Legal Separation Attorney
Unlike a divorce, a legal separation does not mean the end of your marriage; it just means that you and your spouse decide to live separate lives while staying legally married.
The purpose of a legal separation is to work out an agreement and/or court order, for things like the division of your assets, child custody, visitation, and support. This court order intends to protect your interests until you make up, file for divorce, or the death of either party.
A legal separation is not a required step in acquiring a divorce. Nevertheless, if the choice to divorce is made down the road a judge may determine that since you were satisfied with your legal separation agreement, the same agreement should carry over to the divorce settlement agreement. It is because of this you will want to talk to an experienced family law attorney.
Reasons for Filing for Legal Separation:
- It allows partners time apart, away from the conflict of the marriage to decide if divorce is what they truly want.
- It might allow for the retention of medical benefits and various other benefits that divorce would bring to an end.
- If your religious beliefs conflict with the concept of divorce, you are able to live separately and keep your marital status.
- If you are a military spouse, you may want to remain married for 10 years so you can take advantage of the benefits established by the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act.
- Remaining married for 10 years or more also means being able to take advantage of particular social security benefits for a partner.
Contact a Legal Seperation Attorney
Facing issues such as a legal separation and potential divorce can be difficult. You should consult with a divorce attorney at Thomas K. McKnight to help you through this tough time in your life. If you are thinking about a legal separation, call our law firm to assess the unique details of your situation. Our legal separation lawyers can help guide you through the whole process. If you need more information about legal separation or divorce, call our law firm at 1-800-466-7507 for a confidential consultation.
