• 11
  • January
    2012

For couples contemplating divorce, the stress can be unbearable at times. Many will wonder what will happen to certain benefits they share, how they will deal with custody and even how their religion will view their divorce. Spouses who are considering divorce in Hudson Valley may want to consider another option called legal separation.

This process is not a divorce, but in many cases it can act similarly to an actual divorce. While you remain married, a legal separation gives couples the opportunity to separate their finances, determine child custody, divide assets and figure out alimony and child support.

During a legal separation, many couples choose to live apart, and can make an agreement regarding almost anything to do with their previous lives together. An important thing with separation is to make sure you have proper legal documentation of the separation. Without a legal agreement, one spouse may choose to take advantage of the other, and the effects can be devastating. Couples considering this option may want to seek the help of a Hudson Valley divorce attorney to discuss how legal separation will affect their finances.

Since divorce is frowned on in some religions, couples can often find a compromise through legal separation. Others find that they still love their spouse, but they just can't live together any more. This process allows for people in these situations to find a compromise to their relationship issues.

An attorney can help you formulate a legal separation agreement and make sure your rights will be secured if you choose to seek a divorce after the separation.

Source: Forbes, "Legal Separation or Divorce: Which is Better Financially?," Jeff Landers, Jan. 10, 2012