What's the difference between legal separation and divorce? Read on to learn about the advantages of each, and a critical difference between the two.
Marriage is more than just a romantic commitment -- it is a legal commitment as well. So when it is no longer in your best interests to remain in a marriage, you should evaluate the legal options available to you.
Legal separation and divorce are both formal ways to end a marriage. (Check out our article on Annulment vs Divorce to understand the difference between those processes).
This article will explain the differences between legal separation and divorce, and then provide the framework to help you determine which is the best option for you.
So, how does separation work? The first thing to know is that legal separation does not legally end a marriage. Instead, legal separation allows a married couple to live separate lives but remain legally married under the law.
While legal separation is not available in all states, the process is generally the same for all states that do have it:
The substance of separation agreements is quite similar to divorce settlement agreements. It should include:
A key difference between separation and divorce is that a divorce decree formally ends the marriage.
A divorce settlement agreement covers all the same things included in a separation agreement, though, and the processes are similar in several ways.
Things to note about the divorce process include:
Many aspects of the divorce process can vary based on state laws. Some state laws have a required separation period or waiting period (which does not necessarily have to be legal separation) before filing for divorce.
There are two types of grounds for divorce to be aware of: fault-based divorce and no-fault divorce. Not all states allow for fault-based divorces, though. (For instance, only no-fault grounds are available in Florida and Illinois).
Fault-based divorces require the spouse filing for divorce to prove that the other spouse is “at fault” for the divorce based on a specifically enumerated reason. Examples of reasons people may try for a fault-based divorce include:
The filing spouse must prove the alleged fault for the claim to be accepted.
No-fault divorce, on the other hand, is the more common type of divorce. Neither spouse has to prove that the other spouse is to blame for the divorce.
Unfortunately, many divorces are not amicable. The tension within the couple has often reached a point where the spouses can no longer agree on anything, making the divorce process longer and more difficult. While this will require more money in legal fees, it is at that point that divorce is the only option for that spouse.
So, is it better to separate or divorce? Each process has different advantages depending on your circumstances, so let’s examine those now.
So, why would you get a legal separation instead of a divorce?
Legal separations allow for the marriage to still be recognized under the law, which can make separation more appealing than divorce. Legal separation is a good option for couples who are not sure if their marriage is beyond repair.
Many financial benefits come with marriage, and those would still apply during a legal separation as well. These benefits include:
Note that for cases involving benefits, the couple has to be married for a certain amount of time to receive spousal benefits through their employer.
Legal separation is also a good option for people whose religions have restrictions on divorce. If your religious beliefs do not condone divorce, legal separation still recognizes you as married under the law, but you can live your lives completely separate from one another.
Divorce is the best option for a couple, or individual spouse, that wants to put a complete end to the marriage. If you are sure of your decision, it would be a waste of resources to legally separate, and then potentially get divorced after that.
Additionally, divorce is the only option for you if you are interested in getting remarried. As discussed above, legal separation does not actually end a marriage. A key difference between legal separation and divorce therefore is that you cannot remarry until your marriage has formally ended.
When you want to have a clean break from your spouse, divorce is the best route to go. If you do not foresee being able to reach an agreement with your spouse, divorce also permits one party to file over the objection of the other spouse. Doing so will potentially prolong the process, but it is an advantage to filing for divorce if you and your spouse are not on the same page.
Legal separation offers the option of living a life physically removed from your spouse. It is a good option for those whose religion does not permit divorce.
Legal separation also allows for a couple to change the status of their marriage without the finality of divorce. It leaves room for possible reconciliation.
Additionally, if neither spouse plans to remarry, they can legally separate and maintain tax benefits as well.
No, legal separation is the only way to separate from your spouse with court approval but you can initiate a separation on your own that does not have to go through the formal process with the courts.
Couples often take this approach when they do not want to make a permanent decision right away, often called a trial separation.
But again, keep in mind that a trial separation has no legal impact on your marital status (and neither does a permanent separation, for that matter).
This means that things like your taxes, shared property and debts, and benefits such as healthcare are treated as if you are still married, because you do in fact remain married.
You can remain legally separated for the rest of your lives if that is what you and your spouse choose. However, that does restrict you in the ways previously discussed, such as not being able to remarry a different partner.
Yes, these actions are not exclusive. You can be legally separated and then go to court to get divorced after that.
But note it doesn’t work the other way around -- a couple cannot get divorced and then decide they would rather be legally separated instead. At that point, a court order has been issued and the marriage has been dissolved, so they would have to officially get married again to change their relationship status.
Married couples share assets, incomes, and file joint taxes (unless they have formally signed an agreement stating otherwise). Some tax benefits come with being married, but it truly depends on the individual circumstances of each spouse, and how they would like to make their medical or financial decisions, to determine if staying financially attached is something that will help both of them.
The timeline for any given legal separation or divorce can vary greatly, but overall, legal separations are faster on average than divorces.
The details depend greatly on the specifics of the case, such as whether the parties can work well together and whether they have children or spousal support issues to work through. Additionally, where the couple is located can influence the timeline because some states have waiting periods for divorce.
If the couple cannot work together and the process of drafting a separation or marital settlement agreement drags on, getting separated or divorced can take a long time.
But because there are typically fewer requirements to finalizing a separation and the waiting periods that are sometimes involved for divorce, legal separation tends to be faster than divorce.
Disadvantages of legal separation include the inability to remarry and the possibility of increased expenses if the couple later decides to divorce.
For plenty of couples, legal separation has advantages to divorce and can be a good option. But since it does not actually end the marriage, it can lead to higher costs and delay the process of moving forward in the event that a marriage is in fact irretrievably broken.
So, what’s the difference between legal separation and divorce?
Legal separation does not dissolve the marriage as divorce does, but legal separation does allow the two spouses to live separate lives. Legal separation offers an alternative to divorce, but it also leaves room for the potential of reconciling the relationship. Divorce, on the other hand, legally ends the marriage.
Marriage is not just emotionally committing yourself to someone; it is financially committing yourself to them as well, which is one major consideration when deciding between legal separation and divorce. It is best to seek guidance from a family law attorney when deciding which option is best for your circumstances.
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