On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Legal Separation on Sunday, November 1, 2015.
There are multiple types of separation when it comes to couples seeking a break from their marriage. Many people are aware of a trial separation, which allows couples to experience living apart without actually changing their marriage, and many are aware of divorce, which obviously dissolves a marriage and essentially divides a married life into two separate lives. What you may not know is that there is a middle ground.
Legal separation is a legal practice that essentially allows couples the best of both worlds when it comes to a separation. There are many couples that wish to live separately without actually divorcing, just as there are couples that wish to experience what their lives would be like if they were truly divorced. A legal separation allows couples to do just that, living for all intents and purposes as though they are divorced, despite still remaining married.
Many couples engage in a trial separation in order to see how they will fare living separately from one another. Unfortunately, these trial separations do not allow couples to truly understand what divorce would be like, because they maintain nearly all of their marital responsibilities, including child care, asset division and even financial responsibilities. But by entering into a separation agreement, couples can truly live separately and enter a legal agreement regarding issues such as child care and asset division.
If you live in Missouri, and you are unsure as to whether or not you should pursue a divorce, consider meeting with an attorney. You could enter into a separation agreement with your spouse that allows the two of you to determine for sure if divorce would be beneficial to your lives, or if your disagreements are worth working through.
