What Is A Legal Separation?

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.

Christy Bieber, J.D. Contributor

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.

Written By Christy Bieber, J.D. Contributor

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.

Christy Bieber, J.D. Contributor

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has.

Contributor

Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.

Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.

Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.

Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida. After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Co.

Updated: Feb 6, 2023, 4:57am

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Table of Contents

Legal separation occurs when a married couple becomes formally, legally separated. Legal separation can occur instead of divorce or can be a temporary situation before a divorce occurs.

This guide will answer the question, what is a legal separation, and help you to understand the difference between legal separation vs. divorce.

What is a Legal Separation?

When a married couple no longer wishes to be married, they can choose to separate. There are different types of separations though.

In some situations, you can choose to go to family court and become legally separated. This would often involve the court dividing assets and addressing other important issues that affect how you will live separately. For example, when you enter into a legal separation, you can negotiate a separation agreement addressing the following issues or can ask the court to decide on them:

You do not necessarily have to go through the process of getting a court order to live separate and apart from your spouse. And, although some states do require you to live separately for a period of time for a divorce, state rules can vary on exactly what this means and a legal separation agreement often is not necessary to meet the requirement.

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Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and legal topics understandable and fun. Her work has appeared on Forbes, CNN Underscored Money, Investopedia, Credit Karma, The Balance, USA Today, and Yahoo Finance, among others.

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