Legal separation is a process to make a married couple financially separate so they are not responsible for each other’s support, debts, or taxes. A legal separation does not legally end a marriage, and a party cannot re-marry after a legal separation. Inheritance rights may also continue after a legal separation.
A legal separation may be an option for people who do not want to file for a dissolution of marriage (divorce), but want to legally separate and protect their finances. For example, someone who is not sure they want to permanently and/or legally end a marriage, or someone whose religious beliefs do not allow divorce.
The process for filing for a legal separation is the same as for a dissolution of marriage (divorce). A legal separation can become a dissolution of marriage (divorce) before or after the decree of legal separation is entered, if one of the parties requests that the separation be converted to a dissolution.
For more information on dissolution of marriage, click here.
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