Differences between Separation and Divorce

By Gerald A. Maggio, Esq.

Orange County divorce mediation; California Divorce MediatorsMany people get confused between the terms ‘separation’ and ‘divorce’. In a divorce, the marriage has legally broken up and the married couple is separated. In a separation, the couple lives separately but they may or may not still be married. Separation is of different kinds.

The division of property and other assets depends on the kind of separation the couple has agreed on. Each state has its own rules regarding division of property. The various kinds of separation have been discussed here.

Trial separation – Couples living apart for a short period on a trial basis go through trial separation. It is during this period that they decide if they want to live separately on a permanent basis or not. Even if they decide not to start living together, their assets and debts from the trial period is considered as marital property. Such a separation is not recognized legally.

Living apart – Couples who do not live under the same roof anymore are living apart. Living apart (with no intention to get back together), in some states, changes the property rights of the couple. While some states will consider the assets and debts during the living apart period as separate, other states will consider the property as joint until a divorce has been legally filed in a court. Some states make it mandatory for couples to live separately for a certain period of time before they can file for a divorce.

Permanent separation – It is when the couple decides to separate permanently. A permanent separation may come after a trial separation or the couple may separate without any intention of reuniting. The assets or debts after a permanent separation are considered to be separate. But certain debts incurred may be considered as joint if they are related to expenditures for the children or for the maintenance of the marital home. A permanent separation may not be legal if nobody files for a legal separation.

Legal separation – It is somewhat like a divorce but not quite so. Many a times, couples do not want to divorce for financial, religious, or other reasons. But they approach a court to grant them a separation and divide their property as would be done in a divorce. The court also gives a ruling on alimony, child custody, child support, and visitation rights.

To learn more about the divorce process in California and how mediation can help, please visit our page, What is Divorce Mediation