A Legal Separation’s Effects on Children

A legal separation is different than an actual divorce, and many couples choose to get a separation rather than a legal divorce in order to try and work through their problems. Although every child will react differently in a case of a separation or divorce between their parents, sometimes a legal separation can have a different effect on children than divorce. Since divorce means a full legal split between spouses, it can be more difficult for children to cope with, while a separation often involves more contact between spouses.

If you or someone you know is considering a legal separation as an alternative to divorce, contact an experienced San Diego divorce attorney at Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP today by calling 858-935-6211 to discuss how your legal separation may affect your children.

Separating and Children

A legal separation has to be approved by a court – spouses cannot simply move away from one another and have that be considered a legal separation. Because marriage is not legally ended in a legal separation, many issues will have to be resolved together, including:

  • childcare costs
  • living situations
  • spousal support
  • property ownership/use
  • dividing debts

Because spouses have to work together to resolve issues in a legal separation, there is often less distance between them than in a regular divorce. This contact may affect a child’s reaction to both legal separation and divorce, though each child’s reaction can rarely be fully anticipated.

Contact Us

If you have questions about legal separation, particularly how it differs from divorce and how it may affect your children, contact an experienced San Marcos divorce attorney of Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP today by calling (760) 757-6854.