What is the difference between a marital separation and divorce? There are many differences.
If you are thinking about getting a divorce, a trial separation may be just what the two of you need, to resolve your differences.
Here are some of the differences of a separation and a divorce.
Divorce is more or less a final end to a marriage.
There are many legal expenses, many fights over property, children, and money.
Unless both partners know exactly what they want out of the divorce, the process can be very long and time consuming.
Even after going through all of this, some divorced couples do get back together again, and are together for a very long time.
A separation is when a couple is having marital problems, but can't decide whether they want to try to work things out, or if they should end their marriage.
A separation can be either legal or not.
There are many advantages to separation.
The two of you can decide what the other will take out of the relationship.
(property-wise).
If one of you is dependent on the other's health benefits, you can keep them.
As far as the courts or government is concerned, the two of you are still married.
When a couple is separated, it is more like a vacation, of sorts.
Time for the two of you to think about your marriage, and decide what the two of you think would be best.
This does NOT give either of you permission to go out with other people - you ARE still married.
Even after a legal separation, you are still married.
Not living together, but still married.
With a divorce, the two of you are single people again, being 'free' to date as you please.
This would be the main difference between a separation and a divorce.
A separation, whether trial or legal, is when the couple is still married, but wants to live apart for a while.
Again, the reasons for separations are different.
It could be monetary, health care related, or even for the children.
Children may be better able to cope with separation than divorce, merely for the fact that separation doesn't mean that their parent's marriage is over forever.
There is still hope for them to get back together.
This will take some of the stress off of kids during this hard time.
If your marriage is in trouble, think about a trial separation.
It doesn't have to be long, but give it enough time to make SURE that both of you think a divorce would be the only way to go.
You may both find out that, yes - your marriage IS worth saving.