differences between the two, there are some differences, which attract many people to get a legal separation instead of a divorce. A separation simply means living apart. Court papers or other legal documents are not required in order to separate. There is no law that requires a person to live with their spouse, but separating from your spouse can have an affect your legal rights. If you and your spouse plan on separating it is important to talk to a lawyer. An experienced lawyer can help you with the legal aspect of things and even if you don’t think that a lot of work is necessary. Unfortunately in instances of legal separation, a lot more work and legal papers are required than many originally expect.

If the decision to separate is inevitable and you want to take the next step, you need to be sure that your account for everything from bill payments for properties and such as well as other arrangements like childcare and financial support. Those kinds of decisions usually require a mediator to overview the decisions ...
... and make sure that each party gets his or her desired needs. This mediator is more often than not a qualified lawyer who has a good deal of experience dealing with separation situations. Hiring a mediator who can help will save both parties a great deal of time and money and will surely keep the matter out of the courts.

In many different ways, a legal separation is the same as a divorce. Both include custody, parenting time, child support, and, if appropriate, spousal maintenance (alimony) orders. Both parties involved can also ask a judge to issue a certain order that divides the spouses’ assets. The only major difference, however is that if you get a legal separation, you are still legally married. If you want to become independent and annul the marriage, you must go through a different process in the courts to get a divorce. A legal separation are not the same thing and if you get a legal separation and then want a divorce, then you have to go through another legal process so the state legally recognizes you as divorced.

You may be asking why any would just want a legal separation as opposed to a divorce. Many believe that going through the whole process once is enough so why take the chance and possibly have to go through the process again after a legal separation? The answer usually lies in religious beliefs or moral values. Many people have moral values and or religious values that make them stay legally separated rather than divorced. Also there are many cases that people choose a legal separation over a divorce due to financial reasons. Whether it is financial reasons, religious reasons or any other reasons for that matter, a legal separation is part of the United States legal system and is used by many.

See more information about legal separation, visit the following links: legal separation Camarillo CA and legal separation Ventura CA.