Many individuals think that if they are physically separated from their spouse that they are legally separated. This is not the case. A Legal Separation is accomplished by filing a Complaint for Legal Separation with the Court. The requirements are very similar to a divorce or dissolution. The main difference is at the conclusion of the case, their will be a division of property, debt, a custody allocation and support if there are children, but the parties will still be legally married.

Individuals file legal separations for many reasons including religious beliefs and health insurance issues.

Couples can handle a legal separation in the same manner as a divorce or dissolution. The parties can choose to litigate their differences through the Court or they can decide to pursue an uncontested legal separation. The parties can utilize the collaborative approach in a legal separation.