Santa Ana 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 obtaining a divorce. However, if the decision to divorce is made later on a judge may determine that because you were satisfied with your legal separation agreement, the same arrangement should carry over to the divorce settlement agreement. It is for this reason you will want to speak with an experienced family law attorney.
Reasons for Filing for Legal Separation:
- It allows partners time apart, away from the conflict of the marriage to determine if divorce is what they really want.
- It may enable the retention of medical benefits and various other benefits that divorce would bring to an end.
- If your religious beliefs conflict with the idea of divorce, you are able to live separately and maintain your marital status.
- If you are a military spouse, you might want to stay married for 10 years so that you can take advantage of the benefits set up by the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act.
- Staying married for 10 years or more also means being able to take advantage of particular social security benefits for a spouse.
Contact a Santa Ana Legal Seperation Attorney
Facing problems like a legal separation and potential divorce can be frustrating. You should consult with a divorce lawyer at Thomas K. McKnight to help you through this challenging time in your life. If you are thinking about a legal separation, contact our law firm to assess the unique details of your circumstance. Our legal separation attorneys can help guide you through the entire process. If you need additional information regarding legal separation or divorce, call our law firm at 1-800-466-7507 for a private consultation.
For more information about legal separation attorney in Santa Ana, California, contact Thomas K. McKnight LLP at (800) 466-7507 or visit our website at TKMLLP.Com for a free consultation!