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Submit Close Considering Divorce? We've helped 85 clients find attorneys today.If you're experiencing serious problems in your marriage, you might be considering moving out (or asking your spouse to leave). Or maybe you're already living apart from your spouse. Either way, you'll want to know how separation affects your legal and financial rights and responsibilities.
There are three basic types of separation: trial, permanent, and legal. With all three types, you'll still be legally married. But it's important to understand the differences between them and the consequences for the future of your family and your finances.
If you and your spouse need a break from the relationship, you may live apart on a trial basis. A trial separation doesn't change your legal rights and responsibilities toward each other and your children. For example, any money you earn or property you acquire will generally still be considered marital property.
By their very nature, trial separations are often makeshift and provisional. Still, it's a good idea to work out an agreement about how you'll handle finances, living arrangements, and other matters. For example, your trial separation agreement might address:
It can seem daunting to write up an agreement like this when you're in the midst of marital difficulties—especially since communication problems are one of the top reasons marriages end. But even making the effort can clarify each of your expectations and help head off future disputes. Also, by having a written agreement that says your separation is a trial one, you should be able to avoid the potential financial consequences of a permanent separation (more on that below).
It can sometimes be tricky to know just when your trial separation has become a permanent one. Generally, however, a separation is permanent when at least one spouse has clearly decided that getting back together is not an option.
Depending on where you live, a permanent separation might affect your property rights. In some states, for example, assets and debts that spouses acquire after they've permanently separated are considered separate property. When that's the case, those post-separation earnings and assets won't be part of the property division in divorce, and the spouse who took on the post-separation debts will be solely responsible for paying them back.
When couples live in a state where permanent separation affects their property rights, they often hotly dispute the exact date when their separation became permanent. For example, the separation date might be unclear when your spouse left in a huff and spent a month sleeping on a friend's couch, but you didn't discuss divorce until the month had passed. That means that if your spouse received a hefty work bonus during that month, you might be able to argue that part of the money belongs to you under your state's laws.
Some state laws have specific requirements for when couples are considered permanently separated. For instance, in California—where earnings and other assets that a spouse acquires after separation are that spouse's separate property—the legal definition of a separation date is when there's been a "complete and final break in the marital relationship." As evidence of that break, at least one spouse must have told the other they intended to end the marriage and then continued behaving in a way that was consistent that intention. (Cal. Fam. Code §§ 70, 771 (2023).)
If you move out of the house and don't expect to get back together, think twice about spending the night together just for old times' sake. A brief reconciliation could risk changing the date of your permanent separation and therefore your property rights.
Once you permanently separate from your spouse, you don't have to get divorced right away. You might decide to remain married for a variety of reasons, such as a desire to not disrupt your children's lives or in order to retain insurance coverage. Also, you might need to wait to file for divorce if you live in a state that requires a period of separation before getting a no-fault divorce or any divorce (more on that below).
But if you don't plan to file for divorce soon, it's particularly important—if at all possible—to have a written agreement about the terms of your separation.
Generally, you won't be able to make the agreement part of an official court order unless your state allows some form of legal separation (more on that below). Still, any signed, written agreement is a legally binding contract. And putting your separation-related expectations in writing will help avoid problems down the road. It can also give you a head start on creating a divorce settlement agreement, which could make it easier to take advantage of the time- and cost-saving advantages of an uncontested divorce when you're ready for that step.
Unlike trial or permanent separations, a legal separation requires going through formal steps with the court, including meeting certain requirements, filing legal papers, and getting final court orders.
You may get a legal separation in most states—but not all of them. Some states have procedures that are similar to legal separation but not exactly the same. For instance:
Very few states—including Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas—don't have legal separation or a similar procedure.
The most important difference between legal separation and divorce is that you're still legally married after a legal separation—which means you aren't allowed to get married to someone else.
In states that allow it, legal separation is like divorce in some ways and different in others.
Getting a legal separation typically involves the same costs as divorce, including filing fees and attorneys' fees if you hire a lawyer to handle your case—which may very well be necessary unless you and your spouse have signed a legal separation agreement before you start the process. Without an agreement, the process can also be just as stressful and time consuming as a divorce.
After all that, you'll still be legally married. So if you do decide to divorce later, you'll have to go through another legal process—with additional costs and time.
Despite the downsides of legal separation, some people still choose this option for a variety of reasons, including:
An important note: If you're considering a legal separation instead of divorce so that you or your spouse can keep health insurance benefits, check with the employer or insurance provider before making the decision. Some insurers consider a legal separation the same as a divorce for purposes of terminating health benefits.
The divorce laws in some states require couples to live apart for a certain period of time before a divorce. The details of these requirements vary. For instance:
It's important to plan your separation to protect your rights. If you and your spouse are having trouble agreeing about the terms of your separation, mediation might help you work out your differences.
But you might want to speak with a family law attorney if you're wondering whether legal separation is the right step for you, you haven't been able to reach a separation agreement, or you simply want a lawyer to review the agreement you're about to sign to make sure you haven't forgotten anything or given up your rights.